10 Best Things to Do in Xi'an
Xi’an was ancient Chang’an, capital of 13 dynasties and the Silk Road’s eastern terminus, so the “things to do” list here runs deeper than a single famous site. Here are ten worth building a trip around.
1. See the Terracotta Army
About 35-40km northeast of the city, roughly CNY 120 covers all three pits plus the Bronze Chariots hall. Discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well, the site protects Qin Shi Huang’s afterlife army; the emperor’s own tomb mound stays unexcavated. Book online, since there’s no walk-up ticket window.
2. Bike the City Wall
The most complete ancient city wall in China, a 13.7km loop on Tang-dynasty foundations. Wall entry is about CNY 54, and a bike rental near the South Gate runs roughly CNY 45 for three hours, which covers the full loop in well under two hours, faster than walking it.
3. Eat Your Way Through the Muslim Quarter
Huimin Jie is the historic Hui neighborhood and Xi’an’s street-food core. Work through roujiamo, biang biang noodles, yangrou paomo and liangpi, and stop at the Great Mosque (742 CE), built in Chinese courtyard style rather than the domes and minarets many visitors expect.
4. Climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Built in 652 CE to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India, this seven-story pagoda anchors Da Ci’en Temple. Don’t confuse it with the separate, older Small Wild Goose Pagoda (707 CE) across town; the two are distinct sites with different histories.
5. Book the Shaanxi History Museum Ahead
Admission is free, but a real-name timed slot, best reserved about 5 days out, is essential; walk-up entry isn’t reliable. Inside sit Qin, Han and Tang artifacts that put everything else in the city into historical context.
6. Ring the Bell Tower and Drum Tower
Sitting at the walled city’s center, both towers date to the Ming dynasty and are an easy combo ticket, a short walk from the Muslim Quarter entrance.
7. Take a Day Trip to Mount Huashan
About 30 minutes by high-speed rail from Xi’an North, Huashan brings the harnessed “Plank Walk in the Sky,” genuinely vertigo-inducing with real midday queues, but a managed activity rather than a free-solo stunt.
8. Wander Datang Everbright City After Dark
This free, lit-up Tang-themed pedestrian street near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda comes alive after sunset, with hanfu photo culture, street performances and the North Square musical fountain show.
9. Try on Hanfu
Tang-dynasty costume photography is mainstream here, not a novelty act; rental shops cluster near the City Wall and Datang Everbright City for anyone who wants the photos to match the setting.
10. Visit Huaqing Palace
Near the Terracotta Army, this Tang-dynasty hot-spring retreat is also the real site of the 1936 Xi’an Incident, worth the visit for the history as much as the gardens.
Read more: turn this list into a schedule with our full Xi’an travel guide , which sequences these ten around a realistic 2-3 day core.