Best Things to Do in Xian for Every Traveler
Ancient capital of Chinaās 13 powerful dynasties, Xian’s lengthy history as a capital city has left it with a wealth of cultural heritage. To assist visitors to Xian in having an amazing and memorable Xian tour, our list of top things to do in Xian suggests some of the most popular attractions and activities.
Top things to do in Xian (Must-visit Attractions): Terracotta Army, ancient city wall, Shaanxi History Museum, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Fun things to do in Xian: Cycling on the ancient city wall, Tang Dynasty dance performances, shadow puppet shows, making of Terracotta Army figures, and tasting authentic local cuisine
Unique and unusual things to do in Xian: The underground military formation at Hanyangling Museum, the imperial love stories at Huaqing Pool, the calligraphy art at the Stele Museum, and climbing Mount Hua
Free things to do in Xian: The music fountain in the northern square of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, visiting Hui Min Street, and the Shuyuanmen Cultural Street
Things to do in Xian at night: Night Stroll of Tang Dynasty Everlasting City, Night Tour of Muslim Quarter, Ancient City Wall Night Light Show
Admire Iconic Historical Sites in Xi'an
Follow the steps of ancient travelers, poets, and litterateurs to explore the iconic historic landmarks in Xiāan. Immerse yourself in the local history of over 3000 years and learn how this ancient capital evolved into a modern city, what we see today.
It is hard to add anything new to the reviews of this site. We were impressed by the artifacts themselves and by the care being taken by the archaeologist in the excavations and display.
This is a very good museum to view prior to seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors. The museum takes you through Chinese history from Paleolithic times up to the Terra Cotta Warriorsā period and the Han Dynasty.
As the pagoda is a little smaller in size thanĀ the Big Wild Goose Pagoda,Ā it is natural for people to call it the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
The site was discovered in the spring of 1953, underwent excavation from 1954 to 1957, and had a museum constructed on the original site in 1957.
The lighting is mesmerising and can be seen from a distance! You can also go up for a view (we didn’t). Even better, walk to the Muslim quarter right behind it for some fresh local street food, which is amazing.
To make the City Wall sightseeing more interesting and easier, the scenic area offers a bike rental service to tourists. Riding a bike to visit the city wall is a most welcomed and cool way to visit the City Wall.
Like a mini version of The Terracotta Warriorsā¦ all the warriors and animals here are in miniature and made by molds, not individually, as the Qin warriors are.
Our guide with China Odyssey Tours arranged for the bicycle rental near the west gate. What a neat way for the family to ride along the wall. We were able to stop and look at the displays
Popped to see the show, it starts at 9, but I would get there thirty mins earlier if you want a front row seat cos passing there at 8.15 it was crowded already.
Once you are up close, they are hard to photograph because of their glass enclosures. I expected them to be full-sized, but they are, in fact half sized.
The Xian Grand Mosque is truly a gem in the city. Set in a garden style with traditional Chinese Architecture (including the rare hanging or cantilever canopy construction).
This is a relatively small museum which mainly houses an exhibition of jade artefacts and exquisite dresses and costumes dating right up to the twentieth century.
The pagoda itself and the area around it are awesome, especially at night when itās lit up and they do a fountain show. And the building is very historic and exotic.
It is a steep walk along a very small set of stairs with pedestrians going up and down. The views from the top are a photographer’s delight.
Huaqing Hot Springs, together with the Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan, and Chengde Summer Resort, is known as the four great imperial gardens in China. The rulers of the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties all built different palaces here.Ā
Huashan Mountain, one of Chinaās most beautiful mountains and one of the five sacred mountains, is known as āthe most dangerous mountain in the worldā. It is famed for its breathtaking natural vista of precipitous cliffs, narrow and steep paths, and towering peaks.Ā
Enjoy Xian's Cultural Shows, Activities & Local Lifestyle
Wonderful Tang Dynasty night shows, traditional shadow puppet & Chinese calligraphy experiences, and bustling local morning markets will give you a unique peek into the culture and daily life in Xi’an. These immersive activities bring ancient traditions to life, offering unforgettable memories beyond the famous Terracotta Army.
This was a nice place to visit. To be honest, it wasnāt exactly what I thought it would be, I thought it would be a replica of a Tang Palace, giving you a real historic feel like youāve gone back in time.
Huaqing Hot Spring had been used as the royal hot spring bathing spot for tens of centuries. In Chinese history, many famous achieved Emperors bathed in Huaqing Hot Spring.
As our hotel was located adjacent to The Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Leisure Precinct, we utilized this area extensively during our visit. We found it a wonderful place to just wander around during the evening.
When traveling to Xiāan, experiencing intangible cultural heritages such as the representative shadow puppet and Chinese calligraphy are the top things to do in Xiāan.
Around 6 am, the city begins to wake up and a new day starts. Most people are busy with work or study, but you will see people, especially the elders, embracing the day in a different way.
Xian is not only an ancient capital, but also a dynamic modern city. Local young people tend to revel in the leisure of several bar streets, as one of the must-do things after a busy day of life.
Located behind theĀ Drum TowerĀ in the center of Xian, itĀ isĀ a vibrant neighborhood that blends Islamic cultureĀ andĀ historical heritage. Beside, this quarterĀ is also aĀ well-known food street in XiāanĀ that attracts visitors from all around the world.
Qinqiang Opera (also called Shaanxi Opera, or Qin Opera) is a traditional opera in northwest China, and is one of the national intangible cultural heritages.
If youāre interested in antique collections and cultural relics, exploring Baxianāan Antique Market is one of the best things to do in Xian, aside from visiting those museums.
We went to this as part of our China tour, to be honest, we were not expecting to enjoy the evening. We enjoyed the meal, some of the dumplings we really tasty.
The show was excellent ,We were right at the front although a couple of rows back might have been better, the meal was also very Good, The singing & dancing were Brilliant.
Top Recommended Xian Tours
This Xian food tour with 5 nights and 4 days just combines the basic sightseeing points of theĀ Terracotta Warriors and other highlight attractions and the famous Xian local food street to feast both your eyes and stomach!
On this 3-day Xiāan tour, youāll experience the best of this old capital, accompanied by a local guide, seeing famous places like the ancient City Wall, the lively Muslim Quarter, the Bell Tower located centrally in Xiāan, and the super famous Terracotta Warriors.
On thisĀ 3-day Xian tourĀ with Mt.Huashan, you will see the vivid life-size terracotta soldiers in the giant pits, have a cultural and visual feast at Xiāan Museum,Ā hike the Taoism holy land Huashan MountainĀ to enjoy the breath-taking scenery, and stroll on the more than 600-year-old city wall imagining how it functioned in the ancient time.
