Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-size clay soldiers, horses and chariots buried to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, found by farmers digging a well in 1974. The one sight that justifies the trip to Xi’an, about an hour out of the city.
Shaanxi (China)
Xi’an
Xi’an is the capital of Shaanxi province and one of the great ancient cities of the world, the eastern end of the Silk Road and the imperial capital Chang’an under thirteen dynasties.
Its headline sight lies outside the centre: the Terracotta Army, thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor. Inside the city, a Ming-dynasty wall about 13.7 kilometres around still encloses the old town, where the Bell and Drum Towers, the Great Mosque and the lanes of the Muslim Quarter sit within a short walk of each other, and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda has stood since the Tang dynasty. Day trips reach Huaqing Palace, the hot-spring retreat of Tang emperors, and Mount Huashan, one of China’s five sacred peaks. Food is a reason to come on its own: hand-pulled noodles, lamb stews and street snacks. Entry rules for China change often, so check the current requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Don't miss
Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-size clay soldiers, horses and chariots buried to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, found by farmers digging a well in 1974. The one sight that justifies the trip to Xi’an, about an hour out of the city.
Mount Huashan Day Trip
One of China’s five sacred mountains, a granite massif of sheer cliffs, steep stairways and the famous plank walk, about 120 kilometres from Xi’an. A demanding but unforgettable day trip for those who like views and a little adrenaline.
Xi’an City Wall
A Ming-dynasty rampart about 13.7 kilometres around, the best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Walk or cycle the top for views over the old town, and come back in the evening when the gate towers are lit.
Huaqing Palace
The hot-spring retreat of Tang emperors at the foot of Mount Li, where Emperor Xuanzong and his favourite consort Yang Guifei bathed, and where Chiang Kai-shek was seized in 1936. Often paired with the Terracotta Army.
Things to do in Xi’an
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Huaqing Palace
The hot-spring retreat of Tang emperors at the foot of Mount Li, where Emperor Xuanzong and his favourite consort Yang Guifei bathed, and where Chiang Kai-shek was seized in 1936. Often paired with the Terracotta Army.
Mount Huashan Day Trip
One of China’s five sacred mountains, a granite massif of sheer cliffs, steep stairways and the famous plank walk, about 120 kilometres from Xi’an. A demanding but unforgettable day trip for those who like views and a little adrenaline.
Xi’an City Wall
A Ming-dynasty rampart about 13.7 kilometres around, the best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Walk or cycle the top for views over the old town, and come back in the evening when the gate towers are lit.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
A 64-metre brick pagoda completed in 652 to hold the Buddhist scriptures that the monk Xuanzang brought back from India, and the oldest and largest surviving Tang pagoda in the city. Part of a UNESCO Silk Road site.
Bell and Drum Towers
Two Ming-dynasty towers at the heart of the old town, one holding a great bell and the other a drum, once used to mark time and warn of danger. Climb both for views and catch the drum performances.
Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque
A dense old-town district of food stalls and lanes behind the Drum Tower, home to the Hui community and the Great Mosque, a Chinese-style mosque founded in the Tang dynasty. Come hungry, and come respectfully.
Shaanxi History Museum
A major museum of Chinese history with about 370,000 objects, from prehistoric tools to Tang gold and silver, and a hall of Tang tomb murals. The main halls are free, but entry is limited, so plan ahead.
2-3 hoursDetails →
Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show
An evening of costumed music and dance inspired by the court of the Tang dynasty, with the option of a dumpling banquet or a royal-style dinner. A colourful and easy way to spend a night in Xi’an.
Xi’an Street Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk
A guided evening, or morning, food tour that hops between Xi’an’s best snack stops by tuk-tuk, with hand-pulled noodles, skewers and local specialities. One of the city’s most popular activities, with hundreds of glowing reviews.
Biang Biang Noodle Cooking Class with Market Visit
A half-day class that starts at a local market and ends with you pulling, cooking and eating Xi’an’s famous wide hand-pulled noodles. A hands-on way to take a taste of Shaanxi home.
Hanyangling Museum (Han Dynasty Imperial Tomb)
The underground museum at the tomb of Emperor Jing of the Han dynasty, where hundreds of small painted figures, animals and everyday objects lie under glass floors. A quieter, more intimate companion to the Terracotta Army.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an
Xincheng, near the old town
A landmark 1953 hotel reopened in 2014 as a Sofitel Legend, with garden-view rooms, butler service, an indoor pool and a spa, on Dongxin Street close to the old town and its gates.
Check rates →Hyatt Regency Xi’an
Qujiang New District
A five-star hotel in the Qujiang district, a three-minute walk from Tang Paradise, with an indoor pool, spa, three restaurants and family suites, and a short drive to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Check rates →Shangri-La Xi’an
Yanta District (Keji Road)
A five-star hotel on Keji Road in the Yanta district with four restaurants, an indoor pool, a spa and free parking, a short drive from the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall.
Check rates →Xi’an Eastern House Boutique Hotel
Old Town (Fenxiang, Beilin)
A small boutique hotel on Fenxiang lane in the Beilin district, an 11-minute walk from the Bell Tower and 8 minutes from Yongningmen metro, with a restaurant and an excellent guest score.
Check rates →Holiday Inn Express Xi’an Bell Tower
Bell Tower area (Beilin)
A value-for-money hotel on Nandajie, a three-minute walk from the Bell Tower and five minutes from Zhonglou metro, with free parking and Wi-Fi and a restaurant, in a building from 2018.
Check rates →The Westin Xi’an
Qujiang, beside the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
A five-star hotel in the Qujiang district, about a six-minute walk from the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, with an indoor pool, spa, three restaurants and a playground.
Check rates →Hilton Xi’an City Wall
Old town, near the City Wall
A five-star hotel by the City Wall in the old town, with an indoor pool, spa, three restaurants and 309 rooms, close to the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and the Shaanxi History Museum.
Check rates →Hilton Garden Inn Xi’an Bell Tower
Old town, Fenxiang Road
A mid-range hotel on Fenxiang Road in the old town, a nine-minute walk from the Bell Tower and eight minutes from Yongningmen metro, with a restaurant, a 24-hour gym and free Wi-Fi and parking.
Check rates →Xi’an guides
First Time in Xi’an: What to Book, How Many Days and Getting Around
The practical primer for a first visit to Xi’an: booking the Terracotta Army, how many days to plan, the old-town sights, day trips to Huaqing Palace and Mount Huashan, and a general note on China entry rules.
Where to Stay in Xi’an: The Best Areas and Hotels for a First Visit
A neighbourhood guide to Xi’an: the old town around the Bell Tower, the Xincheng side near the city wall, the Tang-themed Qujiang district and the Yanta and Keji Road area.
Xi’an in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary
A three-day plan for Xi’an that puts the Terracotta Army, the Ming city wall, the Muslim Quarter, the Tang-era south and an evening show in a sensible order, with notes on pacing and a swap for Mount Huashan.
Eating and Drinking in Xi’an: Noodles, Lamb and Silk Road Street Food
What to eat in Xi’an and how to order it: biang biang noodles, lamb and bread soup, meat in flatbread, cold noodles, skewers and sweets, plus tips on the Muslim Quarter, spice and halal food.
Best Time to Visit Xi’an: Seasons, Crowds and Holidays
When to go to Xi’an: how spring, summer, autumn and winter compare, how Chinese national holidays change the crowds, and what the seasons mean for the Terracotta Army, Mount Huashan and evening shows.
Day Trips from Xi’an: Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace and Mount Huashan
How to plan day trips from Xi’an: the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace as a pair, Mount Huashan as a separate full day, how to get there and what to book.
