# Xi'an travel guide (西安) Shaanxi Province · Northwest, China · 15 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/shaanxi/xi-an ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Shaanxi History Museum → Giant Wild Goose Pagoda → Da Tang Furong Garden (enter in the afternoon to enjoy the night views) - **Day 2:** Bell and Drum Towers → Hui Muslim Street (lunch) → Small Wild Goose Pagoda → Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles Museum) → City Wall (watch the sunset in the evening) → Yongxing Lane (dinner) ## The feel of the place - **Masculine Strength:** If every city had a gender, Xi'an would be the most masculine of them all. Its massive city walls, grey-yellow tones and the deep imperial aura of an ancient capital leave no room for anything delicate. Locals eat from enormous bowls, and the occasional strains of Qinqiang opera (秦腔) carry a rugged, weathered masculinity. - **Rediscovering the Grandeur of High Tang:** “Nine heavenly gates swing open on the palace halls; robes from all nations bow before the crowned emperor.” With just a few lines, Wang Wei conjured the bustling splendour of Chang'an, the Tang capital. A thousand years on, how much of High Tang's grandeur does this ancient city still retain? Sadly, after centuries of lost capital status, many of Xi'an's precious cultural relics have vanished or been damaged, and only a handful remain intact above ground. In recent years the city has planned and built several ruin parks and site museums and is vigorously developing Tang cultural tourism. Today you can stroll past the Bell and Drum Towers in Hanfu, glimpse the magnificence of the “Palace of Palaces” at the Daming Palace ruins, or row a boat across the lake at the Qujiang Pool Ruins Park and savour the contentment the ancients found in “stealing half a day of leisure from a fleeting life”… ## The feel of the place ### Ancient Capital Xi'an “Forty years of reform: look at Shenzhen. A century of change: look at Shanghai. A millennium of ups and downs: look at Beijing. Five thousand years of civilisation: look at Xi'an.” And, “Talented scholars from the south, generals from the north, emperors buried in Shaanxi's loess.” As a Chinese person, Xi'an is a place you simply must visit. Shaanxi people like to say that the province's shape on the map resembles a kneeling Terracotta Warrior, and looking at a map, the resemblance is uncanny. ### Peak Season As tourism in western China grows in popularity and Xi'an is a famous destination, visitor numbers are very high during the May and October Golden Week holidays. It is best to avoid peak periods to save yourself inconvenience. ### Check the Map First To save time, check the location of each attraction in advance. Some sights are very close together, and if you don't realise this, you may take a taxi and waste money needlessly. ### Layout Xi'an is laid out on a grid. Major avenues and roads divide the city into neat blocks, and all streets and alleys run exactly north-south or east-west, so it is very hard to get lost. ### Preparation and Information ### Language Northwest dialects are common in remote villages, but in big cities Mandarin is very standard, so language is not a problem. ### Climate and Travel Seasons The average annual temperature is 13°C. Winter averages -5°C and summer 26°C. Spring and autumn are the golden seasons for visiting Xi'an. In summer, be sure to wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen. Visitors from southern China should also drink plenty of water after arriving, as many find their lips becoming dry and cracked. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Around As the capital of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an has well-developed transport links, which support its tourism and make it the first choice for travelling in Shaanxi. ### Air Xi'an Xianyang International Airport lies in the northwest of Xi'an, 47 km from the city centre, and is connected by an airport expressway. The airport bus costs ¥25 and departs from Xishaomen (西稍门). A taxi from downtown Xi'an costs ¥70–80. ### Xi'an Xianyang Airport Telephone ### Railway Xi'an has three main railway passenger stations: Xi'an Station, Xi'an North Station and Xi'an South Station. Railway Stations and Departure Directions ### Highway ### Long-Distance Bus Stations and Departure Directions ### Getting Around Town ### Buses ### Tourist Shuttle Buses Xi'an runs several tourist shuttle routes to help visitors reach the various sights. Tourist Bus 3 goes to Qianling Mausoleum; Tourist Bus 4 goes to the Han Yangling Museum; Tourist Bus 5 goes to Huaqing Pool and the Terracotta Warriors; Bus 307 runs from Da Tang Furong Garden to the Terracotta Warriors; Bus 500 goes to the Guanzhong Folk Customs Museum; Ring Mountain Line 1 offers views of the Qinling Mountains; Ring Mountain Line 2 goes to Dongtangyu (Hongzhai) for hot springs. ### Metro Xi'an currently has eight metro lines in operation: Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14 and 16. Lines 2 and 4 reach Xi'an North Station, and some stations are