Xi'an was the capital of China for over a thousand years and the starting point of the Silk Road. It is where Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BC and where Tang Dynasty emperors ruled the most prosperous empire of the medieval world. Today, it is one of China's most rewarding cities for travelers — you can walk or cycle atop a complete 14th-century city wall, stand face-to-face with 8,000 terracotta soldiers, and eat your way through one of the best street food scenes in the country. This guide covers all of it with practical, tested advice.
The best months are March to May and September to November, with comfortable temperatures (15°C to 25°C) and minimal rain. Summer (June–August) is hot (35°C+) and humid. Winter (December–February) is cold and dry, often below freezing, but the Terracotta Warriors are far less crowded. Avoid Chinese National Day holiday (October 1 to 7) — the Terracotta Army site gets 100,000+ visitors per day during this week.
The Terracotta Army is the most significant archaeological discovery of the 20th century. Discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, it consists of over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots, each with a unique face, buried with Qin Shi Huang to protect him in the afterlife. The site is 40 km east of Xi'an.
Take tourist bus 5 (306) from Xi'an Railway Station east square. The bus costs ¥5 and departs every 10 minutes from 8:00 AM. The ride takes about 70 minutes. Ignore touts in the parking lot claiming the bus is full or cancelled — they are trying to sell you an overpriced private ride. The real bus is clearly marked.
Entrance is ¥120 (March to November) or ¥60 (December to February). Book online via the official WeChat account ("Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum") at least 1 day in advance. Your passport is your ticket. The site is open 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (closes at 5:00 PM in winter).
Yes. The site has minimal signage in English. Official guides cost ¥150 to ¥300 for a group and can be hired at the entrance. Alternatively, download an audio guide app (like VoiceMap) beforehand. Without context, you are looking at rows of clay statues. With context, you understand the military formation, the painting techniques, and why each soldier was placed where he stands.
For a detailed history of the Terracotta Army, an illustrated guide to the military formations, and tips for photographing the site, our Xi'an Travel PDF Guide has a dedicated chapter.
The Xi'an City Wall is one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China. The current structure dates to 1370 (Ming Dynasty) and is built on the foundations of the Tang Dynasty palace wall. It forms a rectangle 13.7 km in circumference, 12 m high, and 15 to 18 m wide on top — wide enough to drive a car on.
Rent a bicycle on top of the wall. Bike rentals are available at the South Gate (Yongning Gate) and cost ¥45 for 3 hours for a standard bike, or ¥90 for 3 hours for a tandem. You need 1.5 to 2 hours to ride the complete circuit at a leisurely pace. The wall is flat and easy to cycle.
The best time is 1 hour before sunset, when the light is golden and the wall lanterns start to turn on. The wall is open 8 AM to 10 PM (May to October) or 8 AM to 7 PM (November to April). Evening entrance is ¥100; daytime is ¥54.
The Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) is a network of streets near the Drum Tower, home to Xi'an's Hui Muslim community for over 1,000 years. It is one of the best street food districts in China. The main street (Beiyuanmen) gets packed with tourists after 6 PM, so arrive at 4 PM to eat before the crowds arrive. Better yet, explore the side streets (Sajinqiao and Damaishi) where locals eat.
Roujiamo (¥10 to ¥15)
The Chinese hamburger. Minced pork (or beef, at Muslim stalls) stuffed into a flatbread bun that is crispy on the outside and soft inside. Try Qinrou Fanzhuang on Sajinqiao Street — the pork is stewed for 12 hours and melts in your mouth.
Yangrou Paomo (¥30 to ¥45)
Xi'an's signature dish: a bowl of torn-up flatbread soaked in rich lamb broth, topped with vermicelli noodles, slices of lamb, and pickled garlic. You tear the bread yourself, then hand the bowl back to the cook who adds the broth. Try Lao Sun Jia on Dong Dajie — a 100-year-old restaurant that does it right. The key is the broth: it should be clear, deeply lamb-flavored, and not too salty.
Biang Biang Noodles (¥15 to ¥25)
Wide, belt-like hand-pulled noodles topped with chili oil, garlic, vinegar, and greens. The character for "biang" has 58 strokes and is the most complex Chinese character still in use. Try Biang Biang Mian restaurant near the South Gate. The noodles should be chewy (al dente), not soft.
Grilled Lamb Skewers (¥2 to ¥3 each)
Cumin-dusted lamb skewers grilled over charcoal. The combination of cumin, chili, and lamb fat is addictive. Walk down Sajinqiao Street and pick any stall with a long line of locals.
Pomegranate Juice (¥10)
Xi'an is famous for its pomegranates. Fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice is sold everywhere in the Muslim Quarter. It is tart, sweet, and refreshing after spicy food.
Shaanxi Liangpi (Cold Noodles) (¥8 to ¥12)
Cold wheat noodles tossed in sesame paste, chili oil, garlic, and vinegar. A perfect lunch on a hot day. The best versions have a balance of nutty, spicy, and sour.
Our Xi'an Travel PDF Guide includes a complete Muslim Quarter food map with 25 specific stalls and restaurants, their specialties, prices, and Chinese names to show to vendors.
Hidden behind the Muslim Quarter, the Great Mosque is one of the largest mosques in China and one of the most architecturally unique — it looks like a Chinese temple, not a Middle Eastern mosque. Founded in 742 AD during the Tang Dynasty, it blends Islamic function with Chinese palace architecture: pagoda-style roofs, courtyard gardens, and Chinese calligraphy alongside Arabic inscriptions.
Entrance is ¥25 in spring and summer (free in winter). Non-Muslims are welcome to visit the courtyards but cannot enter the prayer hall. The mosque is active — you will see worshippers coming and going. Be respectful, dress modestly, and do not photograph people praying.
One of the best museums in China, with over 370,000 artifacts spanning from prehistory to the Qing Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty collection is the highlight — gold and silver vessels, silk fragments, and terracotta figures from Tang tombs. Entrance is free but you must reserve a slot via WeChat ("Shaanxi History Museum") at least 3 days in advance. Alternatively, buy a ¥30 ticket for the special exhibition hall, which usually has no queue. Plan 2 to 3 hours.
A 7-story brick pagoda built in 652 AD to store Buddhist scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang (the real-life inspiration for "Journey to the West"). You can climb to the top for ¥30 — it is 64 m tall with steep, narrow stairs. The surrounding plaza has the largest musical fountain in Asia, which performs daily at 8:30 PM (30 minutes, free).
Xi'an is served by two airports. Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is 40 km northwest of the city. Take the airport shuttle bus (¥25, 60 minutes) or Metro Line 14. High-speed trains connect Xi'an North Railway Station to Beijing (4.5 hours, ¥515), Shanghai (6 hours, ¥660), and Chengdu (4 hours, ¥263).
Our 75-page Xi'an Travel PDF Guide includes a detailed Muslim Quarter food map with 25 stall recommendations, a Terracotta Army photography guide, a self-guided city wall cycling route, Silk Road history context, and Chinese phrase cards for ordering food.
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