Best Things To Do in Xian, China

Are you looking for what to do in Xian?

THINGS TO SEE

The Terracotta Army and horse museum: About 30 km east of Xi'an you'll find the number one attraction for the city. The Terracotta Army has thousands of figures, each unique with an assortment of weaponry. This lay undiscovered for nearly 2,000 years buried under fields.
The Tomb of Emperor Jingdi: You may find it hard to get there as even the locals don't seem to know it exists, and if you didn't get your fill of Terracotta Warriors you'll find even more here. The arms are missing because they were made of wood, but don't let it put you off – this is one of those places that really is off radar for almost every visitor.
Huashan: The Flower Mountain- One of the five sacred mountains of Taoism, this area offers cliff faces and ravines galore, and is considered one of the most dangerous hiking mountains in the world. Don't let this put you off, take a cable car up from Huashan village and enjoy the temples, pavilions, etc. that are found on the mountain.
Hanyangling Tomb: The Mausoleum of Liq Qi- Covering 10 square kilometres this archaeological excavation gives an insight into life in China before Christ, with pyramids, and treasure to be found.
Big and Small Wild Goose Pagoda's: These Buddhist temples date back to the Tang Dynasty which was more than 1,300 years ago. They are a symbol of constant peace, and are well worth a visit when you are in Xi'an. They are closed on Tuesdays, no fees but a donation will be expected.
Forest of Stele Museum: With an enormous floor area of over 31,000 metres squared, you can find the classic Confucian texts carved on 14 steals here, along with displays of calligraphy, carvings and more.

THINGS TO DO

Hike to the Cuihua Mountains.
Take a dip in the Hot water springs of Huaqing.
Go on a biking trail of the Xi’an city wall.
Shop and eat at the Muslim Quarter.

Below we have a list of things to do in Xian and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Xian getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Xian with confidence.

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Tourist Attractions in Xian

Here is the list of things to do in Xian and tourist attractions in city.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Park

Museum, Historical Site, Archaeological Site , Tomb

Considered as one of the most prominent archaeological findings of the 20the century, the excavation site around the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum in Lintong area of Xi’an in Shaanxi province is a must-visit in China. The Mausoleum is the tomb of first emperor of China- Qin Shi Huang who ascended the throne in 246 BC and started the construction of his tomb which took 11 years t...Read more
Xi'an City Wall

Outdoors, Landmark, Walking Area

Landmark of Xi’an, This wall was initially built by the old Tang dynasty but gained significance after renovation and addition by the first Emperor of Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty. The prime purpose of constructing this wall was to store abundant food supplies, fortify the city and unify other states. Xi’an was one of the world’s most powerful military defensive systems i...Read more
Dayan Pagoda Northern Square

Outdoors, Landmark, Monument, Square

Considered as a symbol of old Xi’an, Big Wild Goose Pagoda locally known as Dayan Pagoda is a holy place for Buddhists and is a well-preserved ancient monument of China. It stands in the Da Ci’en temple complex and sees visitors from all over the world for its spiritual significance. Big Wild Goose Pagoda- Built in 652 BC under the rule of Emperor Gaozang of Tang Dynasty to collect ...Read more
Xi'an Bell Tower

Landmark, Ancient Ruin, Historical Site, Tower

A geographical centre of ancient Xi’an which was a military town in northwest China, the historic city wall extends from this tower. It is a wooden tower and one-of-its-kind in China with a height of 36 meters height. Built in 1384 by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a mark of dominance and power, the tower also served as a check point for any rivals. The engravings on the doors reflect the decor...Read more
Shaanxi History Museum

History Museum, Historical Site, Architecture , Exhibition

Claimed as the “Pearl of ancient Dynasties and house of Chinese treasures”, this museum is dedicated to Shaanxi province which is considered as the birth places if Chinese culture. Depicting an overview of thousands of years of Chinese history, Shaanxi History museum is a must-visit attraction in Xi’an. Spread over 16 acres of area, this museum comprises of 370,000 exhibits an...Read more
Xi'an Great Mosque

Mosque, Religious Site, Architecture

One of the oldest, largest and best-preserved mosques in China, Xi’an Mosque is located near the iconic Drum tower. The historical records engraved on stone tablets in the interior of the mosque, the construction dates back to Ming dynasty. The construction style is a blend of Chinese and Muslim architecture. Spread over an area of 12,000 square meters, the mosque is divided into four cou...Read more
Xian Drum Tower

Religious Site, Landmark, Historical Site, Architecture

This landmark was built in the early 14th century during the rule of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming dynasty and went through renovations till late 18th century. It is a two stories structure 34 meters in height and displays a combination of architectural styles belonging to Tang and Qing dynasty. The unique feature og this structure is that no iron nail is ides in its entire construction. The drum ...Read more
Huaqing Hot Springs

Outdoors, Hot Spring, Leisure, Nature

Claimed as one of the most scenic sites in china, these hot springs are a popular destination for one-day trip from Xi’an. These hot springs are complex natural phenomena characterised by hot water occurring due to geothermal heating. The alluring backdrop of Mount Li adds to the experience of soaking in the springs. The pools were constructed by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty as a ...Read more
Xian Museum

Museum, Outdoors, Exhibition

Inaugurated and opened to public on world museum day, Xi’an museum is located in the Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic area in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China. The design of this museum is based on Chinese concept of Universe- a round heaven and square earth and is considered a landmark in city’s architechture. Flaunting a huge collection of 130,000 cultural relics discovered in t...Read more
Forest Of Stone Steles Museum

Museum, Outdoors

This museum is dedicated to Steles and is known as forest of Steles since 1992 given the number of Steles exhibited here. Steles and stone sculptures are housed in an ancient Confucian temple. The collection comprises of Steles cut in 837 A.D. and also includes oldest existing texts of Confucian classics. There are 2000 engraved stone tablets belonging to Han Dynasty. There are around 3000 coll...Read more
Muslim Quarter

Market

A pleasant night market bustling with festive atmosphere all round the year; Drop in here for cheap shopping, trendy souvenirs to take back home and tasting scrumptious food on the roadside eateries and stalls set up in the market.
Cuihua Mountain

Outdoors, Park, Entertainment, Adventure

Ideal for a day-trip from Xi’an, this is a fascinating outdoor location for nature and adventure lovers. Spanning over an area of 32 square kilometres, the Cuihua region comprises of mountain peaks, forest park and national geo-park. Given its unique topography, today it is listed as natural geo-morphological museum. Cuihua National Geo-park is further classified into three sections...Read more
Tomb Of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

Landmark, Historical Site, Tomb

This is the burial site of the Emperor Qin who reigned China around the period of 259 BC and was the first Emperor of China. Though the entire excavation has not been done due to lack of funding, there are many myths and tales of hidden treasure being buried with the Emperor. Visit this site when visiting the Terracotta warriors’ museum. The tomb has a pleasant park and is good for a casu...Read more
Yangling Mausoleum Of Han Dynasty

Landmark, Ancient Ruin, Historical Site, Tomb

Located in the Zhangjiawan village; about 20 kilometres to the north of Xi’an city, this is the joint tomb of Liu Qi- a notable Emperor of Western Han Dynasty and his Empress Wang. Constructed in the year 153 Ad, it is spread over an area of 4942 acres. This ancient and magnificent site has several attractions within and is worth a visit. Attractions within the Mausoleum: Emperor’s...Read more
Sofitel

This ultra-modern hotel offers a host of features to the leisure traveller including access to The Grand Theatre and a relaxing garden area with rare and precious Chinese trees to be found. It’s a short walk to many of the historical sites, and you're well situated for shopping districts and nightlife