Xi’an was China’s capital for over a thousand years, home to eleven dynasties from the Zhou through the Tang. Today it sits at the crossroads of ancient and modern China: a city of 13 million people with a perfectly preserved medieval city wall at its heart, and 40 km to the east, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in human history.
The Terracotta Warriors alone would justify the trip. The Muslim Quarter’s street food alone would justify the trip. Xi’an is one of those rare cities where every visitor’s “highlight” list is different.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
The Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑)
Why This Matters
In 1974, farmers digging a well near the Lishan Mountain uncovered fragments of pottery figures. What followed was the excavation of the mausoleum complex of Qin Shi Huang — China’s first emperor, who unified the country in 221 BC — and his army of 8,000+ individually crafted terracotta soldiers, each with distinct facial features, positioned to guard him in the afterlife.
The scale is almost impossible to comprehend until you stand above Pit 1 and look down at the rows upon rows of life-sized warriors stretching to the far wall 230 metres away. This is genuinely one of the world’s great sights.
The Three Pits: What to Expect
Pit 1 (一号坑) is the main event. An enormous steel-and-glass exhibition hall covers the excavation site, where rows of infantry soldiers, cavalry horses, and war chariots stand in battle formation. Ongoing excavation means you may see archaeologists at work. Allow at least 45 minutes here.
Pit 2 (二号坑) contains a mixed force including cavalry, archers, and chariot units. Several individual figures have been extracted and displayed up close — including a kneeling archer and a general with his distinctive tall hat — allowing you to see the extraordinary detail of individual warriors.
Pit 3 (三号坑) is the smallest but historically significant: it is believed to be the command headquarters, containing high-ranking officers. The arrangement suggests a command structure separate from the main army.
The Bronze Chariots Exhibition Hall: Two bronze horse-and-chariot replicas discovered in 1980 near the main burial mound. These are miniature models (half scale) of the actual imperial carriages, rendered in extraordinary detail with articulated bronze horses, silver harnesses, and decorated carriage interiors. Don’t miss these.
Real traveler insight: With over 8,783 likes on a single Chinese travel note about bringing elderly family members, the most shared advice is to book tickets well in advance and go early. One popular tip: “Visit Pit 2 before Pit 1 — it’s easier to see the individual warriors, and you’ll understand what you’re looking at in Pit 1 much better.”
Tickets & Booking
- Peak season (March–November): ¥120 per person
- Off-season (December–February): ¥80 per person
- Includes: All three pits and all exhibition halls
- Book at: bmy.com.cn or major travel platforms
Booking ahead is important: During Chinese national holidays, tickets sell out completely. Book at least 7–10 days in advance for peak season visits.
Getting There from Xi’an
Bus (cheapest and easy): Tourist Bus 5 (游5路) departs from the east square of Xi’an Railway Station. Journey time: 60–75 minutes. Cost: ¥7. First bus around 7:00 AM.
Metro + bus combo: Metro Line 9 to Huaqing Chi station, then local bus or taxi (20 min, ¥20) to the site. Slightly faster than the full tourist bus route.
Tour packages: Most Xi’an hotels offer half-day or full-day tours combining the Terracotta Warriors with the Huaqing Hot Springs (华清宫, 15 minutes away) — the site of a Tang Dynasty imperial resort and the romantic story of Emperor Xuanzong and his favourite concubine Yang Guifei. Half-day tours cost ¥200–350 including transport and guide.
Time needed: Plan 3–4 hours minimum for the full site.
The Ancient City Wall (古城墙)
A Wall You Can Actually Walk (and Cycle) On
Xi’an’s city wall is no museum exhibit — it is a living part of the city. Completed in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, it encloses an area of 14 square kilometres and stretches 13.7 km around the old city. The top of the wall is 12 metres wide — wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side.
With over 1,250 likes, the top-rated Xi’an city wall content on Chinese social media focuses on cycling: “One time around by bicycle takes about 1.5 hours. The views over both the old city interior and the modern city spreading outward are exceptional. Do it at sunset.”
Cycling the Wall
Bike rental is available at all four main gates:
- South Gate (永宁门 / Yongningmen): Main entrance, most photogenic gate
- North Gate (安远门 / Anyuanmen)
- East Gate (长乐门 / Changle men)
- West Gate (安定门 / Andingmen)
Rental cost: ¥45 for 100 minutes (single bikes); ¥75 for tandems. Helmets included.
The full 13.7 km circuit takes approximately 90–120 minutes at a comfortable pace. Most cyclists start at the South Gate and ride counterclockwise (westward first), putting the morning light ahead of you for the first photogenic stretches.
Wall entrance ticket: ¥54 per person. Includes admission but not bike rental.
Best Times to Visit the Wall
Sunrise (6:30–8:00 AM): Minimal crowds, beautiful light, and the city below just waking up.
Sunset (5:00–7:00 PM): The sky over the city turns golden, the wall glows with warm light, and the surrounding hutong neighbourhoods below come alive with evening activity.
Night (7:00–10:00 PM): The wall is dramatically illuminated and the nighttime views of the city are spectacular. Less cycling traffic than daytime.
