5-Day Xi’an Food & Culture Tour: Local Flavors & Ancient History
Tour Overview
Eat your way through Xi’an while uncovering more than 3,000 years of history on this 5-day Xi’an food and culture tour. Follow a local guide through the Muslim Quarter for halal street food, sample Biangbiang noodles and authentic Shaanxi cuisine, and start a day at a lively local morning market.
Alongside the food experiences, see the Terracotta Warriors, walk or cycle the ancient City Wall, explore the Great Mosque and Small Wild Goose Pagoda and experience Tang Dynasty culture through a dumpling banquet and evening show.
You’ll even make a Terracotta Warrior replica by hand — turning a classic Xi’an sightseeing trip into a more hands-on cultural experience.
Travel Destination: Xi’an
Suitable for: Foodies, culture lovers, first-time visitors to Xi’an
Tour type: Private
Tour at A Glance
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Day
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What to See & Do
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1
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Xi’an arrival, Muslim Quarter food tour, Halal street food tasting, Bell & Drum Towers night views
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2
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Terracotta Warriors, Terracotta Warrior-making, Biangbiang noodles, Xi’an City Wall walk/cycling, Yongxingfang food tasting
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3
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Xicang Morning Market, Local breakfast tasting, Eight Immortals Temple, Shuyuanmen Cultural Street, Gao Family Compound, Great Mosque, Dumpling banquet, Tang Dynasty show
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4
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Xi’an Museum, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi cuisine lunch, Daci’en Temple, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang-style night walk at Datang Everbright City
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5
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Free time, Local specialties shopping, Airport transfer
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Highlights of This Tour
Explore Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter with a local guide. Wander through lively lanes and taste halal specialties from beef pancakes and grilled meat to persimmon cakes.
Get hands-on with a traditional craft by making your own warrior replica after seeing the life-size Terracotta Warriors and learning how the warriors were made and restored.
Taste Xi’an from Xicang Morning Market to a dumpling banquet. Try Biangbiang noodles and Shaanxi specialties, and sample dumplings of various colors while enjoying a grand performance.
Experience Xi’an’s ancient culture by day and night. Walk or cycle the ancient City Wall, explore historic temples and Great Mosque, then enjoy Tang-style architecture and street performances after dark.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Xi'an Arrival & Muslim Food TourTaste Local Muslim Food
Welcome to Xi'an. Upon arrival at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, your local guide and driver will meet you in the arrivals area and take you to your hotel in downtown Xi'an. Check in and rest briefly before the evening food tour.
At around 18:30, the guide will meet you at the hotel to start your first culinary tour in Xi'an. Follow the guide to walk through the streets and alleys of Muslim Quarter, and taste several local halal-friendly snacks, such as beef pancake, persimmon cakes, sour plum soup or local grilled meat.
Along the way, pass by the Bell and Drum Towers and take in the night views of the historic city center.
Night View of Muslim Quarter - Day 2: Terracotta Warriors and Downtown ExplorationDiscover the Terracotta Army, Cycle Ancient City Wall, Savor Local Noodles
Drive about 1 hour to the Terracotta Warriors. Follow along the walkways above the pits and look down at the vast underground army, then observe the subtle differences in the warriors' faces, hairstyles, clothing and postures. Your tour guide will also explain the production techniques and archaeological restoration process of the Terracotta Army.
Our customers at the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an You can also make a replica of a Terracotta warrior by hand with guidance from craftsmen in a nearby workshop.
At lunchtime, enjoy a bowl of Biangbiang noodles, one of the most representative Xi'an noodles. The wide hand-pulled noodles are paired with chili peppers, vegetables and local seasonings.
Belt-like biangbiang noodles with chili powder and toppings Return to the downtown area and go up the Xi’an City Wall for a walk. From above, enjoy the contrasting cityscape with ancient city on one side and the modern urban landscape on the other. If interested, rent a bike to cycle along a section of the wall (optional).
Yongxingfang has local foods from across Shaanxi. Instead of browsing on your own, follow your guide to try some local specialties, such as Zichang pancakes, mashed potato cakes, and zenggao, a sticky rice and date cake.
- Day 3: Xi'an Old City & Dumpling BanquetExplore Morning Market, Enjoy a Dumpling Banquet and Tang Dynasty Show
Start today at Xicang Morning Market to try local breakfast foods. Walk through the lively market and the surrounding alleys, try common Xi'an breakfast items such as spicy soup and beef pancakes, and discover seasonal foods. Breakfast is included in the itinerary.
Head to Eight Immortals Temple. Stroll through the courtyards and halls and learn about the Taoist culture.
Continue to Shuyuanmen Cultural Street. Browse shops filled with calligraphy works, seals, fans, stationery, and handicrafts. If you want to pick some special souvenirs, get a fan with your favorite words written on it, or a seal with your name carved.
At Gao Family Compound, learn about the local living style in the past through the traditional courtyard layout and houses. If interested, join a calligraphy session or watch a shadow puppetry show.
The interesting shadow play at Gao Family Courtyard Next, visit Xi'an Great Mosque. Unlike typical mosques, it combines traditional Chinese courtyard architecture with Islamic culture, making it a key stop for learning about the history of Xi'an's Muslim community.
A dumpling banquet and a Tang Dynasty show are arranged in the evening, combining Xi'an cuisine with traditional performances. For dinner, try a variety of special dumplings with different shapes and fillings. Then, watch a song and dance performance themed on Tang Dynasty culture.
Emperor Wuzhetian in Tang Dynasty Show - Day 4: Xi'an Heritage & Shaanxi CuisineUncover Ancient Chang’an, Try Authentic Shaanxi Cuisine, Experience Vibrant Nightlife
After breakfast, head to Xi'an Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Learn about the development of ancient Chang'an through cultural relics, such as bronze wares, jades and clay figurines, and then stroll among the gardens and buildings around the pagoda.
For lunch, delve into the authentic Shaanxi cuisine at a local restaurant. Local dishes include gourd-shaped chicken, golden-edged cabbage and Shaanxi steamed dishes. The guide will introduce the flavors and cooking methods.
Hulu Chicken, a famous Xi'an cuisine The dishes will be flexibly selected according to the season, the restaurant’s menu and the group size, and your dietary preferences.
Move on to Daci'en Temple and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to learn about Xuanzang, his translation of Buddhist scriptures, and the connection between Chang'an (ancient Xi’an) and the cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda in spring At dusk, walk south to Datang Everbright City. Along the pedestrian street, see the Tang-style architecture illuminated by colorful lights, watch street performances and soak up the lively nightlife in Xi’an.
If you'd like to continue trying local food in the evening, your guide can recommend nearby restaurants or desserts based on your taste.
- Day 5: Xi'an Departure
Before departure, rest and pack your luggage. If you have time, buy some Shaanxi specialties nearby as souvenirs. Your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel according to your flight time and transfer you to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Your 5-day food and culture tour ends here.
Tour Price Per Person
The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel. Please contact us for a specific price.
Accommodation For This 5-Day Xi'an Food and Culture Tour
For your China private tour, the choice is in your hands: you can select luxury 5-star hotels for unparalleled comfort, cozy 4-star accommodations, or value-for-money 3-star options.
All our partner hotels are handpicked for their prime locations, conveniently situated near bustling commercial areas. Every room is equipped with standard amenities like air conditioning, hot water, 24-hour showers, reliable Wi-Fi, and windows for natural light.
In some hotels, there are English-speaking staff who are committed to providing attentive service. Should you have any special requests, feel free to ask - they are always ready to assist.
