Shaanxi Tour
( Don't be confused with its east neighboring province of Shanxi )
( Don't be confused with its east neighboring province of Shanxi )
As the heartland of China, Shaanxi Province straddles Northern and Southern regions in China, connecting the coast east and hinterland west. Don't be confused with its east neighboring province of Shanxi. Shaanxi's domain is north-south long (approx.880km) and east-west narrow (approx.160～490km). Its north-south span roughly falls into three geographic formations - the Loess Plateau in the north, the Plain in the middle and mountainous region in the south. Shaanxi is one of the cradles of China's civilization. It is the start pointing and ending of the ancien Silk Road. Its archaeological excavations makes it an important destination in China. Among them are the army of Terra-cotta Warriors, Banpo Neolithic Village and numerous imperial tombs and graves. Shaanxi also has an essential place in China's contemporary history. The cave houses around Yan'an were Chinese Communist Party's base, leading to the vistory of the whole China in 1949.
Xian, the capital of Shaanxi, is a paradise for travelers with much nightlife, plantiful hotel choices, fascinating attractions like Muslim Quarter, City Wall, pagodas, musuems. From Xian, you easily get to the rural areas barely touched by the modern life in the outside world and the beautifuk mountains.
| Shaanxi Travel & Tours |
| Shaanxi Tourist Map | Shaanxi Top Tours | When to Visit |
| Get There & Around | Top 10 Places in Shaanxi | Where to Stay Shaanxi |
| Shaanxi Food | What to Buy | Nightlife in Shaanxi |
| Questions & Answers |
Shaanxi Tourist Map
Shaanxi Top Tours
| » Shaanxi Highlight Cultural Tour | |||
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 Destinations: Xian Hancheng Dangjiacun Duration: 5 Days Tour Type: Private Tour Tour Code: SHAX-01 Price: Starting from US$ 395p/p |
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| » Shaanxi Red Tour | |||
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Destinations: Xian Yan'an Duration: 5 Days Tour Type: Private Tour Tour Code: SHAX-02 Price: Starting from US$ 435p/p |
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| » Xian Panda One Day Tour | |
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Destination: Shaanxi Wild Animal Rescure and Breeding Center and Guanzhong Folk Art Museum Duration: One Day Tour Type: Private Tour Code: XAST-08 Price: Starting from US$70 |
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Just a reminder People who are browsing Shaanxi Tour are also interested in the page of Xian Tour. |
Shaanxi Travel Information
When to Visit
Shaanxi belongs to a basically continental climate with a big difference between north and south due to its complex phisical geography. The northen Shaaxi Loess is a temperate and half dry zone with average lower temperature; the Mid-Shaanxi is the plain area with distinctive four seasons and hot summer; the southern mountainous Shaanxi has a mild climate, warmer with more rain in Summer and Autumn.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Shaanxi. In spring, apart from the northen Shaanxi and some part of Mid-Shaanxi that will be possibly attacked by sandstorm, the rest of Shaanxi enters a beautiful season for sightseeing. Summer is the ideal time to visit the southern Shaanxi, a natural air-conditioned retreat, cool and fresh; Autumn is the harvest time with watering local fruits date, pomegranatea and many more.
Get There & Around
Xian is the most essential destination in Shaanxi Province as well as the transportation hub for train, air and highway. Daily flights connect Xian to the major domestic cities such Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu.
The Highspeed day trains link Xian to Mt.Huashan, Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Beijing. More fast and overnight trains connect Xian to Beijing, Luoyang, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Lhasa, Urmuqi and more cities in China.
The highways in Xian fan out to its neighboring cities within Shaanxi and all the major cities in other provinces such as Yan'an, Yulin, Pingyao, Taiyuan, Datong, Luoyang, Beijing and many more.
Top 10 Places in Shaanxi
1. Army of Terracotta WarriorsThis subterranean life-size army of terracotta soldiers were designed to protect China's first emperor - Qinshihuang who unified China for the first time in 221BC. The original site was found by 4 local farmers digging a well in 1974. Now it has turned into the most important attraction in Xian and one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world.
2. Hanyang Tombs (Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi)
It is the forth emperor - Jing Emperor's tomb in Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) which was opened in 2001 and is famous for its rich collecion of the terra-cotta figurines and animals. Actually his tomb is not opened yet. What we see on the exhibition hall are artifacts from his main tomb's surrounding burial sites.
3. Muslim Quarter
The Xian Muslim Quarter is just located behind ( north of ) the Drum Tower, a delightful place you will never miss! The famous Great Mosque is located in the Muslim Area. The bazaar in the Muslim area is most attractive with a wide area of stalls selling everything. The streets and walkways are full of life.
