Besides Beijing, Xi’an is another ancient capital of China. It’s home to a huge underground army of “Terracotta Warriors” that dates back over 2,000 years.
Xi’an has a history of over 3,100 years, and for about 1,100 of those years, it was China’s ancient capital. This long history has left behind many famous landmarks, like the Terracotta Army Museum, the Xian City Wall, the Daming Palace Ruins, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Surrounding Xian, you’ll also find Mount Hua, one of China’s Five Great Mountains. Back in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), Mount Hua was known as the “Martial Arts Club of China,” where many kung fu masters came to practice and exchange skills. Even today, it’s still a pilgrimage site for kung fu lovers.
But Xian isn’t just about historical sites—its food and folk traditions are also big draws. The city’s food culture is mostly centered around wheat-based foods, with famous dishes like roujiamo (Chinese-style hamburger), yangrou paomo (lamb stew with flatbread), and liangpi (cold noodles). You can also dive into Xi’an’s intangible cultural heritage, like embroidery, paper-cutting, and clay sculptures.
All in all, whether you’re into sightseeing, food, or culture, Xian is a must-visit destination.
Scenic Photos of Xian
Want to learn about ancient China’s military power? Here, you can see the Qin Dynasty’s army, including soldiers, warhorses, command posts, and more.
It’s one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. You can even bike along it and enjoy the views of Xi’an.
Xi’an is the largest central city in northwestern China. In ancient times, it was called Chang’an, meaning “long-lasting peace.”
For a 4-day trip, hotel costs for 3 nights range from 1,200-2,400 CNY (170-340 USD). Food for 4 days (three meals a day) is around 1,200-2,000 CNY (170-280 USD). Transportation (subway + taxis) costs about 300 CNY (40 USD). Tickets to 4 major attractions total roughly 600 CNY (85 USD). So, for a 4-day, 3-night trip, the minimum cost is around 3,300 CNY (460 USD), but it’s safe to budget 5,300 CNY (740 USD).
For local dishes: Roujiamo (12 CNY / 1.70 USD), Biangbiang noodles (25 CNY / 3.50 USD), Shaozi noodles (12 CNY / 1.70 USD), Lamb Paomo (30 CNY / 4.20 USD), Beef pancake (10 CNY / 1.40 USD). If you dine at more upscale restaurants, expect to spend 150-300 CNY (20-40 USD) per person.