Things to Do in Xi'an: Beyond the Terracotta Warriors
Everyone flies in for the clay army. The people who love Xi'an are the ones who stayed for everything else.
Yes, the Terracotta Warriors are worth the trip. But Xi'an rewards travelers who give it two or three full days — it's one of China's oldest capitals, ringed by a complete Ming-era city wall, with arguably the best street food scene in the country. Here's what to actually do, in rough order of priority.
1. The Terracotta Army (half a day)
About 40 km (25 mi) east of downtown. Pit 1 is the famous one — go early (doors open 8:30) to beat the tour buses, and visit the pits in reverse order (3 → 2 → 1) so the scale keeps building. Skip the overpriced shuttle touts at the entrance; the site is very walkable.
Key point
Buy tickets online in advance — the official WeChat mini-program is the cheapest channel, and foreign passports are accepted. Show your passport at the gate, no paper ticket needed.
2. Cycle the top of the City Wall
Xi'an's wall is 14 km (8.7 mi) of intact Ming dynasty fortification, and you can ride a rental bike along the entire top. Enter at the South Gate (Yongningmen) — the most photogenic — and budget 1.5–2 hours for a lazy full loop. Go late afternoon for golden light over the rooftops.
3. Eat your way through the Muslim Quarter
Behind the Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) is a dense grid of food stalls run by the city's Hui community. The greatest hits: roujiamo (the original Chinese 'burger'), yangrou paomo (tear-your-own-bread lamb soup), persimmon cakes, and pomegranate juice pressed in front of you. It gets packed after 7pm — go at 5 and graze.
4. Big Wild Goose Pagoda + the fountain show
A 7th-century Tang pagoda that anchored the Silk Road's eastern end, surrounded by a huge plaza. Come in the evening: the north square runs one of Asia's largest musical fountain shows (usually 8 or 9pm, season-dependent), and the pedestrian street south of the pagoda is lit up like a film set.
5. The Shaanxi History Museum
One of China's best provincial museums — Tang dynasty gold, tomb murals, Silk Road artifacts. Free but reservation-required, and slots release a few days ahead and go fast. Book through the official WeChat account as soon as your dates are fixed.
If you have a third day
- Mount Huashan day trip — one of China's five sacred mountains, famous for vertiginous plank paths. Cable car up, 2 hours by high-speed train + bus from Xi'an.
- Hanyangling Tomb — the 'other' terracotta army, smaller figures but you walk on glass floors directly above the excavation pits. Far fewer crowds.
- Tang Paradise night show — a big-budget Tang dynasty song-and-dance production with a dumpling banquet option.
For logistics — where to stay, how to get in from the airport, metro tips — see our full Xi'an city guide. And if Xi'an is one stop on a longer trip, the 10-day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai itinerary strings it together efficiently.
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