Xi’an (西安) is where Chinese civilisation really begins. Capital of thirteen dynasties — including the mighty Han and Tang — it was for centuries the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, the point where silk, porcelain, and philosophy flowed west and religions, spices, and traders came east. The city’s Muslim Quarter is a direct legacy of that exchange, a neighbourhood where the call to prayer mingles with the smell of cumin-roasted lamb on streets that have been selling food to travellers for over a thousand years.
And then there is the Terracotta Army. Nothing quite prepares you for the scale of it.
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Top Things to See and Do
The Terracotta Army (兵马俑)
Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s burial complex, 35km east of the city, contains an estimated 8,000 terracotta warrior and horse figures buried to guard the emperor in the afterlife. Discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, it remains one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history.
- Pit 1: The main hall — a vast arched structure covering a real excavation in progress. The sheer scale is staggering.
- Pit 2: Partially excavated; some figures deliberately left half-buried to show how they were found.
- Pit 3: The “command post” — a small group of high-ranking officers.
- The Emperor’s Mausoleum (5km away) has not been excavated; the low grass mound above it is underwhelming but historically significant.
Practicalities:
- Hours: 8:30am–5:30pm (peak season); last entry 5:00pm
- Tickets: ¥120 (includes bus between pits); book on tianma.cn or at the gate
- Getting there: Tourist Bus No. 5 from Xi’an Railway Station (¥7 each way, ~1 hr)
- Allow: half a day minimum; a full day with a guide is well spent
The Xi’an City Wall (城墙)
One of the best-preserved ancient city walls in China, built in the 14th century during the Ming dynasty. The 14km perimeter wall is wide enough for two cars to pass abreast — which means you can rent a bicycle and cycle the entire circuit.
- Hours: 8:00am–10:00pm (peak season)
- Tickets: ¥54 (walking) or ¥98 (with bicycle rental included)
- Tip: the south gate (南门, Nánmén) area is the best place to start; the light from the moat is beautiful at dusk
- Allow: 1–2 hours
The Muslim Quarter (回民街)
A warren of alleys behind the Great Mosque that has served as Xi’an’s Muslim neighbourhood since the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). Today it is part historic quarter, part night-food market, part pilgrimage site for Chinese tourists.
- The Great Mosque (清真寺): one of the largest mosques in China and architecturally extraordinary — it looks almost entirely like a Chinese temple. Non-Muslims can visit the courtyard (¥25); the prayer halls are restricted during prayer times.
- The Food: the Muslim Quarter is one of the best places in China to eat. Look for:
- Roujiamo (肉夹馍): Minced lamb or beef in a crisp flatbread — often called “China’s original burger.”
- Biangbiang Noodles (Biáng biáng miàn): Wide, hand-pulled noodles in chilli oil — the character for “biáng” is the most stroked character in Chinese writing.
- Yangrou Paomo (羊肉泡馍): Lamb soup with hand-torn flatbread soaked into the broth. A winter staple.
- Pomegranate juice: Fresh-pressed at stalls throughout the quarter.
The Shaanxi History Museum (陕西历史博物馆)
One of China’s best provincial museums, with 370,000 artefacts spanning the entire sweep of Chinese history. Free admission (reserve tickets in advance online — they go quickly).
Practical Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Best time to visit | Spring (Mar–May) or Autumn (Sep–Nov) |
| Getting to Xi’an | High-speed rail from Beijing (~4.5 hrs), Shanghai (~6 hrs), Chengdu (~3 hrs) |
| Airport | Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY); ~45 min by metro to city |
| City transport | Metro lines 1–6 cover most attractions; DiDi for everything else |
Where to stay
- Drum Tower / Muslim Quarter area: best location for walking everywhere historic; lively at night; some noise from the market.
- High-tech Zone / East side: more modern hotels, quieter; need metro for sightseeing.
- Bell Tower Hotel (钟楼饭店): a heritage-listed 1950s hotel in the geographic centre of the city, with views of the Bell Tower from some rooms.
Day Trips from Xi’an
- Huashan (华山): One of China’s Five Sacred Mountains; famous for its vertiginous cliff-side paths. Reachable in ~1.5 hours by high-speed train.
- Famen Temple (法门寺): Tang-dynasty temple with relics of the Buddha’s finger bone; 1.5 hours by bus.
Last updated: May 2026