4. Xian City Wall
The City Wall is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. It was enlarged in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) from the city wall initially built in Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Now it is 12 meters tall, 12-14 meters wide overing 14 kilometers in length with a deep moat surrounding it. You can walk, even cycle on the wall. Its south gate is the most largest with a suspension bridge.
5. Big Goose Pagoda
The Big Goose Pagoda is situated in the Da Ci'en Temple, four kilometers south away from the center of the city. It is one of the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks, the centerpiece for sound and light show in the evening.
6. Mt.Huashan
Mt.Huanshan, or Mount Hua is one of the five sacred mountains in China. Mt.Huashan Scenic Spot is mainly composed of 5 peaks – North Peak (1614.pm), the Central Peak(207.8m), East Peak(2096.m), West Peak(2086.2m) and South Peak(2154.9m).
7. Hukou Waterfall
Hukou Falls at Yellow River is one of the most beautiful wayerfalls in China and the largest yellow waterfalls in the world. It is located in the middle reaches of Yellow River in the Loess Plateau hinterlands between Shaanxi Province and Shanxi Province.
8.Hancheng
Located about 230km to the northeast of Xian, the old town of Hancheng is home to a few historic sites ( numerous historic mansions and streets) left by Ming and Qing Dynasties. The must see unique Ming-era village of Dangjiacun is about 9km norteast of Hancheng City. Dangjiacun Village is still home to over 100 grey-brick courtyard houses with delicate carvings and mix of different atchitectureal styles.
9. Yan'an Yan'an served as the headquarters of CCP for 12 years from 1935 to 1947, the birthplace of the Chinese revolution and the establishment of New China. Interesting sites include Yan'an Revolution Museum, Wangjiaping Revolution Headquarter Site, Yangjiaping Revolution Site, Zaoyuan Revolution Headquarters Site, Fenghuangshan Revolution Headquarters Site, and Treasure Pagoda.
10. Yulin
268km north of Yan'an, the old town of Yulin is worth exploring. Once an important garrison-town, the old twon has a pedestrian street from north to south featuring a Bell Tower and nice streets to stroll along. Seven km north of Yulin is the remnant Ming-era Great Wall with its massive gate of Zhenbeitai, a seven-storey beacon tower.
Where to Stay Shaanxi
1.Hotels in XianSofitel Xian on Renmin Square: 319 Dongxin Street, 710004 Xian Tel: 029 8792 8888
Xian Skytel Hotel:32 South Street, Xian Tel: 029-87632222
Xian Jianguo Hotel: No 2 Huzhu Road Xian Tel: 029-82598888
Citadines Xi'an Central: 36 Zhubashi, Beilin District, Xi'an Tel: 029 8576 1188
Han Tang Inn 7 Nachang Xiang, Xian Tel: 029-87287772
Han Tang House: 32 Nanchang Xiang, Xian Tel: 029-8738 9765
Xiangzimen Youth Hostel: 16 XiangzimiaoJie, Xian Tel: 029-62867999
Bell Tower Hotel: 110m Nan Dajie, Xian Tel: 029-8760 0000
Shuyuan Youth Hostel: Jia 2 Shucheng West Alley, Xian Tel: 029-87287721
2.Hotels in Mt.Huashan
Wuyunfeng Hotel: about 30minutes walking distance to the East Peak
Dongfeng Hotel ( East Peak Hotel): at the East Peak Tel: 0913 – 4301312
Xifeng Hotel ( West Peak Hostel ): It is a basic and friendly place for your overnight stay
Beifeng Hotel ( North Peak Hotel ): The busiest hotel on the mountain Tel: 15719136466
Huashan Hotel: No.2 Yuquan East Road, Huayin
3.Hotels in Hancheng
Yinhe Grand Hotel: South Section of Longmen Street, Hancheng Tel: 0913-5292555
Tianyuan Hotel: North section of Longmen Street, Hancheng Tel: 0913-5299388
Zhonghe Hotel: In the Middle Section of Longmen Main Street, Hancheng
Hancheng International Hotel: Middle Section of Longmen Main Street, Hancheng
4.Hotels in Yan'an
Yasheng Grand Hotel: Mid-Erdajie, Yan'an Tel: 0911-266 6000
Haisheng Hotel: Daqiao Street, Yan'an Tel: 0911-821 3333
Jiahua International Hotel: Lower Section of Baimi Avnue, Baota District, Yan'an
Zaoyuan Hotel: Fengqing Jie, Middle Section of Zaoyuan Road, Baota District, Yan'an
5.Hotels in Yulin
Jiayuan Business Hotel: 5 Yuyang Middle Road, Yulin Tel: 0912-3268958
Jinyue Grand Hotel: 6 Xinjian Nanlu, Yulin Tel: 0912-233 3333
Yongchang International Hotel: Chaoyang Road, High-tech Industry Park, Yulin
People's Building Yulin: People's Building Yulin
Shaanxi Food
Shaanxi cuisine is much influenced by Inner Mongolian food and Sichuan Food due to its location. So Shaanxi food is well known for lamb and mutton dishes as well as salty and spicy dishes. The noodles of Shaanxi food is much wider, thicker, and longer than those in Shanxi and Beijing.
