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The Ultimate Travel Itinerary: Xi’an in 3 Days

China is a country with the deepest respect and admiration for its Imperial past, and there’s little wonder why. The city of Xi’an not only marks the centre of China’s ancient Kingdom but in modern times the city is known for some of the most significant archaeological discoveries in human history, the Terracotta Warriors.

From some of the most earliest forms of civilization to the finest of dynasties, Xi’an is an encyclopaedia of Chinese history, and a worthy stop on any itinerary. In the article, I’ll show you how to hit all of Xi’an’s biggest highlights in just 3 days!

Table of Contents

The Attractions

Xi’an is not only the ancient Chinese capital but also was the site of some of the earliest clusters of civilization. As such, the city is full of relics and artefacts that display the incredible history of this city. From excavated villages and tombs to megalithic palaces and religious landmarks. So plenty worthy sites to add to your Xi’an itinerary.

One day of your itinerary should be spent exploring what put Xi’an on the map in the first place, the excavated pits of the Terracotta Warriors! It’s best to start as early as possible anyway because it will be very busy very quickly.

The Museum of the Terracotta Warriors

Obviously, this will be the first and most important stop on your Xi’an itinerary! Not only is it clearly the most famous landmark in the city, but its one of the most significant archaeological excavations in human history and one of China’s greatest national treasures.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is a large collection of life-size sculptures organised in battle formations that stand in underground corridors. Each figure represents a member of the imperial guard that was put here to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the man who became the first emperor of a newly unified Imperial China.

The collection of figures which include infantry, archers and horses, are spread across 3 pits, numbered in the order of their discovery. Pit 1 is by far the most impressive with between 1,000-2,000 figures lined up one after the other in battle formations. For more details on visiting the warriors for yourself, check out the guide Travel Plan: The Terracotta Warriors .

There are free shuttle buses that regularly leave between both museums, as long as you have a ticket to either museum. Otherwise, you can take tourist bus number 5 (306) from one museum to the other.

Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Park (Lishan Garden)

The Terracotta Warriors are a relatively new discovery, and relics are still being found to this day! One recent discovery was the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the man that’s being protected by the Terracotta Warriors! It was found next to other major sites, such as the ritual sacrifice pits and the Museum of Terracotta Acrobatics.

Though it’s been discovered, Emperor Qin’s tomb remains unexcavated, and will probably stay that way. The park’s curator wants to protect the tomb and hopes that future technology will allow us to see its contents without disturbing the sleeping souls within. Though it’s pretty tempting! Ancient texts and modern-day tests show that the inner palace may be full of precious stones and rivers of mercury that flow through mountains of bronze!

You can take Bus Line 5 (306) from Qintang Avenue to Huaqing Pool .

Huaqing Palace

Continuing with our Imperial theme, your next stop is the old play area for royalty, the Huaqing Palace. Throughout the extensive grounds of the palace are a handful of hot springs that were used by members of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). As the grandeur of the palace shows, the emperors had no problem with spending a ridiculous amount of money to create a place of luxury relaxation.

Inside are 5 hot springs that were used during the height of Imperial China, such as the Lotus Pool (named after the flower it’s shaped like) which belonged to the Emperor. The top choice by most must be the Star Pool, which didn’t have a roof so you could bathe at night while enjoying the stars.

Take bus number 307 from Huaqing Pool to Banpo Museum .

Who would have thought Xi’an had so many valuable things hiding underground?! Banpo site (or Banpocun) is yet another historically important archaeological site, though it gets much less attention than the Terracotta Warriors! The large Neolithic settlement dates back to 4500-3750 BC and left behind over 10,000 stone tools and artefacts, 250 tombs, and almost 100 building foundations to be excavated.

It was discovered in 1953 by workers hired to dig up the ground for a new factory before it turned into the first large-scale archaeological project in China. Soon after the Banpo Museum was opened to display artefacts from the site and reconstructions of what the buildings must have looked like. The site is also used as a model of the Yangshao Culture, which flourished in the Yellow River Valley between 5000-3000 BC.

Take Metro Line 1 from Banpo to Kangfu Road Station . Sorry that subway routes aren’t visible on the map, google is banned in China after all.

Temple of the Eight Immortals

Originally built for the God of Thunder, the Taoist temple was then renamed as a tribute to the Eight Immortals, who according to Chinese mythology, were capable of giving life and overcoming evil. The is also called Ba Xian An Palace after Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi hid in the temple after the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded Beijing in 1900.

Within the temple are a set of black plates inscribed with the basic principles of Taoism and their dedication to the five sacred mountains of Taoism. The temple also has ancient manuals on proper breathing techniques and how to increase vital energy ( chi ) to achieve immortality. So the secret to life may be a worthy reason to include the temple on your Xi’an itinerary!

Travel Plan: Zhangjiajie National Park

Another day on your itinerary should be spent exploring the incredible spectrum of sites in the south of Xi’an. There’s a lot of ground to cover and a whole lot of architecture to appreciate across many dynasties! From spiritual homes to military defences, there’s a bit of everything!

Qinglong Temple

Also known as the Green Dragon Temple, Qinglong Temple has played a vital role in Japanese Buddhism. Many Japanese monks were sent to the temple during the Tang Dynasty to study Buddhism. In 805, the monks returned to Japan and founded Shingon Buddhism. To this day it’s still one of the most followed sects in the country, just look at how many temples are dedicated to it in my Travel Guide: Kyoto .

That’s not the reason most people come here! Around the grounds of the temple are over 1,000 cherry blossom trees that burst into life every spring. Every year, endless streams of wannabe Instagram models flock to the blooms of pink-tinted flowers to demand their boyfriends to give them a candid photo shoot.

Take subway Line 3 from Qinglong Temple to Dayanta . From there transfer to Line 4 to Datangfurongyuan .

Lotus Paradise

Another royal-themed site for your Xi’an itinerary. What was once a hang-out for imperial family members, today the Lotus (or Tang) Paradise is the first ancient style park that focused on the culture of the Tang Dynasty. In modern times the gardens they were revived to give everyone a look into Imperial luxury.

Performances are held regularly within the grounds of the park, including an Imperial Costume Show, Chinese Kongfu Show, Lion Dance, and acrobatics. There’s even a water fountain show which is the biggest of its kind in China and prety damn impressive!

You could take Line 4 from Datangfurongyuan back to Dayanta . Otherwise you can walk there in the same amount of time.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

It’s no secret that Xi’an prides itself on its ancient past, and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the most iconic relics of all. Standing in the Da Ci’en Temple complex, the UNESCO World Heritage is yet another significant site for Buddhists.

Originally built in 652, the pagoda was used to collect Buddhist materials that Xuanzang brought from India, the cradle of Buddhism. In total, he collected 1,335 sutras, all of which had to be translated from Sanskrit.

But why is it called Giant Wild Goose Pagoda? Legend tells there was a branch of Buddhism that was okay with eating meat, but one day they couldn’t find any. As a large group of geese flew by, a monk wished the merciful Buddha would give them some. At that moment, the leading goose broke its wings and fell to the ground. The monks were shocked and thought that Buddha was trying to tell them to be more devoted. They built a pagoda where the goose fell and stopped eating meat forever.

Firstly, take Line 3 from Dayanta to Xiaozhai then transfer to Line 2 towards Nanshaomen.

Small Wild Goose Pagoda

Hang on, deja vu? An almost identical square-based pagoda? Well, the people of Xi’an thought so too, so the Jianfu Temple Pagoda was soon renamed the “ Small Wild Goose Pagoda ” after its bigger brother.

The pagoda is yet another UNESCO Heritage Site that has survived from the Tang Dynasty. Though the pagoda isn’t as famous as the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, it’s much more peaceful and tranquil with the surrounding park.

Like its bigger twin, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda also played a vital role in introducing Buddhism to China. Buddhist sutras brought back from India were stored inside, which later would come to help integrate Buddhism with the culture of the Han people.

You can take Line 2 from Nanshaomen towards Yongningmen. Otherwise you could just walk for 5 minutes.

Xi’an City Walls

Also known as the Fortifications of Xi’an, the walls that encircle 8 miles around the centre of the city are the most complete that has survived in China, and a worthy inclusion on the itinerary. The 12-meter high wall is also one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

There are a few places you can access it, but by far the best and most time-honoured is the South Gate (Yongning Gate). Meanwhile, two museums inside the barbican and the archery tower of the South Gate are also open to the public.

Though 8 miles might sound a bit too much to walk, why don’t you just use a bike? You can rent them in the South Gate and ride them along the whole perimeter of the wall.

If you find yourself on the South Gate again, then you can easily walk for 15 minutes or so to your next stop. Since you’re there, you may as well pass and pass some interesting architecture along the way.

Stele Forest Museum

The Stele Forest, also called Beilin Museum, focuses on displays of over 11,000 stone steles, epigraphs and stone sculptures from past dynasties. The collection tells visitors of the religions and lifestyles of ancient times in a unique way. They also show an outline of Chinese history and how China would interact with other countries. Among these relics, there are 19 groups that are seen as national treasures.

You can also walk to the next stop. Believe me its easier than trying to figure out which bus you can take.

Built in 1384 when Xi’an was an important military point, the Bell Tower has always marked the geographical centre of the ancient capital. The tower became a way to dominate the surrounding countryside and provide an early warning of attack by rival rulers.

When it was first built, it stood near the Drum Tower of Xi’an on the central axis of the city. As the city grew, however, the geographical centre changed. Therefore, in 1582, the tower was moved 1,000 meters east of the original site. Except for the base, all parts are original.

The amazing contrasting colours of the grey square base, the dark green glazed tiles and gold plated roof makes it pretty. It looks even better when the sun goes down and the entire tower is illuminated! It has to be one of the best highlights on the Xi’an itinerary!

You can see it across the square, so walk to it!

And now to the Bell Tower’s former neighbour! The Drum Tower is located just to the northwest across the aptly named Bell and Drum Tower Square. As the name suggests, the tower is known for the drums it houses. In ancient China, the drums were used to signal the time and on occasion were used as an alarm for emergencies.

It was initially built in 1380 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but has some architecture styles across both the Tang and Qing Dynasties too. It also has some impressive feats of engineering such as being built with no iron nails. Inside are 24 drums, each representing the Solar Terms, the weather calendar created by the Chinese ancients to guide agricultural production.

Luckily, it’s directly next to the tower!

The Muslim Quarter (Beiyuanmen)

You may be surprised to learn that China has quite a large thriving Muslim community! Here in Xi’an, an entire quarter of the city is dedicated to the ever-growing neighbourhood. The Muslim Quarter is home to over 20,000 descendants of foreign diplomats and merchants that originally travelled here for business and never left.

Any Xi’an itinerary would be incomplete without a visit to the Beiyuanmen Muslim Market, which specialises in street food and souvenirs. Along both sides of the street are Ming and Qing Dynasty designed buildings filled with family-run businesses. Above all, the star of the show is the authentic hand-made Muslim food including crumbled bread in a mutton stew, fried rice with pickled Chinese cabbage and mutton or lamb roasted over a fire.

Top 20 Highlights – Shanghai

For the most part, we have already hit the city’s biggest highlights. If you’re short on time, then 2 days should be enough to cover all the bigger spots. But if you have the time, I’d highly recommend adding one more day to your itinerary to hit the last highlights Xi’an has to offer.

Danfeng Gate

Though China isn’t short of stunningly adorned gates, none surpass the pure size of Danfeng Gate. It’s actually even bigger than the Heaven Gate of Tiananmen Square, probably the most famous of them all!

Coloured light brown to represents the royal family, it was chosen to illustrate the magnificent momentum of the Tang Dynasty. A museum inside the gate also gives a little more info and history of the structure.

Since the gate marks the entrance to the palace, you’re already there!

Daming Palace

Functioning during the height of the Tang Dynasty, Daming Palace would be the base to design the most famous Chinese palace of them all, none other than the Forbidden City.

Originally, Emperor Li Shimin built it as the summer palace for his father. The Daming Palace is split into two areas, one where emperors held court, and another used for living and relaxing. Inside the compound, the separate Hanyuan Palace was used as an international exchange centre. On every New Year’s Day, the emperors would hold great ceremonies there, and welcome ambassadors from across the world.

The easiest way to get there is the subway. Take Line 4 from Hanyuandian and transfer at Wulukou onto Line 1 to Sajinqiao before walking the rest of the way.

Guangren Lama Temple

Built-in 1705 for the Grand Lama of Tibet as he passed through on the way to Beijing to meet with the emperor, Guangren Temple has since been the only Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Shaanxi Province. It stood as a symbol of the cooperation and cultural communication between the Tibetan and Han nationalities.

Inside are a few halls such as the Mahavira Hall, the Sutras Keeping Hall and the Bodhisattva Hall. Outside of the pavilion is the Devajara Hall in which a statue of Thousand-Hand Avalokitesvara on the lotus throne.

This next step is a little awkward. You could walk back to Sajinqiao and take Line 1 and transfer to Line 2 at Beidajie . From there you need to go to Zhonglou and walk for 20 minutes. It would actually be much easier to walk there, which should take the same amount of time anyway.

