Ask a QuestionXian is not a city you simply visit—it's a city you experience. As the starting point of the Silk Road and the capital of thirteen dynasties, this ancient city holds more than 3,000 years of history beneath its modern skyline. Here, the Terracotta Warriors stand guard in silent formation, the City Wall stretches endlessly against the sunset, and the aroma of sizzling street food drifts through centuries-old alleys. Whether you're a history buff, a food lover, or a curious traveler chasing something authentic, Xi'an offers an unforgettable blend of the ancient and the alive. So what exactly should you do when you arrive? Let's start with the essentials.
No trip to Xi'an is complete without visiting the Terracotta Army, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, each with a unique face, stand in battle formation guarding the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can visit the Terracotta Army in the morning.
It is recommended that you avoid the public holidays to visit the Terracotta Army because it will be very crowded during the public holidays with domestic tourists during the Labor Day holiday, National Day holiday and school summer holidays.
The Xi'an City Wall is one of the best-preserved ancient fortifications in China with a length of about 14 kilometers. Standing on the Xi’an City Wall, you can have a panoramic view of the city. Rent a bike at any of the gates, preferably in the late afternoon, and watch the sun set over the old city while the moat and willow trees glow below. It's a ride through history you won't forget.
Kindly reminder, considering the safety of the seniors, travelers over 65 years old are forbidden to cycle on the Xi’an City Wall now.
Xi'an's Muslim Quarter is a sensory explosion of sizzling woks, fragrant spices, and neon-lit stalls. Dive into the chaos and try everything: roujiamo (Chinese-style meat sandwich), yangrou paomo (mutton soup with torn flatbread), biangbiang noodles, and lamb skewers grilled over charcoal. For a more local experience, skip the main tourist street and head to Sajinqiao or Dapiyuan nearby.
If you want to understand the depth of Xi'an's past, the Shaanxi History Museum is essential. Its collection spans over a million years, from prehistoric artifacts to Tang Dynasty treasures. The museum is free but requires advance reservation, and it's worth every minute of the queue.
As darkness falls, head to the Great Tang All Day Mall (大唐不夜城), a pedestrian street bursting with light installations, street performances, and costumed characters. Nearby, the Great Tang Hibiscus Garden offers a quieter, more immersive taste of Tang-era architecture and culture, complete with evening water shows.
If you have an extra day, take a trip to Mount Hua (华山), one of China's five sacred mountains. Famous for its sheer cliffs and thrilling plank walks, it's about two hours from Xi'an by high-speed train. Whether you hike, take the cable car, or brave the cliffside walkways, the views are unforgettable.
Located in the downtown of Xi’an, Bell Tower and Drum Tower are both landmarks of Xi’an. At day, you can visit the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. At night, you can enjoy the night view of the Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi’an. Visiting the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, you will know about the history of China as well as appreciating the wooden-structure buildings of China.
Venue: The Tang Dynasty Theatre Palace
Address: 75, Changan Road, Xian
Duration: 3.5 hours (daily 18:00 - 20:30 for dinner, 20:30 – 21:35 for Tang Dynasty Show)
Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner that was created for “emperors only” in ancient China. This type of performance has been treasured as a national art that reflects the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty era. Now it is a brand-new way to touch the Xian culture both in facets of history and catering.
You can enjoy the sumptuous dinner while watching a fabulous dancing and singing performance of the Tang Dynasty. This is not only a performance of Chinese traditional dancing and singing, but a re-enactment of Chinese ancient ceremony and culture.
Dumpling, Chinese meat ravioli or Jiaozi in Chinese, is a food that can be made and cooked in many different ways. They are small lumps of dough that are cooked and eaten, either with meat and vegetables or as part of a sweet pudding. Those varied ingredients endow the dumplings with rich tastes, so dumplings may be sweet, spicy or savory.
During your stay in Xian, if you are interested, you can try to learn how to make dumplings. Remember, Chinese dumplings (jiaozi) may be divided into various types depending on how they are cooked, such as the boiled dumplings, steamed dumplings and dry-fried dumplings.
Venue: Gao Courtyard
Address: 144, North Gate, Muslim Street, Xian
Duration: All year round
With the melody of the unique Shaanxi local music, Guanzhong Leather-silhouette Show fully expresses the North China art. The life-like figures in this show tell you many stories that happened or might happen in the past Shaanxi.
The shadow of the figure is projected on the screen. Artists control the figures and move them as a real human. It is a very interesting show to enjoy and the audiences at home and abroad are all speak highly of this art performance. And classical works of Guanzhong Leather-silhouette Show are tow dramas, namely Princess Wencheng Enters Tibet and Imperial Concubine Yang.
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