Why go
Terracotta soldiers, a rideable city wall, and the food lanes that gave China its noodles.
- History
- Food
- Cycling
- Silk Road
What is worth your time
Terracotta Army
Book online the day tickets open; the site is 40 km east and the halls have no shade. Start with Pit 1, then take the small bronze chariot hall before the crowds arrive.
City Wall by bike
Rent a bike on the wall at the South Gate and ride the full 14 km loop — about 90 minutes with stops. Late afternoon light is the reason to do it.
Muslim Quarter at night
Beiyuanmen is the tourist spine; the lanes behind it (Dapiyuan, Xiyangshi) are where locals actually eat. Go hungry and go after 6pm.
Airport and station transfers
Xianyang International (XIY) is about 40 km northwest of the city, connected by a metro line and a dedicated airport bus network.
| Method | Time | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport metro line | 25 min to Xi'an North | ¥7–10 | Line 14 links the airport to Xi'an North station, where you change to Line 2 for the city centre. |
| Airport bus | 50–70 min | ¥25–30 | Several routes drop at major hotels and the railway stations; slow but direct. |
| DiDi / taxi | 40–60 min | ¥100–140 | Use the official pickup level, not the touts inside the terminal. |
Getting around
- Metro — Line 2 runs north–south through the walled city and is the line you will use most. Fares are distance-based and cheap.
- DiDi — Easy to get and cheap inside the wall; traffic near the Bell Tower at dusk is the only real delay.
- Bikes — The wall loop is the obvious ride. Inside the old town, shared bikes work well on the grid streets and badly in the food lanes.
- Walking — Bell Tower to South Gate to the Muslim Quarter is all walkable — 20 minutes end to end.
Where to stay
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the City Wall | First visit | Walk to the Bell Tower, the wall and the food lanes; the most convenient base. |
| South Gate / Shuyuanmen | Quiet evenings | Calligraphy shops and guesthouses, still inside the wall but away from the busiest blocks. |
| Qujiang | Modern hotels | Near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the museum district, better for families. |
| Xi'an North Station | Onward trains | Practical for a single night before a high-speed departure. |
What to eat
| Dish | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Roujiamo | Any busy street stall — the northwest version of a burger, chopped pork in a flatbread |
| Biangbiang noodles | Wide hand-pulled noodles with chilli oil; look for the character nobody can write |
| Yangrou paomo | Lamb soup with torn flatbread — you crumble the bread yourself, then they pour the broth |
| Liangpi | Cold gluten noodles, best in summer |
| Persimmon cakes | Muslim Quarter stalls, eaten hot |
What it costs
| Style | Per day | What that buys |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | ¥250–400 | Hostel, metro and bus, street food, one paid site |
| Comfortable | ¥600–1,000 | 3-star hotel inside the wall, DiDi, Terracotta Army tickets, a proper dinner |
| Premium | ¥1,500+ | Boutique courtyard hotel, private guide, car and driver to the army and Huaqing |
Same three tiers for every city, plus what individual meals, metro rides and tickets cost: what a trip to China costs.
A route that fits the days you have
- Day 1 — Inside the wall
Bell and Drum Towers · City Wall cycle · Shuyuanmen · Muslim Quarter dinner - Day 2 — The army
Early bus or DiDi to the Terracotta Army · Pit 1 and the bronze chariots · Huaqing Palace · Evening back inside the wall - Day 3 — Museums and pagodas
Shaanxi History Museum (book a timed slot) · Big Wild Goose Pagoda · Qujiang pool at sunset - Day 4 — Slow day
Great Mosque · Dapiyuan food lanes · Tea house · Train to Luoyang or Beijing
Last reviewed 2026-11-07 — rules and prices in China change often. Confirm critical details in the app or on the official site before you rely on them.
Official sources used for this guide
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