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Xi'an has a rich and culturally significant history. The Lantian Man was discovered in 1963 in Lantian County, 50 km southeast of Xi'an, and dates back at to least 500,000 years before the present time. A 6,500-year old Banpo Neolithic village was discovered in 1953 on the eastern outskirts of the city proper, which contains the remains of several well organized Neolithic settlements carbon dated to 5600-6700 years ago.

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Construction of the first city wall of Chang'an began in 194 BCE and lasted for four years. That wall measured 13.74 kilometres in length, 12 to 16 metres in thickness at the base. The area within the wall was roughly 36 square kilometres.

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align=justifyThe existing wall was started by the Ming Dynasty in 1370. It encircles a much smaller city of 14 square kilometres. The wall measures 13.7 kilometres in circumference, 12 metres in height, and 15 to 18 metres in thickness at the base.

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