close to famous sights such as the Bell Tower, Nanmen (South Gate) and the Shaanxi History Museum. Line 3 reaches the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. ### Getting to the Sights For the Terracotta Warriors and Huaqing Pool route, take Metro Line 2 from Xi'an North Station to the Municipal Library (市图书馆) station, then transfer to the direct shuttle to the Terracotta Warriors. From Xi'an Station, take Bus 16 to Shijiajie (石家街) and transfer to the direct shuttle to the Terracotta Warriors scenic area. This option is fast and has frequent departures. Avoid one-day tour coaches, which take you to artificial attractions and shopping stops, restrict your time and are notorious for overcharging. To visit Huashan, take a minibus from Xi'an Bus Station. The one-way fare is ¥40 and the journey takes 2 hours. ### Expressways The newly completed ring expressway encircles the ancient city, connects to nine national trunk highways and links to several major urban arteries, making it extremely convenient. - tip: Xi'an's electronic city bus and metro cards can now be applied for through Alipay and WeChat. They offer the same discounts as physical cards, work on most city buses and all metro lines, and are very convenient. - **Airport Information** — - **Xi'an Railway Station** — - **Xi'an North Railway Station** — - **Xi'an South Railway Station** — - **Xi'an Bus Station** — (354 Jiefang Road, Xi'an) - **Sanfuwan Bus Station** — (353 Changying West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an) - **Chengxi Bus Station** — (92 Zaoyuan East Road, Xi'an) - **Chengnan Bus Station** — (78 Zhuque Avenue, Xi'an) - **Chengbei Bus Station** — (No. 9, West Section of North Second Ring Road, Xi'an) - **Fangzhicheng Bus Station** — (Xinsi Village, Xiwangjie Subdistrict, Baqiao District) ## Eat & drink Xi'an's title as a 'City of Gastronomy' is well deserved. Beef and lamb paomo, la zhi rou (cured pork), hulutou, liangpi (cold noodles), dumplings, spicy meatball hu la tang, fen tang yang xue (lamb blood in vermicelli soup) and more will be a serious test for your taste buds. That said, not every visitor will enjoy these dishes; some visitors from southern China may shake their heads and simply sigh over the food. ### Recommended Food Streets Xi'an's food culture is impressive, but few streets bring these specialties together, and the few food streets that exist are not perfect. To taste truly authentic Xi'an snacks, you will need to do some exploring. However, if time is limited and you're not fussy about food, a visit to a food street is still worthwhile. - **Bell Tower Food Street** — Bell Tower Food Street is located in one of Xi'an's most bustling areas and is home to many traditional long-established shops. - **Huimin Street** — Right next to the Drum Tower is the famous Huimin Street. Highlights include Lao Mi Jia paomo, Bai Jia steamed pork, Jia San soup dumplings, Ding Jia crispy small pork, Hong Hong pickled cabbage stir-fry, Li Mu roast meat, Lao Feng Jia sour plum drink, Huang Gui persimmon cake, jinggao (mirror cake), scalded beef tripe, steamed pork, lamb patties, roast lamb and assorted marinated meats. Wash it down with a bottle of Bingfeng soda, which brings back childhood memories for many Xi'an locals. The mix of halal snacks and authentic Xi'an flavours is why locals and visitors crowd shoulder to shoulder here, eating with gusto. - **Yongxing Fang** — A popular snack street at the foot of the city wall, offering snacks from across China, antique art stalls and spots popular for photos and videos. One stall serving stir-fried liangfen (mung bean jelly) is considered outstanding. - **Liuxiang Noodles** — Its popularity has only grown after several relocations. Wherever it hides in the city, loyal fans will track it down. (Building B, Jiqing Mansion, Jiqing Lane) - **Qin Yu Rougamo** — Qin Yu's bread is large, evenly browned, with a crisp, fragrant crust and a soft, chewy interior. Combined with roast pork cooked in an aged master stock, the meat is 'rich without being greasy, and lean without being dry'. A hot rougamo with an equally steaming bowl of vermicelli soup is pure satisfaction! Rougamo is available in limited daily quantities; it typically sells out after 13:00, and even if you plead, there won't be any left. (No. 19 East Mutou Street, Beilin District) - **Maohong Stir-Fried Paomo Restaurant** — If you've had your fill of lamb paomo in Xi'an, try the signature stir-fried paomo here. It has the hearty texture of paomo with a tangy, spicy zing. (No. 46 Hongbu Street, 15353593679) ## Nightlife Stroll along the old city wall, or wander around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower squares, then head to a night market for snacks. A tip: the best way to sample Xi'an snacks is to wander the night markets with a few friends and share a bite of everything. Otherwise, with so many delicacies, you'll be left clutching your stomach in regret. ## Shopping ### Souvenirs Visit Shuyuanmen Antique Street (Nanmenli Antique Street) and North Gate Shopping Street (the first small