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Rows of the Terracotta Army warriors in Pit One of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, Xi’an
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Xi'an Travel Guide — the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties - the Terracotta Army, the City Wall, the pagodas and the Muslim Quarter

Xi'an is the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties - the eastern end of the Silk Road and the home of the Terracotta Army, the Ming City Wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter behind the Drum Tower. A modern metropolis of 13 million, it wears its history lightly: walk the 13.7-km wall, watch the fountains of the Great Tang All-Day Mall, eat your way through the night markets of the Hui quarter, and spend a day in Lintong with the 8,000 warriors and the hot springs of Huaqing Pool. Three to five days covers the classics, with the Xi'an Xianyang airport, the high-speed rail and the tourist routes (You 1-You 10) connecting the city to Huashan, Famen Temple and Qianling. This guide carries the ticket prices, opening hours, restaurants and phone numbers from the field guide, so you can plan it yourself or book it through our team.

Terracotta ArmyCity WallBig Wild Goose PagodaMuslim QuarterHuaqing PoolBell Tower
3-5 DaysTwo days for the wall, pagodas and the Muslim Quarter; a third for the Terracotta Army; four to add Huashan
RMB 150 Terracotta ArmyPeak-season RMB 150 / low RMB 120; wall RMB 40; Bell and Drum towers RMB 35 each; Shaanxi History Museum free (booked)
Mar-Jun & Sep-OctMild days and clear skies; avoid the July heat and the golden-week crowds
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Xi'an Bucket Listwarriors, walls, pagodas and the night food streets

01

Face the Terracotta Army

8,000 warriors of the First Emperor, standing in their pits since 210 BC - the eighth wonder of the world, an hour east of the city.

02

Cycle the Ming City Wall

The best-preserved city wall in China - 13.7 km of ramparts, gate towers and a bike ride above the old city.

03

Climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The Tang brick tower of Ci'en Temple - the square, the fountains and the evening light over the Great Tang All-Day Mall.

04

Eat through the Muslim Quarter

The night markets behind the Drum Tower - roujiamo, paomo, liangpi and 300 stalls of the Hui quarter.

05

Book the Shaanxi History Museum

The free-but-booked treasury of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang - 380,000 pieces in one museum.

06

Soak at Huaqing Pool

The Tang hot springs of the Lishan foothills - where the emperors bathed and the 'Song of Everlasting Sorrow' was born.

Top Highlightswhat Xi’an does best

No.1The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army

The 8,000 warriors of Pit One - the face of imperial China.

No.2The City Wall at dusk

The City Wall at dusk

The Yongning Gate tower glowing over the moat.

No.3The Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The Tang tower above Ci’en Temple and the fountain square.

No.4The Muslim Quarter night

The Muslim Quarter night

The lantern-lit food streets behind the Drum Tower.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Xi'an

How long do I need in Xi'an?

Two days covers the wall, the pagodas and the Muslim Quarter; three adds the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Pool; four to five allows Huashan or Famen Temple as day trips. The field guide budgets RMB 2,000-3,000 for a 3-5 day trip including hotels and food.

How do I get to the Terracotta Army?

Tour Route 5 (You 5, ex-Route 306) leaves the east square of Xi'an railway station for RMB 7 (about 1-1.5 hours) - beware the fake '306' vans that circle the station. A taxi is about RMB 150, or book a driver through our team. Peak season ticket RMB 150, low season RMB 120, open 08:30-17:30.

Is the Shaanxi History Museum really free?

Yes, but entry is by reservation - 4,000 free tickets a day, booked online in advance (closed Mondays). The Treasure Hall is RMB 20 and lets you skip the queue; the museum is at 91 Xiaozhai East Road, closed Mondays.

What should I eat in the Muslim Quarter?

The classics: roujiamo (Laofan's braised pork bun, 53 Zhubashi Street), paomo (the Old Sun and Old Mi lamb soup), Jia San's soup dumplings (93 Beiyuanmen), Weijia liangpi (RMB 13) and the biangbiang noodles - then iced syrup of sour plum to cool down.

How do I get around the city?

Metro Line 2 connects the railway station, Bell Tower and the south; taxis start at RMB 6 plus a RMB 1 fuel surcharge; the tourist routes You 1-You 10 leave the railway station for Huashan, Famen Temple, Qianling and the east line.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Xi'an trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the Terracotta Army and museum tickets, the wall bikes, the Huaqing Pool show and the Huashan day, plus hotels and drivers, free of charge.

Sample Itinerariesthe 3-day classic and the Terracotta east line

Xi'an City Wall & Terracotta Army 3-Day Classic

The full first visit - the wall and the towers, the pagodas and the Muslim Quarter, then the warriors of Lintong. View the plan →

Day 1

The Ming City Wall - rent a bike at the South Gate and circle the 13.7 km; then the Bell and Drum towers and the Muslim Quarter for the night food.

