History and Economy of Shaanxi
History
Shaanxi (and the city of Xi’an therein) are considered one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. Thirteen feudal dynasties established their capitals in this province during a span of more than 1,100 years, from the Zhou Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty. It is also the starting point of the Silk Road which leads to Europe, Asia and Africa.
Following the establishment of Mongol rule in the thirteenth century, wars and famine decimated and depopulated the province. Under the Ming dynasty, Shaanxi was incorporated into Gansu but was again separated in the Qing dynasty.
In 1935, the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army of China came to Yan’an in Shaanxi on its “long march”, and from 1935 to 1948, Shaanxi was the seat of the Chinese Communist Party.
Economy
The chief crops of Shaanxi are Wheat, millet, cotton, soybeans and corn .Rice, tea, and tung oil are produced in the south, and fruit orchards are cultivated in the upland areas. Livestock (notably sheep) are raised. Shaanxi has rich coal and iron deposits. Oil is extracted at Yanchang and salt is obtained from lakes.
Since the 1960s, Shaanxi has developed industrially; cotton, once sent to Shanghai for processing, is spun and woven in the province. Shaanxi’s main industrial city is Xi’an, which has a variety of heavy and light industries.
| PREV：Geography and climate of Shaanxi | Next：History of Heilongjiang |