Great Mosque of Xi’an

This isn’t like any mosque you’ve ever seen before, it comes with a distinctively Chinese twist. Right in the heart of the Muslim Quarter, the Great Mosque is the largest and one of the most important Islamic sites in China.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site was built as early as 742 in the midst of the Tang dynasty. Additions were made as the Dynasties rolled on, making it a complex representative of many periods of time. The mosque is a combination of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic art.

Since it’s just down the street, why not walk?

Du City God Temple

The last stop on your Xi’an itinerary is the largest city god temple in Shaanxi Province. As one of the two remaining Taoist temples in Xi’an, it’s been listed as a key historical and cultural site. With a history of more than 600 years, the temple is still a magnificent sight today.

As one of the largest town god temples in China, the Xi’an City God Temple exercised control over all town god temples in China’s northwest provinces.

Watch Here For More!

Thank You for Reading! Check Out These Other Helpful Links!

Thank you so much for reading The Ultimate Travel Itinerary: Xi’an in 3 Days ! Check out these other helpful articles!

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The Ultimate Travel Guide: Alishan

The 7 Best Places to See Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing

Understand [ edit ]

History [ edit ]

Xi'an is more than 3,000 years old and was known as Chang'an (长安) in ancient times. For 1,000 years, the city was the capital for 13 dynasties, and a total of 73 emperors ruled here. Xi'an is the undisputed root of Chinese civilization having served as the capital city for the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties. With so much history within the ground the city lies upon, it is no wonder that there are so many historical ruins, museums and cultural relics to be found here. It was already influencing the world outside of the Great Wall of China (长城) as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road (丝绸之路). Here traders from far and wide brought goods and ideas for sale and took goods and ideas back with them to their native countries. In present-day Xi'an not much of its former glory remains within the city confines, due to the constant warfare and political changes that swept China particularly throughout the 20th century.

Climate [ edit ]

Xi'an has most of its annual precipitation from August to late October in the form of rain. It is characterised by hot summers and cold, dry winters. Spring and autumn will be somewhat brief and dry.

Districts [ edit ]

Xi'an is a rapidly expanding city, so the municipality has incorporated large areas around to the city as districts to be under its own administration. But frankly speaking most of these surrounding areas are just undeveloped and sometimes rural inter-city residential areas.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Most people use taxis or the airport bus to reach town from the airport. A taxi will cost about ¥150 from the airport to the Bell Tower downtown. You will pay around ¥50-75 more if you take one of the climatized Japanese black taxis rather than the typical green taxis. At the airport, both types of taxis are waiting at the same spot to pick up passengers.

Line 14 of the Xi’an Metro runs from the airport to Xi'an North station (more specifically, the metro station named "Beikezhan (Beiguangchang)" ), where there are connections to lines 2 and 4 as well as to the long-distance rail network.

The airport bus leaves the airport from 08:00 until 01:00, a ticket costs ¥25 and takes about one hour; there are several lines but the most useful are Airport Bus No. 1 (no stop to the terminus in front of the Melody Hotel, at the beginning of West Street near the Bell Tower) and No. 2 (to the railway station). As long as there is an arriving flight, there will be a bus, so don't worry about arriving late at night or early morning. Buses will often depart as soon as they fill up. The airport bus route is the best way between city and the train station.

Getting to the terracotta warriors from the airport is complicated but can be done. Immediately when you walk out of the airport you can take bus #2 (¥27) to the Xi'an train station. From there, take bus 306 to the terracotta warriors (see more details below ). Alternatively, a taxi will cost approximately ¥85 plus toll charges of ¥15.

By train [ edit ]

Most visitors arrive by high-speed train at 34.3768 108.9342 2 Xi'an North Railway Station (西安北站 Xī'ānběi Zhàn), 15 km north of city center. The main services, on 200 km / hr "D-trains" or 300 km / hr "G-trains", are to Zhengzhou (2–3 hours), Chengdu (4 hours), Wuhan (4–8 hours), Guangzhou (8 hours), Shenzhen (9 hours), Changsha , Shijiazhuang, Beijing (4–6 hours), Shanghai (7 hours) and Lanzhou (3 hours) - change at Lanzhou for the 12-hour train to Ürümqi.

The North Railway Station is an enormous modern transport hub. To reach the city center take Metro line two (red), whose terminus (北客站 Beikezhan ) is at the station.

The old railway station, 34.2796 108.9577 3 Xi'an Railway Station (西安站 Xī'ān Zhàn), is at the north end of Jiefang Road (解放路 jiěfànglù, just outside the old city walls. This is served by conventional trains for regional journeys.

There is no reason to use Xi'an South Railway Station (西安南站 Xī'ān Nán Zhàn), a long way south-east of the center, with limited services.

By bus [ edit ]

The main long-distance bus station (Shaanxi Province Long-distance Bus Station) is about 100 m south of Xi'an railway station, with the city wall between them (there is an underpass). Bus service is available to: Huashan (2–3 hours), Lanzhou (8–10 hours), Luoyang (5–7 hours), Taiyuan (12 hours), and Zhengzhou (9–12 hours).

By car [ edit ]

See Driving in China .

Get around [ edit ]

The old city is surrounded by a rectangular city wall. The Bell Tower (钟楼 Zhōnglóu) is in the dead center of the rectangle, and is considered the center of Xi'an. From here, the four main streets radiate along the four points of the compass.

North Street (北大街 Běidàjiē)
East Street (东大街 Dōngdàjiē)
South Street (南大街 Nándàjiē)
West Street (西大街 Xīdàjiē)

Do not get confused by different names in tourist guides, addresses and bus stops: Nandajie, Nanda Street, South Street, and South Avenue are all the same street.

Locals often speak about Within the city walls (城里 chénglǐ , CHUNG-lee) and Outside the city walls (城外 chéngwài , CHUNG-why) when talking about locations. Outside the walls, the southern part is the most interesting - it offers shopping streets, bars and some nightlife.

Basically the inner Xi'an, the part inside the City Walls, is the old Xi'an, which is equivalent to the term "downtown" used to describe certain parts of a North American city. The buildings are mostly pretty short due to government policies. People who live inside the City Walls largely preserve a traditional way of life. For example, they are used to going to farmers' market for grocery, and also the provincial dialect is more prominent there. There is much more folklore to be found inside the City Walls than elsewhere in the city. Interestingly, there is a Roman Catholic church in the inner city, which was founded more than 300 years ago by the missionaries from the west.

There has been several urbanization projects happening since the 2000s in the southern part of Xi'an, outside of the City Walls, notably Xi'an Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. That's where you can find the new, and urban aspects of Xi'an. Large-scale shopping malls around that area are very popular among the new generations. Each shopping mall usually is a combination of restaurants, shopping areas, groceries, and entertainments. Also a considerable population from other parts of the city have relocated to this area for their children's education, since there are few prestigious schools in the area.

As usual in China, subways are the easiest way to get around if they serve your destination. There are also plenty of buses traveling everywhere at short intervals (main lines run every 5–10 minutes). If you are not confident enough with orientation, or if you do not like packed buses, the cheap taxis (出租车 chūzūchē , literally translated as "rented car", which is pronounced as CHOO-TSOO-CHUH) are the best alternative, broadly available, except for during rush hours.

By Metro [ edit ]

Xi'an has four Metro lines, with further lines planned or under construction. A single ride costs ¥5. Bags are x-rayed prior to entry, water bottles should be taken out of bags as they will be scanned by security staff separately.

Line 1 runs east–west and does not cover any interesting tourist spots.
Line 2 runs north–south, intersects with Line 1 at Beidajie to the North of the bell tower. It connects the North Railway Station, the City Library (your starting point for visiting the Hanyangling mausoleum), the Bell Tower, and Xiaozhai near the Shaanxi history museum.
Line 3 runs southwest–northeast, intersecting with Line 1 at Tonghuamen, and Line 2 at Xiaozhai. It serves the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta station).
Line 4 runs north–south, mostly to the east of Line 2.

It's much more convenient to have a Changantong (长安通) card, that the locals use to pay for the fare. You can get one at any metro station with a valid ID and some money as process fee. Ask the staff at the reception desk at each metro station for help when you want to apply for a Changantong card. Nowadays you can also pay with Wechat pay or Alipay, by scanning your phone at the terminal. It takes slightly more time than using a Changantong card (1–2 seconds).

Regular buses within the city cost ¥1 (¥2 for air-conditioned, marked with a snowflake) no matter how far you go. Since there are many buses in the city, it can be useful to go to the Tourism Office Center (which is situated near the Drum Tower) and ask for a free map (地图 dìtú) of the city, with the bus lines on it.

A popular line for tourists is #610 (also labeled "游8" meaning "tourist #8") which connects the railway station, the Bell Tower, the Small Goose Pagoda and Xi'an Museum, the Shaanxi Historic Museum, and the Big Goose Pagoda. Unfortunately it is not one of the most frequent (sometimes you can wait for half an hour, though usually it comes in a few minutes). Near the Bell Tower, it stops at the beginning of West Street; take it westwards to then go south to the museums and pagodas, take it eastwards to then go north to the railway station. Near the railway station (there are many stops for different lines) you can catch it at the third block on the main street going straight south from the station.

Another useful line is #609 that connects the Bell Tower, the South Gate and the Big Goose Pagoda. Near the Bell Tower, it stops at the beginning of South Street.

Although the 609 and 610 can be infrequent, the 611 is very frequent (multiple departures every minute in the rush hour), and connects the train station and the Bell Tower, continuing to the west from the latter. Look for its stop across the road from the station (within the city walls). Its route is a loop at the railway station, so you can board the bus at the same stop for the city center where you got off for the railway station. At the Bell Tower its stop towards the railway station is at the beginning of the East Street.

Bus 500 takes you from the Railway Station to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in 12 stops. This area has the Great Tang All Day Mall as well as the Tang Paradise and the South Lake.

There are many buses leaving regularly for the Terracotta Warrior museum in front of the Xi'an bus station (east to the train station, outside (in the north) the city walls).

Bus 306 (also called Tourist Bus #5) leaves from the lot in front of the train station (on the east side, i.e. to your right when looking towards the station) and will take you to a parking lot right in front of the museum. Travel time is about an hour (up to 3 hours in case of traffic jams). A one-way ticket costs ¥7 (pay on the bus). It also stops at several other tourist attractions along the way, e.g. the hot springs. Make sure you don't make the mistake of going to the nearby bus station on the inside (south) of the city wall. That's where there are touts with signs saying bus 5 and bus 306, trying to hustle you onto their private bus. Although they do take you to the destinations, you are forced to go to visit attractions you might not want to go to. If in doubt about whether you have the right 306, stand back and observe. The official bus attendants will not hustle you to get on their rapidly filling bus. They will confirm it is the correct bus and nothing more. The official bus will also fill up very quickly with locals who know which one is the correct bus.
Another local bus that goes to the Warriors is 307 (last stop again, normally ~60 minutes, possibly up to 3 hours in case of traffic). 307 also goes to the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.
Small buses which are also used by the locals (mainly number 914). These buses will also take you to the Museum, but they use local roads (no highway express like bus 306) so they are a bit slower. 914 is however more frequent during the day than 306. One-way ticket price is ¥7 (pay on the bus). Not a bad trip if you want to see how locals travel.
Most hostels and hotels run tours to the warriors with an English speaking guide. These aren't necessarily better, be prepared to spend a good portion of the day (as with any Chinese tour) visiting "terracotta factories," "museums", "Chinese medicine shops", and other tourist traps. But you will get to your destination without dealing with the bus (the warriors are quite far outside of town) and not all of the public buses that go there are legitimate.

By taxi [ edit ]

The availability of taxis varies across the whole city, throughout the day. It also has special non-regulated schedules on holidays. It's very hard to find free taxis during shift changes. It can take a rather long time to find a vacant one and even then - given their choice of fares - they may decide to decline your destination for a more profitable one that is closer. Watch the taxi drivers in Xi'an as the industry is not regulated as it is in other larger cities. You may find yourself being taken on a long ride around town to get where you are going. It can also be difficult to convince them to take you anywhere (even to the railway station). If in doubt, get your hotel or hostel to write down the place you want to go in Chinese. Between 15:00 and 17:00 the taxis change their shifts. This means the drivers are rushing to their handover points, so they won't pick you up even if they are empty.

Trips within the city walls are generally around ¥10. Longer trips to the attractions south of the city are ¥12-20. It is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter, especially for longer rides like to/from the airport. However, taxis will often refuse to go the airport on meter, you will have to discuss a price in advance, usually between ¥100 and ¥120.

The rate for the normal (green) taxis is ¥9 for the first 3 kmand then ¥2 for every additional kilometer. Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged ¥2 per minute. After 23:00 the starting price is ¥10. At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also find black taxis. They charge ¥2.4 per kilometer, but are more spacious and comfortable.

With the introduction of online taxi platforms like Uber, drivers working for the city-run taxi corporations may refuse your taking even when no passenger's in the car, because they are on their way to take an online customer. So it's still best to learn how to use local taxi-taking apps for convenience.