The Muslim Quarter (回民街) & Food
Xi’an’s Extraordinary Street Food
The Muslim Quarter (回民街) northwest of the Bell Tower is the culinary heart of Xi’an — a dense network of alleyways lined with restaurants, street stalls, and centuries-old food traditions reflecting Xi’an’s position as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road.
Chinese travelers consistently rank eating in the Muslim Quarter as one of Xi’an’s unmissable experiences, with some of the most-shared content dedicated purely to navigating its food.
Must-Try Xi’an Foods
Yang Rou Pao Mo (羊肉泡馍): Xi’an’s signature dish. Two flatbreads are broken by hand into small pieces (a meditative process — smaller pieces are considered better), then submerged in a rich lamb broth with glass noodles and wood-ear mushrooms. Order at one of the traditional restaurants on Beiyuanmen Street — sit down, tear your bread, hand it to the kitchen, and wait.
Roujiamo (肉夹馍): Often called the “original hamburger” — though it predates the hamburger by about 2,000 years. Slow-braised spiced pork (or beef/lamb) packed into a crispy sesame flatbread. One of China’s perfect street foods.
Biang Biang Noodles (油泼面): Xi’an’s most famous noodle dish — thick, hand-pulled noodles (the word “biang” uses one of the most complex characters in Chinese writing, with 57 strokes) doused in smoking-hot chili oil, garlic, and vinegar. Available everywhere; the best versions are made fresh to order.
Liangpi (凉皮): Cold noodles made from wheat or rice flour, dressed with chili sauce, black vinegar, garlic water, and coriander. A refreshing counterpoint to heavier dishes. Perfect as a midday snack.
Persimmon Cake (柿子饼): A specialty sweet snack — soft persimmon cakes filled with red bean paste or walnut filling, pan-fried crispy. Most authentic from the small family shops, not the tourist-oriented chains.
Navigating the Muslim Quarter
The main tourist street (Huajue Lane / 化觉巷) is packed with stalls but many are tourist-oriented at elevated prices. Walk one block perpendicular to the main drag and prices drop significantly and authenticity increases.
Beiyuanmen Street (北院门) is the best address for sit-down Yang Rou Pao Mo restaurants.
The Great Mosque (清真大寺) is at the end of Huajue Lane — free to enter from the Muslim Quarter side, with a small fee (¥25) for the inner courtyard. Dating to 742 AD and built entirely in Chinese architectural style (no minarets), it is one of China’s most historically significant mosques and architecturally unique.
Bell Tower (钟楼) & Drum Tower (鼓楼)
These two Ming Dynasty towers sit at Xi’an’s central crossroads and mark the historic heart of the city.
Bell Tower (¥35): Houses the original 66-tonne bell. Climb the tower for views down the four main avenues radiating outward.
Drum Tower (free exterior, ¥35 interior): The gateway to the Muslim Quarter. Drum performances run hourly — the evening show at 8:30 PM is particularly atmospheric.
Combined ticket: ¥50 covers both towers.
Shaanxi History Museum (陕西历史博物馆)
One of China’s finest provincial museums and free of charge (book in advance online — it reaches capacity daily). The permanent collection covers 1.5 million artefacts spanning 1.5 million years of Shaanxi history — from prehistoric stone tools through Tang Dynasty gold and silver treasures.
The Tang Dynasty gallery is exceptional: golden hairpins, imperial robes, tri-colour glazed pottery, and the daily life of the most cosmopolitan city in the medieval world. Allow 2–3 hours.
Note: Book free tickets at least 2–3 days in advance via the official website or WeChat.
Tang Paradise (大唐芙蓉园)
A large Tang Dynasty cultural theme park in the southeastern part of Xi’an. The evening light show (7:30 PM) is spectacular — large-scale multimedia projections on a lake recreate the Tang imperial court’s festivals and ceremonies. Worth the ¥150 evening ticket if you enjoy theatrical productions.
Getting to Xi’an
High-speed train: From Beijing: 4.5 hours. From Shanghai: 6 hours. From Chengdu: 3.5 hours. From Zhengzhou (for Shaolin Temple day trips): 2 hours.
Air: Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) has direct flights from Beijing (1.5 hrs), Shanghai (2 hrs), Chengdu (1 hr), and Guangzhou (2.5 hrs), plus some international routes.
Within the city: Metro lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 cover the main attractions. Taxis and Didi are inexpensive. The Bell Tower area is walkable between the city wall, Muslim Quarter, and both towers.
How Long to Spend in Xi’an
- 2 days (minimum): Terracotta Warriors (half day) + City Wall (morning or evening) + Muslim Quarter food (evening)
- 3 days (recommended): Above + Shaanxi History Museum + Bell/Drum Towers + Huaqing Hot Springs
- 4+ days: Add Tang Paradise evening show, day trip to Hua Shan mountain (华山), and deeper exploration of the Muslim Quarter
Xi’an is where Chinese civilization comes into focus. The Terracotta Warriors are extraordinary, the food is among China’s best, and the city wall gives you a physical sense of what a medieval Chinese capital actually looked like. Few cities in the world offer this combination of history, culture, and gastronomy.