Xi'an Travel

Thousand-year ancient capital Xi'an — one of the four great ancient capitals of the world, starting point of the Silk Road. Explore the wonder of the Terracotta Warriors, experience the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, cycle along the ancient city wall, and savor authentic Shaanxi cuisine.

3100+
Years of City History
6
World Cultural Heritage Sites
700+
Cultural Relics and Historic Sites
300+
Specialty Foods

Xi'an City District & County Travel

Xincheng District

Central urban area of Xi'an, political and cultural center

Xi'an Railway StationRevolution ParkYongxingfang
Beilin District

Cultural and educational center, home to the Stele Forest Museum

Stele Forest MuseumAcademy GateBell and Drum Towers
Lianhu District

Muslim residential area, food culture center

Muslim QuarterGreat MosqueCity God Temple
Yanta District

Science and education cultural area, home to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Giant Wild Goose PagodaShaanxi History MuseumTang Paradise Night
Weiyang District

Site of the Han Chang'an City ruins

Han City LakeDaming Palace RuinsXi'an North Station
Baqiao District

Chanba Ecological Zone, beautiful natural scenery

Chanba National Wetland ParkExpo ParkBailuyuan
Chang'an District

Location of University City, northern foothills of Qinling Mountains

Qinling Wildlife ParkNanwutaiGuanzhong Folk Art Museum
Lintong District

Location of the Terracotta Warriors, hot spring resort

Terracotta WarriorsHuaqing PalaceMount Li
Yanliang District

China's Aviation City, national aviation high-tech industry base

Aviation Science MuseumYanliang Aircraft CityShichuan River Ecological Zone
Gaoling District

Location of the Jing-Wei distinction landscape

Jing-Wei DistinctionGaoling FieldZhaohui Square
Huyi District

Hometown of farmers' paintings, northern foothills of Qinling Mountains

Zhuque Forest ParkTaiping Forest ParkChongyang Palace
Lantian County

Origin of Lantian jade, northern foothills of Qinling Mountains

Wangshun MountainShuilu TempleLantian Ape-Man Site
Zhouzhi County

Northern foothills of Qinling Mountains, birthplace of Taoist culture

LouguantaiHeihe Forest ParkXianyou Temple

Xi'an Three-Day Two-Night Essence Tour

Travel through Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties, feel the charm of the thousand-year ancient capital, experience the perfect fusion of modernity and tradition

Duration
3 Days 2 Nights
Main Destinations
Downtown, Terracotta Warriors, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Suitable For
History enthusiasts, Culture explorers
Budget Per Person
¥1200-¥1800
01
Qin Warrior Miracle
Terracotta Warriors · Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor · Huaqing Palace
Highlights

Morning visit Lintong District to see the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors. Afternoon tour the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and Huaqing Palace, experiencing the grandeur of the Great Qin Empire and the elegance of the Tang Dynasty royal gardens.

Attractions
Terracotta Warriors Museum
World Cultural Heritage, the underground military formation of Qin Shi Huang, containing three warrior pits and artifact exhibition halls, showcasing a military miracle from two thousand years ago.
Huaqing Palace
Tang Dynasty royal hot spring palace, bathing place of Yang Guifei, site of the Xi'an Incident, combining garden landscapes and historical relics.
Practical Info
Transportation Guide
  • Take bus You 5 from the city center direct
  • About 1 hour drive
  • Suggest departing at 8 AM
Ticket Info
  • Terracotta Warriors: ¥120
  • Huaqing Palace: ¥120
  • Scenic area electric cart: ¥20
Travel Tips
  • Avoid peak hours 10:00-14:00
  • Hire a guide for deeper understanding
  • Book tickets for Huaqing Palace Song of Everlasting Regret performance in advance
02
Ancient City Exploration
Shaanxi History Museum · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda · Tang Paradise Night
Highlights

Morning visit the Shaanxi History Museum to learn about Shaanxi's long history. Afternoon tour the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Cultural Leisure Area. Evening stroll through Tang Paradise Night to experience the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

Attractions
Shaanxi History Museum
China's first large-scale modern national museum, housing over 370,000 cultural relics, showcasing Shaanxi's ancient civilization.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Built by Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang to preserve Buddhist scriptures, a Xi'an landmark, climbable for panoramic city views.
Practical Info
Accommodation Recommendations
  • The Westin Xi'an
  • Gran Melia Xi'an
  • B&B near Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Food Recommendations
  • Lamb Paomo
  • Meat Sandwich
  • Cold Noodles
  • Gourd Chicken
Travel Tips
  • Shaanxi History Museum requires advance reservation
  • Giant Wild Goose Pagoda North Square music fountain starts at 8 PM
  • Tang Paradise Night is best for evening visits
03
Ancient City Stroll
Ming City Wall · Muslim Quarter · Bell and Drum Towers
Highlights

Morning cycle along the Ming City Wall for panoramic views of the ancient city. Afternoon explore Muslim Quarter to taste local delicacies, visit the Bell and Drum Tower Square to feel the pulse of Xi'an.

Attractions
Xi'an City Wall
China's largest and best-preserved ancient city fortification, cyclable for a full circuit with panoramic views of the ancient city.
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an's famous food culture district, gathering Northwest snacks and specialties, the top choice for experiencing Xi'an cuisine.
Practical Info
Cycling Info
  • City Wall bicycle rental: ¥45/3 hours
  • Full circuit about 14 km
  • Suggested morning or evening cycling to avoid strong sun
Food Recommendations
  • Jia San Soup Dumplings
  • Lao Sun Jia Paomo
  • Ding Jia Small Crispy Pork
  • Southeast Asian Zeng Gao
Travel Tips
  • Keep belongings secure in Muslim Quarter
  • Combined Bell and Drum Tower ticket offers better value
  • Compare prices when buying specialties

Must-Try Foods in Xi'an

Lamb Paomo

Xi'an specialty dish, rich soup and tender meat, served with garlic and chili sauce, requiring hand-shredding bread for an authentic experience.

Meat Sandwich

Shaanxi traditional snack, cured meat stuffed in white sesame flatbread, tender meat and fragrant bread, known as the Chinese hamburger.

Cold Noodles

Shaanxi specialty snack, chewy noodles served with chili oil, vinegar, bean sprouts and other seasonings, sour and spicy, perfect for summer.

Gourd Chicken

Xi'an traditional famous dish, whole chicken cooked crispy on the outside and tender inside, shaped like a gourd, a banquet centerpiece.

Xi'an Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit
  • Spring (Mar-May): Mild climate, lush flowers and trees
  • Autumn (Sep-Nov): Clear autumn weather, suitable for outdoor activities
  • Avoid Jul-Aug high temperatures and winter smog
Must-Try Foods
  • Lamb Paomo
  • Meat Sandwich
  • Cold Noodles
  • Gourd Chicken
  • Biangbiang Noodles
Budget Reference
  • Tickets: approx. ¥400
  • Accommodation: ¥200-500/night
  • Meals: ¥100-150/day
  • Transport: approx. ¥200
  • Total: ¥1200-1800
FAQ
  • How long to visit the Terracotta Warriors? → Suggest 3-4 hours
  • How to reserve Shaanxi History Museum? → Official website or WeChat public account
  • How long does City Wall cycling take? → About 2 hours
  • Best time to visit Muslim Quarter? → Evening to night