Travel Guidelines

Xi'an, an ancient and vibrant city, attracts countless tourists with its deep historical and cultural heritage and rich tourism resources. In order to make your trip to Xi'an smoother and more enjoyable, the following provides you with a detailed travel guide, including practical tips and carefully planned itineraries.

Practical Tips

Documents preparation: ID card is a must for traveling, visiting the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Shaanxi History Museum and other attractions need to use. If you have a student ID card, senior citizen ID card, military ID card, etc., you can also bring along, some attractions can enjoy discounts.

Sunscreen and moisturizing: Xi'an has a dry climate, especially in spring, fall and winter, with strong winds and little moisture. It is recommended to bring sunscreen, lip balm, moisturizing cream and other skin care products to prevent dry skin and sunburn. Sunglasses and sun hats are also essential in summer when the sun is strong.

Dress comfortably: Xi'an has many attractions and most of them need to be visited on foot, such as the ancient city wall and the Terracotta Warriors. Therefore, a pair of comfortable flat shoes or sneakers is vital, while lightweight clothing will also make you more comfortable on your journey.

Advance booking: popular attractions such as Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Shaanxi History Museum and Huashan are crowded with tourists, so it is recommended to book tickets in advance on the official website or travel apps to avoid long waiting time in line at the site. Especially during holidays and peak seasons, advance booking can ensure smooth entry.

Respect customs: There are many Muslim compatriots in areas such as Hui Min Street in Xi'an, so it is important to respect their religious beliefs and customs in these places, such as not touching religious articles at will and avoiding eating in public during fasting hours.

Transportation card: Xi'an's public transportation is very developed, apply for the “Chang'an Tong Electronic Card” (can be opened in the WeChat or Alipay search), ride the subway and buses when the scanning code to pay, convenient and fast, but also can save the time of queuing up to buy tickets.

Itinerary Reference

One-day tour itinerary:

Morning: proceed to Xi'an City Wall, which is the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. You can climb the wall from Yongning Gate (South Gate), rent a bicycle and ride around the wall for about 13.7 kilometers, feeling the majesty and historical flavor of the ancient city and enjoying the scenery inside and outside the wall.

Lunch: Taste Xi'an specialties, such as meat bun, cold skin, biangbiang noodles, etc. at restaurants near the city wall.

Afternoon: visit Shaanxi History Museum, which is rich in collections and displays a large number of precious relics from the ancient times to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and is an important window to understand the history and culture of Shaanxi and even China. It is recommended to reserve free tickets in advance and hire a professional docent or rent an interpreter to better understand the stories behind the artifacts.

Evening: Go to the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to enjoy the largest musical fountain show in Asia and feel the perfect combination of music and fountain. Afterwards, you can stroll around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to experience the lively atmosphere at night.

Two days tour itinerary:

Day one:

Morning: visit the Bell and Drum Towers, two iconic buildings that are the symbol of Xi'an, climb up to the Bell or Drum Towers for a view of the downtown area, as well as enjoying the ancient chiming instruments and exciting performances.

Noon: Enjoy a variety of authentic Xi'an snacks, such as mutton steamed buns, cold skin with sesame sauce, cauldron cake, etc., and feel the unique flavor of Hui Min Street.

Afternoon: go to Datang Night City, which is an imitation Tang cultural district with gorgeous light shows, wonderful street performances and various special stores, as if you are traveling back to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty.

Evening: Enjoy dinner at Datang Night City, continue to enjoy the night scenery and performances and feel the prosperity at night.

Day two:

Morning: Proceed to Lintong District to visit the world famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the burial pits of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It is recommended to hire a professional tour guide to learn more about the history, craftsmanship and cultural value of the Terracotta Warriors.

Lunch: Dine at a restaurant near the Terracotta Warriors and taste local specialties.

Afternoon: Visit Huaqing Palace, a hot spring bath for ancient emperors with rich historical and cultural connotations. You can visit the bathing sites of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei, such as Lotus Soup and Begonia Soup, etc. You can also climb up Mt. Li to enjoy the natural scenery and historical relics.

Evening: return to the city and end the pleasant journey.

Three-day tour itinerary:

Day 1: Same itinerary as the first day of the two-day tour.

Day two:

Morning: proceed to Mount Hua, which is famous for its steepness and is one of the five mountains in China. You can choose to take the cable car up the mountain to save your energy and enjoy the magnificent scenery along the way. After reaching the top, visit the main attractions such as East Peak, South Peak and West Peak to experience the majesty and steepness of Mount Hua.

Lunch: Dine at a restaurant on Mount Hua and enjoy a simple meal.

Afternoon: continue your tour on Mount Huashan and enjoy the sunset view before taking the ropeway down the mountain and returning to the city.

Day Three:

Morning: visit the Beilin Museum, which houses a large collection of steles and calligraphic works and is a treasure trove of Chinese calligraphy art. You can enjoy the real handwriting of Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Ouyang Xun and other great calligraphers and feel the charm of calligraphy art.

Lunch: Dine at a restaurant near the museum and taste the local cuisine.

Afternoon: Proceed to Yongxingfang, a neighborhood that combines food and folk culture from all over Shaanxi, where you can taste a variety of authentic Shaanxi snacks, such as buckwheat noodles, oil splash spices, etc., and buy some special souvenirs.

Parent-child tour highlights: Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Daming Palace Ruins Park (interactive archaeological experience), Qujiang Ocean Polar Park.