xi'an travel book

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Once the terminus of the Silk Road and a gathering place of cultures and religions, as well as being home to emperors, courtesans, poets, monks, merchants and warriors, the glory days of Xi'an (西安, Xī’ān; pronounced 'see-an') may have ended in the early 10th century, but a considerable amount of ancient Chang’an, the former city, survives behind the often roaring, modern metropolis . Xi'an’s Ming-era city walls remain intact, vendors of all descriptions still crowd the narrow lanes of the warren-like Muslim Quarter, and there are enough places of interest to keep even the most amateur historian riveted.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Army of Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Army isn't just Xi'an's premier sight: it's one of the most famous archaeological finds in the world. This subterranean life-size army of…

Xi'an City Walls

Xi'an is one of the few cities in China where the imposing old city walls still stand. Built in 1370 during the Ming dynasty, the magnificent 12m-high…

Big Goose Pagoda

This seven-storey pagoda, Xi'an’s most famous landmark, 4km southeast of the South Gate and formerly within the old (and huge) Tang dynasty city wall,…

Tomb of Emperor Jingdi

This tomb, also referred to as the Han Jing Mausoleum, Liu Qi Mausoleum and Yangling Mausoleum, is the burial place of the Han-dynasty emperor Jingdi (188…

Famen Temple

Dating way back to the 2nd century AD, this temple was built to house parts of a sacred finger bone of the Buddha, presented to China by India’s King…

Guangren Temple

The sole Tibetan Buddhist temple in the entire province, Guangren Temple dates from the early 18th century, but was largely rebuilt in the 20th century…

Great Mosque

Bigger than many temples in China, the Great Mosque is a gorgeous blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture and one of the most fascinating sacred sites…

Muslim Quarter

The backstreets leading north from the Drum Tower have been home to the city’s Hui community (non-Uyghur Chinese Muslims) for centuries, perhaps as far…

Latest stories from Xi'an

Jan 8, 2020 • 1 min read

Archaeologists have uncovered 200 more terracotta warriors in China, during excavations close to the mausoleum of the country's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

Jun 14, 2017 • 8 min read

Jun 8, 2017 • 4 min read

May 8, 2017 • 5 min read

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Jan 23, 2017 • 5 min read

Sep 5, 2014 • 7 min read

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Once the beginning and end point of the Silk Road, Xi'an was China's first imperial capital, serving as the center of government throughout several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including the famous Qin, Western Han, and Tang dynasties. Xi'an's fantastically rich culture and history have made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in china ; in fact, according to our 2019 study on the preferences of travelers to China , Xi'an is the third most-visited city on all the China trips made by our clients, only after Beijing and Shanghai .

Things to Do and Travel Advice

Just a one-hour drive outside the ancient capital of Xi'an lies the city's most famous attraction: the Terracotta Army . This underground army, made up of thousands of life-size warrior statues, was constructed by China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang (259-210 BC), to serve as his guardians during the afterlife. Discovered by fortunate accident in 1974, this extensive and fascinating "army" (in which no two warriors are the same) is largely considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century and is a must-see for all visitors to Xi'an.

Xi'an remained a point of strategic and commercial importance throughout the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and the 13.7-kilometer city wall enclosing the ancient city center is an unmissable remnant from that period. Xi'an City Wall is one of the best preserved of its kind in all of China and can still be traversed in its entirety; this makes it a great place for visitors to stroll or cycle and soak in the historic atmosphere of this ancient city.

Near the south gate of the city wall, you will find the Bell Tower , Xi'an's iconic landmark, with the equally impressive Drum Tower just across the street. Also close by is the Muslim Quarter , one of China's most vibrant Muslim communities. The buzzing streets of the Muslim neighborhood make for a good place to people watch and try some of Xi'an's world-famous street food.

To the south of the city center stands the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta). Arguably Xi'an's most noticeable landmark, this seven-tiered pagoda dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and is one of the most famous Buddhist structures in China.

For visitors who want to experience the best Xi'an has to offer, the attractions mentioned above should be on the top of your list and can usually be combined into a tour of 1.5 or 2 days. If you have more time for Xi'an, please check out more of the many available sights and activities here or simply ask us to customize an itinerary for you.

Eating in Xi'an

While the historical sites around Xi'an are striking, the city is also famous for its delicious street food and noodles. Xi'an's most famed local snacks include Roujiamo (Xi'an's version of the burger), Liangpi (cold noodles), Yangrou Paomo (crumbled flatbread soaked in rich mutton soup), and Biangbiang noodles (thick, long noodles with various toppings).

Many cultures have contributed to the shaping of the cuisine you will find in Xi'an, and top on the list for any foodie visiting the city should be a trip to the Muslim Quarter—especially those fond of spices and succulent lamb. Outside of the Muslim Quarter, Dongmutou Shi, a neighborhood to the east of the city center, also has a good selection of restaurants where you can try all of these quintessential Shaanxi snacks and dishes.

Popular Nighttime Activities in Xi'an

Xi'an boasts some fantastic nighttime scenery, with many of the major sights, including the City Wall, the Bell and Drum Towers, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, beautifully illuminated with colorful lights in the evening.The music and light fountain show at Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square is quite impressive and popular among locals.

Beiyuanmen pedestrian street, in the Muslim Quarter, is bustling at night and is a great spot for people watching, shopping, and trying local food. If you want to relax at one of the city's many watering holes, you can go to Defu Xiang (close to the south gate of the city wall) where various bars can be found.

Being the capital of the Tang Dynasty, Xi'an also offers some entertaining shows featuring Tang Dynasty music, dance, and costumes , which can be a good choice for visitors who are interested in evening entertainment.

Best Time to Visit Xi'an

Most visitors come to Xi'an for its profound cultural heritage and relics, and any time of year is suitable for this purpose. However, in spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October), the weather is more temperate and pleasant for traveling; this also means larger crowds at tourist attractions during these months.

Because of its rich history, Xi'an is a very popular tourist destination. Because of this, National Day (the first week in October) and Spring Festival (usually in January or February) should be avoided if possible, as many Chinese people travel during these times, and all of Xi'an's famous sites will be packed. The city's attractions can also get busy in August when students are on summer vacation and many families travel to Xi'an with their kids before the new school year starts. Learn more about how to avoid the crowds when traveling in China here .

Average Temperatures in Xi'an

Transportation

As a major tourist destination, Xi'an boasts one of China's best connected airports, with daily flights to several international and most domestic destinations. Alternatively, there are frequent high-speed trains to/from most major cities (including Beijing and Shanghai ) from Xi'an Railway Station and Xi'an North Station (high-speed trains only).

Within the city, Xi'an has three subway lines that can be used to navigate between most tourist attractions.

Trains and flights between Xi'an and other popular travel destinations

(Click the lines to learn the latest updates on transportation between Xi'an and Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Tibet, and other popular cities in China.)

Xi'an Private Tours

• Warriors and City Sights - 1-day Xi'an tour
• Xian Silk Road Food Culture - 2-day Xi'an tour
• The Ancient Capitals - 5-day Beijing, Xi'an tour
• Golden Triangle of China - 9-Day Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai tour
• The Classic China Tour - 13-day Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shanghai tour
• Chengdu and Golden Triangle - 13-day Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Shanghai tour
• The Golden Triangle plus Zhangjiajie - 11-day Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai tour
• More tours in Xi'an...

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A Xian itinerary | The perfect guide to this fascinating city

We had no idea that Xi’an is so old! In fact it’s over 3,000 years old and as the former capital of China for well over 1,000 years it has a huge amount of history to sink your teeth into. And not forgetting that it was the start of the ancient Silk Road, the route connecting Asia and Europe, moving goods and people for over 2,000 years – culminating in a fantastic mix of cultures. We absolutely loved exploring the city and hopefully have provided the perfect Xian itinerary, so you are in the know before you go!

Why go to Xi’an?

There is apparently an old saying ‘if you haven’t been to Xian, then you haven’t been to China’, which hopefully tells you all you need to know! However, if you need a bit more inspiration on why you should go to Xi’an – here’s a quick insight into why this city is so awesome:

• Being the ‘historical’ capital of China means that the city is littered with numerous cultural and historical sites to visit. You’ve probably heard of the Terracotta Warriors, but there is so much more to explore.
• If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you can take on the scariest mountain hikes in the world – Mount Huashan
• With all the cultural diversity that you would expect at the end of the silk road, expect to try some wonderful cuisine
• It is so easy to get to around – the infrastructure is phenomenal, whether you’re arriving by plane or a bullet train. And don’t even get us started on how good the Metro is in Xian!

Read next: How to spend 2 weeks in China.

Our perfect 3 day Xian Itinerary

• Day 1 | Ancient City Walls, Beilin Museum, Chinese Calligraphy
• Day 2 | Terracotta Warriors, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
• Day 3 | Bell Tower, Drum Tower and the Muslim Quarter

How long do you need in Xi’an?

We’d suggest that you spend at least 3 days in Xian to explore all aspects that the city has to offer. We’ve built our Xian itinerary based on 3 full days in the city, however, if you have more time in the city, we’ve also added some bonus suggestions below on how you could further pad out your Xi’an itinerary.

