Top 10 Attractions & Best Things to do in Xian

Culture can tell one the soul of a city. And the reason why Xi'an is one of the most important cities in China that you cannot miss while traveling in China is that Xi'an is an ancient city with a history of over 3,000 years. Tourists will get to know the most charming and real Chinese culture when they are in Xi'an and seize the chance to visit the best tourist attractions in this city.

Terracotta Warriors and Horse Museum

A visit to the Terracotta Warriors and Horse Museum is a must-do in your Xi'an tour. Whenever someone talks about Xi'an, the terracotta soldiers will come to his mind immediately. Famed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", it is surely worth your time. The original site was found by well-digging works in 1974. This funerary project of China was built in 246 BC and was commanded by Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor who unified China. Now, Terracotta Warriors and Horse Museum is the most popular and most important attraction in Xi'an.

Terracotta Warriors in Xian

Xi'an City Wall

As the highlight of your Xi'an tour, Xi'an City Wall allows you to appreciate the history of this great city that has served as the capital city for many dynasties. It is the best-preserved city wall in China and also one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. With a total length of 14 kilometers, Xi'an City Wall has four main gates and other 14 gates for people to enter and exit. It is available for tourists to stroll or cycle the wall while admiring the city from above.

Xian Ancient City Wall

Xi’an Muslim Quarter

Muslim Quarter covers several blocks in the heart of this city. It is an attractive destination for tourists to explore since it is famous for its food and culture. There you can find lots of restaurants and stalls offering different dishes and snacks. If you intend to bring some souvenirs home, you will find something that you like here. Besides, you can also access those mosques, including the Great Mosque in Huajue Lane.

Xi’an Muslim Quarter

Bell Tower and Drum Tower

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an were built in the 13th year of the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty. The bell tower and drum tower in the city were built to tell time. The bell would sound at dawn and the drum at dusk every day back to those days. And the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in Xi'an are well preserved as famous landmarks of Xi'an. After climbing the stairs to get to the top of the Bell Tower, tourists will see the busiest center of Xi'an, as well as the Drum Tower near it.

Big Goose Pagoda

As one of the most famous landmarks in Xi'an, Big Goose Pagoda is a  great place to get to know the influence of China's Buddhism and culture. Built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it is now located inside Daci'en Temple with some monks chanting and living there. Big Goose Pagoda is a pavilion-style pagoda built with bricks with a staircase spiraling upwards. Tourists can climb the stairs to get a view of Xi'an city on each floor.

Big Goose Pagoda

Huaqing Palace

The Huaqing Palace or Huaqing Pool is located at the foot of Mount Li, 8km east of the Terracotta Warriors and Horse Museum. It is a small part of the Tang Dynasty royal palace with an area of 85,560 square meters. After entering this wonderful place, you will be able to explore more about Chinese history and enjoy Chinese gardening since there are endless cultural relics, landscaped gardens and more than 100 hot pools.

Shaanxi History Museum

Located to the northwest of Big Goose Pagoda, Shannxi Provincial Museum covers an area of over 70,000 square meters. This building houses more than 37,000 historical relics, including several well-preserved terracotta warriors and horses, bronze ware, ceramics, gold and silver ware, coins and currency, as well as murals and scrolls. It gives tourists a good chance to get to know the most significant capital city - Xi'an.

Tomb of Emperor Jingdi

The Tomb of Emperor Jingdi was built from 153 BC to 126 BC in northern Xi'an. It is a joint mausoleum for Emperor Jingdi and his queen. During the reign of Emperor Jingdi, his relatively liberal policies helped the society and economy get more prosperous and allowed people to live and work in peace. Inside, there are two main tombs, many ritual buildings and subordinate funeral pits.

Great Mosque of Xi'an

According to the record on the monuments in the mosque, Xi'an Great Mosque was founded in 742 during the Tang Dynasty and was later built and restored during the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It covers an area of more than 12,000 square meters with four courtyards. So, it regards as the largest and most complete mosque in China. You can see this mosque as a model of the perfect combination of ancient Chinese architecture and Arab Islamic architecture.

Enjoy the Night of Xi'an

Xi'an's night will never make you feel cold when all the major avenues in this city are lit together. It is a bright and beautiful city for tourists to discover. Besides, everyone who comes Xi'an do not want to miss the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show. The performers, music and lights will bring you back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty.