Xi’an, once the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, attracts countless travelers with its historical and cultural treasures. The magnificent ancient city wall, the bustling Muslim Quarter, the world-famous Terracotta Army, the “ever-bright city” that takes people back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and the Xi’an cuisine that has won countless praises from gourmets are all the reasons why travelers keep coming here.
Overview of Xi’an
Historical city
Xi’an, formerly known as “Chang’an”, is located in the central and western part of China and is the capital of Shaanxi Province. This city, which has experienced the rise and fall of 13 dynasties, is like a huge museum. Whether it is the Terracotta Army, one of the eight wonders of the world, the ancient city wall that has witnessed countless changes, or the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda that once housed scriptures from India… Every brick and tile left by the ancients reveals the profound historical heritage.
City of delicious food
Since ancient times, Xi’an has never lacked famous chefs who serve high officials and dignitaries. Through inheritance, a unique Northwest flavor has been formed. The most representative delicacies here are various snacks. Chinese hamburgers with marinated meat, cold noodles, Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup, saozi noodles… each one makes diners have endless aftertastes. From morning to night, there is a continuous flow of people in century-old time-honored brands and emerging snack bars. Tourists from all over the country and locals feast here.
Huashan Mountain, the Western Sacred Mountain
Huashan Mountain, located 120 kilometers east of Xi’an, is known as “the most perilous mountain under heaven.” The “peril” of Huashan Mountain can be traced in the poems and paintings of ancient and modern literati. Once you decide to climb Huashan Mountain, there is no turning back, so there is a saying that “there is only one way up Huashan since ancient times.” Starting from Xi’an, in one to two days, you can experience the precipitousness and steepness of Huashan Mountain.
Best travel time
Xi’an has four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn, that is, from March to May and from September to November, are the best times to travel to Xi’an.
From March to May: In spring in Xi’an, it is warm and dry with many sunny days. Coinciding with the flowering season, Qinglong Temple and Xi’an Jiaotong University are popular flower-viewing places, mainly for viewing cherry blossoms and peach blossoms. Xingqing Park and Daming Palace National Heritage Park are full of blooming flowers, and sometimes folk performances can be seen.
From September to November: In autumn, Xi’an is cool and pleasant, and everywhere is golden. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda are surrounded by colorful forests with orange, yellow and green overlapping. At Ancient Guanyin Zen Temple and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Temple, you can enjoy the thousand-year-old ancient ginkgo trees. Along the North-South Avenue of the Bell Tower, osmanthus blossoms are in full bloom, filling the streets with fragrance. But beware of the arrival of autumn rains.
From June to August: In summer, the temperature is high and the sun is scorching, and it can occasionally reach 40℃. When going to attractions with few shelters like the ancient city wall of Xi’an, try to avoid noon and prepare some heatstroke prevention medicines. In such weather, you can drink ice peak soda freely or go to the musical fountain of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in the evening to cool off.
From November to March of the following year: In winter, the temperature in Xi’an is low. When it is windy, it is bitterly cold. Occasionally, there is fog. The lowest temperature can reach -4℃. Be sure to keep warm. If you are lucky, you can enjoy a winter snow in the ancient capital. In addition, during this period, there are relatively fewer tourists, and accommodation fees and ticket prices are lower than in peak seasons.
Tour Routes
Recommended duration of stay: 4 – 5 days
The scenic spots in downtown Xi’an are relatively concentrated, and the city’s subway is relatively convenient. In 2 – 3 days, you can fully visit the ancient capital and taste delicious food.
For the Lishan Mountain – Huaqing Pool – Terracotta Army line in the suburbs, you can go back and forth in one day by taking a bus. If you plan to visit farther scenic areas such as Huashan Mountain, Hukou Waterfall, and Taibai Mountain, it is recommended to reserve an extra 1 – 2 days.
[Reference Routes]
Day 1: Muslim Quarter – Bell Tower – Drum Tower – Catholic Church of Wuxing Street – Sajinqiao – Guangren Temple – Xi’an City Wall – Yongxingfang.
Day 2: Shaanxi History Museum – Small Wild Goose Pagoda – Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – Theme Block of Twelve Hours in Chang’an – Datang Ever-bright City.
Day 3: Terracotta Army – Huaqing Pool – Performance of “The Song of Everlasting Sorrow”.
Day 4: Banpo International Art Village – Old Steel Factory – Dahua 1935.
Day 5: One-day tour of Huashan Mountain
Internal and external transportation
Arriving in Xi’an
By air: Basically, there are direct flights to Xi’an from major cities in China. The airport you arrive at is Xi’an Xianyang International Airport. In addition, starting from Xianyang Airport, you can also take Metro Line 14 to North Railway Station and transfer to Line 2 or Line 4 to enter the urban area.
Tips:
Transportation from the airport to the urban area: You can take the airport shuttle bus. There are a total of 14 routes to the urban area, Xianyang and other places. After 9 pm, there are two night routes in operation. For detailed route information, please click on the official website of Xi’an Xianyang International Airport. The taxi fare to the city center is about 80 – 100 yuan.
By train: There are three railway stations in Xi’an: Xi’an Station, Xi’an North Station, and Xi’an South Station. Xi’an Station is located in the city center and can be directly reached by Metro Line 4. Xi’an South Station is the farthest from the urban area and has the fewest train services. Xi’an North Station is a high-speed railway station for bullet trains. There are direct high-speed trains from places like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and others. Metro Lines 2, 4 and 14 all reach the subway station of Xi’an North Station.
Tips:
The bullet trains/high-speed railways from Xi’an to Huashan are also boarded at the North Station. There are 53 trips every day. The earliest one is at 7:30 and the latest one is at 20:07, arriving at Huashan North Station. For the bullet trains/high-speed railways returning to Xi’an from Huashan North Station, the latest one is at 21:48.
Internal transportation in Xi’an
Metro: At present, there are a total of 9 subway lines in operation in Xi’an. The basic one-way fare is 2 yuan and the maximum is 8 yuan. You can obtain the Xi’an electronic metro card and the Chang’an Tong electronic card in the Alipay APP to scan the code for rides. Now the national public transportation system has been integrated, and public transportation cards in Beijing can also be used in Xi’an.
