Changan

Changan (Seomun: 長安, Jinmun: 장안), formally the Changan Metropolitan Municipality (Seomun: 長安廣域市, Jinmun: 장안광역시, Changan Gwangyeoksi), is the third most populous city of the Republic of Zhenia of Zhenia, as well as the second largest city in eastern Zhenia. As one of the five metropolitan municipalities in Zhenia, it is governed by the Changan Metropolitan Government. Situated in the northeastern Danguk peninsula, it is surrounded by Donghae North Province, making it the largest landlocked city in the nation. Being home to almost 12 million people, the city's metropolitan area is among the largest in the nation, only behind those of Daedo and Jinhae.

Starting off as a military outpost of the Zhen dynasty to deter Yemeg invasions, it grew rapidly as it housed the Northeast Protectorate-General in the 2nd century. It remained a regional center of politics and trade over the centuries even under Yemeg Zhenian rule, until it was reconquered by the Shindan dynasty in the early 14th century. The city truly drew attention after the Zhenian Civil War when it was designated as the northeastern industrial hub, due to its proximity to the Danguk Peninsula: since then, it has consolidated itself as the largest city in northeastern Zhenia. While also being the eastern hub of Zhenia's railway network by the 1880s, a considerable part of the nation's heavy industry, including the nation's first steel mill complex, had initiated from Changan.

Changan today is an international hub for heavy industry, transportation, technology, commerce, education and finance. Changan International Airport, as the nation's third-largest airport by size, is often among the nation's busiest airports, while Changan Central Station is the single largest station in the nation both by size and traffic. Due to its economic significance, it is home to the second-largest number of corporate headquarters in the nation second only to Daedo, being home to headquarters of numerous companies including the Zhenia National Railway Company, Paragon, Li-Jien Dynamics, Surimae Motors and RS.

Geography
Changan is located near the eastern edge of Donghae North Province along the northern edges of the Danguk Peninsula. It is the primary core of the {{wp|metropolis|Changan metropolitan area]] that spans over Donghae North Province around the city, being situated between the Three Great Lakes region and the Manli Mountains that demarcate the fine border between the Danguk Peninsula and northern Zhenia. Most of the city is built along the Hoban River, which flows northbound into Lake Jinsa.

Transport
Changan is home to Changan Central Station, the fifth-busiest station in the nation by passenger traffic and the second-busiest by number of trains arriving. Situated at the center of the city's and intercity rail network, the station sees several long-distance passenger rail lines mainly departing from the city. The city's intercity and commuter passenger rail network is augmented by two more stations (Changan North and Changan Hoban that act as diversion points to disperse rail traffic from clogging up urban lines. Changan's historical significance in Zhenia's rail network, the Zhenia National Railway Company, or ZhenRail, is headquartered in Changan as well. commuter rail network managed by the Changan Rail Authority, which also primarily handles the city's network, connects Changan's city center to nearby suburbs and cities in Donghae North Province.

Apart from passenger rail, Changan is also the second-largest hub in the nation, as well as rail classification. Changan is the only city in Zhenia where all major freight rail companies, including ZhenRail Cargo, have major rail depots; this has allowed for in handling freight and transshipping, resulting in Changan handling the single largest amount of rail cargo in the nation as a whole. In addition to freight rail, the Changan Central Railway Classification Yard, located around 12 kilometers northwest of downtown Changan, is the central in the Zhenia National Express network, being responsible for the maintenance and classification of over a third of all ZNX train vehicles. In terms of air transport, Changan International Airport, located 35 kilometers northeast of city center, primarily serves the city and its metropolitan area as a whole, augmented by Jinsun International Airport to the city's southeast as well as a number of alternate airports in Donghae North Province. Changan International Airport is the third-busiest airport in the nation by air traffic, behind Daedo Capital International Airport and Shin Jinhae International Airport. Due to its proximity to Veharia as per the, Changan sees more direct flights to Veharia than any other Zhenian city as of 2020. Changan hosts the global headquarters of Paragon Air, the nation's third-largest airline that has designated Changan International Airport as its main hub.

Education
The Changan Unified School Authority (CUSA) is the local governing body of systemic education within Changan's domain, overseeing the operation of over 1,400 public primary and secondary schools across the city, while also providing oversight over a handful of more selective secondary institutions. The average level of education within Changan is ranked as some of the best in the nation, with Changanese intermediate and high school students marking the highest average scores in both AAT-I and AAT-II exams nationwide.

Changan has long been considered a center education and research in northeastern Zhenia, being home to several universities and research institutions. The Changan Institute of Technology (CIT), one of the first fully state-funded research university specializing in the advancement of science and technology as well as one of the most prestigious tertiary institutions in the nation in academics and research, is located in the city. Due to the existence of the CIT several national research institutes headed by the Jungchuwon and affiliated private institutions, including the Changan National Laboratories and several think tanks, are also located in Changan. Other major universities in the city include Changan National University, Donggak University, Gwangjin University, Miraon University and Hoban University.