The following attractions are the most popular in Xi'an and suitable for first-time visitors, including historical sites, food streets, and city landmarks.

Xi'an was once the capital of 13 dynasties, and the historical and cultural treasures left behind are like stars. The magnificent ancient city wall, the bustling Muslim Street, and the world-famous Terracotta Warriors are all favored by tourists from all over the world.

According to the ranking of the number of check-ins by Mafengwo users, the following attractions are the most popular in Xi'an and suitable for first-time visitors. The attractions are concentrated in the city center and the eastern suburbs, including historical sites, food streets, and city landmarks, which can be fully visited in 3 days.

Recommended Itinerary:

Two-day Xi'an Experience Tour;
Xi'an In-depth Tour;

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Top 1: Terracotta Warriors

Highlights: One of the eight wonders of the world, a large-scale relic

The Terracotta Warriors are located in Lintong District in the east of Xi'an, about an hour's drive from downtown Xi'an. Even though it is not close to the city, millions of domestic and foreign tourists still come every year to see this "Eighth Wonder of the World".

This huge underground battle is the burial object of Qin Shihuang. Even after thousands of years, the facial expressions of these terracotta warriors are still lifelike, the details of their clothing are clearly visible, and even the lines on the soles of their shoes can be seen clearly.

The museum is divided into Pits 1, 2, and 3, as well as the Bronze Chariot and Horse Exhibition Hall. Pit 1 displays thousands of terracotta warriors and horses, and the scene is large and spectacular. Pit 2 has not been excavated on a large scale, but the unearthed soldiers are more exquisite. The green-faced terracotta warriors currently on display at the Shaanxi History Museum were discovered here. Come in, maybe you are under your feet A treasure that will be famous all over the world in the future. The soldiers in Pit 3 belong to the "command center", and warriors and chariots that were not found in Pits 1 and 2 were unearthed. It is the smallest but the most special.

Tickets:

Ordinary ticket: Full price ticket 120 RMB

Student ticket: 60 RMB

Free ticket:

1. Elderly people aged 65 and above;

2. Minors aged 16 and below accompanied by their parents;

3. Active military personnel, firefighters, and disabled persons with valid certificates.

Opening hours: 08:30-18:30

Tips: The specific opening hours are subject to the scenic spot

Recommended tour duration: 2.5 hours to fully visit Pits 1, 2, and 3, as well as the Bronze Chariot and Horse Exhibition Hall.

Transportation information: Take bus No. 5 or No. 306 from the East Square of Xi'an Railway Station, and the full fare is 9 RMB.

Top2: Muslim Street

Highlights: A place to taste Northwestern snacks and many time-honored brands

Huimin Street, also known as "Huifang", is a gathering place for Northwest food and snacks. It is worth noting that Huimin Street is not just one street. It consists of several streets, including Beiyuanmen, Beiguangji Street, Xiyangshi, and Dapiyuan. The most prosperous one is Beiyuanmen. People sometimes only go to the end of Beiyuanmen and turn back. In fact, there are many delicious foods hidden in the other streets.

Here you can taste authentic Northwest-style Roujiamo, a variety of noodles, sizzling red willow grilled skewers on the grill, and decades-old signature shops such as "Dingjia Xiaosu Rou" and "Jia San Guan Tang Bao", which have both reputation and deliciousness.

The lively atmosphere of the street is also worth stopping. Hui people use their skilled craftsmanship to toss noodles, grill skewers, and cut osmanthus cakes on the street. It is very interesting to watch the process of the birth of food, and it is also a good time to experience the food culture of Xi'an.

Suggested tour duration: It is recommended to go at meal time. If you don't eat, the whole block is not big, and it takes less than half an hour to walk through it.

Transportation information: Get off at Zhonglou Station on Metro Line 2, and walk west from Exit B.

Top3: Xi'an Ancient City Wall

Highlights: The best-preserved city wall in China, cycling tour

The Xi'an Ancient City Wall was built in the Ming Dynasty and is now the largest and best-preserved city wall in China. The city wall is located in the center of the city, surrounding the old city areas such as the Bell and Drum Tower and Muslim Street. The city wall is about 14 meters wide, which is greater than its height. It is very flat on top, and renting a bicycle on the city wall to travel around is a special experience. The original style inside the wall and the tall buildings outside the wall can all be seen standing on the city wall.

Today, the ancient city wall is not only a historical attraction, but also a place for Xi'an people to relax. At the foot of the city wall, you can occasionally see old people playing the erhu and shouting a few lines of Qinqiang. If you are interested, you can also take a cruise in the moat around the city wall and experience watching the city wall from the water.

Tickets:

Adult ticket: RMB 54

Half-price ticket: RMB 27

Free ticket: 

1. Children aged 6 years and below or 1.2 meters and below in height;

2. Active-duty military personnel, military academy students, armed police, retired officers with disabilities, active-duty military personnel’s families, and special personnel with valid certificates;

3. Elderly people aged 65 and above with valid certificates.

Tips: Book at least before 15:00 on the day of the tour. (Refers to the latest time that online guests can book) Online ticket redemption locations are limited to the ticket offices at the south and north entrances of Yongning Gate (South Gate) of the Xi'an City Wall.

