Xi’an was China’s capital for over a thousand years across thirteen dynasties, including the Han and Tang — which is why it has more UNESCO-worthy historical sites per square kilometer than almost anywhere else in the country. The Terracotta Warriors are the headline act, and they deserve to be: it’s one of the genuinely jaw-dropping archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. But Xi’an’s beating heart is its Muslim Quarter, where the Hui Muslim community has maintained a distinct food and cultural tradition for over 1,000 years.
Three days is enough to do the major sights properly without rushing. This itinerary structures the days around beat-the-crowd timing, because Xi’an can get very busy.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Before You Arrive
Getting there: Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is 40km from the city center. The Airport Bus to the city center takes about 60 minutes (¥30). The metro Line 14 now connects the airport to Xi’an North Station — useful if you arrive by high-speed train from Beijing (4.5 hours, ¥515) or Shanghai (5.5 hours, ¥560).
Accommodation: Stay inside or just outside the ancient city walls. The area around Bell Tower (钟楼) and Drum Tower (鼓楼) is central and walkable. Muslim Quarter guesthouses offer atmosphere; newer hotels south of the walls near Xiaozhai are quieter.
Booking ahead: Terracotta Warriors tickets often sell out weeks ahead during peak season (Golden Week in October, May holidays). Book at www.bmy.com.cn. The Warriors site doesn’t allow entry without advance tickets.
Xi’an metro: Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 cover the tourist areas. Fares ¥2-4. Essential for getting to the Warriors (Line 9, more below).
Day 1: Terracotta Warriors & Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Morning: Terracotta Warriors (Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor)
Arrive at opening — 8:30am in peak season, 8:00am in shoulder season. The Warriors are 40km east of the city.
Getting there: Take Metro Line 9 from Xi’an Railway Station (not North Station) to Huaqing Pool Station, then transfer to a scenic area shuttle bus (¥5) to the Warriors entrance. Total journey: ~75 minutes. Alternatively, Tourist Bus Line 5 (306路) from Xi’an Railway Station square goes direct for ¥7 — about 70 minutes.
Tickets: ¥120 (April-October), ¥90 (November-March). Valid for one day only. Entry to all three pits plus the museum is included.
What to see: The excavation covers three pits. Pit 1 is the famous one — the long hall with row after row of warriors in formation. It’s massive and genuinely moving. Pit 2 is partially excavated and lets you see the warriors emerging from the soil as the archaeologists found them — very atmospheric. Pit 3 is the smallest but shows the command headquarters and is the least crowded. Allow 3-3.5 hours total.
Don’t rush Pit 2 for the sake of Pit 1. The archaeologists are still working; new warriors are still being excavated.
Afternoon: Huaqing Palace & Return
On the way back, the shuttle bus stops at Huaqing Palace (华清宫, ¥120) — the Tang Dynasty imperial hot springs complex. The pools where Emperor Xuanzong bathed with Yang Guifei are largely reconstructed, but the site is historically important and visually interesting. Allow 90 minutes if you want to stop here, or save time and head back to Xi’an for the evening.
Evening: Big Wild Goose Pagoda & Tang Paradise
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) is a 7th-century Tang Dynasty tower in the city’s south. The North Square fountain show runs from 8-9pm and is free — one of China’s largest musical fountain displays and genuinely impressive. The Tang Paradise (大唐芙蓉园, ¥60) next door is an evening light show park that recreates Tang Dynasty architecture — worth a visit for the atmosphere if you enjoy cultural light shows.
Metro: Line 3 to Big Wild Goose Pagoda Station.
Day 2: City Wall, Bell Tower & Muslim Quarter
Morning: City Wall by Bicycle
Xi’an City Wall (城墙, ¥54 for entry, ¥45 more for bicycle rental) is the most complete ancient city wall in China — 13.7km in circumference and wide enough to drive a car along the top. Renting a bicycle and riding the full circuit takes 2-3 hours and is the best way to see it.
Start from the South Gate (南门, Nan Men) — the most impressive entrance. Metro: Line 2 to Yongningmen Station.
The wall dates to the 14th century (Ming Dynasty) and has survived largely intact. The views from the top span both the ancient inner city and the modern city outside. The northern and eastern sections are less visited and feel more authentic — fewer souvenir stands.
