Day 1: First Encounter with the Ancient City
Upon arriving in Xi’an, it’s recommended to stay at a hotel near the Bell Tower or Drum Tower for easy access to various attractions.
In the afternoon, start your exploration with the Xi’an City Wall. Cycling on the wall is a fantastic way to experience the charm of the ancient city. The 13.74-kilometer-long wall will make you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time a thousand years.
In the evening, don’t miss the culinary delights of Muslim Street. Local delicacies such as Yangrou Paomo (crumbled flatbread in mutton stew), Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), and Liangpi (cold noodles) will surely satisfy your taste buds.
Day 2: The Shocks of History
Early in the morning, make your way to the Terracotta Army Museum, a World Heritage Site. The terracotta figures there have distinct facial features, and every detail is astonishing.
In the afternoon, don’t miss the Huaqing Palace with its hot springs and ancient imperial gardens. This is the very place where the love story between Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Yang Guifei took place.
Day 3: The Challenge of Mount Hua
You can spend the whole day at Mount Hua, experiencing the boldness and pride of visiting “the most perilous and spectacular mountain under heaven”. Remember to choose a suitable hiking route to ensure your safety.
Day 4: Exploration of Culture
In the morning, visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and experience the charm of Buddhist culture in the Tang Dynasty.
In the afternoon, you can arrange to go to the Grand Tang Mall and feel the modern urban culture and prosperity of Xi’an.
Day 5: A Leisurely Stroll in the City
On the last day in Xi’an, you can choose to take a leisurely stroll within the city. In the morning, head to Shuyuanmen to experience the scholarly atmosphere of Xi’an.
In the afternoon, you can continue your culinary journey at Dongxin Street or Yongxingfang. Alternatively, you can purchase some local specialties as souvenirs.
Precautions:
There is a musical fountain in the North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The showtimes are 12:00, 16:00, 19:00, and 21:00. It is highly recommended to go there after dark, as the visual effect will be more stunning. Remember to check in advance whether the performance is suspended due to maintenance.
The Bell Tower and the Drum Tower are quite close to each other, so you can visit them together for photo – taking. However, it is not advisable to go inside. Taking pictures from the outside is sufficient.
In Xi’an, it is advisable to choose accommodation near the Bell Tower, Xiaozhai, or the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. This way, it will be convenient for you to travel to various places.
For visiting museum – type attractions, especially the Shaanxi History Museum, you need to make reservations in advance. Making same – day reservations often leads to disappointment, and the museum is closed on Mondays.
Selfie sticks and tripods are prohibited in the Shaanxi History Museum. If you don’t want to deposit them, it’s better not to bring them along.
Don’t visit the Grand Tang Mall during the day. During the day, it is just an ordinary pedestrian street, not very interesting, with few people and it looks rather deserted. However, at night, there are numerous free shows. For example, the tumbler (the performer who appears to be constantly falling but never does) show is held at 19:00, 20:30, and 21:30, with each show lasting 10 minutes.
The ticket – checking for the Terracotta Army stops at 4:30 p.m. Therefore, make sure to book tickets online one day before your visit. When visiting the Terracotta Army, it is recommended to hire a tour guide. Otherwise, you’ll just be looking at ordinary clay figures. (We went with a tour group, and the female tour leader explained to us, saving us some money, haha.) It is advisable to visit Pit No.1 and Pit No.2 first, and then Pit No.3.
Tickets for the “Song of Everlasting Sorrow” are quite hard to reserve. It is advisable to book them five days in advance. It is recommended to watch the first show, as the later shows end at 23:00, which is rather late.
If there are cartoon characters approaching you for a photo, quickly keep your distance. They all charge for it, and you might get cheated if you’re not cautious.
Never miss the night view of the Grand Tang Mall (Tang Paradise). There is a large – scale water – screen light show starting at 20:00 in the evening. You can also go boating there. Wearing ancient – style costumes, you’ll instantly feel like traveling back in time.
If you want to buy local specialties, souvenirs, or antiques, you can go to the Grand Tang Mall West. There is a wide variety of items there, and the prices are much more reasonable compared to those in scenic areas.