By bike [ edit ]

Xi'an's main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors) are bunched fairly close together. Be wary of the narrow streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way. Bike lanes are available on some streets, however, places to lock bikes, typically are not.

In some parts of the city, the roads are built with a "biking" lane, that you can find at the right side of the road, sometimes separated from the motorized lanes. That type of biking lane is especially common in the southern part of the city. However, not all roads have such features, and when there isn't any biking lane, you should always stick to the right of the road, close to the sidewalk. Also be extra careful when you ride your bike, the traffic in China in general is not friendly to cyclists. Never ride bicycle on sidewalks, mainly because the locals would get annoyed by you doing so.

Online bike-sharing platforms like Mobike are exceedingly popular, to a point where nobody purchases his or her own bicycles anymore. Shared bikes are everywhere on the street. So learn how to use the app to unlock them and you will be fine.

See [ edit ]

Inside/near the city [ edit ], museums [ edit ].

34.221808 109.021551 2 Sanqin Museum of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression ( 三秦抗战纪念馆 ), 68 Changming Road, Dengjiapo Subdistrict, Yanta District (雁塔区等驾坡街道长鸣路68号) ( near Matengkong Metro Station on Line 5 ). 09:00-17:00 . A museum about the Second World War in Shaanxi (Sanqin is an old name for Shaanxi). Free . ( updated Apr 2021 )
34.261529 108.946733 3 Shaanxi Art Museum ( 陕西美术馆 ), 587 East Avenue, Xincheng District (新城区东大街587号) ( Zhonglou Metro Station (Line 2); about 400 meters east of the Bell Tower ), ☏ +86 29 87217870 (Development Department), +86 29 87287716 (Exhibitions Department), +86 29 87270108 (Curator's Office) , [email protected] . 09:30-17:00, closed on Mondays . Not to be confused with the Shaanxi Province Art Museum (listed below). The Shaanxi Art Museum is the smaller of the two museums and mainly displays paintings and calligraphy. Free . ( updated Jan 2021 )
34.197489 108.941954 5 Shaanxi Nature Museum ( 陕西自然博物馆 ), 88 Chang'an South Road, Yanta District (雁塔区长安南路88号) ( Exit B, Huizhan Zhongxin Metro Station, Line 2 ), ☏ +86 29 85331352 , +86 29 85331256 . 09:00-17:00, no tickets sold after 16:00, no entry after 16:30 . The museum has exhibitions on nature, science and technology. There is also an exhibition hall devoted to the coal industry, as well as a dome cinema and a 5D cinema. ¥30 (nature exhibition plus coal exhibition), ¥20 (science & technology exhibitions), ¥40 (science and technology exhibitions plus dome cinema), ¥30 (dome cinema only) . ( updated Jan 2021 )
34.265523 108.951513 6 Shaanxi Science & Technology Museum ( 陕西科学技术馆, 陕西科技馆 ), 252 Dongxin Street, Xincheng District (新城区东新街252号) ( near the Xincheng Square (新城广场) bus stop, which is served by bus nos. 16, 32, 46, 102, 182, 251, 286, 309, 601, 603, 702 and Tourist Bus 7; about 805 meters northwest of Dachashi Metro Station on Line 4 and about 876 meters east of Zhonglou Metro Station on Line 2 ), ☏ +86 29 87215521 . 09:00-17:00, no entry after 15:00, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays . The museum has four floors. The first floor focuses on the history of human technological development. The second floor is devoted to electromagnetics. The third floor is concerned with optics, mechanics and mathematics. The fourth and uppermost floor has multimedia and electronics exhibitions. Tickets are free but there are strict limitations on visitor numbers. From Wednesday to Friday, there are no more than 600 tickets available per day, and on the weekend, there are no more than 1000 tickets available per day. Visitors cannot visit the museum more than once on a single day . ( updated Feb 2021 )
34.232695 108.939668 7 Shaanxi Province Art Museum ( 陕西美术博物馆 ), 14 Chang'an North Road, Beilin District (碑林区长安北路14号) ( Tiyuchang Metro Station, Line 2 ), ☏ +86 29 85268292 . 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays . One of the largest art museums in western China. Not be confused with the Shaanxi Art Museum (listed above). Free . ( updated Jan 2021 )
34.212595 108.958654 8 Xi'an Art Museum ( 西安美术馆 ), Zhenguan Culture Square, Great Tang All Day Mall, Qujiang New District (曲江新区大唐不夜城贞观文化广场) ( about 840 meters northwest of Datang Furongyuan Metro Station on Line 4 ), ☏ +86 29 85352880 , [email protected] . 10:00-22:00, closed on Mondays . Displays a wide range of artworks from both Chinese and foreign artists. Free . ( updated Feb 2021 )
34.243227 108.975215 9 Xi'an Jiaotong University Museum ( 西安交通大学博物馆 ), 28 Xianing West Road, Beilin District (碑林区咸宁西路28号) ( about 500 meters east of Taiyi Metro Station on Line 5; in the soutwest corner of the campus ), ☏ +86 29 82665634 . 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00, closed on Sundays . Maintains a collection of around 5000 historical and cultural artefacts. Free . ( updated Jan 2021 )

Historical sites [ edit ]

34.274222 108.95018 14 Eighth Route Army Xi'an Office Museum ( 八路军西安办事处纪念馆 ), No. 1 Qixianzhuang, Beixin Street, Xincheng District (新城区北新街七贤庄1号) ( 770 meters from Beidajie Metro Station (Lines 1 and 2) and about 800 meters from Wulukou Metro Station (Lines 1 and 4); bus nos. 511 and 703 stop nearby ), ☏ +86 29 87214661 . 09:00-17:00, closed on most Mondays, except Mondays that fall on a public holiday . The Eighth Route Army was a Communist-controlled group army that was created from the Red Army in 1937 when the Communists and the Nationalists formed the Second United Front against Japan. From 1937 to 1946, this site served as the army's official liaison office for coordinating communications with the Nationalist authorities in Xi'an. Visitors to the site are required to make a booking on WeChat before visiting (see website for QR code). Free . ( updated Feb 2021 )
34.264411 108.938658 15 Gao Family Compound ( 高家大院, Gao's Grand Courtyard ), 144 Beiyuanmen, Lianhu District (莲湖区北院门144号) ( Zhonglou Metro Station (Line 2); near the Great Mosque ), ☏ +86 29 87401029 . 10:00-19:00 . Built over 400 years ago during the late Ming Dynasty, this 86-room courtyard mansion is the former residence of a famous scholar-official by the name of Gao Yuesong (高岳崧). The mansion has been fully restored and turned into a museum. It also functions as a venue for puppet shows. The Gao Family Compound should not be confused with Gao Peizhi's former residence on Xinglong Lane, another traditional residence which is sometimes also referred to as 'the Gao Family Compound'. ¥15 (entry ticket only), ¥30 (entry ticket + puppet show) . ( updated Feb 2021 )
34.273098 108.935133 16 General Yang Hucheng's Zhiyuan Villa ( 杨虎城将军止园别墅 ), 117 Qingnian Road, Lianhu District (莲湖区青年路117号) ( about 700 meters east of Sajinqiao Metro Station on Line 1 and about 800 meters west of Beidajie Metro Station on Lines 1 and 2 ), ☏ +86 29 87333971 , [email protected] . 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays . One of two heritage properties administered by the Xi'an Incident Museum (西安事变纪念馆). the other being General Zhang Xueliang's Official Residence (listed below). Generals Yang Hucheng and Zhang Xueliang were the leading conspirators behind the Xi'an Incident. Free . ( updated Feb 2021 )
34.258689 108.963038 17 General Zhang Xueliang's Official Residence ( 张学良将军公馆 ), 69 Jianguo Road, Beilin District (碑林区建国路69号) ( about 600 meters from Dachashi Metro Station on Line 4 ), ☏ +86 29 87418247 , [email protected] . 08:30-17:00, closed on Mondays . The Xi'an Incident Museum's main exhibition halls are at this site. Free . ( updated Feb 2021 )
34.249134 108.903325 18 Tang West Market Museum ( 大唐西市博物馆 ), 118 Laodong South Road, Lianhu District (莲湖区劳动南路118号) ( 725 meters east of Fengqing Gongyuan Metro Station (Line 5) and 757 meters north of Xibei Gongye Daxue Metro Station (Lines 5 and 6); the nearest bus stop is the Great Tang West Market (大唐西市) bus stop, which is served by bus routes 24, 28, 43, 106, 107, 156, 184, 201, 322, 503, and 734 ), ☏ +86 29 84351808 , [email protected] . 09:00-17:30 (summer), 09:00-17:00 (winter), no entry in last 60 minutes, closed on Mondays and the eve of Chinese New Year . Said to be China's first ever privately run on-site archaeological museum. The museum is located at the site of the excavated ruins of the West Market, probably the most important market in China during the Tang Dynasty. Thousands of artefacts have been unearthed at the site, including not only Tang Dynasty artefacts, but also artefacts from earlier and later dynasties. General admission is free. Tickets for the special exhibitions are ¥60. Tickets for the epitaph collection are ¥150. . ( updated Feb 2021 )

Religious sites [ edit ]

34.262446 108.932656 21 City God Temple of Xi'an ( 西安城隍庙, 西安都城隍庙 ), 129 West Avenue, Lianhu District (莲湖区西大街129号) ( about 900 meters west of the Drum Tower ), ☏ +86 29 87278333 . 08:30-17:30 . A Taoist temple dedicated to the city god of Xi'an, the protector god of the city whose earthly incarnation was the Han Dynasty general Ji Xin. The temple was originally established in 1387 at a site near the city's east gate. It was moved to the present location in 1432 and rebuilt in 1723 after being destroyed in a fire. It is one of the largest city god temples in China. Free . ( updated Apr 2021 )
34.265695 108.975242 23 Eight Immortals Temple ( 万寿八仙宫; Wànshòu Bāxiān Gōng, 八仙庵 Bāxiān Ān ), 12 Beihuo Alley, Changle Lane, Beilin District (碑林区长乐坊北火巷12号) ( about 1 km southwest of Kangfu Lu Metro Station on Line 1 ), ☏ +86 29 82488214 , [email protected] . 08:00-18:00 . An active Daoist temple built for the famous Eight Immortals, including the Eight Immortals Bridge, lots of steles in the walls with text and illustrations, and multiple worship halls. ¥3 .

Outside the city [ edit ]

34.120198 108.878072 29 Shaanxi Archaeological Museum ( 陕西考古博物馆 ), Intersection of Wenyuan South Road and Zhongnan Avenue, Chang'an District (长安区文苑南路与终南大道交汇处) ( take bus no. 738 and get off at Wenyuan Road South Entrance (文苑路南口); you can catch bus no. 738 from Weiqunan Station on Metro Line 2 ), ☏ +86 29 89251666 . 09:00-17:00, tickets must be collected between 09:00 and 12:00 or between 13:00 and 16:00, visitors must enter by 16:20 . Opened in 2022, this new museum displays artefacts from several important archaeological sites in Shaanxi Province. Visitors are required to make a booking on the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute's WeChat account before visiting the museum. The WeChat account name is 陕西考古 (Shaanxi Archaeology). Free . ( updated Jul 2022 )
34.184223 109.489491 33 Lantian Man Site ( 蓝田猿人遗址 ), Gongwangling, Jiujianfang Town, Lantian County (蓝田县九间房镇公王岭) ( take bus no. 904 from Sanfuwan Bus Station (near Xi'an Railway Station), get off at Qiancheng (前程), then walk from there ), ☏ +86 29 82971807 . 09:00-16:30 . In 1964, at this site in Lantian County, the cranium of a hominid was discovered. The discovery came just one year after a mandible belonging to a similar individual had been found in another part of the county. The two individuals were later classified as belonging to a subspecies of Homo erectus known as Homo erectus lantianensis or Lantian Man. A small museum at the site displays both the cranium and the mandible, as well as a collection of stone tools and animal fossils, which were also found in the area. Free . ( updated Mar 2022 )

Parks and nature [ edit ]

34.058446 108.35181 35 Qinling National Botanical Garden ( 秦岭国家植物园 ), Guanzhong Circuit, Jixian Town, Zhouzhi County (周至县集贤镇) ( take the Huanshan No. 1 bus (环山1号线) from the bus stop on the east side of Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza (大雁塔北广场); get off at the bus stop called Fortune God Hometown (财神故里); the journey will probably take about two and half hours; alternatively you can take bus no. 106 from the Zhouzhi Bus Station in the county seat of Zhouzhi County ), ☏ +86 29 85187555 , [email protected] . 08:30-17:30 (March to October), 09:00-17:00 (November to February); no tickets issued in last 60 minutes . Covering an area of 639 square kilometers, the Qinling National Botanical Garden lays claim to being the largest botanical garden in the world. ¥65 (March to November), ¥45 (December to February) . ( updated May 2023 )
Taiping National Park ( 太平国家公园 ) ( 44 km southwest of Xi'an, north slope of Qinling Mountain ). Famous for its waterfall and the largest area of wild Zijing flower (the city flower of Hong Kong) in north China.
Xiangyu Forest Park ( 祥峪森林公园 ) ( 37 km south of Xi'an, north slope of Qinling Mountain ).

