1. Introduction

The project aims to examine the influence of Xi’an history on its urban planning.Xi’an embodies rich and vibrant historical remains , such as the terracotta army, Da Yan Ta and ancient city walls, etc. The preservation of these historical remains influence its current layout.Through the concept of environmental determinism,the project will explore how Xi'an's urban planning reflects an adaptation to the natural environment, on how traditional planning concepts rooted in environmental determinism are evident in Xi'an's layout, where factors like topography, climate, and water sources are carefully considered. This approach results in a spatial arrangement where the ancient city serves as the focal point(Wang & Gu, 2022), surrounded by residential areas and farmland harmoniously integrated into the city's fabric. This project also seeks to analyze the links between Xi'an's historical tales, its geographical context, and cultural values, thus on how it contributes to the current urban planning of the city.

2. Cultural Geographical Perspective in Use

In light of Xi'an's modern urban planning, the project applies a cultural geographical perspective to understand the phenomenon, particularly using the environmental determinism concept which was proposed by the renowned historian Fernand Braudel (1902-1985), plays a significant role in shaping Xi'an's urban landscape. Environmental determinism asserts that human growth, development, and actions are dictated by the physical environment (Lethwaite, 1966). Environmental determinism posits that the Xi’an environment, particularly its physical attributes including climate, shapes human cultural patterns and societal progress.Thus to examine how culture and geography intersect to shape human experiences, behaviors, and landscapes. It is emphasized of the dynamic relationship between space, place, and cultural practices within a specific geographical context.Thus the project seek to evaluate three of the following:

1. Place: Xi'an's cultural characteristics and the meanings associated with specific locations play a crucial role in shaping the city's identity and urban development.

2. Cultural Identity: The link between cultural identity in Xi'an and individuals' connections to their rich cultural heritage influences spatial practices and urban design.

3.Spatial:Spatial practices within Xi'an reflect how cultural behaviors are enacted in physical spaces, influencing urban design and social interactions.

3. Empirical Analysis

Due to the influence of climate, traditional living patterns (such as courtyard houses) are designed with the needs of ventilation and heat preservation in mind. These architectural forms are widespread in urban structures and promote interconnectedness within communities.Also, due to the dry climate, local residents invent a half cover house. The house not only can reduce a large amount of wood and production cost, but also provide warmth and higher breathability than a common house, further exemplifying how environmental determinism shapes housing solutions.Therefore, these houses appear everywhere in Xi'an's rural area.

As noted, Xi'an has a temperate continental climate, which affects the selection and design of building materials. For example, many modern buildings use materials with good thermal insulation properties such as timber or masonry infill walls to cope with the cold winters and hot summers in Xi’an. In addition, the building layout takes into account ventilation and natural lighting with the sim of coping with residents’ living comfort. On the other hand, due to population growth, limited rainfall, and excessive surface water consumption, Xi'an faces a scarcity of local water resources. In response, Xi'an, under the auspices of the International Water Association, is striving to establish a water resource security framework characterized by spatial equilibrium and judicious distribution. This initiative,according to "Xi'an City's 14th Five-Year Plan for Water Resources Development" (《西安市“十四五”水务发展规划》) involves bolstering strategic water reserves, managing between urban and rural water supplies tailored to local needs, and enhancing water supply infrastructures to optimize the allocation of water resources effectively for the city and its residents.when taking into account of Xi'an's climate characteristics, it is observed that a complete drainage system and flood control facilities have been added to the urban planning to deal with potential risks caused by rainfall, which shows how environmental determinism influence its planning in its spatial realm.