Xian is the food paradise for travelers who seek Shaanxi food. Just name some of the local flavors in Xian:
Mutton & Bread ( Yang Rou Pao Mo )
As the most famous and influencing snack of Xian, Mutton & Bread is renowned for its pure fragrance and pleasant tastes. You tear a pancake into small pieces and soak them in a bowl of the boiling mutton soup. The soaked pancake is chewy, the soup delicious, and the mutton tender. By taking a small bowl of broth after eating, you will feel abundant fragrance full of mouth and long lasting.
Qishan Saozi Noodle
As early as the Qing Dynasty, Qishan Saozi Noodle was praised by the Emperor for its thin, flexible, shiny, fried, sour, hot and fragrant. The noodles are made of high-quality flour, together with pork, day lily, egg, tree mushroom, bean curd and garlic stem, and several flavoring. It has the tastes of sour and chili, and reserves fragrance in mouth after eating.
Pancake with Stewed Lazhi Meat ( Chinese hamburger )
It gained the name from the ancient Chinese "meat was nipped between pancake". The meat is more crisp, stewed and fresh. It contains abundant protein, fat. Together with the pancake, it is helpful to increase the content of carbohydrate.
Guokui
Guokui, one of the eight bugbears in Shaanxi, looks like armet just as its name implied. It is usually renowned for being dry, crisp, white, fragrant. Originally, it was the gift the grandmother presented the grandson at his one-month old. Later, it developed into a kind of traditional foods made from flour.
What to Buy
Xian is the shopping center in Shaanxi Province with numerous shopping malls, department stores and markets. In the recent years the city of Yan'an has developed plentiful large department stores and shopping centers.
Foreign tourists are more interested in doing shopping in the Muslim Quarter behind the Drum Tower in Xian. The bazaar in the Muslim area is most attractive with a wide area of stalls selling everything. The streets and walkways are full of life. The shopping is great, very cheap and some unusual items you will seldom see anywhere else in China.
Tang Tricolor
Tang Tricolor is a kind of crockery prevailing in Tang Dynasty with the dominant colors of yellow, brown and green. Later people used to call it "Tangsancai". With a history of 1300 years, it assimilates the trait of traditional Chinese painting as well as sculpture coming into being its own vignette with straightforward line.
Shan-Bei (Northen Shaanxi) Paper Cut
As one of the distinctive visual art of Chinese handcrafts, Paper-cut is liked by all Chinese nationalities. Its origin could be traced back to 6 century BC. Among all the paper-cuts, Shan-bei paper Cut is particularly characteristic.
Imitation of Terra-cotta warriors and horse
Along with the excavation display of Qin Terra-cotta warriors and horse, the imitations have been one of the desired souvenirs. Some of the imitations as large as the original ones and some zoomed in term of different proportion.
Dough Flower
Dough Flower is a kind of widespread folk custom prevailing in Guangzhong area ( Mid-Shaanxi) of Shaanxi and Shanbei (Northen Shaanxi). Whenever there is a wedding or funeral, the villagers make all kinds of dough flower with unique shape.
Nightlife in Shaanxi
Xian, as the capital of Shaanxi, provides multible choices of nightlife activities. If the daytime tour of the cool and rigid historic sites make you a bit exhausted, you will be refreshed and rejuvenated by the overnight city of Xian in the evening. It is teemed with pub outlets and evening performances.
Defu Alley
Just like Beijing's Sanlitun and Shanghai's Xintiandi, Defu Lane in Xi'an has been a sign of vogue. Bright lights, pubs, cafes, charming young ladies...the old impassioned lane possesses great attractions.
Tang Dynasty Dinner Show
Tang Dynasty Dinner Show is a performance of music and dance that was originated in the Tang Dynasty more than one thousand-year ago.It is a combination of food and entertainment that showcases the costumes, music and dancing of China's Golden age: the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Shaanxi Opera (Chinqiang)
Shaanxi Opera (Chinqiang) is an ancient and traditional local opera prevailing in the northwest area of China. It is also the oldest of all the Chinese operas that are still existence today.
Xi'an Water Screen Movie
Following three-D and Cinema, Water-Screen Movie is the most one that making people fancy and fresh in the screenland. Since the whole water screen is transparent, when movie is playing, there is a specific optics effect, which makes the picture have third dimension.
Questions & Answers:
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