Do [ edit ]

Stroll round the Drum and Bell Tower area after dark, when they're brilliantly illuminated.
34.2618 108.9407 1 Hui Muslim Quarter ( Huimin Street (回民街 Huímínjiē) ) ( northwest of the Bell Tower ). Walk through the Muslim quarter sampling food and buying souvenirs. The Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huí mín jiē , hwei-min-jyeh) is a series of small alleys located in a high-density Hui community (very much like Chinatown in North America) inside the city walls, where the residences open up small restaurants and food shops. Street food is also very common as well. Some of these restaurants are among the most famous ones in the city, regarded as the "true Xi'an cuisine" by the locals. The food served is very special in flavour compared to other kinds of local food. However, visitors from outside the city may dislike the environment while the locals may not, because garbage can be seen almost everywhere on the street. ( updated Aug 2021 )

Walk the City Walls . Walk along the city walls and see the South Gate (南门 Nánmén , literally translated as "The Southern Gate"), which is illuminated at night. The area outside of the "Gate" is full of big shopping malls that are popular among the locals, marked with the iconic glass-curtain walled buildings. The area is one of the busiest places of interests in the city. ( updated Aug 2021 )
Bike the City Walls . Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours leisurely and just over an hour if you only stop a little. Bicycles can be rented on each of the four main gates for 180 minutes, ¥45 per person (=¥90 for a tandem), and it may to be returned to any of the other stations (however, be sure to verify this before starting your ride or if they are still open as the other gates close at ~20:00). Remember to take your passport with you as a deposit for the bike that you rent, or ¥200. Make sure that you keep the deposit ticket, as the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it! Also, the bikes are generally relatively new and well maintained, but check the tire pressure and whether the brakes work before choosing yours. It's good to enjoy the scenery while biking the City Walls, but the biking experience may not be very pleasant. Because the City Wall's ground is very bumpy in nature (it was paved around 200 years ago), most people give up in midway because they can't bear the uncomfortable riding experience. Also choose a day when the weather is friendly, usually in Spring and Fall. ( updated Aug 2021 )

Buy [ edit ]

Souvenirs [ edit ].

Xi'an souvenirs include small copies of terracotta warriors, wood-carved Buddhas and dragons, Tang Tricolored Pottery, hand made paper cut (by many regarded as the most important arts form in Xi'an), all other kind of folk art and also fake western products.

Terracotta Warriors ( 秦始皇兵马俑 ). If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors, be prepared to meet some of the most hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere. If you keep quiet, they will usually bargain themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money. A box of 15-cm-high Terracotta Warriors cost ¥5-10 (if you're lucky) or ¥15-25 (more likely) even if they offer it to you for ¥45. Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons for about the same. They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site. Many travelers report enjoying this experience. It is definitely not a reason to avoid seeing the Terracotta Warriors. The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops. The barkers will try to get your business, but are not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits.
Calligraphy Street (书院门步行街) ( Near South Gate inside the city wall towards the east, walking down South Street on the left side, continue to where the road splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda, midway do a slight dog leg to the right, at the far end is the Forest of Steles ). This is another souvenir shopping area. Less hectic than the Muslim Quarter.
Tang Tricolored Pottery Factory ( 唐朝三色陶器厂 ). Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated from pieces of pottery found in tombs. It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color. The factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items, like statues, animals and utensils.

Clothes [ edit ]

Xi'an is a great place to buy clothes.

East Street ( Dong Dajie ) ( The eastern of the four big streets descending from the central Bell Tower ). Has regular fashion shops. On the right side of the street there is an underground mall (called LuoMaShi) where one can find cheap socks, knockoff goods, and local brands
South Street ( Nan Dajie ). Has finer clothes and shoes, and is home to boutiques like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Marc Jacobs.
Baihui Market ( 百汇市场 ) ( In Xiaozhai (小寨), ¥10 by taxi from the city center ). Local youngsters shop here. It is one of those fake-brand markets. Sport shoes should be less than ¥150, pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less than ¥100, lots of cheap fashion accessories. This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but understand these are mostly pirated copies.
Kangfu Road ( Outside the east city wall, straight through the Northeast Gate ). A great place for a bargain. Nothing is (bargained for) over ¥50 and most clothes can be bargained down to about ¥20 if you are really aggressive. But this place is full of poor quality stuff.
Shida Lu . A trendy place to shop in a largely student populated area in the south of the city. Shida Lu has lots of hair salons, and clothing boutiques.
Century Ginwa . This luxury shopping mall has three locations in Xi'an. One downtown by the Drum Tower, one in Gaoxing on Keji Lu, and one just outside of the South Gate.

Books [ edit ]

Foreign Language Bookstore ( 外文书店 ), 349 Dong Dajie, Xincheng District; 西安市新城区东大街349号 , ☏ +86 29 8721 9872 . The best place to hunt down an English language novel or book. Almost every major city in China has one these days, but don't expect to be overwhelmed by the fabulous selection of English books – whether in Xi'an or in any city in China. Expect to find a handful of popular novels and classic prose. You'll also find bucket loads of English language text books and dictionaries for studying purposes. ( updated Oct 2016 )
Jiahui Hantang Book City ( 嘉汇汉唐书城 ), 111 Chang’an Zhonglu, Yanta District; 西安市雁塔区长安中路111号 , ☏ +86 29 85219888 . 09:00-21:00 . The largest bookstore in Xi'an, Book City has a fairly decent selection of imported English books. You'll find a wide range of books here, from educational ones, to classic novels, and modern literature to children's books. The place gets swamped with people at the weekends, so for a more pleasant browsing experience, come during a weekday. ( updated Oct 2016 )
Xi'an Book Building ( 西安图书大厦 ), 214 Jiefang Lu; 西安市新城区解放路236 , ☏ +86 29 87416666 . 09:00-21:00 . Four floors of books as far as the eye can see. Though the vast majority of books are in the Chinese language, you will find a small selection of English books on the second floor. The building also houses a small audio and video section, as well as a café. ( updated Oct 2016 )
Bell Tower Xinhua Bookstore ( 钟楼新华书店 ), 377 Dong Dajie; 西安市东大街377号 , ☏ +86 29 8724 0844 . 09:00-20:00 . Another very small English language book selection can be found at the Bell Tower Xinhua Bookstore. Unless you're nearby, your best bet for English books is still the Foreign Language Bookstore or even the Book City. However, if you're also looking for stationary, cards, wrapping paper etc. then it may be worth checking out and to trying to kill two birds with the one stone. Otherwise don't expect an English-language book Mecca here. ( updated Oct 2016 )

Eat [ edit ]

The Xi'an as is today is very different from like 10 or 20 years ago, when there were only certain restaurants known by the locals to serve delicious food. Now the restaurants are everywhere, especially ones like KFC and McDonald. Unfortunately the younger generations don't seem to appreciate the traditional cuisines and rather choose to eat fast food. Therefore, some of good old restaurants are forced to close down, being taken over by the newer ones.

Xi'an specialties include:

Yángròu Pàomó (羊肉泡馍) is one of the signature dishes of the area, it consists of a piece of thick, chewy bread and a kettle of lamb soup. The diner shreds the bread with his hands and places the shreds in a bowl, the soup is then poured over the shreds (along with meat, maybe some noodles or scallion, etc.) The trick is to shred the bread into pieces that are "as small as possible", like the size of your pinky fingernail. Most first-timers will shred their bread in pieces that are too large. In some restaurants, they have already shredded the bread for you. It is normally also served with pickled garlic and chili. If you don't like lamb, some restaurants also offer a beef version. The best, and the most authentically made of this dish can be found in the Hui Muslim Quarter.
Ròu jiā mó (肉夹馍) is the closest thing to a hamburger. This is a local tradition and should be very easy to locate. Sandwich-like, with pork, beef or lamb, this is a must-try item for anyone who is in this area. Still, as a dish that is derived from Hui people's cuisine, the best Ròu jiā mó restaurant is to be found usually within the City Walls, specifically in the Hui Muslim Quarters. Not every Ròu jiā mó restaurant in the city serves the food just like the original. A recommendation of such an "authentic" restaurant would be Yú Lǎo Dà (literally translated as "Mr.Yu's") located in the Wuxing Street, just across the Roman Catholic church. It mostly serves food for breakfast, so get in there in the morning just in case it closes at noon.
Xiǎo lóng bāozi (小笼包子) are basket-steamed dumplings (one basket ¥3), common as a midnight snack. Look for its big brother "Da baozi" only available first thing in the mornings, like a steamed Cornish pastie, but very nice.
Guàn tāng bāozi (灌汤包子) are steamed buns served with sauces inside.
Shìzi bǐng (柿子饼) are buns made from persimmons, stuffed with something (e.g. black sesame paste), and deep-fried, so they're quite sticky-sweet. You can find many sellers in the Muslim Quarter, and they are only ¥1 each or less!
Lǜdòu gāo (绿豆糕) are literally green bean cakes (come in small cubes), but they're more moist than you may find elsewhere and also come with a variety of mixings (e.g. sesame). Half a Jin should be about six cubes and cost about ¥5 at a cart in the Muslim Quarter.
Ice Peak, or BīngFēng (冰峰) is a kind of carbonated orange-flavoured beverage that is a provincial specialty. Its taste is very similar to the orange-flavoured Fanta, but locals still prefer the "traditional" Ice Peak. It is usually served in traditional restaurants, mostly within the City Walls, such as Biáng biáng miàn restaurants. It is known by the locals to be made with better-quality oranges, and therefore the company is not making as much profit as, for example, Coca-Cola. The price for one glass bottle is usually ¥2-3.

Some good places to look for restaurants are:

The Muslim Quarter close to the Drum Tower is a vibrant area with many restaurants spilling out onto the street and mixing with the street sellers. If you're looking for snacks, this area is also full of people selling dried fruit (especially dates) and nuts/seeds (sunflower, melon, pumpkin, etc.) Prices are per Jin (500 g) and are pretty much standardized throughout the area, so you can't really bargain unless you're buying a lot (but who wants 1 kg of peanuts anyway?) Watch out for the pits in the dates! As its name suggests, this is a good place to look for halal food. Since the Muslim Quarter is basically a series of small alleys, there are multiple entrances. The one commonly used by the locals is located behind a shopping mall called Bǎi Shèng (百盛) on the West Avenue, at the northern end of the South Guangji Street. Another one where you can find meat shops more easily is located at the northern end of Qiaozikou. Visitors usually are directed to the one behind the Drum Tower, where you can find more souvenir shops.
Street food (mostly sold after sunset, or some near night clubs/bars after 23:00) presents a variety of local/regional dishes, ranging from noodle soups, dumplings, hot pot, and so on by tens of little food vendors on street side, each with a red lamp. There are a few roads running perpendicular to the Muslim Quarter road that have a larger variety of streetside food (at cheaper prices because these roads are harder to access). As streetside stores are nearly a model of perfect competition, look out for food sold at significantly higher prices, yet maintain a long queue as these are likely to be tastier. For instance, some vendors may unscrupulously sell beef mixed with lamb and pass the meat off as pure lamb meat to cut their cost, however those who sell real lamb meat usually charge a higher price.
If Muslim food isn't your thing, you can find a few more typically Chinese restaurants on Dongmutou Shi (东木头市) southeast of the bell tower .

Budget [ edit ]

A good way if you do not want the expensive hotel food or just want to try real Chinese cuisine, is to simply go into a small restaurant and point to a dish somebody else is having and you will get a meal for less than ¥10 (seldom ¥20) per person. It's best to do so within the City Walls, as most restaurants there are family businesses and may have been there for a very long time. The real good old restaurants, especially those run by Hui people, usually serve very delicious food that is also very cheap. Most of these have been there for quite a long time, and are usually found within the City Walls. But such restaurants are scattered across the area. It's best to ask someone that you know for which ones to go to.

A good street for eating is Xiyang Shi running east–west near the mosque in the Muslim quarter.

34.269297 108.935563 1 Wen Xin Jiaozi Guan ( 温馨饺子馆 ), 123 Xushimiao Street ( Next to the Good World Hotel, off of Lian Hu Lu ). A good cheap place for jiaozi (Chinese dumplings). There is no menu, but endless supplies of fresh jiaozi of many flavors. From ¥4-5 a bowl . ( updated Apr 2017 )
34.259032 108.948544 2 Lao Sun Jia ( 老孙家 ), 364 Dong Dajie . Has fantastic yangrou paomo which is very cheap but flavorful. No English spoken but easy to communicate with sign language! Franchises all across town. ( updated Apr 2017 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC or its Chinese brother, Dicos, are widely available within city walls for a change from the daily Chinese cuisine. There are also three Starbucks within a 5-minute walk of the Bell Tower.

