7 World Heritage Sites of Shaanxi

This photo taken on July 1 shows the ruins of Jiaofang Hall in Weiyang Palace of ancient Chang'an, which was the capital of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC- 9 AD), and is now the city of Xi'an, in northwestern Shaanxi province. One of the oldest cities in China, Xi'an once competed with Rome as the most important metropolis in the world, and is the starting point of the Silk Road. Weiyang Palace was inscribed on the World Heritage list on June 22 - together with 32 other historical sites along the ancient Silk Road, located in China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. [Photo/Xinhua]