Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, with a history of more than 3,100 years, was the capital of 13 feudal dynasties, including the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) and the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-A.D. 907).

Built more than 2,350 years ago, Xianyang, 20 kilometers northwest of Xi'an, was the capital of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207 B.C.), the first feudal dynasty in Chinese history.

He Hongxing, director of the Urban Planning Office of Xi'an, said that the city has begun to explore the development potential of its outlying areas. As a result, the downtown area of Xianyang, currently bordering the northwest suburbs of Xi'an, will soon merge into Xi'an.

Located on the Guanzhong Plain, Xi'an and Xianyang share similar geographic features and climates.

Meanwhile, since Xianyang was founded, the two cities have cooperated in fields of economy, education, culture, science and technology.

"The merger will enhance economic, travel and industrial integration of the two cities and increase the competitive edge at both the domestic and the international level," said Zhao Min, expert at Shanghai Tongji University.

Today, four freeways traverse Xi'an and Xianyang. One can drive from one city to the other in about 10 minutes.

Statistics show that in 2001, the GDPs of Xi'an and Xianyang were ranked first and fourth in northwest China, respectively.

Meanwhile, academic and research institutions in the two cities have laid the foundation for further and closer economic cooperation.

"The merging of the two cities into one is part of a general trend, and it enjoys popular support," said Liu Congbo, an expert who has studied the economic integration of Xi'an and Xianyang.

The cities, the most famous in Shaanxi in terms of their historic value, feature world-renowned sights such as the terracotta warriors and horses in the Qin Shihuang Tomb in Xi'an and more than 200 tombs from the Han and Tang dynasties in Xianyang.

Local tourism department officials say that the merger of the two cities will help accelerate the development of the tourism industry.

Experts predict that, upon completion of the five-year merging process, Xi'an and Xianyang will become the most powerful metropolis in western China.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2002)