If you are adding this as part of a larger itinerary, why not check out our recommendations for visiting Beijing ? We were lucky enough to spend a month exploring China , so do get in touch or leave a comment below if you’d like any other tips!

Where to stay in Xian

Xian has loads of great accommodation options for all budget levels, but we’d recommend that if you love walking the city streets to stay central within the city walls. It’s also good to note that although many places call themselves ‘Bell Tower’ or ‘Drum Tower’ they can be located quite far from these Chinese landmarks .

Budget: One of the most popular youth hostels in town, 7 Sages International has really great rooms at affordable prices. It was fully booked while we were in Xian but we did stay at their sister property 7 Sages Boutique Bell Tower which we also really enjoyed.

Mid-range: Only 5 minutes walk to the city walls, the Eastern House Boutique Hotel , is in a fantastic location, really wonderful rooms and gets amazing reviews!

Luxury: If you’re looking for extravagance and everything you’d expect from 5* luxury, the Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel is for you. It’s the kind of place that we wish we could stay…

Travel Insurance for China

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Check out the latest travel insurance prices with Safety Wing here.

Day 1 in Xian

Walk (or bike) the ancient xi’an city walls.

Kick off your day with James’ favourite activity in the city: a tour of the ancient city walls .

The walls are hugely impressive, built in 1370 they are the largest city walls in the world – and provide a continuous loop of nearly 14km around the old city. There are 4 main gates: The East Gate (Changle Gate), West Gate (Anding Gate), South Gate (Yongning Gate) and North Gate (Anyuan Gate), with the South Gate being the most impressive of them all.

If you go early, you get whole sections of the wall completely to yourself, so a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle. Walking the walls takes about 3 hours if you’re at a relatively quick pace. You can also hire bikes on the wall to cycle around which is a bit easier, and there are even electric carts that you can take if you’re feeling super lazy.

The price for entrance is 54 RMB (7.50 USD/6 GBP) and if you’d like to hire a bike it’ll cost 45 RMB (6.20 USD/5 GBP).

Open: 8.00am to 6.00pm (Nov to Apr) and 8.00am to 7.00pm (May to Oct).

Beilin Museum

Located right next to the city walls and housed in a Confucius Temple, the Beilin Museum (also known as the Stele Forest) hosts over 3,000 stone monuments (steles), dating all the way back from the Tang dynasty. It may sound a bit weird to have a museum dedicated to stone tablets, but these are really impressive and well worth the visit.

The cost for the museum entrance is 65 RMB (9 USD/7.35 GBP) but you can also combine this with a ‘Museum and Walls’ combo ticket costing 100 RMB (14 USD/11.50 GBP).

Location: 15 Sanxue St, Zhong Lou Shang Quan, Beilin, Xi’an

Open: 8.00am to 6.00pm

Try out Chinese Calligraphy

In and around the museum area, you can get lost in the surrounding streets, and find yourself marvelling at the stores and stalls full of stunning Chinese calligraphy. It’s wonderful just observing these artists going about their business, but what better than to actually give it a try yourself? Note: it’s way harder than it looks!

You can give it a try at the Calligraphy Museum or there are a bunch of tours that you can try out.

Recommended: Hiking itinerary in Zhangjiajie National Park

Day 2 in Xian

Terracotta warriors.

One of the most famous sites in China, if not the world, you’ll need to set aside at least half the day to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Terracotta Army. Nearly 2,000 years old, the sculptures were built to protect the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. And if it wasn’t for a farmer digging a well in the 1970s, the Terracotta Army may still lay undiscovered to this day!

There are 3 main pits that they estimate contain over 8,000 sculptures. And it’s a painstaking process to put the statues back together, with each one taking as long as 6 months. So it really is a working archaeological dig, which we found fascinating.

It’s well worth getting out to the Terracotta Warriors as early as possible to try and avoid the tour buses! As the pits are housed in buildings, and you’re viewing from the edges, it can get very busy.

It’s pretty easy to make your own way to the site, with buses leaving from outside the main Xian train station from around 7.00am and it takes about an hour to get there. The bus costs 10 RMB (1.40 USD/1 GBP) and leave every 10-15 minutes.

Entrance to the museum is quite expensive, at 120 RMB (16.75 USD/13.50 GBP) per person but you can’t go to Xian and not see the Mausoleum. Get your tickets here .

We’d also recommend getting a tour guide for the visit, we aren’t usually people who get a guide, but there is so much history and detail that you’d miss at the Terracotta Warriors that in this case it is worth it!

Location: Lintong, Xi’an, Shaanxi

Open: 8.00am to 5.00pm daily

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Located outside the city walls in the Daci’en Temple complex, the hugely impressive Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a World Heritage Site. Originally, this Buddhist pagoda was built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Tang, only to be destroyed 50 years later. It was then rebuilt as a ten story pagoda by Empress Zetian in 704. In the 1550’s a major earthquake damaged the pagoda and 3 layers had to be removed, leaving the seven story structure that you see today.

The easiest way to reach the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is on the Metro, get off at Da Yan Ta station on Line 3 and 4. The cost to enter the Daci’en Temple complex is 40 RMB (5.50 USD/4.50 GBP), and if you’d like to go up the pagoda (well worth it for the views) that costs 25 RMB (3.50 USD/2.80 GBP).

Location: 1 Ci’en Rd, Xiao Zhai Shang Ye Jie, Yanta, Xi’an

Day 3 in Xian

Bell tower & drum tower.

Set relatively close together, the Xi’an city Bell Tower and Drum Tower are two of China’s best examples of these structures. Quite interestingly, the Bell Tower was rung to signal dawn and the start of the day, whereas the Drum Tower drums were beat to mark the end of the day.

The Bell Tower, set in the middle of the old city, was built in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty. Alongside letting the Xian population know the time, it was also a place for locals to find out news. The Bell Tower is a really impressive structure and a definite stop on your itinerary, even to see the outside. Cost for entry to the Bell Tower is 35 RMB (5 USD/4 GBP).

Closer to the Muslim Quarter, the Drum Tower is also a very impressive structure and the downstairs hall has lots of ancient drums within the drum museum – and the views from the top of the city are also great. Cost for entry to the Drum Tower is 35 RMB (5 USD/4 GBP).

Location: Zhonglou Shangquan, Beilin, Xi’an

Opening hours: 8.30am to 9.00pm (Apr – Oct) and 8.30am to 6.00pm (Nov – Mar)

Muslim Quarter

Definitely the best place to try out some Xian dishes is in the Muslim Quarter , or Huimin Street. Some of the most famous dishes that you should try on a walking tour of the Muslim Quarter include Roujiamo, a beef or lamb bun, Xi’an dumplings, the cold rice noodles and the pita bread with lamb soup – Yangrou Paomo. The food dishes are amazing, very inexpensive and you won’t be disappointed!

If you’re not great with trying street food, let’s be honest it can be daunting, why not try a walking food tour ?

So that wraps up our suggested 3 days in Xian itinerary, if you have any other ideas or options do let us know in the comments below. And as mentioned before, here are a few additional bonus ideas in case you have more time to spend in the city.

Bonus: Additional & unusual things to do in Xi’an

For a city that is best-known for the Terracotta Warriors (and not much else), there is surprisingly a lot to do in Xi’an! Here are a few of the bonus activities you could add to your travel guide for Xi’an:

Small wild goose pagoda

Also known as the ‘Little Wild Goose Pagoda’, this ‘brother’ of the large pagoda is just inside the Jianfu Temple, about a kilometre south of the city. Like it’s neighbour it was built during the Tang Dynasty about 1300 years ago. The pagoda used to be 15 storeys high but an earthquake in 1556 lobbed off the top two tiers, which were never replaced. You can walk up the pagoda through an internal staircase at an extra cost of 30 CNY (4 USD / 3.25 GBP). Actually, the site offers about 3000 tickets free each day, after which you pay 20 RMB ( 2.75 USD / 2.25 GBP) for visiting the pagoda or 50 RMB ( 7 USD / 5.50 GBP)if you want to also climb it.

Location: 72 Youyi W Rd, Beilin, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Open: 9.00am – 4.00pm daily (closed on Tuesdays)

Shaanxi History Museum

I’ll be honest – we aren’t the hugest fans of museums, hence this one not making it onto our final list. But if you’re a history buff and love ancient artefacts, this is a good place to visit. The museum (which is quite near to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda), is one of the largest state museums in China. It actually boats more than 37,000 different items and is 65, 000 square metres in size, so you could spend at least a few hours sauntering the walkways and exhibitions. Highlights in the museum include the fossils of Lantian Man (a precursor to Homo Erectus i.e. modern man), pieces from the Tang Dynasty, including a huge mural of people playing polo, and the Empress’ Seal, a jade seal which is one of the most important in the country. Tickets are free for most of the exhibitions but special exhibitions usually charge a fee.

Location: 91 Xiaozhai E Rd, Xiao Zhai Shang Ye Jie, Yanta, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 9.00am – 5.30pm

Climbing Mount Huashan

Disclaimer: we didn’t do this one, but only since James has a fear of heights. You might have seen videos of this place – essentially Mount Huashan has a death-defying cliff-side climb of 2160m, and is known as ‘the most dangerous hike in the world’. It’s essentially a plank walk, suspended a very long way from the ground! It’s become quite difficult to actually do, due to the huge interest from tourists in the place. It’s also a little tricky to get to: 40 minutes on a train, then 30 minutes on a bus before either walking up or taking the cable car. If you are going to attempt this one, we suggest reading this article from the Nomadasaurus travel blog, and going early!

