On June 25,1998 US President Bill Clin-ton began his visit to China in Xi’an,to the accompaniment of red lanterns,colourful flags,warriors,palace maids,gongs,drums,bugles and flowers.The visit returns Chinese President JiangZemin’s state visit to the United States last autumnand is the first visit to China by an American presi-dent in nine years.Then the president watched dances and displaysof performers clad in coloured garb from the TangDynasty-China’s golden age from 618 to 907-be-