Midday: Bell Tower & Drum Tower
The Bell Tower (钟楼, ¥35) and Drum Tower (鼓楼, ¥35) face each other at Xi’an’s city center — the Bell Tower is the geographic heart of the ancient city. Combined ticket ¥50. Musical performances of traditional instruments run several times daily. Allow 45 minutes total.
From the Drum Tower, it’s a 3-minute walk into the Muslim Quarter.
Afternoon & Evening: Muslim Quarter
The Muslim Quarter (回民街区) is where Xi’an is best. The main street (Beiyuan Men) is a lane of street food vendors, but the real experience is in the surrounding alleys — Xiyangshi, Dapiyuan — where the Hui Muslim community lives and the food is cheaper and better.
Food to eat:
- Biang Biang Noodles (biángbiáng面) — wide, thick, hand-torn noodles in chili oil ¥15-25
- Roujiamo (肉夹馍) — “Chinese burger” of braised pork in a bread bun ¥8-12
- Yang rou pao mo (羊肉泡馍) — torn flatbread soaked in lamb broth ¥25-40, a Xi’an staple that requires patience but rewards it
- Cold noodles (凉皮, liáng pí) — cold rice noodles with sesame, vinegar, chili ¥8-12
Great Mosque (清真大寺, ¥25) is in the middle of the Muslim Quarter and is worth the visit — it’s architecturally unique, combining Chinese pavilion-style design with Islamic interior. One of China’s four great mosques and still an active place of worship.
Allow 3-4 hours for the Muslim Quarter in the evening. It gets lively after dark.
Day 3: Huashan Day Trip (or Shaanxi History Museum)
Option A: Huashan Day Trip (recommended)
Mount Huashan (华山) is 120km east of Xi’an and is famous for its five granite peaks and vertigo-inducing cliff-face paths. The “Plank Walk” (长空栈道) requires a separate ticket (¥60) and safety harness, and is genuinely scary. The East Peak and South Peak are more accessible and offer the best views.
Getting there: High-speed trains from Xi’an North Station (西安北) to Huashan North Station (华山北) take 35 minutes (¥29). Trains run from 6am. From the station, a shuttle bus (¥10) or taxi (¥25) goes to the cableway.
Getting up: North Peak Cable Car (¥80 one-way, ¥150 return) is the fastest route. Otherwise, the hiking trail from the foot of the mountain takes 3-4 hours. Most visitors take the cable car up and hike between peaks, then cable car down. Budget the whole day: leave Xi’an at 7am, return by 7-8pm.
Cost summary: Train ¥29 × 2, cable car ¥150, mountain entrance ¥180 = approximately ¥390 for the day.
The mountain can be crowded on weekends. Weekday visits are significantly better.
Option B: Stay in Xi’an
If Huashan feels like too much, spend Day 3 in the city:
Shaanxi History Museum (陕西历史博物馆, free but requires reservation, ¥300 for the premium Shang Dynasty treasure gallery) is one of China’s best provincial museums with 170,000 artifacts spanning 1 million years of history. Queue early — tickets release online the day before and go fast.
Xincheng District: The area around the Bell Tower is full of street food alleys worth exploring in daylight when you can see what you’re eating.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda (小雁塔, ¥30) is less visited than its big sibling and has a better museum in the grounds. The park surrounding it is pleasant for a morning walk.
Practical Information
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Terracotta Warriors | ¥90-120 |
| City Wall entry + bicycle | ¥99 |
| Bell & Drum Tower combined | ¥50 |
| Great Mosque | ¥25 |
| Huashan day trip (all-in) | ¥390+ |
| Roujiamo street snack | ¥8-12 |
| Biang Biang Noodles | ¥15-25 |
| Budget guesthouse | ¥100-200/night |
| Mid-range hotel | ¥300-600/night |
Best time to visit: April-May and September-October. Peak summer (July-August) is intensely hot (38°C+). The Warriors site has very limited shade, so early morning starts are critical in summer.
Booking Warriors tickets: Book as far ahead as possible at peak times. The site enforces a daily visitor cap. If you can only go on one specific day, book immediately when your travel dates are confirmed.
Yang rou pao mo etiquette: When ordering at a pao mo restaurant, the waiter will give you two flat breads and expect you to tear them into pea-sized pieces yourself. This is part of the process — don’t refuse or ask them to do it. The smaller the pieces, the better the dish, and it takes about 15-20 minutes of tearing. Embrace it.