Guangren Temple

The only Tibetan Buddhist temple in the province, this temple dates back to the early 18 th century. It’s a small complex so quite an easy thing to add to your itinerary, particularly if you’re walking the city walls, as you can take a small detour off the wall and down into the complex. It’s a very spiritual place, with prayer flags flapping and monks walking the grounds, so well worth a visit. That said, when we were there we encountered quite a few ‘engagement’ photo shoots outside the walls, which made for a bit of fun but might have ruined the mystery of the site!

It has a number of great treasures in it’s halls and also some very rare trees in the grounds, like the ‘clothes-hanging cypress’ and the 300 year old Cuilan Cypress. Entrance costs 20 CNY (2.75 USD / 2.25 GBP)

Location: 152 Xi Bei Yi Lu, Lianhu, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Open: 8.00am – 6.00pm daily

Luoyang Longmen Grottoes

About a 2 hour train ride out of Xian is a definite must-see for your Xian itinerary: the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Longmen Caves (also known as the Luoyang Longmen Grottoes ). This huge landmark includes over 110, 000 Buddha stone carvings that are absolutely gigantic in size.

Etched from the surrounding rock, its an overwhelming installation with some of the carvings and statues reaching up to 17 metres!

When is the best time to go to Xian?

The two best seasons to visit Xi’an are Spring and Autumn. Both March to May and September to November provide warm days and cooler nights. It’ll be quieter as you’re out of peak season. Although make sure you watch out for the National Holiday in October as it is heaving with people!

The summer months can be extremely hot and humid, and there’s a pretty good chance of a rainstorm or two. During winter it can get pretty cold, but it’s also the quietest time of the year, so if you’re happy with freezing temperatures maybe this would be a good time for you.

How to get to Xian?

China’s transportation network is pretty solid, and you have quite a few good options for Xian. Usually you’ll be heading to Xian from a major city like Beijing or Shanghai , although of course you could be flying in from South Korea, Hong Kong or further afield.

The airport, Xianyang International Airport, is located 41 km northwest of Xian. There is a great airport shuttle service into the city centre that costs 25 RMB (3.50 USD/2.85 GBP).

To find the best prices and latest deals on flights to Xi’an check out Skyscanner .

The other option is the trains, and we really can’t tell you how impressed we were with the trains across China. The high speed bullet trains are immaculately clean, fast, quiet and comfortable.

To book your trains directly you need to understand Chinese, and have a local number and ID. So we’d recommend going with a third party service to book your train tickets. We got all our train tickets (10 of them) through China Highlights . It’s handy to know that tickets go on sale for trains 30 days in advance and some trains can become fully booked, so just turning up at the station may not be the best idea.

Must have apps

So after a month of travelling in China, we believe we’ve got the knowledge of what apps you’ll need to survive, so we put together a list of the must-have ones for you to download before heading to Xian. We even have a more in-depth article on all the must-apps here . Aren’t we helpful? ?

The most important app to install before you get to Xian (or even China) is a VPN, we’ve experienced using both  ExpressVPN  and  NordVPN and although both work well, we’d say that Express just pips it in terms of quality of access that you get. Without a VPN you won’t be able to access any Google email, Google maps, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram etc.

Click here to get ExpressVPN – we personally recommend it; the world’s number one VPN means something, right?

Although Google Maps is great, our favourite route planner is  Maps.me . Download offline maps, and this app provides you with your positioning throughout China.

The easiest way to get around – clean, cheap and user friendly, we love the Metro. To help you plan trips and have the Metro maps at your fingertips you must install Metro Man ( Google / Apple ).

As long as you have the VPN turned on, you’ll still be able to access Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, although these can be a bit slow. However, it’s definitely worth also downloading WeChat ( Google / Apple ). China’s answer to WhatsApp will allow you to stay in contact with people you meet in China plus you could even make payments through it, if you link your credit card.

Travel & Accommodation

So Uber (or Grab) don’t work in China, but they do have their own version –  DIDI  which basically works the same. If you get it from the US Apple store or the APK of the right version it’s available in English! Pretty handy…

And if you like to store all your accommodation bookings, train tickets, airplane trips into one place, then check out  Tripit . This nifty little app automatically pulls in your bookings from email confirmations and then puts it all together in one trip itinerary. Win.

If you’re looking for the best accommodation options, then  Agoda  has to be the one for you. It has far more options than Booking.com in China.

Our favourite money planning app –  Trabee Pocket  – allows you to add in everything that you spend in a day, then shows you how you are doing on your daily budget. A really handy app to make sure you’re not blowing all your budget on the first couple of days…

Currency Converter

So you probably want to figure out what you’re spending along the way. We always find that  XE  is the perfect tool for a rough estimate on costs.

Translation

One of the most handy tools for travelling in Xian is having a great translation app. English isn’t widely spoken and having Google Translate in your pocket will help you out immensely. Whether it’s directions, ordering the right dinner or checking something with a shop assistant before you make that purchase – this is a must.

Useful Chinese phrases

• Hello – nǐ hǎo
• Thank you – xiè xie
• You’re welcome – bú yòng xiè
• No – méiyǒu
• How are you? – nǐ hǎo ma?
• Good – hǎo de
• Not Good – bù hǎo
• I’m sorry – duì bu qǐ

What camera equipment and other gear do we use?

We’re living proof that you don’t need the most expensive gear to travel the world and take good photos. Here are some of our must have items that make it into the packing list for all our travels.

• Main Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ1000
• Drone: DJI Mavic Air – Fly More Combo
• GoPro: Hero 7 Black
• GoPro Dive Case: Go Pro Housing
• GoPro Case: Smatree GoPro Carry Case – Small
• Packing Cubes: Eagle Creek Packing case
• Backpack: Osprey Farpoint 70
• Powerbank: Anker Powercore
• Phone: Xiaomi Mi 9
• Hard drive: Transcend Slim Storejet 2TB
• Laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad 720s
• Headphones: Bose Quiet Comfort 35
• Wifi Hotspot: GlocalMe G4

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Thank you for the tips. Yet not sure about the VPN as I’ve been using NordVPN for some time and I’ve had zero issues with it. Of course I’ll see if everything will work in China as I’m going to travel there (even if it is not the best time right now) but we will see if everything goes well.

I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your posts to be precisely what I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write content in your case? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome website!

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Xi’an Travel Guide

Central China

Welcome to Xi’an!

Located in central China in Shaanxi province, Xi’an is known for its well-preserved historical monuments and its long and proud history. In fact, its historical attractions always put this city near the top of the must-visit places in China.

• Things to do
• Where to eat
• Where to stay
• Around Xi’an

With over 8 million people living in Xi’an’s urban area, it’s busy, chaotic, and modern. The city welcomes countless tourists from China and the rest of the world every year.

Xian was part of the famous Silk Road. This brought in a lot of trade and different cultures over the years. And it brought in a lot of amazing food too!

You can find delicious food in Xi’an. Image by Xay on Pixabay.

The city is a mix of old and new. Image by wcqx2002 on Pixabay.

Xi’an is a treasure trove of history

This city has the weight of thousands of years of history behind it.

Often called the birthplace of Chinese civilization, it’s the oldest of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals.

From 221 BC onwards, Xi’an was the intermittent capital of 13 dynasties in China, and its inhabitants today are very proud of this ancient heritage.

When the First Emperor united China, he did so from his base in Xi’an. The city was also the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, which means it saw years of change, movement and development.

When you visit Xi’an, you’ll be able to explore some of the artifacts of this long history and gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture too!

The best things do in Xi’an

As one of the most famous historical destinations in China, there’s a lot to do in Xi’an that will help you understand more about the history of this amazing country.

1. See the Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors are one of the most famous places in China , and certainly the most famous place in Xi’an.

Discovered in 1974, the warriors are one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. These life-size warriors were constructed more than 2,000 years ago to guard the tomb of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

The must-see attraction in Xi’an. Image by Broquitos on Pixabay.

Today, you can visit the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and walk by the pit where the warriors stand guard.

They’re almost alarmingly lifelike and you can learn more about how they’re made and even practice making a mini warrior yourself at a local site.

2. Explore the Muslim Quarter

Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter is one of the most interesting parts of the city.

It’s like another world in there, one that’s filled with tiny stalls and markets and some of the best people-watching in the city. This area is basically a single street lined by trees and filled with ethnic Hui people.

And, once you’ve shopped your way through the street, make sure you stay long enough to try some of the local food.

Grab a snack in The Muslim Quarter. Image by Kunal Kalra on Unsplash.

Some of the most popular snacks are the barbecued meats on skewers, cold noodles, and of course the local specialty – roujiamo (肉夹馍), which is marinated lamb or beef in a bun.

Read more about delicious Chinese street food .

3. Visit the Drum and Bell Towers

While you’re in the Muslim Quarter, you may as well visit the nearby Drum and Bell Towers. These towers are located across from each other and look their best at night, when they’re lit up with lights.

The Bell Tower marks the center of the ancient capital and was created by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang to dominate the countryside.

The city’s famous Bell Tower. Image by Larbi Amzil on Pixabay.

The Drum Tower contains a display of traditional drums that were once used to herald the sunset as well as a drum museum.

It’s the largest tower of its kind in China and was built in 1380.

4. Walk the Xi’an City Wall

You might think that a wall doesn’t sound that interesting, but in this case you’d be wrong.

The Xi’an Ancient City Wall is the best-preserved city wall in China. Created under the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang in the 14 th century, it’s a striking statement about the might of the ancient culture.

You can walk or even ride a bike on top of the wall. Image by Wang Jian on Pixabay.

The wall divides the city into inner and outer parts and it’s surprisingly strong. From the top, you can get great views of different parts of the city, so make sure you get a few Insta-worthy photos!

5. Visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

You can’t visit Xi’an without seeing this pagoda, at least that’s what the locals say.

Featuring traditional Chinese architecture, the pagoda is the symbol of the city. It houses Buddhist materials and scriptures brought back from India by Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler.

Spend some time wandering around the pagoda. Image by Peter Hempel on Pixabay.

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is only 4 km (2.5 mi) from downtown and easy to get to. You can take Metro Line 3 or Line 4 to Dayanta (大雁塔) Station.

6. Explore the Shaanxi History Museum

If you want to learn more about the ancient Chinese civilization, then this museum is the place to do it.

It’s the first large-scale modern national museum in the country and is often called the ‘Bright Pearl in Ancient Capital and Precious Treasure of China’ because of its amazing art palace.

The collections in this museum range from the Stone Age to the times of the Opium War, as well as displays from different dynasties.

Where to eat in Xi’an

Xi’an is the place where amazing Chinese cuisines meet and mingle, so you can find everything from Cantonese to Sichuan styles in this city.

It’s become known for so many dishes that you might not have the time nor the stomach space to eat them all. But don’t let that stop you from trying!

When you arrive in Xi’an, look out for restaurants that contain a lot of locals. And if you’re struggling to find the good spots, then go on a local food tour such as this one .

Defachang Dumpling House 德发长

You must eat dumplings when you’re in Xi’an, and this is one of the most famous places in the city to do it.

Established in 1936, this restaurant is in the center of the capital and offers a wide range of dumplings so you can try them all and discover some new favorites. Make sure you try the dumpling banquet here!

Address: 2nd Floor, Defachang Dumpling House, No. 3 West Street, Zhonggulou Square, Lianhu District

Tianlong Baoyan Vegetarian Restaurant 天龙宝严素食馆

Located close to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, this restaurant offers tasty vegetarian food to suit every palate.

With vegetarian dishes as well as dishes with delicious meat substitutes, it’s a good way to stick to your meat-free diet while you’re traveling in Xi’an.

Address: No. 1, West Ci’en Road, Yanta District

Tasty vegetarian food. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

The Tang Dynasty Palace 唐乐宫

This is another famous dumpling restaurant, one with sumptuous décor. If you’ve ever wanted to eat dumplings in a palace, then this restaurant will fulfil your dream.

Decorated in the style of the Tang dynasty, this restaurant also has a show that recreates traditional entertainment from the time.

Address: No.75, North Chang’an Road, Beilin District

Xi’an Restaurant

This restaurant has been serving Shaanxi cuisine since 1929 and is still amazingly popular today. It hosts celebrities and state leaders as well as travelers who want to try the Muslim-influenced Shaanxi dishes and snacks.

At this restaurant, you can try the buffet on the first floor for unique versions of local street food or head upstairs for a more elegant experience.

Address: 298号 Dong Da Jie, Zhong Lou Shang Quan, Beilin Qu Xian Shi, Shaanxi Sheng, China

The best food markets in Xi’an

For the freshest, cheapest foods in China, you need to spend some time in the food markets.

And there are some in Xi’an that are too good to miss out on!

Nanshaomen Night Market 南稍门夜市

This is one of the largest night markets in Xi’an and it has amazing food. It’s also famously crowded though, so expect crowds at all of the stalls.

You’ll find all kinds of Chinese food at the market, like green onion pancakes. Image by monster_code on Shutterstock.

Just take the wait as a sign that the food’s really good and wait patiently for the local specials like grilled fish or spicy lobster. You’ll also find stuff from all over the country here.

The market opens after 6 pm and you can get there on the metro, which will take you straight to Nanshaomen Station.

Jianxi Street Night Market 建西街夜市

This market has a good variety of foods from traditional foods to modern snacks. Some of the best dishes to try are the fried dumplings and the shaguo rice noodles.

This market is in the Yanta District of Xi’an and is open after 6 pm.

Shaanxi favorite, the Chinese hamburger. Image by Jessica Girvan on Shutterstock.

Dongxin Street Night Market 东新街夜市

The Dongxin Street Night Market is popular among locals and tourists for its amazing and budget-friendly street food.

It’s also one of the largest markets in Xi’an and offers tasty treats like dumplings, steamed buns, casseroles, and grilled meats of all kinds.

Open after 6 pm, the market is located in the Xincheng District and you can get there by bus.

Where to stay in Xi’an

Accommodation in Xi’an is plentiful and budget friendly, but it can be a little unusual for Western tastes, so make sure you examine the offerings carefully.

The best thing about hostels is the camaraderie and the chance to get to know your fellow travelers. And that’s exactly what the Shuyuan International Party Hostel offers.

Five minutes’ walk from the metro, it’s in the center of a shopping district and offers lots of common spaces as well as private or dorm rooms to suit your travel style. 

Just 15 minutes’ walk from Muslim Street and 10 from the local metro station, the Xi’an See Tang Guesthouse offers convenient, comfortable accommodations for all kinds of travelers.

You can choose from a room with a private or shared bathroom and the hotel also offers Chinese massage services on request.

With beautiful, traditional décor, this is the kind of hotel that lets you know that you’re far from home in the best way possible.

The W Xian Hotel offers world-class service and facilities right in the heart of the city. It has a seasonal swimming pool, a fitness center, a garden, and a restaurant on-site, just to make your stay extra convenient.

With all the luxuries you could want for a short or long stay, this is the ideal hotel if you have a little extra money to spend.

Transport in Xi’an

Like most cities in China, Xi’an has a top rate, modern transport system, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting in, out, or around the city.

Air transport

Xian’s major airport, Xian Xianyang Airport, is around 40 km (25 mi) northwest of the city center.

It connects Xi’an to all the major cities in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

There are plenty of flights in and out of Xi’an. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

The airport also connects Xi’an to some international destinations like Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Japan.

However, it might be best to travel to Shanghai or Beijing first if you’re heading somewhere unusual.

High speed rail

Xi’an benefits from China’s high speed rail system as well.

Xi’an has three passenger stations in the city and the Xi’an Railway Station is the largest rail hub in Western China. It’s also on the Eurasian Continental Bridge, which connects China to Central Asia.

The trains are fast, sleek, and modern, and connect Xi’an to major domestic cities. If you’re traveling to Xi’an and prefer to do so by train, this is a good option.

Long distance bus

Xi’an has an extensive long-distance bus system with seven large bus stations and some smaller ones.

You can catch a bus to lots of major cities in China and it’s an economical if relatively slow way to see and experience China.

Inside of Xi’an, the metro is the best way to get around.

There are four main metro lines that connect east-west and north-south. The metro is fast and economical and can get you to most of the major attractions in the city.

The Xi’an Metro is clean and modern. Image by Hunter Bliss Images on Shutterstock.

The best way to pay for the metro and other public transport is with the Transportation Smart Card, known as Chang An Tong in Chinese.

This card offers a discount on city buses, the subway and taxis. You can get it from the customer service center at subway stations, branches of the Xi’an City Commercial Bank or China Construction Bank , or at one of the city’s bus companies.

City buses run all over the city and you can use the Transportation Smart Card to make them even more economical.

You can also take the bus out to see the Terracotta Warriors. Just go to the Xi’an Railway Station and take public bus No. 5, 306, 915 and 914 to the Museum of Terracotta Warriors.

Within the city center, most buses use the Automated Fare Collection System. This is a very easy and convenient way to travel.

You just drop RMB 1 into the box near the bus gate or RMB 2 if you’re on an air-conditioned bus. Make sure you have exact change, because the driver won’t have any.

There are also tourist and sightseeing buses operating in Xi’an in case you want to visit specific sites.

Taxis in Xi’an are plentiful and cheap. Just don’t forget that you can use your transport card to make them even more economical!

Taxis are usually green and can be flagged down on the street. Just avoid going anywhere at peak hour, as you’ll struggle to get a taxi.

Don’t expect the locals in Xi’an to speak English. So, always have your hotel and destination names on your phone so you can show your driver.

The public bicycle rental service is very popular in Xi’an. It’s also economical, good for your heart, and great for the environment.

You can rent bicycles all over the city until 9 pm for a reasonable price. Just be aware that traffic in China can be a little crazy, so be cautious and ride slowly!

If you like to cycle, look out for one of the City Wall cycling experiences. It’s an amazing way to take in the views from a little higher up.

Traveling outside Xi’an

Once you’ve explored the city of Xi’an, it’s time to get outside it and see what the surrounding area has to offer.

Huaqing hot springs

The hot springs can get very busy. Image by canghai76 on Shutterstock.

Did you know there are hot springs in China?

These hot springs are at the foot of Mount Lishan and about 45 minutes outside of the city.

They’re located on the grounds of the Huaqing Palace and the setting for a love story between Emperor Xuangzong and his concubine Yang Guifei, considered to be one of the four beauties of ancient China.

The gardens and architecture surrounding the hot springs are gorgeous, but like most tourist attractions in China, the hot springs can get incredibly busy with big tour groups.

Huashan Mountain

Hiking the mountain is very popular with local tourists. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

Huashan Mountain, or Mount Hua, is one of the most sacred Taoist mountains in China.

It’s about 30 minutes from the city (by high-speed train) or two hours’ drive.

The hike up the mountain is pretty rough. You’ll be on a narrow and steep concrete pathway surrounded by killer cliffs and ravines.

But if you’re a strong hiker then it’s worth it as there are stunning views and temples all over the mountain.

If your stomach (or leg muscles) can’t handle the hike, then take the cable car up the mountain and enjoy the views from a safe vantage point.

You could easily spend a couple of nights in Huayin, which is the little tourist town at the base of the mountain. Huashan is actually made up five peaks, so there’s plenty to explore.

Spring and fall (on a weekday) are the best seasons to visit, as that’s when the weather is most pleasant and the crowds aren’t too crazy.

If you can, avoid the summer school holiday crowds as well as the winter months as it’s extremely chilly and temperatures can drop below zero.

Make sure you read all about Huashan Mountain before you go.

Pingyao Ancient City

This preserved Ming Dynasty town is three hours from Xi’an on the bullet train. It’s filled with ancient buildings and flagstone streets and the locals live simpler, more traditional lives to suit their surroundings.

Pingyao is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . So, if you’re interested in China’s past and want to see what a working town looks like, Pingyao is a great example.

Videos about Xi’an

Get a visual taste of Xi’an before you visit!

Follow British expat Nico’s adventures in Xi’an. She visits the Terracotta Warriors, the city wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and more.

Nico is also mentioned in our article on the best China YouTube channels .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ONmb3AdvlI Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Xi'an China – Everything You Need To Know (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ONmb3AdvlI)

And for solo travelers, check out this video about one woman’s unplanned trip to Xi’an.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhm7SoxHT8 Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: traveling alone in Xi'an, China | cigar bar, Xi'an City Walls | Solo Travel Diaries (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhm7SoxHT8)

Need help with your travel bookings?

Going on a tour in China is a great idea, especially if you can’t speak Mandarin.

You can refer to this list of China travel agencies who can help put a plan together for you.

Or, to book your own flights, tours and hotels, we recommend Trip for amazing choice and value. Trip is one of the leading travel companies in China.

Don’t forget…

It’s easy to forget a thing or two before you head to China.

So, here are a few reminders for you:

• The right visa – if you’re only staying for a quick trip, you may be eligible for visa-free travel .
• Cash or Alipay – your credit card may not be accepted, so bring yuan or use Alipay (more info here ).
• VPN app – if you want access to all your favorite websites and apps in China, you’ll need to download a VPN before you leave your country. Get a VPN that works in China .

Have a wonderful time in Xi’an. And don’t forget your VPN!

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Page last updated 7 November 2023. Main image credit: Christel Sagniez on Pixabay. Commercial relationship disclosure: The Helpful Panda has commercial arrangements with organizations that may appear on this page, such as affiliate links. See our terms  for more info.

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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.

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

• The 20 Best Highlights To See In Xi’an
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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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Xi'an Travel Guide

Xi'an, anciently known as Chang'an, is the capital city of Shaanxi and the starting point of the Silk Road. It played a very important part in Chinese history.

Xi'an is proud of its profound history and numerous ancient heritage such as Terracotta Army.

Top Things to Do in Xi'an

Xi'an has plenty of sights and interesting places which will unfold its history to travelers. Following are the top 5 things you should not miss when traveling to Xi'an.

• Find the answer to why Emperor Qin built the Terracotta Army ;
• Try local street food at the Muslim Quarter;
• Cycle around the Ancient City Wall to feel and touch a piece of history;
• Visit Shaanxi Historical Museum which tells the stories of the 13 different dynasties which used Xi'an as their capital in Ancient China;
• Trek on the narrow plank along the cliffside at Mt. Huashan .

Read more on Top Things to Do in Xi'an .

Top Attractions in Xi'an

As one of China's seven ancient capitals, Xi'an served as the capital for 13 ancient dynasties over 1,000 years. Except for the world-wowed Terracotta Army of the First Emperor, there are countless other sights scattering the city.

• Terracotta Army
• Ancient City Wall
• Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Shaanxi Historical Museum
• The Muslim Quarter
• Mount Huashan
• All Xi'an Attractions

Best Time to Visit Xi'an

Xian has four distinct seasons and a moderate climate. The best to visit Xi'an is spring and autumn.

The period from April to May when the blossoms are in full bloom and the period from September to November when the weather is pleasant are the best periods for visiting Xi'an.

• Read more on Xi'an Weather.

Travel Xi'an with Us

Xian is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. While in Xian, you'll be amazed by the majestic Terracotta Army, immerse yourself in the historical and cultural atmosphere.

All these trips are flexible and ready to be customized to meet your interests, schedule, and budget.

2-Day Xi'an Highlights Trip

4-day xian with mt.huashan trip.

Request a custom itinerary today and get one step closer to your personalized trip

Create Your Trip

• Day Trip to Terracotta Warriors
• 2 Days Side Trips
• 3 Days Historical Xi'an
• 6 Days Beijing & Xi'an
• 1 Day to Luoyang
• Terracotta Warriors

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

• Small Wild Goose Pagoda

Shaanxi History Museum

• Great Mosque

Muslim Quarter

Mount huashan.

• Han Yang Ling Mausoleum
• Local Family Visit
• Cooking Class
• Zhangjiajie

10 Best Places to Visit in Xi’an

Xi’an was called “Chang’an” in the ancient times, meaning eternal peace and order. It’s located in the northwestern part of China and known as the starting point of the Silk Road . Having witnessed the rise and fall of 13 dynasties, Xi’an is like a huge museum on Chinese history. No matter wandering around the Terracotta Army, cycling along the age-old City Wall, or climbing the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda storing the Buddhist classics, you will discover the profound historical deposit of this thousand-year-old city. Here under is a list of the 10 best places to visit in Xi’an.

Xi’an City Wall

Terracotta Army

Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum

Huaqing Pool

Tang paradise, bell tower & drum tower.

Ultimate Xi'an Itineraries: Top 3 Options with Side Trip Ideas

Xi'an is an essential stop for first-time China travelers as it showcases China's history and civilization. But how long do you need for a trip to Xi'an? This article will provide you with some of the best itinerary ideas for planning your Xi'an trip.

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How long to spend in xi'an.

• Xi'an in 4 Days
• Xi'an in 3 Days
• Xi'an in 2 Days

Side Trip Itineraries from Xi'an

In general, spending 3 to 4 days is ideal for a trip in Xi'an with a comfortable pace without missing all the highlights.

If you only have two days, you could focus on the main highlights — the Terracotta Warriors and some city sightseeing.

We do not recommend a one-day trip, as it gives only a hurried and cursory glance at scenic spots.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Xi'an in 4 Days (Rich Experience)

If you want a full and rich experience in Xi'an, spending four days is recommended.

Without missing the highlights, you'll have the opportunity to have some special experiences like making your own terracotta warrior, trying on Chinese traditional costumes, and a food tour.

You could also visit Mount Hua, Taoism's sacred mountain, and admire its breathtaking peaks. If you're more adventurous, you can also challenge its famous trestles. Here is the itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrival and free exploration
• Day 2: One day trip to the Terracotta Warriors with a hands-on experience of making clay warriors
• Day 3: A full day in Mount Hua
• Day 4: City highlight touring (museums, pagodas, Ancient City Wall, and a food tour) and departure

See 4-Day Xi'an and Huashan Mountain Tour

All our tours can be adjusted based on your interests and needs. Our private trips are hassle-free and flexible.

Xi'an in 3 Days (Essence of Xi'an)

With three days in Xi'an, you could still enjoy a full and rich experience. The difference with the four-day itinerary is that you won't visit Mount Hua. Here is the itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrival + museum visiting
• Day 2: A trip to Terracotta Warriors with a food tour
• Day 3: City sightseeing (Ancient City Wall, museums, pagodas, etc) with a hanfu experience and departure

The Terracotta Warrior is a big attraction. It is the mausoleum and burial pits of the first emperor of China and the largest one in China.

In order to get a good understanding of the history and stories behind it, we will arrange a hands-on experience of making your own clay warrior.

Thus, you're going to spend most of your second day there. If you are particularly interested in this attraction, it is worth spending a day on it.

Our schedule is flexible. Just contact us if you want to make some adjustments or have any needs.

Xi'an in 2 Days (Focus on the Terracotta Warriors)

If you have two days, you could focus on the Terracotta Warriors with some city sightseeing. Here is the itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrival + city sightseeing (Ancient City Wall, museums, and pagodas)
• Day 2: Visit Terracotta Warriors + departure

Two days' visiting is a little tight. If you want to have a better experience when visiting the Terracotta Warriors, we suggest a full day's visiting and leave in the third day's morning.

Our private transfer and local guide's accompany will make the most of your time and maximize your travel experience.

There are also some worthwhile destinations close to Xi'an that you might consider visiting:

1. Luoyang and Shaolin Temple

Luoyang, an ancient capital like Xi'an, and its nearby Shaolin Temple are the most popular choices, especially if you are interested in Chinese history and Chinese kung fu.

A trip to Luoyang and Shaolin Temple takes about one day. Luoyang is about a 1-hour bullet train travel from Xi'an.

In Luoyang, the main attraction is its spectacular Longmen Grottoes where you could marvel at the exquisite carvings and Buddha statues.

Then head to Shaolin Temple, which takes about 1½ hours by car. Walk around the temple and learn about Chinese Buddhism and martial arts. You could also enjoy a wonderful Kung Fu show. See One Day Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple Tour .

2. Pingyao Ancient Town

In Pingyao, you could get a glimpse of the ordinary life of a merchant in ancient times. Pingyao is about a 3-hour journey from Xi'an by the bullet train. Spending about two days touring the highlights of Pingyao Ancient Town is recommended.

There you could explore the original site of the first draft bank in China, visit an interesting museum — Armed Escort Company Museum, watch the sunset from the city wall, and pay a visit to Wang's Family Compound (the Forbidden City in Folk). Check out the 2-Day Pingyao Highlights Tour .

If you have more time, you could explore further north to Datong, which is famous for its Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple. See the 4-Day Datong and Pingyao Tour .

Tour China with Us

All our tours can be adjusted as much as you like. We aim to create an ideal itinerary based on your interests, group size, travel length, and other requirements. Feel free to contact us .

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How To Plan A Trip To Xi'an: Xi'an Trip Planner 2024/2025

"If you have not been to Xi'an, you have not been to China!” which is fairly true. Xian, together with Beijing and Shanghai, is the famous China tourism’s Golden Triangle that all travellers to China should never miss. In the ancient time, Xian was known as Chang’an (Eternal Peace) as the capital cities for Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang and other 13 dynasties for more than a thousand years. Over 70 ancient emperors ruled China here. That’s why there are so many historical sites, ruins, museums and ancient relics cultivated in Xian. Among all the historical places, Terracotta Warriors is the most epic site to visit. There are more than 8000 life-size, hand-molded figures buried with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. There are also many other places worth visiting, such as the best reserved Ancient City Wall, exotic Muslim Quarter where the Great Mosque locates, magnificent Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, grand Bell Tower, etc. You should also not miss out the nearby Mount Huashan which has the Plank Road in the Sky, one of the most adventurous experience in the world.

Now come to the most difficult question of how to organize everything in your Xian trip? Our Xian Trip Planner is here to help you focus on must do and see, where to stay, where to eat, when to go and more vital travel information you need to know before you go. Let us start it!

What You Must See in Xi'an?

Xi’an is famous for its long-lasting history and mixture of different culture, not a place with beautiful mountains and rivers like Yangshuo. Visiting Xi’an is unlocking some of the most important chapters of the book of Chinese history, which is the reason why Xi’an has so many historical sites and museums.

◆ Places You Must See in Xi’an:

Terracotta Warriors - UNESCO World Heritage Site, Word’s 8th Wonder, mausoleum of first emperor of China in history… there are too many reasons for you to take a look even if there may be tourists jam. It is located at northeastern suburb of Xi’an, approximately 1.5hrs’ driving away.

Ancient City Wall – was originally built in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), partly original and partly restored. Walking or biking around the wall is awe inspiring with interesting and different views of the old and new parts of Xi’an.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda - the bright pearl on the Silk Road with excellent architectural beauty, precious Buddhist relics, rich religious culture, stories of the famous ancient monk - Xuan Zang, etc.

Bell & Drum Towers – two grandiose towers used to tell time in ancient time, and now great places to get up to enjoy panoramic view of Xi’an.

Shaanxi History Museum – one of the most important museums in China, an art palace that fully shows Shaanxi history, culture, and Chinese ancient civilization.

Other recommended places to go if you have extra time: Tangbo Art Musuem, Hanyangling Mausolem, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, etc.

Keep Reading: - Xi'an Top Attractions to Go

Xi'an is full of places to see

What You Must Do in Xi’an

Xian is full of things to do

Sightseeing is most important thing during your trip while experiencing some featured local acitivities can make your trip more enjoyable, interesting and memorable. Xi'an has many this kind of thing do and below are some most popular ones:

Cycling on the Ancient City Wall – this is one of kind experience, cycling on the ancient wall is like cycling on the history of China. You can rent bike on the ancient wall, and the price is only 45 CNY/pp.

Hunt for local food and snacks at Muslim Quarter – Muslim Quarter offers only local favors, but also many snacks and food from other provinces even other countries. It also has bars and drink shops.

Enjoy a hearty dumpling meal – Xi’an is famous for making delicious dumplings in China. There are even special banquets of dumplings.

Watch a magnificent cultural night show – great way to learn about Chinese culture and relax at the same time. Xi’an has two great night shows: Tang Dynasty Show (dancing and musical performance) and The Song of Ever Lasting Sorrow (outdoor live-action show)

Keep Reading: - Xi'an Top Things to Do

Do Not Miss Mount Huashan

It is strongly recommended to make a day to hike Mount Hua during your trip in Xi’an. This one of the most beautiful and most legendary mountains in China is only about 2 hour’s driving from Xi’an. If you are solo travelers, you can also get there easily by high speed trains or tourist buses from Xi’an.

Mount Huashan has five very beautiful peaks: South Peak, North Peak, East Peak, West Peak and Central Peak. There are steep but accessible stone steps connecting the peaks together. The best highlight of the mountain is the Plank Road in the Sky which is said to be one of the most dangerous hiking trails in the world. It was constructed on the surface of a vertical cliff at the South Peak by a Taoist in 700 years ago.

We advise you to complete your hiking on Mount Huashan in a day because the guesthouses on the mountain are very poor but extremely expensive. To save time and energy, you can take North Peak Cable Car to get onto the mountain, and get down by West Peak Cable Car.

Recommended Xi'an Huashan Tour Packages:

- 3 Days Xian Mount Huashan Leisure Tour - 4 Days Xian Highlights Tour with Mount Huashan Hiking

West Peak of Mount Huashan in September

How Long to Stay and How to Create Itineraries in Xi’an

Xian Tourist Map

1 Day in Xi’an – too short to get the essence of Xi’an, but can be a glimpse to see the city in brief way. You can visit the Terracotta Warrior in the morning, then the Ancient City Wall and nearby. 1 Day Xian Essence Tour

2 Days in Xi’an – 2 days are long enough to take the classic Xi’an city tour. Day 1 to visit the Terracotta Warrior, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Bell Tower; Day 2 to visit the Shaanxi History Museum and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and catch flight or train. 2 Days Xian City Break

3 Days in Xi’an - you can explore the city in a leisure pace. Beside the Must-Sees, you may find surprises if you put some other small places into your itinerary, such as Tangbo Art Museum, Hangyangling, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, etc. If you don’t mind haste, you can visit both Xi’an and Mount Huashan in 3 days. 3 Days Classic Xian Tour

4 Days in Xi’an - 4 days is the idea trip length of Xi’an tour with great flexibilities. You can spend a full day to hike Mount Huashan, and the rest 4 days to explore Xi’an’s historical sites, food and cultural activities. You also don’t have to catch flights (train) in a hurry. If you are not interested in hiking, you can place Mount Huashan with Luoyang. 4 Days Xian Highlights Tour with Mount Huashan Hiking

5 Days in Xi’an – if you have 5 days in Xi’an, you can play in the city as much leisure as you want. You also have flexible extension trips choices, such as Mount Huanshan, Hukou Waterfall, Shaolin Temple, Pingyao, etc.

- 3 Days Best Xian City Tour Plus Hukou Waterfall - 4 Days Xian Highlights Tour with Sidetrip to Luoyang Longmen Grottoes - 6 Days Xian to Luoyang Highlights Tour with Sidetrip to Shaolin Temple

Travel in Xi’an With or Without Visa? - 144 Hours Transit Visa Free

Xi’an applies to the 144-Hour TWOV (Transit Without Visa). Travellers of 53 specified countries who make transits in Xi’an Xi’anyang International Airport and hold valid passport and connecting flight tickets to a third country or region can stay in Xi’an area up to 3 days without a Chinese visa, for examples: Singapore > Xi’an > Hong Kong; London > Xi’an > Macau. There is 144-Hour Visa-free Counters set up in Xi’an Xi’anyang International Airport with English signs. Please note the Lintong District where the Terracotta Warrior locates in applies to the 144 Hour TWOV but Mount Hua doesn’t because it is not an administrative part of Xi’an.

Since Xi’an has not many international flights, and the city is usually a middle stop of a China tour, we advise you to apply for a China Tourist Visa (L Visa) before coming to China so that you can travel in a more secure and flexible way. You can apply for Chinese visa at Chinese Embassy and consulates in your country. Except special circumstance, applicants can get a Chinese Visa after 1 ~ 4 working days, even on the same day of your submission.

Best Time to Visit Xi'an Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in June Xi'an has a warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate with distinct four seasons. The summer is hot and rainy, the winter is cold and less rainy and snowy, the spring is warm and misty, and the autumn is cool and comfortable. The average annual temperature of Xi'an is around 13°C / 55°F. The annual maximum temperature is 35 / 95°F in July; the minimum temperature is -10 °C / 14°F in January. Daily temperature differs much between daytime and night. Precipitation varies greatly from year to year. About 78% of the rainfall is concentrated in May-October, and the rainfall from July to September accounts for 47% of the annual rainfall, and there are occasional heavy rains. The annual average relative humidity is about 70%. The annual average wind speed is 1.8 m/s, and the prevailing wind direction is the northeast wind. Generally speaking, you can go to visit Xi’an all year around, while the best two periods of time to visit is March to June and mid-September to early November. During this period, the weather there is neither too hot or too cold, and the number of tourists is relatively smaller than the summer time’s. Keep Reading: - Xian Weather & Seasons 7 How to Get to & around Xi’an? – Flights, Trains and Highways

Get to Xi'an by Flight - Currently you can take nonstop, stopover, or connecting flights to Xi’an from more than 50 countries and regions, such as Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Sydney, Kuala, Bangkok, etc. Xi’an is also connected wide by domestic flights from majority of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, etc. - More details

Get to Xi'an by Train - Most of major cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, etc., have high speed bullet trains or normal fast trains to Xi’an. There are nearly 50 high speed bullet trains running between Beijing and Xi’an each day. It is also very popular to take high speed train to Xi’an from Chengdu. Besides the normal high speed trains, Shanghai also has an overnight bullet train to Xi’an. Among the three railway stations in Xi’an, Xi’an North Railway Station serves for high speed trains while Xi’an Railway Station serves for normal trains. Xi’an South Railway Station is barely used by travellers. - More details

Get Around Xi’an by Highway - Xi’an has a widely connecting highway system. You can take bus or use private cars of travel agencies to get to most of the tourist destinations in Shaanxi Province, and most of the highways are under good road conditions. Traffic jams are usual on the roads in Xi’an and the roads to Terracotta Warriors and Mount Huashan.

Xian North Railway Station

Where to Stay in Xi'an? - Bell & Drum Towers, Xincheng District...

Bell & Drum Towers Area - strongly recommended for first-timers, easy access to Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Bell Tower, Drum Tower and popular restaurants. Hotel rates are higher than other areas, but you have a lot of choices of different standards.

Xincheng District - not very far from the city center as well as Xi’an’s main attractions, recommended for families as there are shopping center and parks to enjoy a stroll.

Yanta Distict – Yanta District is on the south of the city center, also near main attractions, including Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, History Museum, etc. It has many hotels of budget class.

Sofitel on Renmin Square Xi'an (No.319 Dongxin Street, Xi'an) ET House (Xi'an Bell Drum Towers) (Crossing of Dachejia Alley and Fen Alley, Beilin District) Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel (No.32 Weiyang Road, Xi'an) Grand Mercure Xian Renmin Square (No.319 Dongxin Street, Xincheng District, Xi'an) Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel (No.172 Lianhu Road, Xi'an) Ramada Bell Tower Hotel Xi'an (No.79 North Street, Xi'an)

- More Recommended Hotels & Hostels in Xi'an

What and Where to Eat in Xi’an?

Xi’an is an essential part of Chinese food culture. Influenced by Silk Road and Muslim culture, the food and cuisines of Xi’an are quite different from Sichuan Cuisines, Cantonese Cuisine, etc. Cooked wheaten snacks and mutton dishes are very popular here, including Flatbread in Mutton Soup, Meat Burger, Cold Noodles, Pepper Beef Ball Soup, Biangbiang Noodles, etc.

Where to eat the most authentic Xi’an food? Among various food streets in Xi’an, the Muslim Quarter and Yongxingfang Area are the two most popular ones, especially at night. Muslim Quarter as various local food and snacks of halal style, while Yongxingfang also offers cuisines of traditional Chinese dishes. Besides, there are some popular food streets and their locations for your reference.

Beiyuanmen Night Market 北院门夜市 Location: Bell-Drum Tower Square, Lianhu District, Xi'an 西安市莲湖区钟鼓楼广场

Eastern Street Night Market 东新街夜市 Location: Eastern Street in the middle of Jiefang Road, Xi’an City. 西安市新城区解放路中段

Nanshaomen Night Market 南稍门夜市 Location: Outside the South Gate in Yanta District. 西安市雁塔区南门外南稍门

Boshulin Night Market 柏树林夜市 Location: Near Forest of Steles Museum, Duanlvmen, Xi’an City 西安市新城区端履门内，碑林博物馆旁

Keep Reading: - Popular Xian Food, Snacks & Cuisines - Top 10 Best Xian Restaurants

Xian Food & Snacks

Best Xian Tours Packages for 2024/2025

No matter how many days you plan to stay in Xian, China Discovery always has a suitable tour for you. We are also specialized in high-quality private tours as well as tailor-made tour packages that fit you best according to your own interests, requirement, traveling time, etc. Below are the Most Popular Xian Tour Packages 2024/2025. If you have no idea where to start, pleaste don't hesitate to contact our travel experts for help.

Travel the best highlights and the unique historic relics of the ancient capital Xian at an enjoyable pace in 3 days. This is the most classic Xian itinerary, with visits to all the bests of this ancient capital!

Visit the Terracotta Warriors on the first day, then drive to Huashan.Use cable car to ascend and descend the mountain, and hike the most highlighting trails.

Visit 3 World Heritage Sites (Terracotta Warriors, Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple) also hike Mount Huashan.

Visit the best attractions in Xian, then take a side trip to hike Mount Huashan which is famous for its thrilling hiking routes and Plank Walk.

Explore the best attraction of Xian and World Heritage Site - Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. Your time and money are efficiently used.

Ideal for those who have brief 2 days to stay in Xian but want to explore the best part of the city. Perfectly designed to cover the symbolic attractions in Xian. Pick up from hotel, train station and airport.

How to visit Xian and hike Huashan in a leisure way? Take our private tour package which has your own private vehicle, tour guide as well as featured itinerary.

Visit classic attractions in Beijing and Xian, and enjoy one-day hike to Mount Hua.

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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Xi'an Travel Notebook: 6x9 Travel Journal with prompts and Checklists perfect gift for your Trip to Xi'an (China) for every Traveler Paperback – June 3, 2019

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Are you looking for a beautiful, simple journal, diary or notebook for your trip to Xi'an? This is a travel journal with prompts and checklists that is a perfect Gift for someone planning their travel to Xi'an in China. Use it as Notebook, Diary, to Journal or just like any other notebook. Other details include: 120 pages, 6x9, cream paper and a beautiful matte-finished cover. Make sure to look at our other products for more Travel journals.

• Print length 119 pages
• Language English
• Publication date June 3, 2019
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• ISBN-10 1072069687
• ISBN-13 978-1072069683
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (June 3, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 119 pages
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Xi’s visit exposes fault lines in European unity

Subscribe to the china bulletin, tara varma tara varma visiting fellow - foreign policy , center on the united states and europe @tara_varma.

May 8, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition to transform his country’s relationship with China isn’t new. Macron’s first visit to China dates to 2018 , mere months after he was elected president. He then vowed to come back at least once a year to cement Franco-Chinese ties. The following year, he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Paris , alongside Angela Merkel, then Germany’s chancellor, and Jean-Claude Juncker, then the president of the European Commission.

Xi’s 2019 visit came right after the European Commission published its new EU-China strategy , which formalized the triptych systemic rival-competitor-partner relationship, as it would come to be characterized. Even back then, Macron wanted to give Xi’s visit to France a European flavor. He reiterated the same willingness when he visited China in 2023 with Ursula von der Leyen, the current president of the European Commission. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic had occurred in the meantime, precipitating Europe’s reckoning with its dependencies on China, and the subsequent weaponization of those dependencies by Beijing.

Macron’s visit to China last year made waves when he told reporters that Europe must resist pressure to become America’s vassal, giving the impression that Europe was caught between America and China. This modus operandi is characteristic of Macron, who is adept at pushing sensitive buttons and sometimes too eager to have difficult conversations. His trip last year happened not only after COVID-19, but also while Russia, a very close partner to China, was—and still is—waging war against Ukraine. Before his trip, Macron asserted that he wanted to convince Xi to get Putin to back down. That was to no avail.

Xi’s visit and Macron’s goals

This is Xi’s first trip to Europe in five years . Macron’s charm offensive during Xi’s visit to Paris (which is Xi’s first stop before Serbia and Hungary) is characteristic of the French leader in that it aims to achieve at least two separate goals. One is to convince Xi to end, or decrease, his support for Putin in Russia’s war against Ukraine, and notably not to provide Russia with key military materiel. The second is a corollary to the first: to form a closer personal relationship with Xi. To advance this goal, Macron took Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the southwest of France to visit the home of Macron’s late grandmother, whom he was very close to. Macron occasionally resorts to such shows of personal contact, like when he hosted Putin at the Fort of Brégançon in 2019. France and China are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

Xi’s visit to Paris came at a time when the war in Ukraine has increasingly become a meat grinder, as Putin relentlessly attacks Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilian population. As Ukraine only recently revealed that it foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, time is of the essence.