34.20545 108.97 3 [dead link] Caprice Restaurant + Bar ( 卡佩斯西餐厅 ), 11B Diamond Peninsula, Corner of Yan Nan 3rd Road and Furong West Road, Qujiang District (曲江新区雁南三路钻石半岛11B, 雁南三路芙蓉西路十字路口西南角) ( take the 500 bus, get off 1 stop past the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) at the Starbucks and walk east 500 m ), ☏ +86 29 89136510 , [email protected] . 11:00-22:00 . An upbeat restaurant designed like a Chicago-style steakhouse that has pretty authentic Italian and British pub food. For those only wanting drinks there is an Los Angeles-style lounge where they specialize in cocktails. Good portion size and popular with the local expats. If you go during lunch or in the early evenings you can chat with the Canadian owners for traveling tips. US$8-16 .
Highfly Pizza ( 高飞 ) ( Down the right hand street after coming out of South Gate (南门) ). Real pizza and other western food. Unfortunately the one out of the South Gate closed down a couple of years ago. But the brand continues to exist, under which several restaurants are run across the city, usually in big shopping malls, but the taste isn't all like before. ( updated Aug 2021 )
Green Molly Restaurant & Pub ( 绿茉莉 ) ( 200 m north of Ginwa Shopping Center on the intersection of Gaoxin Road and Keji Road (西安市高新区高科大厦副楼一层 (世纪金花商场后门向北200米路东)) ), ☏ +86 29 81883339 . 10:00-23:00 . A restaurant where you can indulge in the tastes of home, whether that be in the U.S., Europe or even Mexico. The restaurant owns only the second authentic pizza oven in Xi'an. Downstairs, the first and only real pub in Xi'an has a wide selection of beverages ranging from imported beers to wine and delicious cocktails.
Small World Cafe ( Jiànguómén 建国门 ), Huancheng Nanlu Dongduan 90# ( outside Jian Guo Gate (建国门外) ). 11:00-22:30 . Run by a Dutch woman and her Chinese husband. Known by the older generations as "the oldest western restaurant in Xi'an", which opened in the early 70s. Great European cafe feel. Good food. Pizza, salad, fried chicken and real cake. From the windows, one could see busy Huancheng Nanlu (环城南路), while it is really quiet inside. ( updated Aug 2021 )
Delhi Darbar ( 新德里餐厅 ), Dayanta West Road (雁塔区大唐通易坊东头路北) ( directly west of the Big Goose Pagoda on a street full of upscale bars and restaurants ). Authentic North Indian food run by a wonderful Indian manager. Service is good, food is divinely delicious, and prices are very affordable. Mango Lassi for only ¥10 is a must-have. Average meal price is about ¥40 per person.
Village Cafe . A nice urban cafe on Shi Da Lu that offers burgers, steaks, and all sorts of drinks and desserts. From ¥30-60 per person.

Splurge [ edit ]

Luxury restaurants serving western food are virtually everywhere to be found in big shopping malls these days, mostly in the southern suburbs.

La Seine , Nandajie (南大街) ( near Bell Tower ). French style restaurant.
Tang Paradise Hotel ( near the Wild Goose Pagoda in the Qujiang Resort of Xi'an ). Dinner Show in a large 165 acres theme park. The charm lies in that all the buildings in the park are built in the luxurious style of the Tang Dynasty. The best time to visit is at night when most of the shows, including fireworks and dances, are performed.
Koi , Sofitel on Ren Min square . Japanese cuisine.
Village Cafe (32 Shi Da Lu, opposite of Bank of China). If you miss your burger, this is the place to go.

Drink [ edit ]

Night clubs in Xi'an are not abundant. All clubs play the same music, a mix of Chinese disco and some pop music. Most people go out between 22:00 and 01:00, but clubs are generally open until 04:00.

Be mentally prepared to be aggressively approached by club operators desperate for patrons.

In summer time, the area around South Gate (南门) is beautiful. East of it are three nice bars with terraces and gardens.

Along the short Nandajie (南大街) are the most clubs (you can also eat on the street as there are restaurants open past midnight).

MIX ( Big light ad ). Rather nice places to sit and drink.
Palando . Rather nice place to sit and drink.
Night Cat . Dance floor, some foreigners and OK DJs.
Kulala . Dance floor.

Other options include:

1+1 ( 一加一; pronounced ), Dongdajie (东大街) ( in the middle of the street ). Remains one of the most popular clubs and definitely the most popular among foreigners. The club has 2 dance floors: first floor is mostly J-pop music, second floor is mostly hip-hop. There is a relaxed open air bar on the 5th floor which has live music every night.
De Fu Lou Cafe & Bar ( De Fu Lou Paulaner Bar ), De Fu Xiang Street . In Bar Street (De Fu Xiang), one of the first bars ever to open in Xi'an and a favorite hangout for locals. Live football on the big screen and live music every night.
Salsa ( 莎莎; Shasha ), 7F, Parkson building, No.107 West Street . It is probably the most popular club. This club is your best bet on Fridays and Saturdays however yi-jia-yi is more consistent during the week. The dance floor, while smaller than yi-jia-yi's, is usually less crowded, so you have a bit more room to dance. Be careful if your group is mainly non-Chinese as they sometimes decide to limit the number of foreigners allowed in.
Off-road Tea Bar , Jiefang Road ( 800 m S direct to Xi'an Railway Station ). Has been checked by Google Business. Here, one could enjoy the fresh green tea in Southern Shaanxi and could meet local cycling and trekking lover.
Havana Bar , Renmin Square ( in Sofitel Hotel ). Has a Colombian band and makes good cocktails. It's not your average Buena Vista Social Club, though: they play loud music in between band performances and the band plays a wide array of pop and salsa. This location is more of a club than an actual Latin bar.
The Belgian Bar , 69 Shun Cheng Nan Lu Dong Duan ( 150 m east inside the South Gate ), ☏ +86 13201672369 . The first and only Belgian bar in Xi'an. Friendly pub atmosphere and huge range of beers. Popular with expats and locals. Awesome location facing onto the city wall.
Vice Versa , Wen Chang Men (Wen Chang Gate) ( Beilin History Museum (Beilin Bo wu guan) ), ☏ +86 151 092 72480 . 15:00-05:00 . Vice Versa is a cultural mix of east and west, found in one of the older districts of Xi'an. With a relaxed cafe/restaurant open during the day, a lively bar serving a mix of western and Asian beers/cocktails at night, and a crowd of expats and Xi'an locals. Has a skate shop on the third floor, run by Converse pro-skater Xiao Jian. It is next to the front gate of the Forest of Steles History Museum, next to the city wall at Wen Chang Gate; you can call Mike at 151 092 72480 if you get lost.
Park Qin ( basement Qin bar ), A-2 Shuncheng West Alley (inside the South City Gate), Beilin District, Xi'an ( go to South Gate. Walk along inside wall about 20 meters. Go into hostel and down stairs into basement ). An underground basement bar (underneath Xi'an Shuyuan International Youth [Party] Hostel [see listing below]). Always packed, with live entertainment and a lot of laowai. Go early to get a table. Entrance not marked. Press blue-lit buzzer beside door to get in. Can be a really wild party. ( updated Jan 2017 )

Sleep [ edit ]

As with most Chinese cities, several cheap run down hotels can be found near the train station. There are a few decent ones inside the city walls, on a road called Jie Fang Lu , going directly south from the train station. Bargaining is possible, especially if you are staying for more than one night. Expect to pay under ¥100 for a single room as getting a room for as low as ¥30 is possible.

There are at least six international youth hostels in the center of the city, and they are easy to find.

Booking on the Internet will usually save you money, prices start around ¥15.

3e Hotels International , 54 Nandajie ( between the South Gate and the Bell Tower, next door to a KFC on the W side of the street ). Single room with free broadband internet is ¥154. Right outside the door is a coffee shop.
Bob's Guesthouse , 85 Huan Cheng Bei Lu Rd ( just outside the city walls, a short walk from the train station ). Doubles with en-suite bathroom for ¥100; dorms from ¥25 (summer 2006) .
Ludao Binguan , 80 Xi Ba Lu (西八路) , ☏ +86 29 87420308 , fax : +86 29 82101222 . A nicer-than-average hotel and hostel. Dorm rooms are between ¥25-50, depending on the season. Reasonably nice hotel room for around ¥75. The manager Jim Beam is friendly.
[dead link] Hq Guesthouse in Xi'an , Hong Cheng Guoji Gong Yu, Xihuamen Shizi, 西安市, 陕西省, 710003 , ☏ +86 13149250037 . Small but cozy setup in a brand new apartment complex by the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an. Free pickup, free internet. 1-bedroom apartments from ¥300. .
Xi'an Shuyuan International Youth Hostel , Xi Nanmen , ☏ +86 29 87287720 , fax : +86 29 87287721 . Excellent location next to the South Gate. 8 people dorm from ¥35/night. There is an excellent pub under the hostel, and a very nice coffee house. Perfect place to hang out, surf internet, a 10-minute walk from Drum Tower and the Muslim snack street! Updated: 09.02.2012
Han Tang Inn Youth Hostel , 7 South Long Alley , ☏ +86 29 87231126 , +86 29 87287772 . The hostel is in a 4 floor building down a alley near the Bell Tower. Rates range from ¥30-160; doubles with en suite bathroom costs ¥120/night (as of June 2010; booked on hostelworld.com). The hostel includes a bar on the 4th floor with TV, pool table, movies and 3 guitars. Free computer use for internet in the lobby. The Wi-fi in the rest of the building is iffy but you can ask for an Ethernet cable. The staff run lots of events (e.g. a dumpling party) each wee. Have a partner, Shuyuan Hostel, near the South Gate.
[formerly dead link] duolamaer gallery international youth hostel , 7 Shuncheng Avenue, Zhuque Gate ( 10 m from South Gate ), ☏ +86 15129032007 . Duolamaer is a painting-themed hostel providing a vibrant accommodation for independent travelers who require basic but clean living facilities. It is run by a bunch of arts enthusiasts, who give that place a creative and aesthetic atmosphere.
Warriors International Youth Hostel , No.98 Bei Ma Dao Xiang ( across the street from the West Wall, North from the main West Gate and South of the Lama Temple ). Great budget option, in a quiet spot along the inside of the West City Wall. Opened April 2012 - facilities are clean, spacious, and comfortable. Staff are young, friendly, have a good grip on English. Free train station pickup, A/C, Wi-fi, computer use, and one beer/coffee ticket. Train 103 within easy walking distance to/from train station. Dorms posted as ¥50, book online through a 3rd party for ¥20/night.
[dead link] Ancient City Youth Hostel ( 古城青年旅舍 ), 4 Lianhu Rd, Xi'an ( take the subway to Beidajie and take exit B; turn around and pass the police station to find the entrance in a backyard behind another hotel; from the main train station, take bus 9 or 103 to Beidajie, or ask them to pick you up ), ☏ +86 2987365338 . A cozy and modern place, clean and in very good shape. Well-heated rooms and comfortable beds. Staff speak good English and know all of the important bus routes. There is a very nice bar (Tsingtao ¥12), although your experience with the food may vary. The breakfast sets (¥20 upwards) are recommended, however. A pool table and a ping pong table are available, as is a fitness room. On the downside, rooms close to the bar tend to be noisy and draw smoke. ¥40 upwards .
34.248882 108.986251 1 Citadines Xingqing Palace Xi'an , 159 Xingqing Rd, Beilin District , ☏ +86 29 8338 0588 , [email protected] . Offers 139 studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Amenities such as fully-equipped kitchen, gymnasium, business center are available. ( updated Nov 2017 )
Xian Central Serviced Apartments , Xihuamen Shizi , ☏ +86 15829031947 . Xian central serviced apartments are more than 100 m². Spacious, newly furnished, clean and about 1 min walk to the Muslim Quarter. Free PC and internet in every apartment. Provide free use of mobile phone for guests to use while out exploring the city
Qindao Business Hotel ( 西安秦道商务酒店 ), 100 Nan Guang Ji Jie ( along Xi Dajie across from the Parkson Shopping Center and entrance to the Muslim Quarter ), ☏ +86 29 87615888 . Free internet and cable TV in the rooms. Travel office and public computer available in the lobby. Complimentary breakfast at 4th floor restaurant of mediocre quality, but their regular menu items are quite good and the view from the balcony is great. Laundry service: 2 day turnaround ¥10/item. Beware of the massage place on the 7th floor. It is nasty. ¥286 for a double room (2 people) and up .
Grand Mercure on Renmin Square ( 西安豪华美居人民大厦 ), 319 Dongxin St ( in the grounds of Renmin Square. ), ☏ +86 29 87928888 , [email protected] . A heritage hotel of 202 rooms, 21 suites, first opened in 1957 and reflects the Sino Russian style of architecture.
Mercure on Renmin Square Xi'an ( 西安美居人民大厦 ), 319 Dongxin St ( in the grounds of Renmin Square. ), ☏ +86 29 87928888 , [email protected] . A heritage hotel of 113 rooms, opened in 1957 and reflects the Sino Russian style of architecture. From ¥594 .
34.262 108.949 2 Nanlin International Hotel , No. 8 Nanxin Street, Xincheng District, 西安市 SA , ☏ +86 29 87216000 . Nanlin International Hotel is a four-star hotel in Xincheng District. It is 3 km from Xi'an Railway Station and 40 km from Xianyang International Airport. Air-con room equipped with cable TV and free high-speed Internet access. Best rates on official website start at ¥287 .
[dead link] Warriors apartments , Building B, Hongcity International apartment, No.15 Xihuamen St., Xi'an , ☏ +86 13519197819 , [email protected] . Family-run, boutique apartment hotel. Qin-styled accommodations with 40 life-size warriors in the three apartments. Each apartment has terracotta warriors and has 1 or 2 bedrooms, bathroom, dining area, TV, bed quilts, oven, full kitchen facilities and broadband internet access.
Ibis Hotel , 59, Heping Road, Xian , ☏ +86 2987275555 . Part of Accor Group. Very basic facilities. Free broadband internet access. Price per night starts from ¥199 .
Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza Hotel ( 金花豪生國際大酒店 ), 18 West Section, Huancheng S Rd ( 200 m outside south gate of walled city ). 5-star in two modern towers with 324 rooms. From US$ 60 ppn . ( updated Sep 2018 )
Golden Flower Hotel , JiaoDa ShangYe JieQu, Xincheng Qu ( 5 km east of walled city, take metro 1 to Tonghua Men B ). 5-star hotel, large rooms with views. Swimming pool, spa, 3 restaurants, lobby bar and shops. Double from US$50 . ( updated Sep 2018 )
Sheraton Xi'an Hotel , 262 Feng Hao E Rd ( 2 km west of center, take Metro blue line or bus 611 ), ☏ +86 29 84261888 . Standard 4-star Sheraton offering. This quarter of town is being demolished so it's a bit forlorn. ( updated Sep 2018 )
Garden Hotel ( 唐华宾馆 ), Ci'en Rd, Yanta District , ☏ +86 29 8760 1111 . Four-star hotel with a stunning imperial-inspired façade and 292 beautifully appointed rooms. Facilities include conference and banquet venues, three restaurants, and an indoor swimming pool. ( updated Sep 2018 )
34.336 109.017 3 Jin Jiang International Hotel ( 西安锦江国际酒店, formerly Kempinski ), 6 West Section, Euro-Asia Avenue, Chanba Ecological District ( at river confluence 10 km northeast of walled city ), ☏ +86 29 8355 0000 . 5-star luxury hotel with river view and extensive conference facilities. On opposite bank is Euro-Asia Economic Forum. from US$80 ppn . ( updated Sep 2018 )
34.228997 108.933914 4 Xi'an Xindicheng, Somerset Serviced Apartments ( 西安盛捷新地城服务公寓 ), No.64 West Section of South 2nd Ring Road, Yanta District ( 400 m west of Metro red line ), ☏ +86 29 8790 9888 , [email protected] . Check-in: 14:00 , check-out: 11:00 . Serviced apartments for short and long stays. Self contained rooms with kitchen, washing machine, shower. Spa on the top floor with gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam room. Close to a university, which has a number of very tasty street food stalls in the morning, and after 23:00. From US$80 ppn . ( updated Sep 2018 )
Grand Park Xian , 12 Xi Duan, Huan Cheng South Road, 710068, Xian , ☏ +86 29 8760 8888 , [email protected] . Check-in: 14:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Starting from US$54 .

