Town of Sian? Location, History & What to Know

“Town of Sian” most commonly refers to the town of Sian in the Gansu Province of China, though it is not a major city and is often confused with Xi’an (the capital of Shaanxi Province). This article clarifies what and where the Town of Sian is, its historical context, and how it differs from similarly named places, giving you a clear answer and the background you need.

Formula

The calculator above works out your average pace and speed for a given distance and finish time. The formulas are:

• Average pace (min/km) = Finish time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)
• Average speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Finish time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where:

• t = finish time in minutes (e.g., 50 minutes)
• d = distance in kilometers (e.g., 10 km)

The pace tells you how many minutes each kilometer takes; the speed tells you how many kilometers you cover in one hour. Both are standard for running, cycling, or walking.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: finish time = 50 minutes, distance = 10 km.

1. Pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

So a 50-minute 10 km run gives an average pace of 5:00 per kilometer and an average speed of 12 km/h. The calculator shows the same results.

Where Is the Town of Sian?

The name “Sian” is an older romanization of “Xi’an,” a major city in central China. However, when people search for “Town of Sian,” they are usually looking for a smaller administrative town, not the metropolis. There is a town called Sian (also written as Xian or Hsien) in several Chinese provinces, but the most commonly referenced one is in Gansu Province, in the northwestern part of China. It is a rural township, not a famous tourist destination, which is why information can be sparse.

To be precise: Gansu’s Sian is a town under the jurisdiction of a county-level city, often listed in Chinese administrative records as “Sian Zhen” (镇 means town). It sits in a mountainous, arid region and is primarily agricultural. If you are looking for the famous historical city with the Terracotta Army, that is Xi’an (also once spelled Sian) in Shaanxi Province, about 500 km east.

Historical Context of the Name

The spelling “Sian” comes from the Wade-Giles romanization system, which was standard in the English-speaking world before the 1980s. Under that system, the city of Xi’an was written as “Sian” or “Hsi-an.” Many older maps, books, and encyclopedia entries use “Sian” to refer to Xi’an. That historical usage creates confusion today because the Chinese government now uses Pinyin (Xi’an) for official English names.

So if you find an old document mentioning “Sian” as a major city, it is almost certainly Xi’an. If you find a modern reference to a small “Town of Sian,” it is likely a different, much smaller place that never changed its romanized name in local records.

How to Tell Them Apart

When you see “Sian,” check the context:

• Major city, historical capital, Terracotta Army → Xi’an, Shaanxi Province.
• Small town, rural setting, in Gansu or another province → A minor township, not the famous city.
• Old book or atlas (pre-1980) → Likely Xi’an.
• Modern travel guide → Usually Xi’an, spelled correctly.

If you are booking travel or researching a specific address, always confirm the province and the Chinese characters (西安 for Xi’an, å…ˆ or è´¤ for some small towns). A single character difference changes the place entirely.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

The biggest issue is that search engines and databases mix up the two. A search for “Town of Sian” might return results for Xi’an, which is a city of over 12 million people—not a town. Conversely, someone looking for Xi’an might accidentally find information about a tiny village in Gansu and wonder why nothing matches.

Another misconception is that “Sian” is a separate place that no longer exists. In reality, it is just an old spelling. The place itself—whether the big city or the small town—still exists under its current name. There is no lost or renamed “Town of Sian” that vanished from maps.

Why It Matters for Travel and Research

If you are planning a trip, the distinction is critical. Xi’an is a major tourist hub with airports, high-speed rail, and world-famous sights. A small town called Sian in Gansu will have none of that—it might not even have a hotel. If you are doing genealogy or historical research, using the old spelling can help you find records, but you must match the province correctly.

For practical purposes:

• Book flights and trains to Xi’an (XIY airport) if you want the historical city.
• If you genuinely need the small town, search for “Sian Zhen” plus the province name in Chinese (e.g., 甘肃先镇).
• Check coordinates: Xi’an is at roughly 34.34°N, 108.94°E. A small Gansu town will be further west and north.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sian the same as Xi’an?

Yes, in most historical contexts. “Sian” is the old Wade-Giles romanization of Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province. Since the 1980s, the official spelling has been Xi’an, so modern references use the new form.

Is there actually a town called Sian?

Yes, there are small townships in China with names romanized as Sian, particularly in Gansu and other provinces. They are minor administrative units, not well-known places. If you are looking for a famous town, you are almost certainly looking for Xi’an.

Why do old maps say Sian instead of Xi’an?

Because the Wade-Giles system was the standard for romanizing Chinese in English-speaking countries for most of the 20th century. Under that system, the “X” sound in Xi’an was written as “S” or “Hs.” When Pinyin became the international standard in 1979, the spelling changed.

Which province is Sian in?

That depends on which Sian you mean. The famous historical city is in Shaanxi Province. The small towns named Sian are often in Gansu, but there could be others in different provinces. Always check the province to avoid confusion.

Can I visit the Town of Sian?

If you mean Xi’an, yes—it is a major city with excellent tourism infrastructure. If you mean a small rural town in Gansu, it is technically possible but difficult: you would need to travel by bus or car from a larger city, and there are no tourist facilities. Most visitors should target Xi’an.

Final Thoughts

When you see “Town of Sian,” the correct interpretation depends entirely on the era and context. For almost all practical purposes—travel, history, culture—the answer is Xi’an, the ancient capital. The small towns that share the name are obscure and rarely relevant. Always verify the province and the Chinese characters to be certain, and use the modern spelling “Xi’an” for any current search or booking.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2