Xian, located Guanzhong Plain in central China, used to be called as “Chang An” and served as the capital for as many as 11 dynasties for a period of 1,180 years, Xian is a museum city dotted with the historic relics of past dynasties, from the restored city walls to “the Eighth World Wonder” — the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. Xian was also the starting point of the famed Silk Road.
No. 01: Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors
The well-known Terra-cotta Museum is located east of Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum, which covers a total area of 20 hectares. The scenery in the museum looks quite elegant and delightful.
Three main buildings of the museum, which were named Pit 1, Pit 2, Pit 3, were constructed on their original sites in different periods of time. Now the Museum is well-known widely as a huge modern on-site museum and it is going to be one of the best in the world.
Entrance Fee: CNY 90 (Mar. to Oct.); CNY 65 (Dec. to Feb.)
Opening Hours: the whole year
How to get there: take tourism bus no.5 (306) from the east square of Xian Railway Station or 307 from the south gate of Tang Paradise and get off at Bing Ma Yong station.
The well-known Terra-cotta Museum is located east of Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum, which covers a total area of 20 hectares. The scenery in the museum looks quite elegant and delightful.
Three main buildings of the museum, which were named Pit 1, Pit 2, Pit 3, were constructed on their original sites in different periods of time. Now the Museum is well-known widely as a huge modern on-site museum and it is going to be one of the best in the world.
Entrance Fee: CNY 90 (Mar. to Oct.); CNY 65 (Dec. to Feb.)
Opening Hours: the whole year
How to get there: take tourism bus no.5 (306) from the east square of Xian Railway Station or 307 from the south gate of Tang Paradise and get off at Bing Ma Yong station.
No. 02: Xian City Wall
Xian City Wall was constructed in the early Ming Dynasty on the basis of the Imperial City of Chang An of the Tang Dynasty. It is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.
The City Wall has corner towers, ramparts, sentry towers, gate towers, battlements and a number of city defensive fortifications with very strong defense capability. Each city gate has three gate towers: Zhenglou, Jianlou and Zhalou. The ancient city wall is a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian.
Entrance Fee: CNY 10
Opening Hours: 09:00-20:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 18, 215 or 603 and get off at Nanmen Station
Xian City Wall was constructed in the early Ming Dynasty on the basis of the Imperial City of Chang An of the Tang Dynasty. It is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.
The City Wall has corner towers, ramparts, sentry towers, gate towers, battlements and a number of city defensive fortifications with very strong defense capability. Each city gate has three gate towers: Zhenglou, Jianlou and Zhalou. The ancient city wall is a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian.
Entrance Fee: CNY 10
Opening Hours: 09:00-20:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 18, 215 or 603 and get off at Nanmen Station
No. 03: Shaanxi Provincial History Musuem
The Shaanxi History Museum is situated on Yan Ta Road in Xian City, Shaanxi Province. It covers 65,000 square meters, with a building area of 60,000 square meters. The newly built modern building recreates Tang-dynasty architecture and successfully symbolizes the great extent of Shaanxi history and its remarkable culture.
The Shaanxi History Museum contains 115,000 objects in its collections. Exhibited in the main exhibition hall are 2,700 works of art, with an exhibition line that extends 2,300 meters.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00
How to get there: Buses No. 5, 19, 24, 26, 27, 30, 34, 401, 521, 527, 610, 701, 710…
The Shaanxi History Museum is situated on Yan Ta Road in Xian City, Shaanxi Province. It covers 65,000 square meters, with a building area of 60,000 square meters. The newly built modern building recreates Tang-dynasty architecture and successfully symbolizes the great extent of Shaanxi history and its remarkable culture.
The Shaanxi History Museum contains 115,000 objects in its collections. Exhibited in the main exhibition hall are 2,700 works of art, with an exhibition line that extends 2,300 meters.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00
How to get there: Buses No. 5, 19, 24, 26, 27, 30, 34, 401, 521, 527, 610, 701, 710…
No. 04: Bell & Drum Towers
In Chinese history from Ming Dynasty, each city had a bell tower and a drum tower. Xian was not exception. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian date back to the Ming dynasty.
The two are located in the center of the Xian city connecting the four roads from east, south, west and north within the city wall. Today, Bell Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where visitors have to purchase their tickets.
Entrance Fee: CNY 50
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: Buses No. 45, 43, 611, 203…
In Chinese history from Ming Dynasty, each city had a bell tower and a drum tower. Xian was not exception. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian date back to the Ming dynasty.
The two are located in the center of the Xian city connecting the four roads from east, south, west and north within the city wall. Today, Bell Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where visitors have to purchase their tickets.
Entrance Fee: CNY 50
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: Buses No. 45, 43, 611, 203…
No. 05: Xian Banpo Museum
The Banpo Museum is located in a modern building some three miles to the east of Xian City in Shaanxi Province. It was built in 1958 and is the first museum built for a “mankind site,” a habitation site of early man.
The museum houses artifacts from the archaeological site of Banpo. The museum gives access to the excavated buildings, has a collection of artifacts from the site, and also has several reconstructed houses designed to resemble the Neolithic settlement.
Entrance Fee: CNY 35
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 11, 42, 231 or 105
The Banpo Museum is located in a modern building some three miles to the east of Xian City in Shaanxi Province. It was built in 1958 and is the first museum built for a “mankind site,” a habitation site of early man.
The museum houses artifacts from the archaeological site of Banpo. The museum gives access to the excavated buildings, has a collection of artifacts from the site, and also has several reconstructed houses designed to resemble the Neolithic settlement.
Entrance Fee: CNY 35
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 11, 42, 231 or 105
No. 06: Big Goose Pagoda
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xian which was first built in 589A.D.in the Sui Dynasty.
It is 64.5 meters high with an additional two stories. It was said that after that addition came the saying-“Saving a life exceeds building a seven-storied pagoda”. Externally it looks like a square cone, simple but grand and it is a masterpiece of Buddhist construction. Built of brick, its structure is very firm.
Entrance Fee: CNY 20
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 6, 21, 22, 24, 601, 610; or take a taxi from the downtown area of Xian
It is 64.5 meters high with an additional two stories. It was said that after that addition came the saying-“Saving a life exceeds building a seven-storied pagoda”. Externally it looks like a square cone, simple but grand and it is a masterpiece of Buddhist construction. Built of brick, its structure is very firm.
Entrance Fee: CNY 20
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 6, 21, 22, 24, 601, 610; or take a taxi from the downtown area of Xian
No. 07: Xian Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located about 1 kilometers south of Jianfu Temple in Xian City. Along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it was an important landmark in Chang’an, capital of the Tang Dynasty.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a multi-eave and square brick structure. Originally it was 46 meters high with 15 storeys, but now it is 43.3 meters high with 13 storeys. Since it was smaller and built later than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it was named the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
Entrance Fee: CNY 18 (peak seasons); CNY 12 (low seasons)
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 21, 401, 502, 508, 521, 610
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located about 1 kilometers south of Jianfu Temple in Xian City. Along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it was an important landmark in Chang’an, capital of the Tang Dynasty.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a multi-eave and square brick structure. Originally it was 46 meters high with 15 storeys, but now it is 43.3 meters high with 13 storeys. Since it was smaller and built later than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it was named the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
Entrance Fee: CNY 18 (peak seasons); CNY 12 (low seasons)
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 21, 401, 502, 508, 521, 610
No. 08: Xian Muslim Quarters and the Great Mosque
Great Mosque of Xian, located near the Drum Tower on 30 Huajue Lane of Xian, Shaanxi province, is the oldest and one of the most renowned mosques in the country founded in 742.
The Great Mosque of Xian serves over 60,000 Chinese Muslims in the Xian area. The mosque was the religious center for Arab merchants operating in China. It is also an important historic monument in Shaanxi Province.
Entrance Fee: CNY 12
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 221, 29, 6, 618, 18,605, 604, 805, 606, 45, 203, 43…
Great Mosque of Xian, located near the Drum Tower on 30 Huajue Lane of Xian, Shaanxi province, is the oldest and one of the most renowned mosques in the country founded in 742.
The Great Mosque of Xian serves over 60,000 Chinese Muslims in the Xian area. The mosque was the religious center for Arab merchants operating in China. It is also an important historic monument in Shaanxi Province.
Entrance Fee: CNY 12
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 221, 29, 6, 618, 18,605, 604, 805, 606, 45, 203, 43…
No. 09: Green Dragon Temple
The Green Dragon Temple is located at Leyouyuan, about 3 kilometers away from downtown Xian. It was originally built in 528 and named as Linggan Temple at the time of construction. It was renamed as Green Dragon Temple in 711.
The Green Dragon Temple was one of the most renowned Buddhist temples during the Tang Dynasty. Though covering the limited area, Green Dragon Temple is the most distinguished place for cherry blossom viewing in Xian. It is quite enjoyable to date with friends to view the cherry at weekends.
Entrance Fee: CNY 15
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 19, 25, 45, 41, 400 or 607 and get off at Tie Lu Miao Station
The Green Dragon Temple is located at Leyouyuan, about 3 kilometers away from downtown Xian. It was originally built in 528 and named as Linggan Temple at the time of construction. It was renamed as Green Dragon Temple in 711.
The Green Dragon Temple was one of the most renowned Buddhist temples during the Tang Dynasty. Though covering the limited area, Green Dragon Temple is the most distinguished place for cherry blossom viewing in Xian. It is quite enjoyable to date with friends to view the cherry at weekends.
Entrance Fee: CNY 15
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 19, 25, 45, 41, 400 or 607 and get off at Tie Lu Miao Station
No. 10: Huaqing Hot Spring
Situated at the northern foot of Mt. Lishan in Lintong County, Huaqing Hot Spring is famed for both its dainty spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Guifei in the Tang Dynasty.
Huaqing Pools is fascinating for its exquisite and picturesque scenery characterized by pink peach blossoms, green willows, dense foliage, beautiful pavilions and terraces, magnificent halls, rolling towers, winding corridors and long verandas.
Entrance Fee: CNY 70 (peak seasons); CNY 40 (low seasons)
Opening Hours: 08:00-16:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 306 and 307 at the Train Station
Situated at the northern foot of Mt. Lishan in Lintong County, Huaqing Hot Spring is famed for both its dainty spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Guifei in the Tang Dynasty.
Huaqing Pools is fascinating for its exquisite and picturesque scenery characterized by pink peach blossoms, green willows, dense foliage, beautiful pavilions and terraces, magnificent halls, rolling towers, winding corridors and long verandas.
Entrance Fee: CNY 70 (peak seasons); CNY 40 (low seasons)
Opening Hours: 08:00-16:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 306 and 307 at the Train Station
Xian 2 Day Tour Packagefrom US$155 p/p
Xian 3 Day Tour Package from US$245 p/p
Xian 4 Day Tour package from US$335 p/p
Xian 5 Day Tour Package from US$415 p/p
Xian 3 Day Tour Package from US$245 p/p
Xian 4 Day Tour package from US$335 p/p
Xian 5 Day Tour Package from US$415 p/p
