Five years ago, my family and I paid a visit to Xi'an, the ancient capital of China. We marveled at the army of terra cotta warriors and visited museums, tombs, and temples. We also rode bicycles on the city wall that still surrounds the old part of the city.

Even then, Xi'an was on a building spree. Construction equipment was everywhere as the city struggled to add more housing, as well as cultural facilities for both residents and tourists.

Last Sunday, I visited Xi'an again. I was amazed to see towering apartment complexes, a stunning new park with a lot of water features, and a huge new city center where people can enjoy concerts, movies and art exhibitions, as well as dining and shopping.