Xi'an, formerly known as Chang'an, was a prominent ancient city with numerous important cultural heritage such as the ancient city wall,  Da Yan Ta and the Terracotta army(Zhu, 2017), which not only attract a large number of tourists, but also influence a reference framework for its urban planning in order to preserve the unique heritage characteristics it embodies. Since the 1950s, Xi'an has undergone significant phases of urban regeneration driven by diverse economic factors. Initially, the urban development focus in the first master plan (1953–1972) prioritized industrialization, particularly in textile and machinery manufacturing sectors, within a centrally planned economy. However, the subsequent 1980–2000 master plan marked a shift towards a more balanced approach, integrating advanced science, culture, education, and tourism into the city's development agenda. This shift acknowledged Xi'an's rich cultural heritage resources, notably exemplified by the iconic Terracotta Army(Bonaduce et al., 2008), a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring over 8000 terracotta statues within Qin Shihuang's mausoleum complex.(Yeji Zhu,184)When planning new areas, it is prioritized on how to coexist harmoniously with these historical sites and avoid damaging their landscape and cultural significance. Its urban design echoes its historical roots, characterized by a grid layout centered on the iconic Bell Tower and enclosed by preserved Ming dynasty walls. The city seamlessly blends modern structures with its ancient heritage, where ancient and new coexist in the city itself, exemplified by the harmonious coexistence of well-maintained historic walls alongside contemporary buildings.As worded by Zhu, there is a “museumification” in the urban planning,with the collaborative efforts of the Department of Urban Planning and the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Xi'an proposed an urban planning to transform Xi’an, where public spaces and structures are repurposed into heritage objects, reminiscent to the Tang dynasty for public display and consumption (Yeji Zhu,184).

For instance Xi'an's renowned Bell Tower stands prominently at the central crossroads of the walled city, where North Street, South Street, West Street, and East Street intersect, forming a bustling hub of activity and historical significance A short distance away on West Street lies the Drum Tower..It can be seen as the duality of both ancient and modern buildings that coexist in its urban planning.

Smith, J. (2023). Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an [Photograph figure 16]. Newgeography. https://newgeography.com/files/xian-evolving_16.jpg

Furthermore,Xi'an is located on the edge of the Loess Plateau, with the Qinling Mountains and Weihe River surrounding Xi'an forming a natural barrier (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024), which limits the direction of the city's expansion. Historically, these natural boundaries have enabled the defensive development of cities and, as a natural protection, yet this continues to influence the layout of infrastructure in modern planning. For example, major traffic arteries and public transportation systems are designed to avoid direct conflict with mountains to ensure transportation convenience and safety, as well as urban planning being mostly concentrated in flat areas, which showcases how environmental determinism influences urban spatial organization,as the natural geographical environment directly influences its current construction.

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, Xi'an stands as a prominent proof of cultural heritage, geographical determinants, and how its vibrant historical background influences its modern urban planning practices, which the city has successfully navigated the complexities of preserving its rich cultural legacy while using contemporary development initiatives, balancing and coexisting of past and present. Xi'an's harmonious coexistence of ancient landmarks and modern infrastructure not only cherishes its rich cultural and historical heritage  but also showcases how, without changing its natural landscape, urban planning can still be carried out, which acts as a model of harmonious coexistence between nature and human activities.

References

Bonaduce, I., Blaensdorf, C., Dietemann, P., & Colombini, M. P. (2008). The binding media of the polychromy of Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 9(1), 103–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2007.08.002

Cox, W. (2020, December 31). Xi'an: Ancient and Modern: The Evolving Urban Form. Newgeography.https://www.newgeography.com/content/006896-xian-ancient-and-modern-the-evolving-urban-form

LEWTHWAITE, G.R. (1966), ENVIRONMENTALISM AND DETERMINISM: A SEARCH FOR CLARIFICATION. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 56: 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8306.1966.tb00540.x

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024, November 6). Xi’an | China, Map, History, & Attractions. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Xian-China

Wang, F., & Gu, N. (2022). Exploring the spatio-temporal characteristics and driving factors of urban expansion in Xi’an during 1930–2014. International Journal of Urban Sciences, 27(1), 39–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2022.2085152

Zhu, Y. (2017). Uses of the past: negotiating heritage in Xi’an. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 24(2), 181–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2017.1347886