What to see in Xi'an and how to visit the Terracotta Warriors independently

In this guide we share the essentials what to see in Xian, China and the best tips for visit the Warriors of Xian on your own. First of all, let us tell you that Xi'an is a city with a rich history and more interesting things to doNot everything is limited to celebrities Terracotta Warriors, which by the way are an hour from Xi'an. This city was also the ancient Chinese capital and starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Furthermore, It stands out for having one of the best-preserved city walls in the country.. On Muslim Quarter and the modern area Datang Everbright City You will love them for their contrasts and exquisite street food. If you like, we give you all the details below, but we tell you better in our final video.

What to see in Xian, China

1) The Terracotta Warriors, Xian what to see in the surroundings

One of the most famous attractions in China are the Terracotta Soldiers representing the army of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. It is estimated that the Terracotta Army has more than 8.000 figuresIncluding soldiers, horses and chariots. And we say it is estimated, because they are still excavating and reconstructing pieces to this day. One of the things that surprised us the most is that each figure is unique, with specific details on their face, uniform and weapons.. This Terracotta army was discovered in 1974 by some farmers while they were looking for water. Next, we give you our advice so that you can enjoy one of the activities to the fullest. essential things to do in Xi'an.

• 💵 Terracotta Warriors entrance price: 120 yuan = approx. €15 per person.
• ⏰ Terracotta Warriors access time: 8:30 a.m. – 17:00 p.m. from March 1 to November 30 (you can be inside the premises until 19:30 p.m.). In low season, from December 1 to February 28, the last access time is 16:30 p.m. and you can be inside the museum and its pavilions until 19:00 p.m. Can buy tickets in advance by time slot in this page.

💡 We recommend going late in the day, tourist groups usually go first thing in the morning and also get up early. See photo of the practically empty pavilion in the afternoon (month of May). AND Don't forget your passport, they will ask you to redeem your ticket or buy it in situ like anywhere in China.

Keep in mind that the visit lasts approximately 2 hours, there are more pavilions to visit in this museum, not just the room with the chinese mud army.

How to get to the Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an

To get to the Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an, We recommend book a Didi from the Alipay app (the Chinese Uber). He The journey lasts approximately one hour and it cost us 100 yuan one way (approx. €13) and 150 yuan return (approx. €20). You can also opt for public transportation (ask at your hotel), but if you are short on time, it is not the best. Finally, if you are not familiar with Didi, you can evaluate the option of a taxi or organized tour with transfer and guide. Of course, the taxi as a general rule can be more expensive and during our free route through China We had some altercation with the taxis. With Didi the price is fixed.

2) The Wall of Xi'an, another attraction to see in Xian

La Xi'an Wall is one of China's best preserved ancient walls. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this structure surrounds the city center along almost 14 kilometers. Therefore, if you want to explore it all, the ideal is to do it by bicycle. Keep in mind that the bikes that are rented to explore the cities of China cannot be climbed on the wall. On the same wall there is a company that rents them. Note that There is an area that can only be explored on foot, they give you a ticket to park and pick up later. In any case, we do not believe that it is essential to walk the entire wall if you have little time. There are many things to see in Xian and it all seemed the same to us.

• 💵 Xian Wall Price: 54 yuan = approx. €7 per person.
• 💵 Bike rental price: 45 yuan = approx. €6 per person.
• 💡 There are four gates to access the wall; to rent bikes go to the south gate.

3) Xian Muslim Quarter and its street food

El Muslim Quarter It is another of the places to see in Xian that we liked the most. It is known for its Beiyuanmen Night Market with delicious street food and nightlife. Here you can try the "Chinese burger" or Rou Jia Mo, a specialty of Shaanxi province. This delight is a Flat, crusty bread that is filled with shredded meat, traditionally pork, although it can also be found with lamb or beef. There are also many traditional sweets and other Chinese street food like stinky tofu (see video at the end). Besides, In this neighborhood you will also find shops with local products if you want to buy a souvenir. We recommend visiting at night. The Great Mosque of Xian is also very close, in case it is of interest to you.