Macron invited von der Leyen once again to the Xi meeting in Paris. They discussed international crises, particularly the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, as well as trade and people-to-people contacts. Other topics included common action on addressing global issues, such as climate change, protecting biodiversity, and alleviating poor countries’ financial burdens. The situation in the Middle East warranted a separate bilateral communiqué , in which both France and China called for a cease-fire in Gaza, among other issues.

Having von der Leyen at the table was key to sending a common European message, especially as she is known to be tougher on trade issues, having initiated the European Commission’s first economic security strategy last year—which was professedly country-agnostic but quite clearly directed at China. Notwithstanding Von der Leyen’s presence, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s absence was notable. Scholz visited China twice in the past two years and rebuffed Macron’s proposition to join him on these visits, similar to how he turned down Macron’s invitation to participate in the meeting with Xi and von der Leyen in Paris this week. Macron and Scholz did, however, meet on May 2 in Paris to prepare for Xi’s visit. These mixed messages seem to undermine impressions of European unity.

Deliverables and what comes next

For Xi, the visit has domestic importance, as he wants to demonstrate to the Chinese public that he is still fêted in Europe. Xi also sought to encourage Macron’s ambition for European strategic autonomy, an element that was already present in Macron’s visit to China last year. Xi’s interpretation of strategic autonomy is one where Europe turns away from the United States and moves toward other partners, particularly China. But this is not France’s or Europe’s interpretation. Europeans’ vision of strategic autonomy intends for Europe to build greater capacity and the ability to act, from a political, economic, and security and defense standpoint, to reinforce the trans-Atlantic link with Washington. By contrast, Xi’s goal is to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe and to show that there are limits to trans-Atlantic unity on China.

For Macron, the return on investment of his charm offensive might be even lower than expected , whether on trade or foreign policy. Macron doesn’t want to give up on convincing Xi to do less with Putin, but there is no indication that Xi will do so. The rest of Xi’s European tour suggests no inclination to such compromise, nor any larger willingness to curtail Russia’s action.

Indeed, Xi has now moved from France to Serbia , where he will mark the 25th anniversary of NATO’s bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. From there, Xi will travel to Hungary, where Viktor Orbán will host him in pomp, and contribute to undermining European unity on China, particularly as Orbán seeks to entice Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing.

Maintaining European unity on China is key, but Macron and von der Leyen can’t do it alone. One may fear that what remains of Xi’s Europe trip will be the Chinese president’s capacity to divide and conquer.

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With lamb and cheese, Macron tried to charm China's Xi in the Pyrenees

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Xi Jinping arrives in France with Ukraine and EU trade row at top of agenda

On his first visit to Europe since 2019, Xi is set to meet with Emmanuel Macron before heading to Serbia and Hungary

Xi Jinping has lauded China’s ties with France as a model for the international community as he arrived in Paris amid threats of a trade war over Chinese electric cars and French cognac.

On his first visit to the EU in five years, China’s president will meet his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen , who will urge him to reduce trade imbalances and use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Ahead of the visit, Macron told the French newspaper La Tribune that an update of relations was necessary “because China now has excess capacity in many areas and exports massively to Europe”.

In September 2023 the EU launched an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU producers against cheaper Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports that it says are benefiting from state subsidies.

On Sunday night, Von der Leyen signalled the EU’s continued discontent with China , which she said was “currently manufacturing with massive subsidies”. An oversupply of cars and steel due to weak demand at home was leading to unfair trade and unacceptable market distorting practices, said Von der Leyen, that “could lead to deindustrialiasion in Europe” and loss of jobs, particularly in the German car industry.

Macron will try to talk Xi out of retaliating over the EV investigation, potentially with import duties on French cognac and agricultural goods.

The EU is also expected to raise suspicions that sanctions on exports to Russia are being circumvented by Chinese companies trading with its neighbour. They believe multinationals based in Asia are selling legitimately into Hong Kong and mainland China but the destination of the goods is Russia.

Xi, who was welcomed in Paris by the French prime minister, Gabriel Attal, said in a statement released on his arrival that ties between China and France were “a model for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems”.

In a separate op-ed published in the French daily Le Figaro, the Chinese president said he was coming to France with three messages: that Beijing was committed to opening up “new vistas” in its relationship with France, opening up “ever wider” to the world, and to upholding world peace and stability.

“While opening up itself, China also encourages Chinese companies to go global,” Xi wrote. “France is advancing reindustrialisation based on green innovation, whereas China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces.”

On the war in Ukraine , he wrote that China “understands the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis on the people of Europe”. He emphasised that Beijing was not “a party to or a participant in it”, adding that “China has been playing a constructive role in striving for peaceful settlement of the crisis”.

Xi’s six-day visit to Europe is the first since 2019 and will also see him visit Serbia and Hungary . The latter is hoping to become the European hub of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing after BYD in 2023 sealed a deal for its first EV factory in Europe.

One of Macron’s key priorities will be to warn Xi of the danger of backing Russia in its invasion of Ukraine , with western officials concerned Moscow is already using Chinese machine tools in arms production.

The west wants China above all not to supply weapons to Russia and risk tipping the balance in the conflict.

“It is in our interest to get China to weigh in on the stability of the international order,” said Macron in an interview with the Economist published on Thursday.

“We must, therefore, work with China to build peace.”

China opened an anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the European Union in January, sparking fears cognac could suffer a similar blow to that taken by Australian wine when China introduced tariffs of more than 200%.

“We want to obtain reciprocity of exchanges and have the elements of our economic security taken into account,” Macron told La Tribune.

Von der Leyen said on Monday: “We have to act to make sure that competition is fair and not distorted. I have made clear that the current imbalances in market access are not sustainable and need to be addressed”.

The European Commission, the European Union’s authority on trade issues, has opened more than 20 competition probes targeting China in recent months including into the supply of cars, wind turbines and medical devices.

Beijing has reacted furiously to the most recent investigation, into suspected inequitable access to China’s medical devices market, calling it a sign of EU “protectionism”.

The EU’s 27 members – in particular France and Germany – are divided on their attitude towards China.

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, will not join Macron and Xi in Paris due to prior commitments, according to sources.

“In Europe, we are not unanimous on the subject because certain players still see China as essentially a market of opportunities,” Macron said, without naming any countries.

France will also seek to make progress on opening the Chinese market to its agricultural exports and resolve issues around the French cosmetic industry’s concerns about intellectual property rights, officials have said.

China may announce an order for about 50 Airbus aircraft during Xi’s visit, but it remains uncertain whether it will be a new deal, people familiar with the negotiations have said.

On Tuesday, Macron will take Xi to the Pyrenees, a mountainous region dear to the French president as the birthplace of his maternal grandmother, before Xi heads to Serbia and Hungary .

Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report

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China's Xi arrives in Hungary for talks on expanding Chinese investments

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Hungary, the final stop on his five-day European tour

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hungary late Wednesday, the final stop on his five-day European tour, where he’s expected to finalize a number of agreements with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that will deepen China’s economic footprint in the region.

Xi is set to spend two nights in the Hungarian capital Budapest where he will meet with Orbán and Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok. Talks will center on future Chinese investments in the Central European country, which has courted deep economic ties with Beijing even as mainstream European leaders have pursued more protectionist policies to limit its reach on the continent.

Orbán, a nationalist populist whose illiberal policies have pushed him to the fringes of the European Union, made his country the first in the 27-member bloc to participate in Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative . Hungary has straddled a middle ground between its membership in the EU and NATO and a willingness to establish diplomatic and trade relationships with autocratic governments outside those groupings.

Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, told a news conference on Monday that Xi and Hungarian officials would sign at least 16 bilateral agreements during the visit, Xi’s first to the country as president.

Szijjártó called the visit “historic,” and pointed out that China had provided more foreign investment to Hungary than any other country in 2023. He added that some of the agreements to be signed would involve expansion of Belt and Road in Hungary, and could include investments in infrastructure and energy.

Xi’s arrival in Budapest came after a two-day visit to Serbia’s capital Belgrade, where he signed an agreement on building a “shared future” with the Balkan country which, like Hungary, is considered friendly to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

China has claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but has refused to call the Russian assault an invasion and has been accused of bolstering Russia’s military capacity. Hungary has condemned the Russian invasion but threatened to block EU sanctions against Moscow and refused to provide Kyiv with military support.

Xi and Orbán are likely to discuss the war in Ukraine, Hungary’s neighbor to the east. Hungary’s government has vocally urged China to take a leading role in brokering peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and expressed its support for a China-proposed peace plan .

Before Xi’s arrival on Wednesday, a number of demonstrators gathered in central Budapest to protest his visit and call for autonomy for Tibet, which lies under Chinese control.

Tibor Hendrey, a representative for the Tibet Aid Society, said that doing business with China is important for Hungary’s economy, but highlighted the dangers of a relationship with a country with a spotty democratic and human rights records.

“We need a good relationship with a great empire, that’s not a problem. The problem is that China has a completely different culture, a completely different approach to human rights,” Hendrey said. “I feel that they want to export this kind of thinking here to Hungary, and that the Hungarian government is willing to accept that.”