Why Should You Visit Xian?
8 Basic Xian Facts
- 1.Xi’an is the capital city of Shaanxi Province.
- 2.Xi’an served as capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history, including the famous Han and Tang Dynasties.
- 3.The history of Xi’an city is a microcosm of Chinese history, which can be revere at Shaanxi History Museum.
- 4.Xi’an is the starting point of the world famous Silk Road.
- 5.Xi’an is home to numerous historical events and sights.
- 6.Xi’an is a food paradise.
- 7.Xi’an is growing to be a major hub for culture, industry, and education in northwest China.
- 8.The best time to visit Xian is Spring and Autumn.
Sightseeing in Xian
Must-see Sights
1.The Terra Cotta Army, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in 20th century, is the No.1 sight you must visit.
2.The towering Big Wild Goose Pagoda dating back to 1,300 years ago is still standing in the southeastern city, witnessing much ups and downs of Xi’an in the past thousand years.
3.Biking on the Ancient City Wall will be a chance for you to feel the pulse of the Xian city.
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| Terracotta Army |
4.The Great Mosque stays quietly in the middle of the hustling and bustling warren-like Muslim Quarter, with vendors of all descriptions shouting and hawking along the serpentine lanes and the roaring roads a bit further out.
5.The glittering Bell Tower and Drum Tower reflect each beauty at night with spectacular light.
6.Possibly Xi’an’s most underrated highlight - Han Yangling Mausoleum is waiting for you to explore.
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| Big Wild Goose Pagoda |
7.Huaqing Hot Springs is famous for its exquisite scenery and therapeutic hot springs.
8.Outside of the town, Mt.Hua is towering and waiting for you to conquer.
9.The dainty and exquisitely designed Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum are two great places to learn Xian history and have a leisure time.
10.The grand Shaanxi History Museum with over 113,000 pieces of relics to depict the history ranging from 1.15 million years ago to the eve of the Opium War in 1840.
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| Huaqing Hot Springs |
Sights Off the Beaten Path
1.Shuyuanmen Cultural Street, a cultural scared place where you will admire all kinds of calligraphy and painting works, and also a great place to get souvenirs.
2.Cave Dwellings experience the traditional dwelling form of northwest Chinese people in old times.
3.Gao’s Courtyard - a hidden gem inside the hustling and bustling Muslim Quarter.
4.Beilin Steles Museum, a great place to appreciate the traditional Chinese calligraphy painting and learn the technique of rubbing.
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| Gao's Compound |
5.Guanzhong Folk Custom Park where you will explore all kinds of tools, folk customs, furniture, and much more about Shaanxi people.
6.Famen Temple, one of the most prominent Buddhist temples in China.
7.Qianling Mausoleum, a great place to pay respect to the only Empress Wu Zetian.
8.Yuanjiacun Village, both a tourist sight and a local food paradise. Prepare to be stuffed.
9.Banpo Neolithic Museum, a place where you can travel back 6000 years ago to see the living conditions of the Banpo Matriclan Society.
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| Guanzhong Folk Custom Park |
Shopping in Xian
Modern Large-scale Shopping Malls
1.SAGA Shopping Mall 西安赛格国际购物中心
Features: fast fashion, comprehensive shopping mall with restaurants, shopping, and entertainment
Add: 123 Chang’an Nan Ru, Yanta District, Xian
Tel: 86 29 86300000
Business Hours: 10:00 - 22:00 (Monday - Thursday); 10:00 - 22:30 (Friday - Sunday)
How to get there: Xiaozhai Station, Metro Line 2
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| Saga Shopping Mall |
2.Kai Yuan Shopping Mall 开元商城
Highlight: high-end shopping mall
Add: East of Bell Tower, East Avenue, Xian
Tel: 86 29 87235382
Business Hours: 10:00 - 21:30
How to get there：Bell Tower Station, Metro Line 2
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| Kai Yuan Shopping Mall |
3.Minsheng Department Store 民生百货
Highlight: Mid-range commodities
Add: No.103 Jiefang Road, Xian
Tel: 950711
Business Hours: 10:00 - 21:30
How to get there: Wulukou Station, Metro Line 1
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| Minsheng Department Store |
4.Century Ginwa Shopping Mall 世纪金花购物中心
Highlight: high-end shopping center, luxury goods
Add: No.27, West Avenue, Bell and Drum Tower Square, Xian 西安市莲湖区西大街27号
Tel: 86 29 -87284688
Business Hours: 9:30-22:00 (Summer time)，9:30-21:00(Winter time)
How to get there: Bell Tower Station, Metro Line 2
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| Century Ginwa Shopping Mall |
5.Parkson Shopping Center 百盛购物中心
Highlight: mid-range shopping center
Add: No. 238 East Avenue, Xian
Tel: 86 29 87447778
Business Hours: 9:30 - 22:00
How to get there: take Bus 610/ 15/ 201/ 205/ 215/ K215/ 218 / 221/ 222/ 229/ 23/ 252/ 251/ 286/ 300/ 31/ 32/ 43/ k45/ 4/ 604/ 611/ 612/ 618/ K618/ 622 and get off at the Guangji Street.
