Guanzhong

Guanzhong is a historical and geographic region in central Shaanxi Province, China. It centers on the Wei River valley in the Guanzhong Plain and lies between the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Loess Plateau to the north. The region roughly corresponds to parts of present-day Xi'an and surrounding areas such as Baoji, Xianyang, and Weinan. The name derives from the Guan Pass (关隘) at Tongguan, which has long served as a traditional boundary marking the western extent of the area; thus Guanzhong is often described as the area west of the passes.

Geography and economy: The Guanzhong Plain is a fertile agricultural heartland fed by the Wei River, with a long history of irrigation and crop cultivation, especially grains and fruits. The region has long been a transportation and cultural hub, linking northern China with the Sichuan basin and the rest of the Loess Plateau. In modern times, Xi'an and nearby cities are centers of industry, science, and tourism.

History and culture: Guanzhong has deep historical significance as the cradle of several early Chinese dynasties. Chang'an, in the Guanzhong region, served as the capital of the Western Han and earlier states; the Qin state originated here and unified China under Qin Shi Huang. The area contains important archaeological sites, such as the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and the Terracotta Army in Lintong. The region is also associated with the Guanzhong-Tianshui culture of the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age.

Modern usage: Today Guanzhong is primarily a historical-cultural designation within Shaanxi, rather than an administrative unit. It remains a way to describe the central Shaanxi plain and its heritage in scholarship and popular discourse.