19 Best Things to Do in Xian: Touristy Stuff + Local Favourites
Once the starting point for the ancient Silk Road, Xian City is one of China’s most popular places to visit. If you’re looking for things to do in Xian, this guide has you covered.
Located in North-Central China, Xian is the capital of the Shaanxi Province, with a population of around 13 million people. Known as the birthplace of Chinese civilisation, Old Xian City was home to Emperor Qin Shi Huan (founder of the Qin dynasty), and it was China’s capital city for a total of 13 imperial dynasties.
With thousands of years of history to explore, there are many exciting things to do in Xian. You should definitely consider adding a trip to Xian to your China itinerary.
“Xian was one of the few exceptions I found. It was genuinely interesting and pretty, and rather a stately and dignified place”
Paul Theroux, Riding the Iron Rooster
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The Top 10 Things to Do in Xian City
1. Your Absolute #1 Must See in Xian – the Xian Terracotta Warriors
Xi’an’s most famous attraction is the Terracotta Warriors Museum. You’ll need your comfy shoes and a fully charged camera here because you’re in for a long day, with lots of walking and unusual things to see.
If you have a private tour guide, everything will be taken care of, but it’s pretty easy to find your way around independently.
As one of China’s most popular tourist destinations, the Terracotta Warriors Museum will be busy; you should expect large crowds.
Aim to arrive as soon as the gates open and avoid weekends and Chinese public holidays like the plague!
The Terracotta Warriors Museum is one of the most popular things to do in Xian; we took the Xian Skip-the-Line Terracotta Warriors Private Day Tour to concentrate on simply loving every second at this iconic site!
READ MORE: Visiting the Terracotta Warriors Museum
2. Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum
While the terracotta warriors and horses are world famous, the mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Qing Shi Huang, which has yet to be excavated, is less well known.
If you have time, it’s worth taking the free bus from the museum to the mausoleum site. You will need to show your ticket to the museum to use the bus and get to the mausoleum site.
Guides will tell you that the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum took 720,000 labourers almost 40 years to build and that the burial chamber is larger and more splendid than the Great Pyramid. It’s also believed to be intact – not raided like so many of the tombs in Egypt.
The Chinese government won’t allow the mausoleum to be opened until archaeologists know how to preserve any treasures they find. We may have to wait many years for the secrets of this tomb to be revealed. Meanwhile, there’s little to see apart from the great burial mound.
💡 TIP: The site is enormous! You can ride a cart around the excavation sites, but make sure you have lots of water in your refillable water filter bottle as the site can get very warm.
3. Cycle Around the Old Xian City Wall
Cycling around the ancient city wall encircling the old city is the ultimate way to see Xian City. It’s an unmissable way to see the huge contrast between the higgledy-piggledy ancient city streets within the wall and the modern sprawl of skyscrapers beyond the boundary.
Good to know: Riding around Xian City Wall will take 45 minutes to an hour, allowing for regular stops to enjoy the view and take photos.
READ MORE Cycling the Xian City Wall
4. The Shaanxi History Museum
The vast Shaanxi Museum is a cornucopia of Chinese history that’s bigger than the Louvre!
You could easily spend a week exploring the cavernous exhibition halls, but you can see the highlights in a couple of hours – with the right know-how!
TIP: The sheer size and the busy crowds make knowing what you want to see essential, so you should plan your visit before you arrive.
5. The Drum Tower Xian
The 14th-century Drum Tower, located in the geographical centre of Old Xi’an, is moments from the City Wall.
This is the largest Drum Tower (of this type) in China) and it will give you a fascinating insight into what life was like in Old Xian City when this tower was used as an “early warning” system. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear the drums being played – it’s quite thrilling!
6. The Xian Bell Tower
Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, constructed the 14th-century brick and timber Xian Bell Tower in Xi’an. Standing 118 feet (36 meters) high, the two-storey tower is topped off by three layers of eaves.
It’s very colourful, with grey brickwork, green tiles, red-painted woodwork, and gilding on the roof. Inside, there’s a spiral staircase and many traditional decorations from the Qin and Ming dynasties.
Good to know: Many tours include a visit to the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower in their itineraries, but not all include entry to the towers. This full-day tour of Xi’an includes a visit to both of these iconic Xian landmarks
7. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The UNESCO World Heritage Big Wild Goose Pagoda is about 4 km outside the centre of Xi’an, within the Da Ci’en Temple complex. Showcasing 1,300 years of history, this holy place for Buddhists sits in vast, meticulously landscaped gardens.
Visit South Square to see the Statue of Xuanzang, the monk who imported sacred Buddhist texts into China from India. Afterwards, walk around North Square to see China’s most extensive musical fountains.
Recommended Tour: Xian Afternoon Tour to Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Qujiang Pool
8. Discover the Muslim Market for the Best Xi’an Food
You’re missing a trick if you don’t visit the Muslim Quarter in Xian. A thriving warren of narrow ancient streets dating back to the 7th century, it’s home to about 65,000 Muslims and is the ultimate foodie location!.
Packed with stalls and restaurants selling tempting dishes with ancient recipes, the sights, smells, and tastes of the Muslim Quarter tantalise every sense.
Good to know: The ridiculously cheap food in the Muslim market is far more inspiring and authentic than a bland hotel meal. A visit here is the perfect way to end your day.
TIP: Don’t worry if you don’t speak Chinese, as most of the stalls and restaurants have pictorial menus. With a bit of pointing, sign language, and a smile, you’ll soon be eating amazing food that’s so much better than any Chinese food you’ve experienced in the West!
What to do in Xian City at night? This Foodie Tour by TukTuk is a great addition to your Xian itinerary! We loved visiting food stalls offering new, exciting dishes, including cold noodles, mutton and bread pieces in soup, and glutinous rice and date cake. It’s one of the best things to do in Xian!
9. Huajuexiang Great Mosque
Xi’an is home to one of the oldest and best-preserved mosques in China, which still serves the local community of 65,000 Muslims today.
It’s the most beautiful, serene place to visit in Xian City – a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the Muslim Quarter.
The mosque covers 12,000 square meters, with more than twenty buildings you’ll want to see across its five courtyards. Allow plenty of time to explore here.
10. Great Tang All-Day Mall
A 1,500m pedestrianised street located to the south of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the Great Tang All Day Mall or Grand Tang Ever Bright City is lined with buildings celebrating the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) and is one of the top tourist attractions in Xian.
Filled with architecture and sculptures telling Tang stories and lively street performances, it’s a great place to shop, eat and people-watch. During Chinese New Year, expect there to be lots of extra activities!
Top Tip: Evenings are the best time to visit the Great Tang All Day Mall when the street is transformed with glowing Chinese lanterns and bright neon, and the air is heavy with the scent of delicious food.
More Things to Do in Xian
11. Get Back to Nature – at Huaqing Hot Springs
Take a short trip to enjoy the Huaqing Hot Springs complex located at the northern foot of Mount Li. It’s picture-perfect!
12. Get Arty
If you fancy slowing the pace for a day, why not take a calligraphy class or learn the techniques for Chinese brush painting? Try this Chinese Painting and Shaanxi Folk Art Overview with Calligraphy Lesson.
13. Get Cooking
After tasting all the authentic local Chinese food at the Muslim Market, learning how to make Chinese dumplings is fun!
14. Get Shopping
Explore Shu Yuan Men Pedestrian Street – the perfect place for snapping up those holiday gifts and souvenirs!
Perfect Day Trips From Xian
While Xian City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, it’s also a great base for day trips in the local area. There are so many things to do near Xian – here are some of the most popular ones to get you thinking about what you want to do on your trip:
15. Mount Hua Shan – Climb One of the Five Great Mountains of China
While you may not want to attempt the infamous “death walk” high up in the mountains, this spectacular landscape is a delight.
Good to know: You won’t want to miss the Buddhist and Taoist temples that cling to the sheer rocks, and you don’t have to do the scary walk (unless you want to!)
This Xi’an Huashan Mountain Adventure Day Tour leaves Xi’an early to make the most of your day and includes a cable car ride to the summit of Mount Hua Shan.
16. Daming Palace and Danfeng Gate
The super-sized Daming Palace was the Imperial Palace of the Tang Dynasty for almost 300 years but fell into disrepair long before England had even trembled at the thought of William the Conqueror.
The palace was (re)discovered in 1957 and now forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor“.
TIP: The best thing to do at the Daming Palace site is gasp in awe at the sheer size of the Dafeng Gate – the central southern entrance to the palace. It has an astonishing five massive doorways. Everything at this site is super-sized!
17. Volunteer to Work With Pandas 🙂
Volunteer work with critically endangered pandas is just about the most enriching cultural thing you can do on a day trip from Xi’an.
It’s a bit of a faff to get to, but this Volunteer with Pandas tour, with a private guide, is fantastic! It might just be the #1 highlight of your whole China holiday.
TIP: Don’t forget your camera! Take an extra SD card and a spare battery too – you WILL need them for all those oh-so-cute panda pics!
18. Banpo Village and Museum
This site is an easy tag-on to a trip to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, as there’s a direct bus between the two sites. Don’t miss the reconstructed houses that are designed to look like the original Neolithic settlement on this site.
19. Xingqinggong Park
Visiting Xingqinggong Park in the Beilin district is one of the most fun things to do in Xian, and it’s also FREE. If you’re travelling with kids, it’s a great place for them to let off steam for a while.
Built on the ancient Xingqing Palace site, this is the largest park in Xian – perfect for a leisurely stroll around the Xingqing Lake where Emperor Xuan Zong enjoyed boating!
Where to Stay in Xian
We stayed “within the walls” to be within walking distance of the Xian City Wall and other central landmarks, including the Muslim Quarter. The centrally located Bell Tower Hotel – just 200 yards from the Drum Tower and the Muslim Quarter – was fantastic.
The Sofitel Legend Hotel is just outside the old city, but you’ll revel in the comfort and high standards here. It’s also on the doorstep of several Xian attractions.
Book Your Trip to Xi’an
How to Get to Xian City
As a visitor to China, you have two basic options:
- Fly to Xian from one of China’s International airports
- Take the bullet train.
Final Thoughts on The Best Things To Do In Xian
So there you have it. Xi’an offers many incredible attractions and experiences, making it a must-visit destination in China. From the awe-inspiring Terracotta Army to the serene beauty of the ancient city walls, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this historic city.
Whether you are a history enthusiast, a food lover, or simply seeking adventure, Xi’an has it all. The vibrant night markets, delicious local cuisine, and warm hospitality of its people only add to its charm.
Exploring Xi’an will provide you with unforgettable memories and valuable insights into China’s rich cultural heritage. So don’t miss the chance to visit this remarkable city and immerse yourself in its fascinating history and captivating traditions.
Ready to head to China? You might also like these China travel resources:
- Can You Drink Tap Water in China?
- 7 Common Myths & Misconceptions About China
- The Ultimate Li River Cruise Guide
- 6 Easy Tips for Visiting the Terracotta Army
- The Humble Administrator Garden in Suzhou
- 5 Reasons Why a Chinese Brush Painting Class is a Great Idea
- What to Know BEFORE Booking a Great Wall of China Tour
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