A report on Shaanxi, Xi'an, Qinling and Guanzhong

Xi'an (, ; ; Chinese: ), frequently spelled as Xian and also known by other names, is the capital of Shaanxi Province.

The Qinling or Qin Mountains, formerly known as the Nanshan ("Southern Mountains"), are a major east–west mountain range in southern Shaanxi Province, China.

Guanzhong (, formerly romanised as Kwanchung) region, also known as the Guanzhong Basin, Wei River Basin, or uncommonly as the Shaanzhong region, is a historical region of China corresponding to the crescentic graben basin within present-day central Shaanxi, bounded between the Qinling Mountains in the south (known as Guanzhong's "South Mountains"), and the Huanglong Mountain, Meridian Ridge and Long Mountain ranges in the north (collectively known as its "North Mountains").

A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong Plain, the city is the third most populous city in Western China, after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populous city in Northwest China.

Xi'an – which includes the sites of the former Chinese capitals Fenghao and Chang'an – is the provincial capital as well as the largest city in Northwest China and also one of the oldest cities in China and the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals, being the capital for the Western Zhou, Western Han, Jin, Sui and Tang dynasties.

The province is geographically divided into three parts, namely Northern, Central and Southern Shaanxi.

The mountains also acted as a natural defense against nomadic invasions from the North, as only four passes cross the mountains.

Central Shaanxi (or "Shaanzhong") is also known as the Guanzhong region and comprises the drainage basin of lower Wei River east of Mount Long and north of the Qinling Mountains, where the majority of Shaanxi's population reside.

The highest mountain in the range is Mount Taibai at 3767 m, which is about 100 km west of the ancient Chinese capital of Xi'an.

Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi and the largest city in Northwest China, is located at the center of the region, mostly south of the Wei River.

The city borders the northern foot of the Qin Mountains (Qinling) to the south, and the banks of the Wei River to the north.