Xi'an, China: travel guide
The ancient capital of thirteen dynasties and eastern terminus of the Silk Road, ringed by an intact Ming city wall and guarded by the Terracotta Army.
- Country
- China
- Currency
- CNY
- Time zone
- Asia/Shanghai
- Nearest airport
- XIY
Top places to visit in Xi'an
Terracotta Army
Museum · about 4 h · entry CNY 120
The Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum — thousands of life-size clay warriors and horses buried over 2,200 years ago and rediscovered in 1974. One of the great archaeological finds and a UNESCO site.
Xi'an City Wall
Fort · about 2 h · entry CNY 54
The most complete ancient city wall in China — a 14 km rectangular Ming rampart you can walk or cycle, with grand gate towers at the four cardinal points.
Bell Tower
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry CNY 40
The green-eaved Ming-dynasty tower at the exact centre of the walled city, once used to sound the dawn.
Drum Tower
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry CNY 40
The twin of the Bell Tower, marking the entrance to the Muslim Quarter and offering drum performances and rooftop views.
Muslim Quarter (Beiyuanmen)
Market · about 2 h
A warren of lantern-hung lanes behind the Drum Tower, home to Xi'an's Hui community and its legendary street food — lamb skewers, roujiamo and biang-biang noodles.
Great Mosque of Xi'an
Mosque · about 1 h · entry CNY 25
One of China's oldest and largest mosques, founded in 742 AD, laid out like a Chinese temple with courtyards, pavilions and Arabic-inscribed screens.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Temple · about 1.5 h · entry CNY 50
A monumental 7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to house sutras brought from India by the monk Xuanzang, set in the Da Ci'en Temple with a nightly musical fountain outside.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Temple · about 1 h
A graceful, slightly-leaning Tang pagoda in tranquil temple gardens, alongside the Xi'an Museum. Free entry.
Shaanxi History Museum
Museum · about 2.5 h
A world-class museum tracing the region's central role in Chinese history, from Zhou bronzes to Tang gold. Free timed tickets go fast.
Tang Paradise (Datang Furong Yuan)
Cultural · about 2.5 h · entry CNY 120
A large re-created Tang-dynasty imperial garden of pavilions and lakes near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, with an evening water-and-light spectacle.
Huaqing Palace (Huaqing Pool)
Heritage · about 2 h · entry CNY 120
Imperial hot-spring gardens at the foot of Mount Li, associated with the Tang emperor Xuanzong and the beauty Yang Guifei, and site of the 1936 Xi'an Incident.
Mount Hua (Huashan)
Nature · about 8 h · entry CNY 160
One of China's five sacred Taoist mountains, famed for sheer granite peaks, vertigo-inducing plank walks and sunrise views ~120 km east of the city.
Things to do
- Terracotta Warriors Guided Day Tour Tour · 5 h · from CNY 450 per person
- Tang Dynasty Dinner & Show Show · 2.5 h · from CNY 500 per person
- City Wall Bike Ride Adventure · 2 h · from CNY 90 per person
- Muslim Quarter Food Walking Tour Food · 3 h · from CNY 220 per person
- Mount Huashan Day Trip Adventure · 10 h · from CNY 550 per person
Day trips and tours
- Terracotta Army & City Wall Day Tour 9 h · from CNY 590
Where to stay in Xi'an
- Inside the City Walls about CNY 650 per night
Central grid around the Bell and Drum Towers — everything within a short walk or metro ride.
- Muslim Quarter about CNY 500 per night
Atmospheric lanes of the Hui community, famed for street food, right by the Drum Tower.
Hotels
- Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel Xi'an 5-star · CNY 1,200 to CNY 2,600 per night
- Citadines Central Xi'an 4-star · CNY 450 to CNY 750 per night
- Xi'an Bell Tower Hotel 4-star · CNY 500 to CNY 850 per night
- Han Tang Inn Hostel 2-star · CNY 60 to CNY 220 per night
Where to eat
- Lao Sun Jia Chinese, Shaanxi, Halal · about CNY 90 per person
- Jiasan Guantang Baozi Chinese, Shaanxi, Halal · about CNY 50 per person
- Wei Jia Liangpi Chinese, Shaanxi, Street Food · about CNY 35 per person
- Defachang Dumpling Restaurant Chinese, Shaanxi, Dumplings · about CNY 130 per person
- First Noodle Under the Sun Chinese, Shaanxi, Noodles · about CNY 55 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Terracotta Army Fake Site
Roads near the Terracotta Army, Lintong
Touts and some drivers steer visitors to a cheaper 'replica' or private museum and claim it is the real Terracotta Army, or that the real site is closed.
How to avoid it: The only genuine site is the state-run Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. Buy tickets at the official gate or online and ignore 'it's closed' claims.
Muslim Quarter Overcharging
Beiyuanmen Muslim Quarter
A few stalls quote inflated prices to tourists or short-change on weight, especially for nuts, dried fruit and souvenirs sold 'per jin'.
How to avoid it: Check the price and unit before buying, watch the scale, and pay by mobile so the exact amount is clear.