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| Parkson Shopping Center |
6.Luomashi Commercial Pedestrian Street 骡马市步行街
Features: fair-price goods, young people’s love, fast fashion, food street
Add: Luomashi Commercial Street, Beilin District
Tel: 86 29 87656890
Business Hours: 24/7
How to get there: Bell Tower Station, Metro Line 2
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| Luomashi Commercial Pedestrian Street |
7.Datang West City 大唐西市
Features: Tang Dynasty architectures, silk road culture, antiques, modern commodities
Add: No.1, Laodong South Road, Lianhu District
Tel: 86 29 88361111
Business Hours: 24/7
How to get there: take Bus 106/ 107/ 156/ 184/ 201/ 24/ 322/ 43/ K43/ 503/ 734 and get off at the Datang Xishi Station.
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| Datang West City |
8.Datang Ever Bright City 大唐不夜城
Features: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty architectures, high-end shopping malls and entertainment facilities, great night views
Add: No.6, East Section of Huanta South Road, Yanta District
Business Hours: 24/7
How to get there: Dayanta Station, Metro Line 3
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| Datang Ever Bright City |
9.City On 熙地港购物中心
Features: fast-fashion, mid-range commodities
Add: No.170, Weiyang Road, Weisheng District
Tel: 86 29 89609999
Business Hours: 10:00 - 22:00
How to get there: Xingzheng Zhongxin Station, Metro Line 2
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| City On |
10.Golden Eagle 西安金鹰国际购物中心高新店
Features: comprehensive shopping mall with electronics, clothes, entertainment, and restaurants
Add: No.37, Keji Road, Xian
Tel: 86 29 88153388
Business Hours: 10:00 - 22:00
How to get there: Keji Station, Metro Line 3
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| Golden Eagle |
Antique Markets and Streets
1.Shuyuanmen Cultural Street
Speciality: folk art, calligraphy and painting works, traditional Chinese architectures
Add: East of South Street, Beilin District
How to get there: Yongningmen Station, Metro Line 2
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| Shuyuanmen |
2.Tang West Market Antique City
Speciality: bronze, pottery, gold and silver, exquisite silk remains, and jade pieces
Add: Tang West Market Museum, Laodong Nanlu, Lianhu District
How to get there: take Bus 106/ 107/ 156/ 184/ 201/ 24/ 322/ 43/ K43/ 503/ 734 and get off at the Datang Xishi Station.
3.Xi’an Ba Xian Gong Antiques Market
Speciality: older crafts, contemporary souvenirs
Add.: No.23, Beihuo Alley, Jishiguai, Beilin District
How to get there: Kangfulu Station, Metro Line 1;
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| Xi’an Ba Xian Gong Antiques Market |
Tea Markets
Northwest International Tea Market
Business Hours: 09:00 - 21:00
Location: 100m from the crossing between Jinkang Road and Jinhua North Road, Xincheng District
How to get there: Tonghuamen Station, Metro Line 3
Eating in Xian
1.Muslim Quarter
It’s the most famous food culture and the representative of Xian food culture. There are over 300 kinds of Xian local food and halal food here.