Opening hours: Among them, Yongning Gate (South Gate) is open until 24:00, giving you plenty of time to stand on the city wall and enjoy the night view of Xi'an.

Suggested tour duration

The total length of the ancient city wall is nearly 14 kilometers. There are three ways to travel around the city wall: walking for about 3 hours, cycling for more than 1 hour, and taking an electric car and getting off the car for a tour for about 1 hour.

Transportation Information: Line 2 Yongningmen Station to South Gate, Line 2 Anyuanmen Station to North Gate.

Top4: Bell Tower and Drum Tower

Highlights: Landmarks of Xi'an, night view viewing spots

The Bell and Drum Tower are located in the center of the Xi'an city wall. The two buildings are across the street from each other, and the walking distance between them is only 5 minutes. The appearance of the two buildings is majestic and magnificent, and they are the best preserved among the bell and drum towers of the same period.

In ancient times, the Bell and Drum Tower played the role of transmitting signals and telling time. Today, the two buildings exhibit the history of the Bell and Drum Tower, some Calligraphy and Paintings, and furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. You can choose a tower to climb and overlook the streets of Xi'an.

In addition, the area near the Bell and Drum Tower is very suitable for accommodation, and it is convenient to go to various attractions in the city. Most of the hotels here are fast chains and youth hostels. Stay overnight here, go out at night to enjoy the night view of the Bell and Drum Tower, take a walk and take pictures, and eat a snack by the way. The bell ringing performance at 9 o'clock in the morning at the Bell Tower allows people to start traveling in Xi'an in the sound of the bell.

Tickets:

Bell Tower: 35 yuan/person Drum Tower: 35 yuan/person Double Tower Package: 50 yuan/person

Opening hours: 8:30-21:30

Recommended tour duration: 1 hour to 1.5 hours is enough to visit both buildings together.

Transportation information: Line 2, Zhonglou Station.

Top5: Shaanxi History Museum

Highlights: A glance at a thousand years, a treasure house of China, a palace of art and history

Visiting the Shaanxi History Museum, the profound history of Xi'an is presented in front of you like peeling a cocoon and pulling out silk. From the Lantian ape man in primitive society to the cultural treasures of the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties, the span is more than one million years, and nearly 400,000 exhibits are on display, including paintings, bronzes, gold, silver, jade, etc.

The museum is divided into three major exhibition halls, namely "Ancient Civilization of Shaanxi", "Tang Dynasty Relics" and "Tang Tomb Murals". In addition, there is a Tang Dynasty Treasure Hall, which requires an additional 20 yuan ticket.

Tickets:

The exhibition hall implements "free but not free tickets". 4,000 free tickets are issued every day for a limited time, until they are all issued, and they can be collected with ID cards.

The Tang Dynasty Treasure Hall requires 30 yuan per person.

Opening hours: Closed on Mondays

Recommended tour time: A more in-depth tour requires more than 3 hours, and it is recommended to take half a day.

Transportation Information: Take Metro Line 2 to Xiaozhai Station, then walk eastwards to the destination; or take a bus to Cuihua Road.

Top6: Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Highlights: Xuanzang Sutra Collection, Music Fountain, Leisure Square

Big Wild Goose Pagoda is also one of the famous landmarks in Xi'an. It is located in the Da Enci Temple and has a total of seven floors. It was originally built for Xuanzang to offer Sanskrit and relics. It is a representative work of Buddhist architecture introduced into the Central Plains.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda is also the place where the newly-passed Jinshi of the Tang Dynasty were named. Coming here seems to have enjoyed the preferential treatment of the Jinshi of the Tang Dynasty. Unfortunately, these titles are no longer visible now. On both sides of the south gate at the bottom of the tower, there are two stone tablets, "The Preface to the Holy Teachings of the Great Tang Tripitaka" and "The Preface to the Holy Teachings of the Great Tang Tripitaka", and Buddhist cultural relics are exhibited layer by layer in the tower.

The area around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda today is called the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Cultural and Leisure Area. It has become a free entertainment park, consisting of the South Square, the North Square, the Tang Da Ci'en Temple Ruins Park in the east, and the Folk Customs Grand View Garden in the west. The two squares in the north and south are the best places to view the tower from a distance.

The musical fountain in the North Square is one of the must-experience projects in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Many people choose to go to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the afternoon, visit the ancient site, climb the height and look far, and then go to see the 40-minute musical fountain show in the evening.

Tickets:

Tickets: Adult ticket 40 RMB/student ticket 20 RMB

Tips: The above information is for reference only, please refer to the actual disclosure of the scenic spot on the day.

Opening hours: 08:30-18:00

Tips: The opening hours are for reference only, please refer to the actual disclosure of the scenic spot on the day for details.

Suggested tour time: The Big Wild Goose Pagoda can be climbed and visited within 1 hour. The musical fountain starts at 20:30 and lasts for 40 minutes.

Transportation information: Metro Line 3, Xiaozhai Station, Exit F, you can take bus No. 5/30 and other buses on the south side of the road to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda South Square Station.