Your City Match: Xi’an

  Population: 8.8 million

  Average Wage: $10,877/year

  Air Quality Index: 87 (Moderate)

  Migrant Percentage: 30.6%

The provincial capital of Shaanxi, Xi’an is the oldest of the four ancient capitals in China and served as a political powerhouse for centuries. The city is the starting point of the old Silk Road and has reemerged as an important cultural, industrial, and educational center for the northwest region of China. As part of the central government’s “Go West” initiative, the city has created incentives to attract multinational corporations, including Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Coca-Cola, and Boeing. The manufacturing industry accounts for nearly half of the local GDP.

For the history buff and those interested in ancient Chinese culture, Xi’an has no shortage of offerings. Beyond the famous Terracotta warriors, Xi’an also has one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera called Qinqiang. The city’s some 800 royal mausoleums and dynastic tombs attract thousands of archeologists every year. Xi’an cuisine—centered on hearty dishes like lamb and pork noodles and meat stuffed buns (roujiamo)—has also gained popularity in major American cities such as New York and Chicago.