Your first trip to Xi'an
Everything you need, nothing you don't

Xi'an's metro is the easiest way to move between sights. Line 2 runs north–south through the Bell Tower (钟楼) and Yongningmen (南门, the South Gate of the City Wall); Lines 3 and 4 reach the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area; Line 14 goes to the airport and Xi'an North. Fares ¥2–9 (~฿10–45). Pay by scanning an Alipay or WeChat Pay QR code at the gate, or buy a single-journey ticket from the machine. Full guide at Xi'an metro guide →

China runs primarily on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Hotels, international restaurants and large department stores accept Visa and Mastercard, but the street food stalls in the Muslim Quarter and most small shops take mobile payment only. Set up the tourist version of Alipay before you leave home — it accepts foreign Visa and Mastercard and works immediately — or withdraw yuan from a Bank of China or ICBC ATM on arrival as a backup. Full guide: paying in China →

The UNESCO site that put Xi'an on the world map — thousands of life-sized clay soldiers the First Emperor had built to guard his tomb 2,200 years ago, each one with a different face. Come before 9 am to get ahead of the tour groups. Take tourist bus 游5 (306) from Xi'an Railway Station for ¥7.

The most complete ancient city wall in China, built in 1370 under the Ming dynasty and running 13.7 km around the old city. It is wide enough to cycle the full loop on top — about 1.5 to 2 hours of riding, with views over the old city on both sides. You can climb up at several gates; the South Gate (南门) is the most convenient.

Beiyuanmen street (北院门), behind the Drum Tower, is the best street-food hub in Xi'an — smoke from lamb skewers, the rhythm of noodles being slapped against the bench, spice in the air. Tucked deep inside the lanes is the thousand-year-old Great Mosque (大清真寺), built in a Chinese-Islamic style, its quiet courtyards a complete contrast to the street outside.

The twin landmark towers that have stood together since the Ming dynasty. The Bell Tower (钟楼) sits squarely in the middle of the central roundabout; the Drum Tower (鼓楼) is a short walk away at the mouth of the Muslim Quarter. Climb up for views over the old city, catch one of the scheduled bell-and-drum performances, and come back after dark when both are floodlit.

A seven-tier brick pagoda from the Tang dynasty, built in 652 to house the Buddhist scriptures the monk Xuanzang brought back from India — a defining symbol of the city. In front of it lies one of the largest musical-fountain squares in Asia, which performs at set times in the evening to big crowds.

A long Tang-dynasty-style pedestrian street beside the Big Wild Goose Pagoda that lights up gold from end to end after dark, with replica Tang architecture, live street performances and visitors in Hanfu costume posing for photos. The name means "the Tang city that never has a night" — because it stays lit till late.

One of China's five sacred mountains — steep granite peaks famous for their nerve-testing cliff-edge plank walks, with cable cars for anyone who would rather not climb. High-speed trains from Xi'an North reach Huashan North station in about 30 minutes (~¥54.5), making this an easy out-and-back in a day.

A hot-spring palace at the foot of Mount Li, the summer retreat of Tang Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang, and the setting of one of the great Tang love stories. It sits right on the road to the Terracotta Army, so you can fold both into the same trip. In the evening it hosts the spectacular "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" outdoor performance.