Day 2

Shaanxi History Museum (book the free ticket), the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Ci'en Temple, the fountain square and the Great Tang All-Day Mall in the evening.

Day 3

The east line - the Terracotta Army at Lintong, Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum mound, then Huaqing Pool and the Lishan foothills before the return.

Xi'an Terracotta Army & Huaqing Pool 2-Day East Line

The warriors, the imperial baths and the Lishan sunset - the classic Lintong pair without the crowds. View the plan →

Day 1

Terracotta Army in the morning - Pits One, Two and Three and the bronze chariots - then the mausoleum mound and a quiet Lintong afternoon.

Day 2

Huaqing Pool and Lishan - the Tang baths, the 'Everlasting Sorrow' stage and the mountain walk, with the evening train or coach back to Xi'an.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Xi'an itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Terracotta Army (Bingmayong)

Terracotta Army (Bingmayong)

The 8,000 warriors of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum at Lintong - Pit One's ranks, Pit Two's archers and cavalry, and the bronze chariots of the exhibition hall. Peak RMB 150 / low RMB 120.

RMB 150 (peak) · 08:30-17:30 · UNESCO · Qin Dynasty
View details →
Xi'an City Wall (Cheng Qiang)

Xi'an City Wall (Cheng Qiang)

The 13.7-km Ming wall with 19 gates - cycle the ramparts (bikes RMB 40/100 min solo, RMB 80 tandem) or walk the south section. RMB 40, enter at the South (Yongning) Gate.

RMB 40 · 08:00-22:00 · City Wall · Ming Dynasty
View details →
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta)

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta)

The Tang brick tower of Ci'en Temple - the square and the music fountains by night; temple RMB 50, tower climb RMB 30.

RMB 50 + 30 · 08:00-18:30 · Pagoda · Tang Dynasty
View details →
Bell & Drum Towers (Zhonggu Lou)

Bell & Drum Towers (Zhonggu Lou)

The Ming towers at the centre of the old city - climb for the square views and the drum performances; RMB 35 each, metro Line 2 to Bell Tower.

RMB 35 each · 08:30-21:00 · Landmark · City Centre
View details →
Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie)

Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie)

The Hui food streets behind the Drum Tower - Beiyuanmen, Dapiyuan and the night markets of roujiamo, paomo, dumplings and liangpi.

Free · 10:00-23:00 · Food Street · Night Market
View details →
Huaqing Pool (Huaqing Chi)

Huaqing Pool (Huaqing Chi)

The Tang imperial hot springs at the Lishan foothills - the baths of Xuanzong and Yang Guifei, the 'Everlasting Sorrow' show and the mountain cable. Peak RMB 110 / low RMB 80.

RMB 110 (peak) · 07:00-18:30 · Hot Springs · Tang Dynasty
View details →

More in the region on the Shaanxi attractions page.

Activities & Festivalswall cycling, fountains, shows and the night markets

Cycle the City Wall

Bikes at every gate - the 13.7-km circuit takes 1.5-2 hours of rampart, towers and moat views.

The Big Wild Goose fountains

The music fountain square of the North Square - the evening show is the free spectacle of the city.

The 'Everlasting Sorrow' show

The open-air Tang performance at Huaqing Pool - the love story of Xuanzong and Yang Guifei against the Lishan night.

The Muslim Quarter night crawl

Start at the Drum Tower and eat west - roujiamo, paomo, dumplings, liangpi and iced plum syrup.

Where to Stayyouth hostels in the old city and hotels near the wall

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Shaanxi hotels directory.

Qixian International Youth Hostel

The courtyard hostel in the 1930s octagonal village at 2 Qixian Village, Beixin Street - beds from RMB 50; +86 29 8744 4087 / +86 133 7922 6560.

Phone: +86 29 8744 4087 · Book: Shaanxi hotels · or email [email protected]

Xiangzimeng International Youth Hostel

The courtyard hostel at 16 Xiangzi Temple Street inside the South Gate - beds from RMB 50, one of the classic Xi'an addresses; +86 29 6286 7999.

Phone: +86 29 6286 7999 · Book: Shaanxi hotels · or email [email protected]

Zhengzhidao Youth Hostel

The hostel at the small South Gate - beds from RMB 58, a minute from the wall; +86 29 8761 8713.

Phone: +86 29 8761 8713 · Book: Shaanxi hotels · or email [email protected]

Tianyu Kailai Grand Hotel

The 4-star on Yanta Road North - rooms from RMB 500, opposite the South Gate and easy for the east line; +86 29 8786 8855.

Phone: +86 29 8786 8855 · Book: Shaanxi hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantspaomo, roujiamo, liangpi and the night markets

Laofan's roujiamo

The legendary braised-pork bun at 53 Zhubashi Street - RMB 12 and worth the queue; +86 29 8727 3917.

Phone: +86 29 8727 3917

Old Sun & Old Mi paomo

The lamb soup with torn flatbread of the Muslim Quarter - RMB 30-60 at the Beiyuanmen branches; +86 29 8725 3694.

Phone: +86 29 8725 3694

Jia San soup dumplings

The famous guantangbao at 93 Beiyuanmen - RMB 22 a basket; +86 29 8725 7507.

Phone: +86 29 8725 7507

Dingjia crispy pork & the Dapiyuan stalls

The RMB 25 crisp-fried pork at 223 Dapiyuan west, plus the liangpi, biangbiang and iced syrup of the quarter.

Phone: +86 29 8725 3694

Shopping & Souvenirscalligraphy, pottery warriors, dates and stone rubbings

Shuyuanmen Calligraphy Street

The old scholars' street of the South Gate - brushes, ink stones, rubbings and the paper of the imperial examinations.

Huajue Lane crafts

The lane behind the Great Mosque - ceramics, lanterns and the souvenirs of the old quarter.

Terracotta replicas

The miniature warriors of the Lintong road - bronze and clay, from pocket-size to life-size.

Lintong persimmons & Shaanxi dates

The small fire persimmons of Lintong and the jujubes of the Weinan plain - the edible souvenir.

Full local-product guides live on the Shaanxi specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundby air, high-speed rail, tourist routes or taxi

By airBy air

By air

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is 45 km (about 1 hour) from the centre - airport coaches RMB 26 on six lines (Bell Tower, railway station, West High-tech, Xiaozhai, Jianguo Hotel, Xianyang); taxi about RMB 120; airport hotline 4000-787-737.

By trainBy train

By train

Xi'an railway station at 115 Huancheng North Road (+86 29 8742 6076) serves the classic lines; Xi'an North is the high-speed hub (metro Line 2) for Huashan, Luoyang and the rest of China.

Getting aroundBy tourist route

By tourist route

You 1-Huashan, You 2-Famen Temple and Taibai, You 3-Qianling, You 5 (ex-306)-Terracotta Army - all leave the east square of the railway station; beware the fake '306' vans.

Day Trips From Xi'anHuashan, Famen Temple and the Tang relics

Huashan Summit One-Day Cable Tour

Huashan Summit One-Day Cable Tour

The West Sacred Mountain by cable car - the plank road, the summits and the sunset in a day from Xi’an.

Famen Temple & the Tang Treasures (1 day)

Famen Temple & the Tang Treasures (1 day)

The great Buddhist pagoda of the west - the finger-bone relic and the Tang gold, by Tour Route 2.

Huaqing Pool & Lishan (1 day)

Huaqing Pool & Lishan (1 day)

The imperial baths, the Lishan cable and the ‘Everlasting Sorrow’ stage.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Book the free museum ticket

The Shaanxi History Museum caps 4,000 free entries a day and closes Mondays - reserve online before you go, or pay RMB 20 for the Treasure Hall queue skip.

Beware the fake tourist buses

Only board the official You 5 (ex-306) from the railway station east square - the circling vans marked '306' are the classic scam; check the licence plate and the destination board.

Dress for the wall ride

The wall cycle has no shade - carry water, a hat and sunscreen, and rent the bikes early in the day.

The quarter is cash-friendly

Small notes for the Muslim Quarter stalls and the wall-lock engravers - most shops take mobile pay, but keep change handy.

Golden Week means queues

The Terracotta Army and the museum double their crowds on national holidays - go at opening time or book a driver for the early start.

Allow a full day for Lintong

The Terracotta Army plus Huaqing Pool plus the mausoleum is a long day - leave by 08:30 and plan the return for after the evening show.

Background & Historythirteen dynasties on the Silk Road

Thirteen dynasties

From the Western Zhou to the Tang, Xi'an (Chang'an) ruled China for nearly 1,100 years - the greatest capital of the ancient world and the eastern end of the Silk Road.

The name Xi'an

The city took the name Xi'an ('western peace') in 1369 under the Ming - the same dynasty that built the City Wall and the Bell and Drum towers of today.

The Qin and the warriors

The First Emperor unified China from the Wei valley in 221 BC and built his mausoleum army at Lintong - the 8,000 warriors stayed hidden for 2,200 years until 1974.

Plan Your Xi'an Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Xi'an trip lives on the site.

Shaanxi Attractions

Shaanxi Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Shaanxi attraction.

Browse Shaanxi sights
Xi'an Hotels

Xi'an Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Shaanxi — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Shaanxi hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Xi'an.

See China flights
Shaanxi Specialties

Shaanxi Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Shaanxi — where to find each one.

Browse Shaanxi specialties
Shaanxi Travel Agencies

Shaanxi Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Shaanxi agency
More China Travel Guides

More China Travel Guides

More city and region guides across China, including the Shaanxi guide.

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