One Day Xian City Tour: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Great Mosque

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xian Urban City Tour

   In the morning, as the agreed time, the private tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and send you to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Located within the Daci’en Temple, this tower was personally supervised by Master Xuanzang in 652 AD to preserve Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back from India. It is the most prominent landmark in Xi'an.

   Unlike many Buddhist pagodas that were only used for worship, Big Wild Goose Pagoda was the highest level "translation academy" in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Xuanzang translated scriptures here for 11 years. The narrow space inside the tower is designed to "stay away from the bustle and focus on academic pursuits".

   The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was the highest point of Chang'an City (Xi'an now) in the Tang Dynasty. Standing at the top (about 64 meters high), you can imagine that Xuanzang once looked down on the entire city from the same point with you.

   

   Afterwards, proceed to the City Wall. It was first built in the Sui and Tang dynasties, with a total length of about 13.74 kilometers, completely surrounding the core area of the ancient city. Climbing up the city wall, you can see a highly contrasting scene - the inside are low traditional residential roofs while the outside is a modern skyscraper.

   It is strongly recommended experiencing riding a bike (optional, at an extra fee) atop the wall and admiring the city scenery from different angles.

   Next, explore the daily life of Muslims in Xi'an on Huimin Street. Firstly, visit the Great Mosque.

   This might be the most un-Islamic-looking mosque you have ever seen because it lacks a dome and a minaret. Instead, there are classical Chinese courtyards, wooden archways, and a Chinese style ceremonial tower. This is a model of the combination of Islamic and Chinese architectural aesthetics.

   Carefully observe the wooden and brick carvings in the main hall. In order to comply with the Islamic doctrine that prohibits idol worship, craftsmen replaced the common dragons and phoenixes in traditional Chinese architecture with plant patterns such as lotus flowers, pomegranates and vines, as well as Arabic calligraphy. This is a unique decorative language.

   

   After the visit, wander around Huimin Street. This is not just a street, but a huge food quarter composed of several streets such as Beiyuanmen and Xiyangshi. Since the Tang Dynasty, this has been a gathering place for descendants of Arab and Persian merchants.

   Here you will taste delicious carbohydrate foods such as Beef/Mutton and Bread Pieces in Soup, marinated meat in baked bun, soup dumplings, etc (on your own expense). The tour guide will avoid the most commercialized parts and go deep into Da Pi Yuan or Sa Jin Qiao where there are more old restaurants frequented by locals.

   After the tour, the tour guide will escort you back to the hotel.