Learn [ edit ]

Xi'an Jiaotong University is a locally prestigious institution that offers study programs to foreign students. The website of its school of international education is [1]

Connect [ edit ]

It's not very easy to make friends with the locals in Xi'an, especially if you don't speak the language. Also the most common, or even the only way to keep in touch with anyone in China these days is through Wechat. The locals are mostly not used to using emails. However, in Defu Alley, you can find several bars where Football fans gather during the game seasons, which is a good place to socialize if you are interested in football. Also you may have chances at making friends in Coffee shops too, as that's where new generations like to spend time with friends on weekends.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Xi'an is, like other Chinese cities, generally quite safe. Just watch out for pickpockets in crowds, on the bus, and during national holidays.

Cope [ edit ]

Look at the Beijing#Cope notes as they apply to Xi'an, too. Most importantly, take paper tissue with you to toilets.

Generally, Western style accommodation will have western toilets, whereas the very inexpensive guest house ( zhao dai suo ) will usually have squat toilets. If you need to use western toilets, learn to plan your day accordingly. Major tourist attractions will have western toilets. There seems to be an unwritten agreement that foreigners can use the toilets in most hotels as necessary.

If you arrive in Xi'an by train, try not to be overwhelmed when you exit Xi'an's train station. There are usually aggressive hotel touts looking for customers. Just insist that you already have a place to stay and tell them no, with a serious faced, 不要！ / Bú yào！

Be aware that the taxi drivers at the railway station and near to the airport bus drop off points like to work off-meter and will charge up to ten times the normal fare if they can. Do take this into the context of your country's exchange rate; what may be 10 times the local fare may only realistically be an insignificant monetary cost in your home currency. Also remember that although it may be more expensive than what the locals pay, it may be a small cost for the only available option to get you where you need to go.

It is a good idea to leave your bags at the left luggage office and then go into town to look for accommodation. This way you will not be overwhelmed by the burden of carrying your heavy bags or luggage around.

Go next [ edit ]

Xianyang was historically part of Xi’an and is closely integrated with Xi’an due to its close geographical proximity. You can reach Xianyang’s urban area just by taking a metro train. Lines 1 and 14 of the Xi’an Metro both connect Xi’an to Xianyang.

Chen Lu: 3 hours' drive north of Xi'an, this community of artisans has been producing pottery since the Tang dynasty. You need private transport, and the road is hazardous in winter. Take in the Yaozhouyao Kiln Museum, 90 km north of Xi'an on the old road to Chenlu Town. There's fine Yaozhou porcelain from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), and the site of the original kiln.
Hu Kou Waterfall (壶口瀑布 Húkǒu Pùbù ), 150 km north of Xi'an, can be combined with a trip to Huang Di Mausoleum. You need your own transport as the only bus of the day back to Xi'an departs around 10:00.
Huashan National Park (华山 Huàshān) 120 km east of Xi'an, takes only 35 min by high-speed train, or 90 min by conventional train or bus. Huashan is a 2160-m mountain with spectacular views; either hike up the 6 km trail (4–6 hours) or take the 10 minute cable car for ¥70 (though the cable car often has lines lasting 2 hours.) Try to catch sunrise on the East peak, but it's cold up there. Accommodation is available but pricey.
Louguan (楼观), 60 km southwest of Xi'an and two hours by bus, is the base for seeing Louguantai National Park, a Daoist temple complex. A further 2 km west is Daqin Pagoda (大秦塔 Dà Qín Tǎ), a seven-story octagonal tower, probably Buddhist and from the 11th century. But "Daqin" means Roman or Middle Eastern in early Chinese, and some claim the tower was built in 640 AD by Nestorians , Assyrian Christians who reached China via Persia and the Silk Road. It's far-fetched but has done wonders for the tourist trade.

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Xian travel blog (xi’an blog) — the fullest xian china travel guide for first-timers.

Xi’an (Chang’an) is the oldest of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals (Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang), serving as the capital city of 13 feudal dynasties spanning a 1,100-year history from 221 BC. Xi’an is the “cradle” of Chinese civilization. So, is Xian worth visiting, how to visit Xian, what to do in Xian and how to plan a budget trip to Xian for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Xian travel blog (Xian blog, Xian China travel blog) with the fullest Xian travel guide (Xi An China guide, Xi An China travel guide, Xian tourist guide, Xian city guide, Xian China travel guide) from how to get to Xian, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Xian to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Guide to Xian nightlife (Xi An China nightlife) — 9+ what to do, where to go & best things to do in Xi An at night
Where to visit in Xian? — 8 must-see & best places to visit in Xi An, China
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With a history of more than 3,100 years, this place still retains its potential value, worthy of being one of the largest developed cities in the Northeast of China and one of the top ten major cities in China. This land is the cradle of the Yellow River basin civilization, accompanied by famous Chinese historical figures: Qin Shi Huang, Wu Zetian… Therefore, the ancient beauty of the ancient capital Xi’an is getting bigger and bigger. Many foreign tourists come here to visit and study. Today, many heads of state and people from all walks of life come to this city to expand their understanding of Chinese civilization.

Overview of Xian (# xian travel blog)

Xi’an is the capital city of Shaanxi province, China. This is a city directly under the province. During the feudal era, Xi’an was one of the four great capitals. Not only that, Xi’an is also the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road. Thus, it can be said that Xi’an plays an important role in economics and trading. Therefore, in the Northwest region, Xi An is the largest and most developed city.

Xi’an formerly known as Chang’an and Haojing is located in the northwest of China, in the middle of the Guanzhong Plain, bordered by the Weihe River to the north and the Qinling Mountains to the south. Xi’an is a “World Historic City” recognized by UNESCO in 1981, one of the important cradles of Chinese civilization and nation.

Xi’an was the final point on the eastern side of the legendary Silk Road, and played a huge role in the history of China’s development. It is a hidden place of ancient legacies that can be mentioned such as: The world-famous Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang or the Qin Dynasty ancient capital of Xianyang.

Xi’an has a treasure trove of long-standing historical relics, including:

There are 72 royal tombs.
More than 700 historical sites from ancient temples to citadels and city walls surround it.
Some of them have been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The city is also known for its diverse cuisine with strong Chinese characteristics. It has been said that there are more than 1,000 dishes across the streets in Xi’an.

When is the best time to visit Xian? (# xian travel blog)

Xi’an has a temperate and continental monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons. Summers in Xi’an are hot and rainy, while winters here are usually cold and dry.

Spring (March to May) (# xian travel blog)

At this time the weather is warm, hundreds of flowers bloom everywhere. The breeze is gentle and the sunlight is warm. The weather is very suitable for you to visit and participate in outdoor activities. Note that this period also often sees dust storms due to rapidly rising temperatures. Therefore, tourists should bring masks and thin long clothes for the best experience.

Summer (June – August) (# xian blog)

The summer climate is hot and humid. In addition to hot days, there are also showers. Coming to Xi’an in the summer, you need to prepare sunscreen, hats, hats, umbrellas, etc. Tourists should avoid going to outdoor attractions at noon, such as: The ancient city wall, instead you should can visit indoor attractions such as the Shaanxi History Museum.

Note: Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water when sightseeing. Prioritize visiting the cool mountains around the city like Huashan Mountain which is popular among tourists to escape the heat.

Autumn (September – November) (# xian china travel blog)

Xi’an’s autumn days are tinged with red and yellow leaves. The weather in Xi’an in the fall will become cool, very suitable for outdoor picnic activities. However, during this time Xi’an sometimes has cloudy skies accompanied by quite heavy rain. You should carefully prepare yourself with a raincoat and umbrella to avoid these sudden rains. It should be noted that because it is the peak tourist season, most tourists come here during the year, so it will be very crowded and service prices will certainly be much more expensive.

Winter (December – February of the following year)

Winter in Xi’an is cold and snowy. The city was now covered in fog, with occasional snowfall. This is an extremely suitable time to participate in skiing to see the city from the ancient city wall. For young people who like to travel but do not have much money to travel, winter will be the right time. Because winter is not the tourist season here, there are relatively few tourists. Therefore, travel costs are much cheaper than during the high season, but some tourist attractions are also closed in winter.

In general, the weather in Xi’an is pleasant all year round, so you can come here any time. However, the best time to visit Xi’an is in spring and autumn – two seasons with very cool and pleasant weather.

What times should you avoid when traveling to Xi’an? (# xian travel guide)

You should not go to on all holidays in China, especially Xi’an. In addition, because Xi’an is also a tourist center in China, when traveling to Xi’an, must pay attention to the worldwide holidays.

Lunar New Year
New Year’s Eve
Lantern Festival (mid-February or early March)
International Workers’ Day
Mid-Autumn Festival (mid-September)
Summer holidays (June-> August)
National Day (October 1st to 10th)

Getting to Xian (# xian travel guide)

Xi’an China is a city with a developed transportation system, allowing tourists to travel here by many different means of transport such as long-distance bus, train, plane. Airplane is the most popular means of transportation today and visitors can book round-trip flight tickets to Xi’an to start their journey. Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (IATA: XIY) is about 50km to the northwest of Xi’an city center.

There are many different options when traveling from the airport to the center.

I want to save money so I choose this option. The important thing is that because I arrived in Xi’an in the evening when there were still buses, I saved a lot of money to go by taxi. The second thing I’m a bit afraid of is because taxis in China are easily scammed if you go alone (I was once scammed and lost a lot of money when taking a taxi in Hangzhou), so the safe choice is still to take a bus if traveling alone like me.

At 9am, when I arrived at Xi’an airport, it was still very crowded, so you can rest assured. The bus trip from the airport to Xi’an center (here, I mean the old station of Xi’an) lasts very late: from 7 am to 2 am the next morning! So, rest assured. If you arrive early in the morning, try to wait for this bus, it will be there at 7am!

The bus ticket price to Xi’an center when I went was 25 yuan. There is 1 trip every 20-30 minutes. In general, it is very easy to find a place to buy tickets. You go from the Arrival Hall a little bit, you will see the ticket sales place right near the exit.

Its location is on the 1st floor, in Terminal 2, near the exit gate. If you pay attention, to find a place to buy tickets, you should determine which terminal you are flying to. As I learned, there are many popular airlines at Terminal 2:

China Eastern Airlines
Hainan Airlines
Capital Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines
Tianjin Airlines
China West Air
Kunming Airlines
Shandong Airlines
China Airlines
China Postal Airlines
Fuzhou Airlines

In addition to the bus route to Xi’an Railway Station, there are also many bus routes to other locations in central Xi’an such as Bell Tower (running until 11pm), West Bus Station (running until 2am the next morning), Xi’an North Railway Station (until 9:30pm)… In general, if you go to the Center, just go to Xi’an Railway station and then take a taxi to the other places for the best, there are many routes, fast and convenient and until 2am the next morning.

Taxi (# xian guide)

In case you are not traveling alone like me but traveling with a large group, you should consider taking a taxi.

Taxi price is around 120-130 yuan. Just bargain until this price is ok. But to be honest, I don’t have much sympathy for airport taxis in China, they’re all want to get rip off, you should remember to pay attention when they give you change, they often take a cut, give you a bulk, so you won’t notice and lost your money. It’s best to use change, they say you pay exactly how much you pay!

You can also take subway line 13 to get from the airport to the city center via 10 stations as map shown below.

Getting around Xian

In Xi’an you can travel by many different methods. Bus is the most cost-effective mode. Currently there are more than 200 bus routes in Xian. In addition, the subway is also a quite economical form of both cost and time. In Xi’an there are 6 train stations. Among them, the main station, Xi’an station is the center of the railway network. In addition, if you want the safest and fastest, you should choose a taxi.

Ticket price: 2 yuan (for air-conditioned type), 1 yuan for the non-air-conditioned type. But in general, I pay 2 yuan because I haven’t seen the type without air conditioning, so it’s probably not popular in the Center.

Which route should I take? I think buses in Xi’an should be used for long routes, going to places like The Terracotta Army, Huaqing Pool (Huaqing Palace), Huashan mountain… Bus trips within the inner city of Xi’an: Going to the city wall, going to the Bell Tower, Drum Tower… are ok but not the best means of transport due to time and traffic jams.

Disadvantages of taking the Xi’an bus: It’s not in English. So you will need to use Google Map and GPS to carefully check the locations you want to go to.

Xi’an is a large city in Northeast China, so rest assured that it has a Metro system. My Metro experience in Xi’an is actually not too much, but overall, it’s not difficult.

Ticket price: 2 yuan/short trip. 3-4 yuan/ long trip about 10-15km.

Which metro line should I take? Metro Xi’an has 5 lines but I only take Line 2 – this is also the line that goes through many worth visit tourist attractions in Xi’an. You should only take the Metro within the city of Xi’an, because it’s cheap + fast + because of the attractions along this route.

Does Metro have English? Yes. Metro Xi’an is quite modern, so it will be bilingual. Please rest assured when taking the metro in Xi’an.

From Xi’an to other cities

Xi’an is an international gateway and also an important gateway to the Northwest and Northeast regions of China, so from this city you can go to many places:

Follow the Silk Road

Following in the footsteps of Middle Eastern merchants returning to the country from ancient Chang’an.

Xinjiang: I can take the high-speed train to Urumqi but have to change train in Lanzhou and Xiling.
Xiling: A fairyland with green mountains and hills in spring and summer, the yellow shine of maple trees in autumn and white snow on the top of high mountains.
Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Yemen, Jiayuguan… Ancient towns belonging to the Silk Road.
Zhangye Danxia: Unique landform with seven-color rainbow mountains glowing under the sunlight.

Take the high-speed trains to

Luoyang: This city is very close to Xi’an! Taking the high-speed train only takes 1-2 hours.
Beijing: The capital of China with thousands of years of history. From Xi’an to Beijing it takes 4 hours and 4 hours by high-speed train.
Shanghai: Located in the golden triangle of Chinese tourism, connected to the prosperous Zhejiang region. The traveling time from Xi’an is just over 5 hours!

Where to go and what to do in Xian? (# xi an china guide)

Xi’an is one of China’s first spearhead cultural tourism cities, with countless well-preserved historical relics of high archaeological value. There are 72 royal tomb and mausoleums around Xi’an, including the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, “China’s first emperor”, the ruins of the capital through the four dynasties of Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang, 11 tombs of Western Han emperors and 18 tombs of Tang emperors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower and Drum Tower, 700 ancient buildings…

Daming Palace (# xian travel blog)

Address: 7XM5+4P8, Beibei District, Chongqing, China, 710015

Daming Palace, the main palace, capital and also the political center and national symbol of the Tang Dynasty, is located in Longshouyuan residential area, north of Chang’an (now Xi’an), Shaanxi, China.

This is the greatest palace in Xi’an. The palace is a complex of monumental architectural works. The details are all intricately and delicately carved. Visiting Daming, you will be amazed by the art of Chinese feudal royal architecture. In 2010, the palace officially opened to welcome visitors. If you want to enter the main hall, you will have to buy tickets. As for the gardens and courtyards, it is completely free. Daming Palace is a living testament to the prosperous Tang Dynasty in ancient times. Not only that, Xi’an is also the eastern end of the Silk Road.

The Citadel (including Daming palace, Taiji Palace palace, Xuanzheng hall), the largest complex of palaces, is called “Three Inner Palaces”. For 204 years since the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty and 17 Tang Dynasty emperors, they have all used this place to handle court affairs. Daming Palace was the most magnificent palace complex in the Tang Empire, and it was also the largest palace complex in the world at the time.

Daming Palace was first built in 634 in the reign of Emperor Taizong, with an area of about 3,200 square meters. The entire palace area can be divided into two parts: the front court is mainly used for court meetings, the inner palace is mainly used for living and holding banquets.

On March 4, 1961, Daming Palace was announced as a national key cultural relic in need of protection. In 2010, the Daming Palace National Heritage Park was established on the foundations of the original Daming Palace. On June 22, 2014, the ruins of Daming Palace were successfully included in the World Heritage List.

Weiyang Palace (# xi an china travel guide)

Address: 8V37+247, Weiyang, Xi’An, Shaanxi, China, 710086

Weiyang Palace was built in the Longshouyuan, the highest area in the city of Chang’an (now Xi’an) of the Han Dynasty. Because it is located on the west side of Anmen Street in Chang’an citadel, it is also known as called the West palace.

Weiyang Palace is the main palace, political center and national symbol of the Han Dynasty, built in the seventh year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty with a total area of 5000 square meters. Since its inauguration, emperors of the Western Han Dynasty have lived here, and Weiyang Palace has been the government center of the Han Empire for more than 200 years.

After the Western Han Dynasty, Wei Yang Palace was still the place of governance of the Tianmeng, Western Jin, Early Zhao, Early Qin, Later Qin, Western Wei, Northern Zhou dynasties, and was part of the Forbidden Garden during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Wei Yang Palace has existed for 1041 years, is the palace used in the most dynasties and has existed the longest in the world.

Wei Yang Palace was the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, in the second year of 139 BC, and was also the place that witnessed the outstanding development of the Han Dynasty in Chang’an when entering the process of trading on the Silk Road.

Along with the places listed above, Weiyang Palace also became a key national monument of China in 1961 and a World Heritage Site in 2014. Currently, tourists come here mainly to visit the Weiyang Palace Relics Park is because the precinct has many beautiful flowers and scenery, suitable for sightseeing and taking photos.

Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum

Address: Lintong District, Xi’An, Shaanxi, China, 710612 Hours: 8:30 AM–5 PM

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum of Qin Shi Huang is the most famous landmark in the ancient capital Xi’an. It is a key cultural relic of China, a national 5A tourist attraction, a first-class national museum, and a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors Museum is located in Qinling Town, Lintong County, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, founded in November 1975 and opened in 1979. The museum has three terracotta warrior pits No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 and horse pit. The three statue pits have an area of more than 20,000 square meters, with nearly 8,000 horse and warrior statues similar in size to real people and real horses. There are different types of weapons such as chariots, cavalry and infantry, arranged in an orderly manner.

Dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, the museum is one of the world’s most important archaeological discoveries, carrying a lot of historical and cultural values.

Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum is located at the north of Lishan mountain, 35 km northeast Xi’an city, Shaanxi province. This is the mausoleum of China’s first emperor and a world cultural heritage and Chinese 5A-level scenic spot.

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Xian Retro Style Sightseeing Bus Will Run Soon

In many cities of China, you may take a sightseeing bus to explore classic downtown tourist sites. With more and more visitors to Xian and larger demands to Xian public transportation , Xian also opened several sightseeing buses in the past few years. In recent days, Xian will open three more sightseeing bus routes. And these routes use the eye-catching retro style buses. The outer side of carriage is old-day-style deep green, has big front light, brown seats, and reddish brown floor. When you board the bus, you will have a feeling that you travel to the old days.

The newly opened three sightseeing routes covers all highlight places of interest in downtown Xian. Believe it will be a favorable choice of city sightseeing for people who knows even a little Chinese. It is reported the ticket cost would be CNY20-30 per person. And with that sightseeing bus ticket in hand, passengers can board and get off the bus at any one stop for free.

Here below is the routes details. Hope it can help with your coming Xian tour.

Route 1: Big/ Small Pagoda and Shaanxi History Museum Visit

Drum Tower – Small Wild Goose Pagoda – Shaanxi History Museum – Big Wild Goose Pagoda – Hanyao Park (Cold Cave Park) – Drum Tower

Route 2: Sightseeing around Xian City Wall

Drum Tower – West Gate of City Wall – South Gate of City Wall – East Gate of City Wall – Daming Palace Heritage Park – Yongxingfang Food Quarter – Drum Tower

Route 3: Bullet bus between Xian and Terracotta Warriors

Xian City Railway Station – Terracotta Warriors and Horses – Xian City Railway Station

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As the ancient capital of 13 imperial dynasties, Xi'an's size equals 13 times that of New York and six times that of London with a population that's about twice the size of Sydney's. It looks like a modern city but its real beauty lies in the unparalleled historical and cultural atmosphere.

With 20+ years' tour planning experience, we understand that attractions are important but insider's perspective and personal experiences bring you more sweet memory. Start planning with your Xi'an expert travel advisor, explore Xi'an with your local guide to unveil secrets of the city day by day.

Best Private Xi'an Tours (Classic Itineraries)

These are the most popular Xi'an itineraries for visiting the classic sights. Similar itineraries never mean the same experience. Instead of just show you around, we create unique Xi'an experiences: interactions with local people and culture.

Explore top 3 things to do on tripadvisor in one day
Taste local snacks and the flavor of life in the Muslim Quarter
Meet terracotta warriors from 2,200 years ago
Make your own terracotta warriors in a cave dwelling
Stand on the top of Mt Hua, Taoism's sacred mountain
Unveil secrets of the Terracotta Army
Admire the Terracotta Warriors
Taste exotic atmosphere at Muslim Quarter

Multi-Destinations Private Tours Including Xi'an

Enjoy amazing sunset on the Great Wall
Discover Shanghainese secret-recipe summer dishes
Hike along the Great Wall.
Challenge yourself on the Glass Bridge.

Spotlight Experiences to Enrich Your Xi'an Tour

We believe an authentic travel experience goes beyond visiting the must-see attractions. We enable you to immerse yourself in local traditions and life. The four experiences listed below give you an idea of what it would be like if you travel with us. Treat them as inspiration — we are here to help you create your own Xi'an experience.

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Xian Xianyang International Airport Shuttle Bus Lines & Timetables

Xian Xianyang International Airport is about 40km from Xian downtown. It operates about 14 shuttle bus lines to Xi’an, 2 lines to Xianyang, and nearly 20 lines to other cities in Shaanxi Province. It is convenient, much more economical than taxi, and is a good choice for independent travellers.

Xian Xianyang International Airport Shuttle Buses to Xian Downtown

There are about 14 shuttle bus lines to Xian downtown that cover the main attractions such as Bell Tower (close to Ancient City Wall and Muslim Quarter) and Shaanxi History Museum, the train stations, and passenger stations. For the destinations that are not covered, you can get to the downtown area first and then transfer to subway or city bus. All the buses to Xian City charge CNY 25 per person . You can buy the ticket and take the bus at the 1st Floor of T2 and the Ground Transportation Center (GTC) of T3 .

Airport Shuttle Buses to Downtown Tourist Attractions

The airport shuttle bus will take you directly to Bell Tower and Shaanxi History Museum. If you want to go to Terracotta Warriors or Mount Huashan, you need to take airport intercity bus which we will discuss later in this page.

Bell Tower Special Line (钟楼专线)

Shaanxi History Museum Line (陕西历史博物馆线)

Airport Shuttle Buses to Train Stations

Xian Railway Station Longhai Hotel Line (西安火车站陇海大酒店线)

Xian High Speed (North) Railway Station Line (西安高铁站线)

Airport Shuttle Buses to Passenger Stations

Shaanxi Xian Bus Station Line (陕西西安汽车客运站线)

Nanshaomen Xian Hotel Line (南稍门西安宾馆线)

Xian East Passenger Station Line (城东汽车客运站线)

Fangzhicheng Passenger Station Line (纺织城客运站线)

Changan District Jiyuan Hotel Line (长安区吉源国际酒店线)

Airport Shuttle Buses to Hotels

Xishaomen Konggang Business Hotel Line (西稍门空港商务酒店线)

High-tech Zone Ziction Liberal Hotel Line (高新区志诚丽柏酒店线)

East 2nd Ring Road Jianguo Hotel Line (东二环建国饭店线)

Changan District Hilton Garden Hotel Line (长安区希尔顿花园酒店线)

Other Airport Shuttle Bus Lines

Qujiang River Line (曲江线)

Xian Xianyang International Airport Shuttle Buses to Xianyang Downtown

There are two lines that will take you to Xianyang downtown and Xianyang High Speed Railway Station within an hour. All the buses to Xianyang City charge CNY 15 per person. You can buy the ticket and take the bus at the 1st Floor of T2 and the Ground Transportation Center (GTC) of T3 .

Xianyang Downtown Line (咸阳市区线)

Xianyang High Speed Railway Station Line (咸阳高铁站线)

Xian Xianyang International Airport Intercity Buses to Other Cities in Shaanxi

Xian Xianyang International Airport also offers shuttle buses (or intercity buses) to other cities in Shaanxi such as Baoji, Yanliang, Lintong, Hanzhong, etc. You can buy the tickets at the 1st floor of Ground Transportation Center (GTC) at T3 . It is convenient for independent travellers who want to go to some faraway attractions such as Terracotta Warriors (take the Lintong Line) and Huashan Mountain (take the Huashan Line).

Xian Xianyang International Airport Intercity Buses to Terracotta Warriors

To get to the Terracotta Warriors, you can take airport intercity bus to Lintong (临潼) first and then transfer to Bus 914 and get off at Bingmayong Station (兵马俑站). The whole trip will take about 2 hours. There are 9 intercity buses from 09:30 to 19:30. So it is very convenient if your flight arrives in the daytime. >>How to get to Terracotta Warriors

Xian Xianyang International Airport Intercity Buses to Mount Huashan

There are only three intercity buses to Mount Huashan which departs at 10:30, 13:00, and 17:00 . The bus will take you directly to the tourist center of Huashan Scenic Spot. If your flight doesn’t fit the schedule, you can take a taxi there (about 2h) but the cost will be much higher which is about CNY 400. >>More about Mount Huashan

Note: The information above updated in August, 2019 is for your reference only. The adjustment of routes, stations and schedules shall subject to the information published by the dispatching station.

Travel with China Discovery

If you don’t want to wait for the bus, we at China Discovery provide comfortable and efficient private transfer service for our clients who have booked one of our tour packages. No matter when your flight arrives, our friendly tour guide and skilled driver will hold a sign with your name and welcome you at the airport arrival hall, then escort you to your hotel or any location you want to visit with an air-conditioned and non-smoking vehicle . Travelling with China Discovery, all the problems such as transfer, tickets, meals, accommodation, etc. will be well taken good care of. All you need to do is just enjoying your trip! >>Contact us now

How to Plan a Xi’an Tour

As the ancient capital city for 13 dynasties in China's history, Xi’an has always been a hot tourist destination in China. Terracotta Warriors and Horses buried for more than 2000 years is definitely a must-see. After that, take a stroll or rent a bike on the Ancient City Wall , the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China, to enjoy panoramic views of modern Xi’an. Then try some local snacks at the bustling and lively Muslim Quarter . On the next day, you can head to Da Cien Temple and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to feel the Buddhist culture in Xi’an, then get a deeper understanding of the past of this city in Shaanxi History Museum . If you are interested in mountain climbing, don’t miss the challenging Mount Huashan which is famous for lofty peaks and steep paths.

If you have other ideas or questions about a Xian tour, please feel free to contact us . We are also specialized in customized tours according to your own requirements, interests, travelling budgets, etc.

>>1 Day Xian Essence Tour

>>2 Days Xian City Break

>>4 Days Xian Highlights Tour with Mount Huashan Hiking

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1 Day to Luoyang

How to Travel from Xi’an to Huashan

1. best way - high-speed train: 30 min, cny 54.5 for a second class seat.

2. Alternative Way - Normal-Speed Train: 2 Hours, CNY 19.5 for a Hard Seat

3. direct tourist bus to mountain foot: 2 hours, cny 39.5-42.

How to go to Huashan from Xi’an by bus? Tourist can take Xi’an Metro Line 1 to Fangzhicheng Station, or take metro line 4 to Xi'an Railway Station and Xi;an Coach Station is on the south. From the coach stations, passengers can take a direct bus to the tourist center of Mt. Huashan.

4. Taxi: 1.5 - 2 Hours, CNY350 - 600

Taking taxis is much flexible and comfortable. The taxi fare varies from CNY350-600 and the duration is 1.5-2 hours. Tourists should be aware that it may be hard to hail a taxi willing to travel so far.

How to Choose

Beyond all doubt, taking a high-speed train is the best and fastest way to travel from Xi’an to Huashan in terms of travel time, cost and convenience. It greatly facilitates tourists who want to take a one-day tour from Xi’an to Huashan Mountain. If you happen to stay near Xi'an Coach Station or Fangzhicheng Metro Station or along metro line 1, you could choose to take a tourist bus from Xi’an to Huashan. You should be prepared for small interior spaces on the bus.

Xi'an to Huashan Tours with Transportation

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Xi'an Sightseeing Bus To Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower…
Xian Travel Guide: Xian transportation-City Sightseeing Bus
How to Get to Xian
Xian Travel Guide: Xian transportation-City Sightseeing Bus
Xi'an Tourist Bus: Line 306 to Terracotta Army
How to Get to Xian

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Taking a Bus Experience in Suzhou, China (on Xian Dai Da Dao)
China Tourism after WOW: from X'ian: Bus No 2
tourist bus network se Dehradun ke liye🚎❤❤❤❤❤

COMMENTS

Xi'an Tourist Bus: Line 306 to Terracotta Army
Besides the public tourist buses, joining a guided tour offered by TravelChinaGuide.com is a good choice to save time and cover the major attractions in one day. Xi'an 1-Day Tours One day tours with low prices, to Terracotta Warriors Museum, Xi'an City Wall, Mt. Huashan, Qianling Mausoleum, and Famen Temple.
Xi'an Urban Sightseeing Buses: Explore Xi'an by Bus
With thousands years of history and fascinating traditional culture, the ancient capital of Xi'an is a must-visit destination on your first trip to China. For your Xian tours, the urban sightseeing buses is a great way to explore the city in depth.You can take these buses to the famous attractions in Xi'an, including the mighty Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, the fascinating Big ...
Xian Transportation, How to get to & around Xian 2024
Then transfer to a free tourist bus (about 20min) to Huashan Tourist Center. Taking a bus to Mount Hua directly from Xian will need about 1.5-2h. You can take the bus at Xian Bus Station, which is near Xian Railway Station. • Useful Links: Get from Xian to Mount Hua
How to Get to Terracotta Warriors from Xian
Xian Railway Station. About 37km, 1h by car. 1. Take Subway Line 4 to Wulukou Station (五路口站) first and transfer to Line 1 to Fangzhicheng Station (纺织城站), then transfer to Line 9 and get off at Huaqingchi Station (华清池站)，then take Bus 613 to Terracotta Warriors. (about 1.5hrs in total) 2. Taxi, about CNY 110.
How to Get to the Terracotta Army from Xi'an
Frequency: every 5-10 minutes. Travel time: approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. Fare: 7 yuan. Plan C: Bus 914 or 915. Bus stop: East Square at Xi'an Railway Station. Operating hours: 06:00-21:00 from Xi'an Railway Station's East Square. 05:30-20:00 return from the Terracotta Army. Travel time: 1 hour 50 minutes.
The Ultimate Travel Itinerary: Xi'an in 3 Days
For more details on visiting the warriors for yourself, check out the guide Travel Plan: The Terracotta Warriors. Next stop: There are free shuttle buses that regularly leave between both museums, as long as you have a ticket to either museum. Otherwise, you can take tourist bus number 5 (306) from one museum to the other.
THE 10 BEST Xian Bus Tours (w/Prices)
A: The best Bus Tours in Xian according to Viator travelers are: Customized Private Day Tour of Terracotta Warriors and Xi'an. Small Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda & Muslim Bazaar. Terracotta Warriors 5-Hour Private Tour w/ Optional Pickup Point.
Classic Xi'an City Bus Tour
Discover the rich cultural heritage of Xi'an on a full-day coach tour. Highlights include Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the Xi'an Museum, Xi'an Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square, and the Muslim Quarter. See relics of the Tang and Ming Dynasties, explore important Buddhist and Muslim sites, and learn about the city's many treasures with a guide. Lunch, entrance tickets, and ...
Xian Tourism Board
After arrival in Xian by air, train or bus, you can take public transportation (taxi, subway, city bus, airport shuttle bus, special tourist bus) and private drive from airport/train station to hotel or landmarks in downtown Xian, or go to suburb area. -Private tour: China Discovery offers you worry-free private transfer services. Itinerary can ...
Terracotta Army in Xian: A Guide with Facts, History & Tips
Airport Bus Lintong Line + Tourist Bus Line 5/Bus 306/Bus 307; From Xi'an Xiyang International Airport, you can find the bus Lintong Line at T3 Terminal. Take the bus and get off at the Lintong Campus of Xi'an University of Science and Technology. Then transfer to Tourist Bus Line 5/Bus 306/Bus 307 to the destination. Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an
The main long-distance bus station (Shaanxi Province Long-distance Bus Station) is about 100 m south of Xi'an railway station, with the city wall between them (there is an underpass). Bus service is available to: Huashan (2-3 hours), Lanzhou (8-10 hours), Luoyang (5-7 hours), Taiyuan (12 hours), and Zhengzhou (9-12 hours). By car [edit]
THE TOP 10 Xian Tours & Excursions (UPDATED 2024)
Xian Historical Private Tour of Terracotta Warriors, Miniature Terracotta Warrior-Making, Ancient Walls, and Qin Culture-Themed Cuisine. 46. See the world-famous Terracotta Army, sculpt a clay warrior miniature, and experience other historical riches on a 9-hour private Xian tour.
The BEST Xi'an Tours and Things to Do in 2024
The best tours in Xi'an are: China (with VPN), Hong Kong and Macau: eSIM Data Plan. Xian: Terracotta Army Guided Bus Tour or Ticket Only Option. Xi'an: Terra-Cotta Warriors Entry with Optional Guide. Greater China (with VPN): eSim Mobile Data Day Plan. Xi'an: Great Tang Dynasty Night Show & Dumpling Meal Option.
Xian travel blog (Xi'an blog)
Terminal 1 map, Xian Airport | xian travel blog Bus from the airport to Xi'an center. The bus will go within 1 hour 10 minutes. | xian blog. The bus ticket price to Xi'an center when I went was 25 yuan. There is 1 trip every 20-30 minutes. In general, it is very easy to find a place to buy tickets. You go from the Arrival Hall a little bit ...
Xian Travel Guide: Xian transportation-City Sightseeing Bus
In many cities of China, you may take a sightseeing bus to explore classic downtown tourist sites. With more and more visitors to Xian and larger demands to Xian public transportation, Xian also opened several sightseeing buses in the past few years.In recent days, Xian will open three more sightseeing bus routes.
Xian Travel Guide 2024
Xian travel guide provides you helpful travel information, including attractions, weather, transportation, maps, recommended Xian tour packages, etc. ... Xian downtown (about 40km) and is about 66km to the east of Xian Xianyang International Airport.You can always take a bus from Xian downtown, Xian airport, Xian train stations to get there.
Xi'an Tours
4-Day Xi'an and Huashan Mountain Tour. Stand on the top of Mt Hua, Taoism's sacred mountain. Unveil secrets of the Terracotta Army. View More. 3-Day Beijing to Xi'an by High-Speed Rail. Admire the Terracotta Warriors. Taste exotic atmosphere at Muslim Quarter. View More.
Xi'an Travel China: Attractions, Tours, Transportation, Maps
From Xi'an Rail Station: → Take metro line 4 to Wulukou. → Transfer to line 1 to Fangzhicheng. → Take line 9 to Huaqing Pool, get out from Exit C. → Walk eastward to take Lintong Tourist Bus Line 13 to the attraction. From Fangzhicheng, you can also take tourism bus no. 5 (306) to the scenic site.
Xian Xianyang International Airport Shuttle Bus Lines Timetables
It operates about 14 shuttle bus lines to Xi'an, 2 lines to Xianyang, and nearly 20 lines to other cities in Shaanxi Province. It is convenient, much more economical than taxi, and is a good choice for independent travellers. Xian Airport Shuttle Bus Stations Map Xian Xianyang International Airport Shuttle Buses to Xian Downtown
How to Travel from Xi'an to Huashan: Train, Tourist Bus
There are 6-7 normal speed trains running from Xi'an Railway Station to Huashan Railway Station, which takes about 2 hours for a single journey. After arriving at Huashan Railway Station, one can spend CNY 3 and take bus Huayin 608 to Huashan Tourist Center. Ticket Fare: CNY 18.5 for a hard seat; CNY 64.5 for a hard sleeper.