Add.: Muslim Quarter area, behind the Bell & Drum Tower, Beilin District
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| Muslin Quarter |
2.Yongxingfang
It’s a food street where you can taste all the special delicacies from different parts of Shaanxi. Besides, the food you taste here are either listed into intangible cultural heritages or very famous regionally. It’s also where you can experience the “Smashing Bowls”.
Add.: No.1, Dongxin Street, Beilin District
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| Yongxingfang |
3.Furong Street
It’s an old-fashioned food street in Xian. Lobster is very famous here.
Add.: Crossing between Yanta West Road and Hongzhuan South Road, Yanta District
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| Furong Street |
4.Shuncheng Alley
It’s a special street for young people who loves art and culture. Many young people come here to enjoy food and experience the romantic atmosphere.
Add.: Shuncheng Alley, Beilin District
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| Shuncheng Alley |
5.Dongxin Street
As one of the largest night markets, Dongxin Street hosts a lot of restaurant. If you happen to stay at Sofitel Hotel or Hilton Xian, it’s a great place for you to explore.
Add.: Dongxin Street, Xincheng District
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| Dongxin Street |
6.Fenxiang
Located nearby the Bell Tower, Fenxiang has simple and plain teahouses, beautiful shops, all kinds of local snacks, and fancy restaurants.
Location: South Street, Beilin District
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| Fenxiang |
7.Laodong Road Food Street
It’s a place hosting mass food and drink on one side and high-end restaurants on the other side.
Location：Laodong Road, Lianhu District
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| Laodong Road |
8.Datang Tongyifang
Located in the west side of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Datang Tongyifang has gathered delicacies from all over the world. You can find both Japanese, Korean, Indian, German, and other exotic food, and Chinese food like Shaanxi cuisine, Sichuan food, Xinjiang dishes and many more. In addition, all the blocks and building here are resembled from Tang dynasty building, which will make you feel like being a Tang person.
Add.: East to the Crossing of Cuihua Road and Yanta West Road, Yanta District
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| Datang Tongyifang |
Accommodating in Xian
Most of the renown sights in Xian are situated in downtown city, which makes the Bell & Drum Tower area the ideal place to stay at. Here are four reasons why you should choose a hotel or airbnb house nearby the Bell & Drum Tower.
1.Nearby many sights like Bell Tower, Drum Tower, City Wall, Beilin Steles Museum, Shuyuanmen Cultural Street, Muslim Quarter, Gao’s Courtyard, Great Mosque and more.
2.Nearby many famous food streets like Muslim Quarter, Fenxiang, Luomashi.
3.Extremely convenient. Nearly all the sights in Xian are accessible from downtown Xian.
4.Way many choices of hotels and Airbnb houses.
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| Xian Hotel |
If you prefer somewhere quiet, but still convenient enough to get around. Yanta District is great as well, especially in the areas of Datang Ever Bright City and Qujiang.
1.A lot of tourist sights nearby, including the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Shaanxi History Museum, Tang Paradise, Qujiang Pool Ruins Site.
2.Great location for splendid night views in Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Music Foundation.
3.Many hotel choices, especially some of the finest 5-star hotels.
Unlike other metropolises in China, Xian has a comparatively low consumption level. Many star-level hotels in Xian are not as expensive as in other cities like Shanghai and Beijing, except some of the international brands. You can get a decent room at a budget of 500-800 RMB, a clean and comfortable room for 200-400 RMB. If you are looking for someplace luxury, W Hotel, Sofitel Legend, Hilton Xian, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Jinjiang International Hotel, and many similar ones are great choices for you.
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| Xian City at Night |
Traveling in Xian
We all know that Xian is a city bearing much history and it deserves quite some time to get a deep sense of its charm. However, if you are running a tight schedule, you can still have a great time knowing Xian city without feeling rushed. For half a day’s schedule, we suggest you focus solely on the Terracotta Army and Horses, which is the single most significant sight in Xian. For a whole day, we suggest you consider adding downtown places like Bell & Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter, and City Wall. For 2 days or even more, you explore Xian more and experience the deeper Xianese culture. Perhaps, you might want to go a little further to the suburbs of Xian to discover other parts of Shaanxi.
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