Travel guide · Northwest China
Xi'an
西安
Ancient Capital of Thirteen Dynasties
Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, was imperial Chang'an and the eastern starting point of the Silk Roads. Travellers come for the Terracotta Army, the Ming city wall and the Muslim Quarter; three to four days cover the main sights.
Key facts
- Province
- Shaanxi (provincial capital)[1]
- Historic name
- Chang'an (长安)
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, incl. the Terracotta Army (1987)[2]
- Silk Roads World Heritage
- Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor (2014), incl. the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas and the Weiyang and Daming palace sites[3]
- City wall
- Ming dynasty, about 13.7 km around
- Main airport
- Xi'an Xianyang International (XIY)
- Time zone
- China Standard Time, UTC+8
- Suggested stay
- 3–4 days; 5–7 with day trips
Overview
Xi'an is one of China's most important historical cities and is traditionally counted as the capital of thirteen dynasties. It is best known for the Terracotta Army and as the eastern end of the ancient Silk Roads, and today it is a large modern city built around a walled historic centre.
History
Under the Western Han and the Tang, the city was called Chang'an; in the Tang it was among the largest cities in the world and the eastern terminus of the Silk Roads. The Qin capital Xianyang lay just to the north-west, and the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unify China, lies to the east of the modern city.
Culture
Xi'an's culture reflects its long role as a crossroads: Han Chinese traditions mixed with influences carried along the Silk Roads. The Hui Muslim community of the Muslim Quarter, Buddhist temples founded in the Tang, and the Confucian Forest of Steles all sit within or close to the city wall.
Main sights
An estimated 8,000 life-sized terracotta figures buried near the tomb of Qin Shi Huang more than 2,200 years ago and discovered by farmers in 1974
- Pit 1 with the main infantry formation
- Pit 2 with cavalry, archers and chariots
- Pit 3, the command post
- The two bronze chariots in the exhibition hall
- Time needed
- 4-6 hours including travel time
- Best time
- Early morning to avoid crowds; spring and autumn for comfortable weather. Advance online reservation with a passport is required.
One of the best-preserved city walls in China, built in the early Ming dynasty on the foundations of the Tang imperial city
- About 13.7 km around the top
- Bicycle hire on the wall
- Four main gates, with the South Gate as the ceremonial entrance
- Evening illumination
- Time needed
- 2-4 hours (a full circuit by bicycle takes about 1.5-2 hours)
- Best time
- Late afternoon for golden hour, evening for the illuminated wall
Buddhist pagoda first built in 652 to hold the sutras the monk Xuanzang brought back from India; part of the Silk Roads World Heritage site
- Seven-storey brick pagoda (the interior can be climbed)
- Da Ci'en Temple complex
- Fountain show on the North Square in the evening
- Tang-themed pedestrian boulevard to the south
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours
- Best time
- Morning for a quieter temple, evening for the fountain show
Historic district of the Hui Muslim community, known for its street food and the Great Mosque, whose buildings date largely from the Ming dynasty
- Great Mosque of Xi'an, built in Chinese temple style
- Traditional courtyard architecture
- Street food in the lanes north of the Drum Tower
- Antique and craft shops
- Time needed
- 3-4 hours
- Best time
- Evening, when the food stalls are busiest
One of China's major provincial museums, covering Shaanxi from prehistory to the Qing, with particular strength in Zhou, Han and Tang objects
- Tang dynasty gold and silver
- Tang tomb murals
- Silk Road objects
- Zhou dynasty bronzes
- Time needed
- 3-4 hours
- Best time
- Morning; entry requires advance online reservation with a passport, and slots fill early in holiday periods
Local food
Hand-pulled, belt-wide noodles topped with chilli and hot oil; the name is written with one of the most complex characters in Chinese
Where to try: Yongxingfang Food Street · Noodle shops in the Muslim Quarter · Neighbourhood noodle shops across the city
Contains gluten · Usually spicy · Can be made vegetarian on request
Braised meat chopped into a crisp flatbread, often called the 'Chinese burger'
Where to try: Fanji Lazhirou Roujiamo · Qinyu Roujiamo · Muslim Quarter vendors
Traditionally pork; beef or lamb in halal versions in the Muslim Quarter · Bread contains gluten
Lamb soup poured over pieces of unleavened bread that diners tear by hand; the city's signature comfort food
Where to try: Tongshengxiang Restaurant · Muslim Quarter restaurants · Local family restaurants
Contains lamb · Halal preparation · Very filling
Cold wheat or rice noodles with a spicy and sour dressing, eaten especially in summer
Where to try: Street vendors · Muslim Quarter · Local restaurants
Wheat versions contain gluten · Usually vegetarian · Spicy and sour
Getting there and around
Getting there
The main airport, about 40 km north-west of the city centre; allow roughly an hour to the centre by road
- Metro Line 14 links the airport with Xi'an North Railway Station and the wider metro network
- Airport coaches run to the city centre and railway stations
- Book transfers in advance during national holidays
Xi'an North Station is a major hub on the high-speed network, with direct trains to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and Lanzhou
- Xi'an North Station lies north of the centre and is served by the metro
- Xi'an Railway Station, just outside the north wall, handles conventional trains
- Reserve seats early for the Spring Festival and Golden Week holidays
Getting around
The metro links the railway stations, the airport and most central sights
- Line 2 runs north-south through the Bell Tower
- Line 9 heads east towards Lintong (Huaqing Palace)
- Announcements and signs are in Chinese and English
- Rush hours can be crowded
An extensive bus network covering the city and suburbs
- Tourist bus lines (marked 游) to the Terracotta Army leave from the square east of Xi'an Railway Station
- Pay by transport card or mobile payment
- Limited English signage
- Can be very crowded
Convenient for destinations not covered by the metro
- Have your destination written in Chinese
- The Didi app works well and has an English interface
- Agree the fare in advance for day trips
- Few drivers speak English
Entry rules are on the visa and entry pages.
Plan the trip
From courtyard hotels inside the city wall to modern hotels near the metro, find a base in Xi'an.
Partner link: if you book or buy through it, CHINANETZ earns a commission. The price does not change for you.
Fly into Xi'an, the city that for centuries was the eastern end of the caravan routes linking China with Central Asia.
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Xi'an North Station links the city with Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and the Hexi Corridor by high-speed rail.
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Practical information
- Best time to visit
- April-May and September-October for the best weather, avoiding the national holiday weeks
- Climate
- Warm-temperate continental monsoon climate with hot summers and cold, dry winters
- Time zone
- China Standard Time (CST), UTC+8
- Internet
- Wi-Fi is widespread in hotels and restaurants and mobile data is fast; many foreign websites and apps are blocked in mainland China
- Electricity
- 220V, 50Hz; Type A, C and I plugs
Safety
- Xi'an is generally safe for visitors
- Watch belongings in crowded tourist areas
- Be wary of overcharging in tourist markets and unofficial tour touts near the railway station
- Respect local customs, especially in religious areas
- Air pollution can be high in winter; check the daily AQI
- Stay hydrated in the summer heat
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Xi'an Municipal People's Government — Xi'an Municipal People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor — UNESCO World Heritage Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor — UNESCO World Heritage Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- National Immigration Administration (English) — National Immigration Administration of China (retrieved 27 September 2026)
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