New contacts from Shaanxi

Where is Shaanxi?

Shaanxi, in the central part of China, has an extension of 205,000 square kilometers and a population of 37 million people.

Shaanxi is considered one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. The province's principal city and current capital, Xi'an, is one of the four great ancient capitals of China and is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, which leads to Europe, Arabia and Africa.

One of the most devastating earthquakes in history occurred near Hua Shan, in south-eastern part of Shaanxi Province on January 23, 1556, killing an estimated 830,000 people.


The most important touristic destination in Shaanxi is the visit to the famous Terracotta Army: these are the Terracotta Army and Horses of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.

From Shaanxi came some visitors, Fr. John Bai and a group of lay people. They belong to the diocese of Yan’an very close to the capital Xi’an. The diocese counts with one bishop, Msgr Francis Tong Hui, 31 priests and about 15,000 Catholics. They are inaugurating a new Pastoral Center and came looking for books. From our “Parish Library” project we shall supply as many Chinese books as we can.

Here they are: