@Background Pony #F85F  
Then again, the Crystal Empire is really just a gaudy city ruled by a prince and princess. More like an over glorified fifedom.  
I doubt the show writers don’t seem to know what empires are supposed to be.
 
“Princess” Twilight looks more like the Countess of Ponyville than a “princess” of Equestria.
 
 
If anything, the only nation in their world that seem to resemble anything like a country, kingdom, or even an empire is Equestria itself with it’s many regions, settlements, and possibly jurisdictions. Other cultures appear to be city states, I dunno if that is out of laziness among the show runners or is there some sort of lore behind why every creature else is in a city state?

Technically an “empress” is supposed to rule over an empire, or a group of city-states, so this village must be the capital or something-

Ooh~ I see her face beneath the veil- it looks anime-ish

I have doubts she’s even a real empress.
 
Empresses are supposed to rule an vast EMPIRE. Not a glorified city state. And what kind of empire is ruled by a Prince who barely knows how to do his job and a wussy pansy Princess?!
 
PATHETIC

That topiary is supposed to be an eel-swan, not a turtle-duck!

@PonyPon  

 
Except for the movie coming up. 8>

@CatsTuxedo  
In the latest version of the Map of Equestria which ties into the Movie’s premises. There appears to be a Chinese junk ship heading sailing westward away from the port where the Friendship Express terminates at its southern extreme.

There’s still some uncharted territory to the west if the Equestria map’s anything to go by, so who knows, there might be a spot there.

@Iago  
That sound like a Captioned Image.

@SeraphimDawn  
@Iago  
I know, but I haven’t seen any ponified names for China before (in fanfics/art, comments, or whatever), unlike with Japan.

@SeraphimDawn  
Who knows, the show is notoriously bad at appropriate royal titles.
 
She looked more like a trussed-up mayor.

Does that mean whatever nation this might be, should be considered an empire?  
It’s being ruled by an empress after all.

@SunnyBlam  
Based from 麒麟 (Qílín, chee-leen*), “a similar mythological unicorn (or two-horned) chimeric creature”:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qilin
 
*actual pronunciation

@laofuzi
 
Chilan? What’s that from?

@Iago  
Hence it should be named Empire of Chilan!

Any vectors for the armor design on those guards?

It was absorbed by Equestria after the Second Pony War. (?)

It’s Chinese, not Japanese-inspired…

I’m very glad to see an Eastern influence in an episode. You have to love an Asian setting now and then.

Looks more like China to me.  
Clothing and architecture wise.

@KingKek42  
So I’m not the only one

I’m more used to seeing “Neighpon” myself.