History of Xi'an West Street

Xi'an West Street was built in the second year of Kaihuang's reign in the Sui Dynasty (AD 582). It is located in the west section of the fourth horizontal street of the Imperial City Central Street. The highest administrative organs of the Tang Dynasty, Shangshu Province and the Sixth Ministry, were located on the north side of the east section. Today, on both sides of the Drum Tower are the Secretariat, Taichang Temple, Left Army Leading Guard, Right Army Leading Guard, Honglu Temple, which was in charge of diplomacy in the Tang Dynasty, and Honglu Guest House, which received foreign guests. They are also nearby. In the Tang Dynasty, people wearing various costumes and foreigners came and went near today's Bell and Drum Tower Square, which was even more lively than it is now. After the Tang Dynasty, important government offices such as Yongxing Military Road, Fengyuan Road, Jingzhao Prefecture, Xi'an Prefecture, Civilian Government (Department), Chang'an County Office and other local capitals in the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing and Republic of China were all located in the north of this street. On the side, it was opposite to the imperial city of Sui and Tang Dynasties, so it was also called Zicheng. From the Tang Dynasty to the Southern Song Dynasty, it was still called Zicheng Xiangzheng Street, and the middle section was also called Command Street. The current street name was adopted in the 10th year of Wanli year of Emperor Shenzong of Ming Dynasty (AD 1582).

Since ancient times, West Street has been lined with shops and merchants, becoming a golden commercial avenue running through the east-west axis of the ancient city. Now Xi'an West Street has formed nine landscape squares. The overall landscape is expressed in traditional architectural style, connecting the Bell and Drum Towers and the West Gate, creating a street that reproduces the style of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, displays Xi'an's history and culture, and integrates business, tourism, sightseeing, catering, An antique commercial street integrating cultural, leisure and other functions, with a characteristic style of "peaceful, grand, cheerful and simple", fully displaying the charm of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

On the north side of West Street is the Hui Minfang, the largest Hui inhabited area in Xi'an. To the northwest of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower, in the middle is the City God's Temple, and at the west entrance of West Street is the west gate of Xi'an Ming City Wall, also called Anding Gate, with the word Anding. It means "Antai Kangding on the western frontier".