Unique Things to Do in Xi’an
An Overview of Xi’an
China, for the vast majority of recorded human history, has been the nation most talented at building fortifications and walls. Xi’an (formerly Chang’an) is an incredible testament to this, as the ancient city has formidable, ancient and intact fortifications.
Xi’an, which means “Western Peace” when romanticized, is an ancient imperial stronghold and major anchor point for the Silk Road. The city has served as a politically significant nexus for people throughout China, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Modern Xi’an remains an impressive city. The famed fortifications are still intact, the old city is a bustling, bright heritage site, skyscrapers ring the outer portions of the city and the famed Terracotta Army continues its vigil nearby.
There are many unique things to do in Xi’an. Visitors traveling to Xi’an will undoubtedly appreciate their signiture foods, vast shopping centers, cultivated green spaces and incredible, well-preserved history.
Shortlist of Unique Things to Do in Xi’an
Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum and Terracotta Army – Emperor Qin Shi Huang founded the Qin dynasty as the first emperor of a unified China. His tomb is notorious for a vast army of stone warriors continuing their vigil to this day.
Mount Huashan – One of China’s Five Great Mountains with a long, religiously significant history, this peak is considered one of the most precipitous climbs in the nation.
Xi’an City Wall (Xi’an Fortifications) – The oldest and best-preserved of ancient Chinese fortifications, these walls were built under Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. They can be walked up and are wide enough to ride bikes atop
Shaanxi History Museum – A profound museum centered on Huaxia Civilization alongside information on the powerful Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties.
Zhenai Lishan Daqin Xiaoyan Restaurant – A large cuisine location which serves traditional Shaanxi Province food while the serving staff works in traditional attire.
Yuanjia Village – A recreation-cultural heritage village dedicated to the history of the Miao culture, medicine, silver production and more.
Muslim Quarter – A famous snack, specialized goods and commercial street in Xi’an with heavy influence on Muslim culture and Asian-Islam hybrid foods.
Drum Tower – The sister building of the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower was used to measure time in the city and also sound emergencies. The large building is an icon and landmark in Xi’an.
Bell Tower – The sister building of the Drum Tower, this stately traditional building marks the geographical center of the ancient capital. Like the Drum Tower, the Bell Tower was used to sound emergencies in ancient times.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda – Sometimes called the “Little Wild Goose Pagoda” this religious structure was created to protect the priceless Buddhist sutras brought by monk Xuan Zang from India to Chang’an (now, Xi’an).
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – A large and dominating pagoda, the structure was originally build to collect Buddhist materials which were removed from India by the hierarch Xuanzang.
Hanyangling Museum, also called Hanyangling, Tomb of Emperor Jingdi, Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty – This massive museum contains the joint grave of Emperor Jing of Han Dynasty and his empress. The location is famous for it’s huge number of ancient, underground burial figurines.
The Huaqing Palace, (The Huaqing Pools) – A natural hot spring complex known for mild weather and scenic views of Mount Li.
Great Tang All Day Mall (Grand Tang Ever Bright City) – The longest pedestrian street and tourist landscape combined with a cultural mall in Asia.
Xi’an Great Mosque – Found in the Muslim Quarter, this impressive mosque is one of the largest premodern mosques in China.
Daming Palace and Danfeng Gate – Defined by vast imperial grounds converted into public space, the Daming Palace the imperial complex stronghold of the Tang dynasty
Banpo Village and Museum – A unique Neolithic site found in the Yellow River Valley, east of Xi’an. The Banpo people were hunter-gatherers who then shifted to an agrarian culture centuries ago.
Xingqinggong Park and Palace Site – This park is a famous historical and cultural relic in Xi’an. It’s built upon the site of the ancient Xingqing Palace.
Chinese Pyramids of Xian – These pyramids are hidden more than 100 kilometers outside of Xi’an, tucked away in overgrown forests. The scores of pyramid-shaped mounds are a modern archeological mystery. This is one of the most unique things to do in Xi’an.
Dayan Pagoda Northern Square Water Show – This large plaza space is known for the largest musical fountain show in China. The musical fountains have showings at the following times: Mon-Fri: 12pm and 8:00pm. Sat-Sun: 12:00pm – 10:00pm, every 2 hours. Each show will last 30 minutes.
Forest of Stone Steles Museum (Beilin Museum) – This impressive museum, located in a former Confucian Temple, houses a growing collection of steles and ancient stone sculptures.
Tang Bo Art Museum – This museum houses a collection of Shannxi folk arts, including ancient paintings shown in historical sequence. There is also a section for local, contemporary artists’ artworks.
Qujiangchi Site Park – A large, on open cultural park, with a famous, well-lit series of lakeside buildings.
Tang Paradise Park – Tang Paradise is a large theme park in the city of Xi’an. It contains numerous replicas of Tang Dynasty Buildings.
Qinglong Temple – This site is also known as Shifo Temple. It is a historical Buddhist temple credited with teaching Vajrayana (form of Tantric Buddhism) and eventually importing the belief system throughout China and Japan.
Description of Unique Things to Do in Xi’an
Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum and Terracotta Army
There are few sites more impressive than the massive mausoleum site around Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The ancient Chinese emperor was the first emperor to preside over a unified China. He is an absolute titan of Chinese history, responsible for ordering the construction of the Great Wall, a constant defender against the Huns, conqueror of Shang and Zhou rulers, infamous for his censorship burnings of “useless books” and the founder of the Qin Dynasty.
His Mausoleum is actually a vast underground city defended by life-size terracotta warriors including infantrymen, horses, chariots, attendants and weaponry. The tomb was only recently uncovered in 1974, but much of it remains inaccessible, especially since the Emperor’s center tomb is protected by a highly-toxic river of mercury.
It takes roughly one hour to reach the Terracotta Army from Xi’an. Visitors can use rideshares, taxis, tour companies or public buses
Mount Huashan
This mountain is a prominent feature in China’s religious history. Long ago, the unassailable cliffs and heights were part of an enormous pilgrimage, with several influential temples scattered along the route. The mountain is home to various legends and stories regarding Chinese immortals.
For tourists, the mountain is a unique challenge. Many parts of the upward hike are step and challenging. There is one portion, known as the Plank Walk, which has visitors walk on narrow boards driven into the side of a sheer cliff.
The infamous Plank Walk is located on the mountain’s South peak, at a height of 7,070 feet.
Xi’an City Wall (Xi’an Fortifications)
When entering Xi’an, visitors may notice dark, imposing walls encircling the city’s oldest historical sites. These fortications were built under the rule of Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as part of a vast, intricated military defense system.
Today, these are the best-preserved Chinese fortifications in Asia.
Visitors can walk around the upper walls or ride their bikes over the vast swaths of stone. The area is popular for overlooks of both the outer nd inner city. It is also a popular site for firework watching during holidays and sunset-watching in the evenings.
Shaanxi History Museum
Huaxia (pinyin: huáxià) is the historical concept centered around a singular, fully-aware Chinese nation. The Shaanxi history museum is rooted heavily around this concept, with the founding of the first singular Chinese state, the commonalities among Chinese ancient nations and the ancestors involved.
The museum is home to over 370,000 artifacts, including murals, pottery, coins, paintings, golden totems, silver trinkets and more. These artifacts are from the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties.
Zhenai Lishan Daqin Xiaoyan Restaurant
A large cuisine location which serves traditional Shaanxi Province food while the serving staff works in traditional attire. The location can accommodate large groups and serves excellent Dim Sum options.
Yuanjia Village
This village is located on the Weihe Plain about a kilometer away from the Zhao Mausoleum of Emperor Taizong of Tang. The village is a cultural-heritage site rooted in Miao culture and life in ancient China. There are two sections, with one dedicated to the plain’s folk-culture and the other dedicated to agritourism.
Yuanjia village has numerous demonstrations of life in ancient China. There are replicas of old mills, tofu shops, noodle workshops and textile mills. Other parts of the village showcase cultural sites, medicine shops, silver production and more.
Muslim Quarter
The streets of Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter are among the most famous in the city. The downtown zone is made of streets which are over 1,000 years old. For modern visitors, there are famous snacks, specialized goods and commercial shops with a heavy influence on Muslim culture and Asian-Islam hybrid food. This area is also home to several mosques among which the Great Mosque in the Huajue Lane is the most famous and popular.
Drum Tower
The sister building of the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower was used to measure time in the city and also sound emergencies. The large building is an icon and landmark in Xi’an.
The Drum Tower still has an enormous drum inside the building, alongside many other smaller drums for visitors to view. Unlike the Bell Tower, which was sounded at dawn, the Drum Tower was used at sunset to indicate the end of a day.
The Drum Tower also doubles as a Drum Museum, showing drums from thousands of years ago. The Tower often has daily drum show performances. Many visitors climb the tower for commanding views over the downtown area of the city.
Bell Tower
The sister building of the Drum Tower, this stately traditional building marks the geographical center of the ancient capital. Like the Drum Tower, the Bell Tower was used to sound emergencies in ancient times.
The Bell Tower of Xi’an was built in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty. The Tower is also home to several large bronze-cast bells from the Tang Dynasty.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Sometimes called the “Little Wild Goose Pagoda” this religious structure was created to protect the priceless Buddhist sutras brought by monk Xuan Zang from India to Chang’an (now, Xi’an).
The Pagoda was constructed between 707-709 CE during the Tang Dynasty. The Pagoda was heavily damaged during the 1556 Shaanxi Earthquake, which lowered it’s height.
During the Tang Dynasty, the Pagoda was adjacent to it’s mother temple, Dajianfu Temple. It was a major site for scrolls, texts and writing brought from India. For generations, it was a main center for translating Buddhist Texts.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
A large and dominating pagoda, the structure was originally build to collect Buddhist materials which were removed from India by the hierarch Xuanzang. This Pagoda had many additional functions as well, serving as a major traveling hub for monks, scholars, travelers and translators visiting the ancient city of Chang’an.
The Pagoda hosted numerous sutras, figurines and Silk Road Artifacts. the Temple sits within the immense Daci’en Temple Complex (Mercy and Kindness Complex). The complex receives millions of tourists each year.
Hanyangling Museum (Hanyangling, Tomb of Emperor Jingdi)
This massive museum contains the joint grave of Emperor Jing of Han Dynasty and his empress. The location is famous for it’s huge number of ancient, underground burial figurines.
The Museum actually accesses a massive network of underground discoveries, including a mausoleum completed in 126 BCE.
The emperor’s tomb is incredibly impressive, but there are also a large number of subordinate pits with lifelike statues of warriors, servants, ministers, nobles, and animals.
The site is also home to a famous obelisk called the “Luojing Stone” which served as a centerpiece and marking point during the construction of the mausoleum. The site was probably used as part of an ancient temple and ceremonial site.
The Huaqing Palace, (The Huaqing Pools)
A natural hot spring complex known for mild weather and scenic views of Mount Li. The site has numerous traditional buildings, small lakes, imperial structures, ancient halls and a series of quaint gardens.
Huaqing Pool is famous for the romantic love story of Tang Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Yuhuan
Great Tang All Day Mall (Grand Tang Ever Bright City)
This is an enormous shopping nexus with a Tang Dynasty Theme. The site follows Tang Dynasty Architecture, an array of historical figures and sculptures, numerous shopping stalls, street performances and other tourist activities.
The Mall is most appealing during the evenings, when the entire street is lit up. It is a popular area, so expect crowds.
Xi’an Great Mosque
This Mosque is located in the Muslim Quarter and remains a popular tourist and historical destination. It is one of the largest premodern mosque located in China.
The Mosque was originally built in 742 CE during the Tang Dynasty. However, it was largely reconstructed during an expansion project in 1384 CE during the reign of the Ming Dynasty.
Daming Palace and Danfeng Gate
Defined by vast imperial grounds converted into public space, the Daming Palace the imperial complex stronghold of the Tang dynasty. Today, the area is a national heritage site in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for it’s prominence along the Silk Road Routes.
Visiting the National Heritage Park are is free. Visitors can walk along the vast open spaces, numerous preserved buildings, various relics and unique garden spaces.
Banpo Village and Museum
A unique Neolithic site found in the Yellow River Valley, east of Xi’an. The Banpo people were hunter-gatherers who then shifted to an agrarian culture centuries ago. The current Banpo Village was originally an archaeological site discovered in 1953 along the Yellow River Valley East of Xi’an. The modern village is a recreation, allowing visitors to see how the ancient Banpo people lived.
The Neolithic settlements have been carbon dated, indicating the uncovered ruins are from 6,700 to 5,600 years old.
Xingqinggong Park and Palace Site
This park is a famous historical and cultural relic in Xi’an. It’s built upon the site of the ancient Xingqing Palace. This is the largest park in Xi’an.
The site is often called the Mansion of Five Princes, due to the origin of the Xingqing Palace which used an original mansion as a centerpiece. The Palace was dissolved as a political center after the Lushan Rebellion and became a place where retired Emperors lived.
Chinese Pyramids of Xian
These pyramids are hidden more than 100 kilometers outside of Xi’an, tucked away in overgrown forests. The scores of pyramid-shaped mounds are a modern archeological mystery.
Some of these Pyramids are thought to be around 8,000 years old. There are over thirty hidden in the region, often purposefully obscured underneath shrubbery for their protection. Western archaeologists are generally not permitted to investigate the site, making the pyramids a largely obscured mystery.
Dayan Pagoda Northern Square Water Show
This large plaza space is known for the largest musical fountain show in China. The musical fountains have showings at the following times: Mon-Fri: 12pm and 8:00pm. Sat-Sun: 12:00pm – 10:00pm, every 2 hours. Each show will last 30 minutes.
Forest of Stone Steles Museum (Beilin Museum)
This impressive museum, located in a former Confucian Temple, houses a growing collection of steles and ancient stone sculptures. The museum was built to preserve the Kaicheng Classics (a group of stone tablets) and the Filial Piety Classics. The museum is home to over 11,00 relics including 19 groups deemed to be national treasures.
Tang Bo Art Museum
This museum houses a collection of Shannxi folk arts, including ancient paintings shown in historical sequence. There is also a section for local, contemporary artists’ artworks. The museum also offers 30-minute Chinese calligraphy classes which offer a brief introduction to Chinese calligraphy and different methods of the art. Visitors can then practice on their own with brush and ink.
Qujiangchi Site Park
A large, on open cultural park, with a famous, well-lit series of lakeside buildings. THe park is a fairly typical Chinese green space.
Tang Paradise Park
Tang Paradise is a large theme park in the city of Xi’an. It contains numerous replicas of Tang Dynasty Buildings. The park is home to a large lake, various gardens, numerous statues of famous Tang Dynasty figures, stone carvings, scenic views, traditional restaurants and more.
Qinglong Temple
This site is also known as Shifo Temple. It is a historical Buddhist temple credited with teaching Vajrayana (form of Tantric Buddhism) and eventually importing the belief system throughout China and Japan.
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