How to Spend 4 Days in Xian – Itinerary and Top Experiences

Written by Candice Zhao | Updated June 10,2026

For a Xian tour, 4 days is a proper amount of time for you to avoid running around from sight to sight without time to immerse in the historical atmosphere of the city and enjoy its many authentic delicacies.

This ultimate guide to spending 4 days in Xian includes a detailed itinerary, top things to do, see and eat, and practical travel information and tips you need to know – like how to travel around and where to stay – to help you plan a smooth Xian trip.

Content Preview

• What to See and Do in 4 Days?
• Day-by-day Itinerary
• Transportation in Xian
• Practical Travel Information
• Helpful Xian Travel Tips
• Travel Xian with China Xian Tour?

What to See and Do in Xian in 4 Days?

With four days, you will comfortably be able to visit all the highlights of Xian. The list of the best things to do in Xian is enormous, like riding a bike atop the Ancient City Wall, having sufficient time to discover the historical treasures in the Terracotta Army and Shaanxi History Museum, enjoying the spectacular Tang Dynasty shows, capturing the iconic Bell and Drum Towers and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, experiencing the city’s vibrant nightlife, plus having a day trip to Mt. Huashan, etc.

If you like authentic local experiences, consider a calligraphy class, cooking class, Tang costume experience, or learning to play Taichi at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

You will also have time to explore a few hidden gems, like experiencing a shadow puppet show. Or, consider adding in a food tour, or more leisurely time.

All in all, if you are traveling to Xian for the first time, you can cover the most iconic sites while adding in some special experiences based on your preferences in these 4 days.

How to Spend Four Days in Xian – Day-by-day Itinerary

Before getting to the day by day itinerary, you can get a general ideal of the location of Xi’an’s popular attractions:

Iconic landmarks such as Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, Great Tang All Day Mall, Bell and Drum Tower, etc. are all located in the downtown area.

The world-famous Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace are about 30 – 40 km from Xian city center. They are always arranged in one day. Mount Huashan is about 120 km east of Xi’an (about 2 hours’ drive). It also needs at least one day for a hiking and sightseeing there.

Day 1: Xian arrival + Downtown area exploration

The first day is for you to get to Xian from other cities. It is convenient to take either flights or high-speed trains to reach the city. We recommend to book an early flight or train so you can have an afternoon to get some rest and leisurely stroll around the Bell and Drum Towers, and Muslim Quarter to experience local street life and food.

The airport is connected with the city center by multiple shuttle buses. From Xian North Railway Station, you can reach the downtown are easily by Metro Line 2 or Line 4. The Xian Railway Station is only about 5 km from the Bell Tower, you can easily reach there by taxi, bus or Metro Line 2.

Related reading: How to Get to and Around Xian.

Day 2: Terracotta Army + Ancient City Wall + Optional Night Activity

Get up early this morning for your trip to Terracotta Warriors and Horses. The museum typically sees the fewest crowds right after opening. Therefore, you are advised to arrive at the site in the early morning and get in line before 8:00 AM, before the large tour groups arrive. It is about a 45-minute drive from the city center to the museum.

Plan about 3 hours for the Terracotta Army. After lunch, drive back to the downtown area. You can ascend the Ancient City Wall, enjoying a leisurely walk and cycle atop the wall. It will reward you with not only magnificent military structures but also stunning panoramic view of the city and the surrounding Bell and Drum Towers.

Recommended Night Activities:

1. Enjoyinga wonderful Tang Dynasty show and dumpling banquet at Tang Dynasty Palace to learn about the story of China’s only empress Wu Zetian and savor exquisite dumplings.
2. If you are still energetic, wander in the dazzling Datang Everbright City. The illuminated ancient architecture along the street, varieties of free street performances and lively marketplace atmosphere will take you back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

>Get inspired by more our Xian night tours.

Day 3: Enjoy a Day Trip to Mt. Huashan or Exploration in the Downtown Area

Plan A: Mt. Huashan Full Day Tour

You’ll need to get up early (at around 7:00 AM) and drive about 2 hours to hike Huashan Mountain. Or, you can get to Xian North Railway Station to take a high-speed train in around 0.5 hours.