lane on the south end of the west side of Beiyuanmen Antique Street, about 1 km long). Don't forget to haggle. Good keepsakes include replicas of the Terracotta Warriors, Tang tri-colour glazed pottery, rubbings from the Forest of Stone Steles, Fengxiang painted clay figurines, paper cuttings and shadow puppets. ### Local Specialties The area around the junction of Xiyang Market and Guangji Street is a good spot. Shops there do brisk business, and you can find mung bean cake, dragon's beard candy, sour plum powder, dried dates, dried kiwi fruit and more. Xi'an's main shopping streets are Jiefang Road, Dongda Street and Nanda Street, which are home to Xi'an's largest shopping malls and brand-name stores of every kind. ## Where to stay All of Xi'an's sights can be reached by bus from the railway station, so it's advisable to stay near the station, where there are many good-value budget hotels. - **Xi'an Xiyun Holiday Hotel** — Opposite Wolong Temple, within the ancient city walls of Xi'an, with 24-hour access to explore the old city's scenery. (No. 19 Baishulin, Beilin District, Xi'an (north gate of Wenchang Gate Antiques City, opposite Wolong Temple), 029-87385883) ## Things to see - **Shaanxi History Museum** (★★★★★): Admission Free admission, but reservations are required via the WeChat official account; Opening hours 8:30–18:00 (15 March–14 November); 9:00–17:30 (15 November–14 March of the following year); closed on Mondays; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shaanxi-history-museum - **Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda** (★★★★): Admission Da Ci’en Temple: ¥40; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/giant-wild-goose-pagoda-and-small-wild-goose-pagoda - **Tang Paradise** (★★★): Admission Peak season ¥120; off-season ¥90. “Dream Return to Tang” is charged separately; Opening hours 9：00—22：00; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tang-paradise - **Xi'an City Wall** (★★★★): Admission ¥54; Opening hours 8：00—22：00; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xi-an-city-wall - **Bell Tower and Drum Tower** (★★★★): Admission Drum Tower ¥30; Bell Tower ¥30; combined Bell and Drum Towers ticket ¥50; Opening hours 8:30–21:30 (peak season); 8:30–18:00 (off-season); Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bell-tower-and-drum-tower - **Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles Museum)** (★★★★): Admission ¥10; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xi-an-beilin-museum-forest-of-stone-steles-museum - **Cuihua Mountain** (★★★★): Admission ¥65 (March–November); ¥40 (December–February); Opening hours 9:00–21:00 (March–November); 9:00–17:00 (December–February); Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/cuihua-mountain - **Caotang Temple** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：30—17：00; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/caotang-temple - **Great Tang All Day Mall** (★★★★): Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/great-tang-all-day-mall - **Xi'an Silk Road Joyland** (★★★): Admission ¥168; ¥60; ¥55; Opening hours 10:00–18:00 (Monday–Friday); 10:00–19:30 (Saturday–Sunday); 8:30–19:00 Banpo Ruins: this refers to the Banpo Ruins Museum, a Neolithic village site that lets you see how our ancestors lived more than 6,000 years ago.; 8:00–17:30 (March–November) 8:00–17:00 (December–February); Time needed 5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xi-an-silk-road-joyland ## Day trips & beyond - **Museum of the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuang** (★★★★★): Admission ¥120; Opening hours Daily ticket sales and admission 8:30–17:00, museum closes at 18:30 (March 16–November 15); daily ticket sales and admission 8:30–16:30, museum closes at 18:00 (November 16–March 15 of the following year); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/museum-of-the-terracotta-army-of-emperor-qinshihuang - **Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang** (★★★): Admission Combined ticket with the Terracotta Army Museum (Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum); Opening hours Daily ticketing and entry 8:30–17:00, closing 18:30 (16 March–15 November); daily ticketing and entry 8:30–16:30, closing 18:00 (16 November–15 March of the following year); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mausoleum-of-emperor-qinshihuang - **Mount Li** (★★★): Admission Mount Li and Huaqing Pool have been merged into the Huaqing Palace Scenic Area; ticket ¥120; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mount-li - **Huaqing Palace (Huaqing Pool)** (★★★★): Admission Merged with Mount Li into the Huaqing Palace Scenic Area; unified ticketing — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/huaqing-palace-huaqing-pool - **Qinling Wildlife Park** (★★★★): Admission ¥100 (peak season), ¥80 (off-season); Opening hours 8：30—18：00; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qinling-wildlife-park --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 630–654. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.