Things to do in Xian
Xi'an, the ancient capital of China and home to the legendary Terracotta Army, delivers world-class history at a fraction of the cost of Western cultural capitals. Street food is absurdly cheap, public transit is modern and inexpensive, and even top attractions won't break the bank.
Why go to Xian
Terracotta Army (BÄ«ngmÇŽ YÇ’ng)
One of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history, thousands of life-size clay warriors guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb.
Xi'an City Wall (Chéngqiáng)
Rent a bike and ride the full circuit atop one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in the world.
Muslim Quarter (HuÃjiÄ“)
A labyrinth of alleyways packed with sizzling street food, Islamic architecture, and centuries of Silk Road culture.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dà yà n Tǎ)
A 7th-century Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda surrounded by the largest musical fountain in Asia, free to watch nightly.
Shaanxi History Museum
A stunning collection of over 170,000 artifacts spanning 1 million years of Chinese civilization, largely free to enter.
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Good to know in Xian
- Xi'an Metro is clean, modern, and cheap, single rides cost $0.30-$0.60; buy a rechargeable transit card at any station to save time.
- Tipping is not customary in China and can occasionally cause confusion, skip it at restaurants, hotels, and taxis.
- Do not drink tap water; bottled water is sold everywhere for $0.15-$0.30 per bottle, and most hotels provide free dispensers or kettles.
- The Shaanxi History Museum offers free general admission tickets (limited daily quota), book via their official WeChat account or website at least a day ahead to avoid missing out.
Trip essentials
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