Take a cable car up the North Peak and start your hiking from there. Along the way, visit Taoist temples, intricate carvings, and stunning scenery. At around 5:00 PM, take the high-speed train or drive back to Xian downtown.

• Recommended Tour: 4 Days Xian Classic Tour with Mt. Huashan

Plan B: Visit Shaanxi History Museum/Xi’an Museum & Small Wild Goose Pagoda + Big Wild Goose Pagoda + Bell and Drum Towers + Muslim Quarter

For tourists who think it is challenging to conquer Mount Hua, continue an in-depth exploration of other cultural and historical attractions in the downtown area.

If you are interested in history, Shaanxi History Museum and Xi’an Museum will not let you down. Shaanxi History Museum is a treasure trove of China’s rich historical legacy. Through the numerous collections of different dynasties, you will know why Chang’an (ancient Xi’an) was the center of the world in ancient times.

Xi’an Museum boasts not only cultural relics, but also classic gardens and the famous Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It offers a more tranquil environment and a leisurely travel experience.

Then, move to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This well-preserved ancient building was built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha in the Tang Dynasty. Around the pagoda are many Tang-style architectures.

The next stop is the iconic Bell and Drum Towers in the city center. They are more charming when illuminated by golden lights at night. Finally, fill your belly with local specialties and snacks in the Muslim Quarter.

• Good to know: The tickets for Shaanxi History Museum are always in short supply, so it is strongly recommended to book it in advance. Tickets are released fivedays in advance at 17:00.

Day 4: Yangling Mausoleum of the Han Dynasty + Xian Departure

After breakfast, you can head to Yangling Mausoleum of the Han Dynasty – the most well-preserved Han Dynasty imperial tomb complex discovered to date. The mausoleum features an extensive collection of unearthed artifacts, including figurines representing various social statuses, ceramic animals, wooden chariots and horses, daily tools, etc.

The afternoon is left for you to catch your departure flight or train.

√Recommended 4 Days Xian Tours:

4 Days Xian Tour Package with Tang Dynasty Dance Show

Transportation in Xian

How to Get to Xian

By air: With 4 terminals, Xian Xianyang International Airport offers over 300 routes to over 170 cities cities at home and abroad, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Bangkok, Osaka, Los Angeles, etc. After leaving the airport, you can take metro line 14 and transfer to line 2 or 4 to the downtown area.

By train: There are also two main railway stations, Xian Railway Station and Xian North High-speed Railway Station, which provide regular and bullet trains to almost all major cities in China. After arrival, you can take metro line 4 at Xian Station and line 2 and 4 at Xian North Station to the city center.

By bus: As for buses, five main bus stations are located in the center and the other 4 directions of the city respectively. You can take the buses to and from the nearby cities and tourists attractions directly.

How to Travel around Xian

• Transportation in downtown area:

By metro: Almost all the core attractions inside the city are connected by metro lines 2, 3 and 4. Besides, Line 14 serves the airport and Line 9 connects Huaqing Pool with downtown Xi’an.

By Taxi & ride-hailing service: It is the most convenient way to get around. You can use the Didi app to call a taxi or car. It is like Uber and supports English and international credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. The cost is about CNY 20 – 60 for a ride inside the city.

By sightseeing bus: Besides, to facilitate tourists and enrich the travel experience, various special sightseeing bus lines are opened up to connect these attractions. These buses are even decorated with traditional cultural elements and some buses also have NPCs to interact with passengers.

Besides, the public buses are also important vehicles serving places the metro can not reach.

• Transportation to Attractions Afar:

Terracotta Army and Huaqing Pool: Tourist bus line 5 and several tourist direct buses can take you to the scenic areas. Metro line 9 can take you to Huaqing Pool directly. After getting off, you can get to Terracotta Army by bus line 602 and 613.

Mount Huashan: the fastest way is to take a high-speed train to Huashan North first. After arrival, bus lines 1 and 2 can escort you there.

Practical Travel Information for a Four-day Xian Tour

Best Time to Visit Xian

The best time to visit Xian is March – May in spring and September – November in autumn. In spring, the temperature is about 15 – 25 ℃ and the flowers are in full bloom. While in autumn, the weather is cool with less rain, and you can enjoy the golden ginkgo leaves and fragrant osmanthus flowers.

A visit to both indoor and outdoor attractions are ideal in spring and autumn, while in summer, the temperature in Xian is a little bit high, so the indoor attractions and night tour are more recommended. If you are fond of snow scenery and want to experience Chinese New Year, winter is also a good choice.

Where to Stay in Xian

Hotels around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda or the Bell Tower are good choices as they are near major attractions, with convenient transportation and a variety of food options. Or choose the hotels along the metro line 2, as plenty of attractions can be reached by this line and you can transfer to other metro lines conveniently.

If you plan to spend a whole day visiting the Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace, and watching the Song of Everlasting Sorrow Show at night, it’s recommended to stay a night near Huaqing Palace for added convenience.

What and Where to Eat in Xian

1. Varieties of food made of flour: Roujiamo, beef and lamb paomo, cold noodles, biangbiang noodles and hot oil noodles are all must-try foods.

Restaurants recommended by the locals: Ziwu Road Zhang Ji Roujiamo, Lao Mi Family’s Lamb Paomo, Wei Family Cold Noodles

2. Characteristic local snacks:rice and jujube cake, spicy soup with meatballs, oil tea fried dough twist, etc. These are easily found in the roadside stores.
3. Authentic Shaanxi cuisine:Hulu Chicken, Lamb Soup in Earthen Bowl, Brush Pen Pastry, Warm Tossed Shredded Pork Kidney, Milk Soup Fish Hot Pot

Restaurants recommended by the locals: Xian Restaurant, Food Gallery of Xian

Besides the above restaurants, there are also many food streets for you to savor all the delicious food at once. The most famous should be the Muslim Quarter, a large food street composed of several lanes. Other unmissable ones include Yongxingfang, Sajinqiao, Xiaonanmen Morning Market, etc. Spend some time choosing one or two food streets to explore during your Xian tour.

Xian’s Best Shopping Areas for Tourists

Near the Bell and Drum Towers: It is the core business circle in Xian with both traditional and trendy elements. The Muslim Quarter is preferred by tourists to buy specialties and souvenirs.

Near the City Wall Gates: Near the Yongning Gate is the most well-known gathering place for high-end luxury shopping in Xian. The Shuncheng Alley and Shuyuanmen Street are the paradises to buy cultural and creative products.

Near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Shaanxi History Museum: The SEG International Shopping Mall is attractive to tourists because of its indoor waterfall and the Asian longest indoor escalator. Besides, the Joy City is famous for its giant statue of Monkey King and viewing platform on the top floor, where offers the best view of Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Helpful Xian Travel Tips

• 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Xi’an: Xi’an has adopted a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for foreigners from 55countries under certain conditions. Take advantage of the policy if you meet the requirements.
• When visiting historical sites like the Shaanxi History Museum and Terracotta Army, it’s recommended to hire a guide or join a local tour to help you understand the historical stories and cultural significance behind these landmarks.It is strictly forbidden to touch the cultural relics.
• When visiting the Muslim Quarter, please respect Islamic customs. Do not eat pork and drink wine. It is not advised to dine on the main street. The authentic local flavors are hidden in the side alleys.
• The local food tends to be spicy and oily. Let the servant know if you prefer less spicy.
• Almost all the popular attractions require booking the ticket in advance. The official websites and WeChat accounts are the most reliable ways. Usually, the tickets are released 3 – 7 days in advance. Besides, remember to bring your passport on the day of your visit.
• About payment, the most convenient ways are WeChat Pay and Alipay. After binding your international credit card to the app, you can use it almost everywhere. In case of an emergency, it is better to prepare some change.

Why You Should Travel Xian with China Xian Tour?

Our local guide is very knowledgeable. During the tour, he/she will explain the cultural backgrounds of each scenic spot in a way you can understand, so you will definitely enjoy an unforgettable tour. Besides, China Xian Tour is based in Xian. Compared with other travel agencies, we are very familiar with the city. And we can customize a perfect trip according to your preferences and requirements. You can make requests freely, and we will do our best to meet them. So do not hesitate to contact us.