NOTE: The better Rou Jia Mo we didn't eat it here, the bread should ideally be puff pastry and here we feel cheated with a pita bread. The best one we tried was at HuyongFeng or Yongfengqi Noodles, an restaurant of noodles which also had the best Roujiamo of our trip through China and where we ate for €4 for both of us. It was very close to our hotel that we mentioned below, I don't know if you will find it on Baidu maps.

4) Great Wild Goose Pagoda

Another of the sites what to visit in Xian is Great Wild Goose PagodaIts fountain and surrounding streets are full of life. This pagoda was built in the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty and It was used to store Buddhist sutras brought from India. You can enter the pagoda to visit it and have views of Xi'an, we chose to continue walking until we connect with the Datang Everbright City pedestrian street. Apparently The fountain next to the Great Wild Goose Pagoda offers a nightly light show, but we couldn't stay because We only had one night in Xian and we preferred to see the Muslim quarter.

In this area of ​​Xian We were surprised by the number of Chinese tourists who were dressed in traditional ways. next to the Great Pagoda and the beautiful corners in its surroundings. Suit rental companies also they do hair and makeup, then they include the session photos with lights and shadows like the one on this wall.

5) Datang Everbright City

Also note the Datang Everbright City Pedestrian Zone. This tourist attraction to see in Xian combines historical and contemporary elements. It stands out for its night lighting and multimedia shows on the ground, fountains, etc. (we show you in the video at the end). Here you'll also find street food stalls, shops, and restaurants. We bought some fried mushrooms at a stall on the avenue that were brutal.

6) Bell Tower and Drum Tower

La Bell tower and Drum Tower They are two historical structures located in the center of Xi'an (within the wall). The Bell Tower or Bell Tower, built in the 14th century, served to announce the arrival of dawn. The Drum Tower or Drum Tower, located nearby, marked the end of the day. The bell tower is in the middle of a roundabout, we passed several times with the Didi. For visit the drum tower, take advantage when you go to tour the Muslim quarter and the Beiyuanmen Night Market, because it is just a few steps away.

Inside the Tower there is a collection of antique drums and apparently there is usually a musical performance., but we didn't have time to include it in our tight itinerary.

Where to stay in Xian, China

If you still don't have hotel in Xi'an, we recommend you Choose an option within the wall of Xian to be able to have the tourist places close by. In our case we decided on the hotel Grand Mercure Xian On Renmin Square, located in a very quiet and well-connected area. This in a private area next to other hotels, ideal if you want to escape the noise of the streets of the Muslim Quarter. Furthermore, when you leave this area you can easily reach to the metro and you will always find bikes for rent by time (the kind that exists in any big city in China).

Xian video: what to see and do in one day

To make you one idea of ​​what you can see and do in Xi'an in one day along with a visit to the Terracotta Warriors, don't miss our video. We show you the main tourist spots that we mention throughout this article and you can get an idea of ​​what you can expect during your visit. You can see the entire China trip list in our YouTube Channel.

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Map with the best places to see in Xian, China

Below you will find a interactive map highlighting the main places to see in Xi'an. Use this map to plan your route and make sure you don't miss any of the must-see attractions.

How to get around Xian

La Xi'an city is huge and we recommend using public transportation such as the subway or bicycles that you can rent with Alipay (blue bikes are the best). Us many times we moved in Didi due to fatigue and lack of time, but the city has a lot of traffic and sometimes it is counterproductive if you are in a hurry. For short distances, walking is the best option, as the main attractions are located close to each other and/or inside the wall. And if you want to know How to get to Xian from other cities in China, you can see the trains in this page.

📱 Internet in China: eSIM with built-in VPN

To get around with Didi, pay with Alipay, or use Google Maps and WhatsApp in China, you need a eSIM with built-in VPNWe use Holafly throughout the entire trip and it went wonderfully. You have a 5% off With the code LOCALGUIDEGRANCANARIA or from the button:

🏥 Travel insurance for China (5% discount)

Luckily we didn't have to use it, but always We travel insured with IATI, specifically with the IATI Mochilero policy which offers better coverage in case of accidents while participating in adventure sports. Healthcare for foreigners in China is expensive, and the language barrier complicates any unforeseen circumstances.

We hope this guide helps you plan your visit to one of China's most fascinating cities.

To help you plan your trip, here are the articles about the other stops on our route through China: