Location: Xi'an
Top Things to do in Xi'an
- 1. The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
- 2. TangBo Art Museum
- 3. Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang)
- 4. Muslim Quarter
- 5. Shaanxi History Museum
- 6. Dayan Tower Cultural and Leisure Scenic Resort
- 7. Xi'an Mosque
- 8. Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling)
- 9. Xi'an Museum
- 10. Dayan Pagoda Northern Square
Top Restaurants in Xi'an
- 1. Tang GeWu He JiaoZi Yan
- 2. First Noodle Under The Sun
- 3. Azur
- 4. Isola del Nord Italy Restaurant
- 5. Haidilao Hot Pot Cheng (Jiefang Road)
- 6. Fan Ji La Zhi RouJiaMo (ZhuBaShi)
- 7. Shangri-La Hotel Restaurant -Yi Cafe
- 8. Mai (The Westin Xian)
- 9. Redfort Cultural Restaurant
- 10. Five Zen5es (The Westin Xi'an)
What to do and see in Xi'an, China: The Best Places and Tips
Today the walls of the Ming dynasty and the Tang palace walls hint at the Xi’an’s glorious past. Stare in awe at the Terracotta Army, 7,000 terracotta statues of Qin Bingmayong Bowuguan warriors and soldiers. Dating from 210 BCE, they were discovered in 1974 and are still being excavated. Don't miss the Shaanxi History Museum or a chance to heat up at former imperial bathing spot, Huaqing Hot Springs.
Restaurants in Xi'an
1. The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
One of the most significant archaeological finds in the world, this 16,300-square-meter excavation reveals more than 7,000 life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations.
Reviewed By mrsflorencegoh - Singapore
The emperor had wanted to bury soldiers alive to guard him when he passed away. Some smart general advised him to bury life like terra cotta soldiers instead, and he agreed. Each terra cotta soldier has a unique look, and are 1:1 scale. It seems that concubines without children were buried alive with the emperor - no one spoke up for them.
2. TangBo Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 276 reviews
Found in 2000,TANGBO Art Muesum possesses a collection of Shannxi folk arts and representative ancient paintings exhibited in historical sequence. They also provides following services like Chinese Calligraphy Learning , Tea Ceremony , Papercutting Learning( extra charge) , and Chinese painting Appreciation.
Reviewed By quyu402 - Xi'an, China
These students are all from New York and they have passion for Chinese culture. They loved calligraphy practice so much. They even tried the most complicated Chinese character"Biang". While we were supposed to leave, I have to ask them over 10 times to get on the bus because so many of them enjoy watching the teacher showing their Chinese names.
3. Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By bobc965 - Palatine, Illinois
part of a local tour that we took. kind of like a mini great wall. surrounds the city of Xian. Remarkably constructed covering all aspects of a potential battle. Peserved well and a good place to take a long walk. Was a nice day, so a lot of people were out enjoying the day and the fortification. Nice to visit
4. Muslim Quarter
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By bobc965 - Palatine, Illinois
Stopped by after visiting the Bell Tower. A few streets with amazing food offerings. Some new, some known and some I couldn't describe correctly. Aromas galore. Fried, BBQ, Nuts, Fruit, Ice Cream...you name it, it was probably on the street. The streets went on for at least 3/4 of a mile, ending at the Golden Goose Pagoda.
5. Shaanxi History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
This history museum, housed in a magnificent Confucian Temple, features more than 370,000 pieces of historical relics mainly from the Zhou to the Tang periods (1100B.C. to 907 A.D.).
Reviewed By Orange3J - Singapore, Singapore
Free Entrance but you will need a ticket. Ticket queues are very very long though it moves quickly. When approaching the queue, just take the lane nearest the museum fence. Seniors can jump straight to the ticket counters without queuing. BRING PASSPORT/ID to claim your free ticket. Otherwise it is RMB30.
Perhaps because it is FOC, the museum is very very crowded. However, it does a good job at showcasing the history and culture and art of the major dynasties of Chang-An/Xian.
6. Dayan Tower Cultural and Leisure Scenic Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 188 reviews
7. Xi'an Mosque
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1 reviews
Dating back to the Ming period, this mosque features inner courtyards that bear more of a resemblance to a Chinese temple.
Reviewed By elissejo - Eckman
We visited the Xi'An Mosque (and "Muslim Food Street" and Market) on our excellent tour to the Terracotta Warriors and other places with Jasmine of travelxianguide, and it was quite interesting, being totally Chinese, and constructed due to the Emperor's largesse... As Xi'An has an historic Muslim presence, this is pretty much a "must-do" if you go to Xi'An, and the "Muslim Food Street" and market is fun, too.
8. Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 608 reviews
The joint mausoleum of Emperor Jingdi and Empress Wang, his consort.
Reviewed By William J
Wow another awesome place - under ground museum and walk on glass above such a great place. the lighting is not bright in part of the museum but that is to stop reflection and help not damage the artifacts. There are three parts to this place so make sure your guide/tour take you to all three as they are all included in the price of the ticket. A must to have a guide to help understand more about this place.
9. Xi'an Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 496 reviews
Reviewed By Myo M - Coquitlam, Canada
In comparison to Shaanxi History Museum (with ancient artifacts on display inside in both museums), this museum actually has "nicer grounds" to walk around with pathways through the green areas, a "pretty-sizeable" pond with colorful fish in it on one side of the grounds and some column-shaped Fountains of about 6 or 7 feet on one side of the museum building (in contrast, there's just "concrete landscape" like a square to go through to get to the museum building of Shaanxi History Museum although there are some trees & shrubs on or near that square); so I was just "somewhat perplexed" by why there were so many more visitors (something like 200 in the line-up outside & so crowded inside on the day I was there) at that museum compared to the number I saw here (no line-up at all to get in & people were just "pretty scattered" inside).
Inside, be sure to go down to the basement floor (which I "almost" missed after the two floors above it) where there are some colorful "miniature figures" of humans & animals (maybe made of ceramics or porcelain or such); I would actually say the basement is "the main floor" of this museum!
Coming by metro, Nanshaomen Station (Line 2) is where to get off from which it's just a walk of 5 minutes or so to Small Wild Goose Pagoda which is "right before" this museum and which I suggest doing first (kind of "compact" though not too small temple grounds with museum-like displays in some rooms and also a small rose garden although the Pagoda is not for going up), then you can just enter this museum through the opening to your right at the far-back area of the temple grounds.
10. Dayan Pagoda Northern Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 668 reviews
Reviewed By soh_kien_peng - Singapore, Singapore
I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Xian by Airasia with an aim to explore the ancient Silk Road. My initial plan was to travel as far as Urumuqi but I realized that the 11 days that I had in China were insufficient to cover the entire length of the China Silk Road. I ended up only able to travel from Xian to Lanzhou and as far as Dunhuang in Gansu Province.
Xian is the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. I spent 5 days in Xian and explored the entire Xian city by walking. From my hostel near the Xian Train station, I walked my way to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. I always think that the process of exploration is more challenging than the destination itself. I love wandering among the streets and lanes and watched how the common people carried on their daily activities. Along the way, I discovered the wide spectrum of local food delicacies that I would have missed out when traveling on the public bus.
Xian impressed me as a clean city. The people here seem more disciplined in discarding their cigarette butts but the credit also went to the many cleaning workers diligently seen sweeping the floor frequently. The Dayan Pagoda Northern Square is no exception. The place is clean and I hardly see a cigarette butt or rubbish on the floor.
I came here in the afternoon. There is the water Fountain right in the middle of the square with the Dayan Pagoda overlooking the entire square. The music Fountain looks dull in the day but the music was soothing. The water splashed out from the Fountain display somehow rejuvenated my physical tiredness and I started to roam around the square.
There were a number of bronze statues around the square which spoke of the activities of the people during the Tang Dynasty: the fortune telling, the sword pugilistic art, the Shaanxi opera, the wrestling, etc. Walking around the square is like going back to the years of the great glorious Tang Dynasty and seeing how the common people lived.
Further down, there is a pedestrian street selling some delicious delicacies and there is a garden further up for a relaxed stroll.
But the whole atmosphere looks very commercialized. It lacks the depth of a AAA national cultural heritage site. I could spend hours at the Forbidden City or admiring the architectural magnificence of the Heavenly Temple in Beijing or strolling in ancient cities like Dali, Huanglongxi, Luodai. But I do not find that breath or expanse of a great cultural site in this Square. It is so artificial and superficial except for the old pagoda housed in the ancient temple (charged) that has some historical value.
The music Fountain is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia but frankly speaking, I found the music Fountain in Vigan (Philippines) or in Jinan in Shandong more fascinating than this one at the northern square. I may be wrong as I did not see the night view of the Fountain.
It is a nice walk around the Square but it should not take more than an hour. It is more of a recreational Square and nothing really significant.
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