TranslateOverview
Xi'an, historically known as Chang'an, is the capital of Shaanxi Province in central China. With a history spanning more than 3,000 years, it served as the imperial capital for numerous dynasties, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang. At its height during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), Chang'an was one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world, a terminus of the Silk Road that connected China to Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
Modern Xi'an is a sprawling city of more than 12 million people that balances its extraordinary historical heritage with a functioning, contemporary urban economy. The ancient city wall, the Bell and Drum Towers, and the Muslim Quarter sit alongside metro lines, universities, and a growing technology sector.
The city draws visitors primarily for its archaeological and historical significance, but it also offers a distinctive regional food culture, a well-preserved urban core, and convenient rail connections to the rest of China. It is considered one of the four great ancient capitals of China alongside Beijing, Nanjing, and Luoyang.
Before You Go
Visas
Entry requirements for China depend on your nationality and can change with little notice. Check TravelerPulse's Visas section and consult the official website of China's National Immigration Administration or your nearest Chinese embassy before planning travel. Some nationalities have benefited from visa-free or visa-on-arrival arrangements on a trial basis; verify current status well in advance.
Health
No specific vaccinations are legally required to enter China for most travelers, but consulting a travel health clinic before departure is advisable. Tap water in Xi'an is not considered safe to drink; bottled or boiled water is the standard. Air quality can be poor, particularly in winter months due to heating emissions and regional geography — those with respiratory conditions should monitor air quality indexes and consider appropriate masks.
Connectivity
China maintains restrictions on many widely used foreign internet services, including Google, WhatsApp, and major social media platforms. A VPN may be useful but is subject to Chinese law; research this thoroughly before travel. Download offline maps and translation tools before arrival. A local SIM card or international roaming plan with data is strongly recommended.
Currency and Payments
The Chinese Yuan (RMB) is the only legal tender. Mobile payment apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate transactions in Xi'an, including at many street food stalls and smaller shops. International visitors can now link foreign cards to these platforms in some cases, but carrying some cash remains sensible, particularly for smaller vendors and rural day trips. ATMs accepting foreign cards can be found at major banks and larger hotels; verify your card's compatibility before travel.
Getting There
By Air
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (IATA: XIY) is the main gateway, located roughly 40 kilometres northwest of the city centre. It serves a large number of domestic routes and a growing number of international connections. A dedicated express rail link connects the airport to the city's metro system; verify current operating details and fares locally or on the airport's official website.
By High-Speed Rail
Xi'an is a major hub on China's high-speed rail network. Xi'an North Railway Station is the main terminus for high-speed services, with fast connections to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, and many other cities. Journey times vary; the Beijing–Xi'an route takes roughly four to five hours on express services. Xi'an Railway Station (the older station) handles some conventional and overnight trains.
By Long-Distance Bus
Long-distance coach services connect Xi'an to regional destinations in Shaanxi Province and neighbouring provinces, though high-speed rail is generally more comfortable and often competitive in price for longer distances.
Getting Around
Metro
Xi'an has an expanding metro network covering key areas including the city centre, railway stations, and routes toward the airport. It is the most reliable way to navigate the urban core. Maps and announcements are available in both Chinese and English.
Bus
The city bus network is extensive and inexpensive but can be complex to navigate without reading Chinese. Apps such as Baidu Maps (with Chinese interface) or Amap are useful for planning routes. Some popular tourist buses run between major attractions.
Taxi and Ride-Hailing
Licensed taxis are widely available. Ride-hailing via DiDi (China's dominant platform) is practical with a registered account. Few taxi drivers in Xi'an speak English, so having your destination written in Chinese characters is helpful.
Cycling
Dock-free bike-share schemes (Meituan, Hello Bike) are available throughout the city, including the popular route along the top of the ancient city wall, which has its own rental service. The flat city centre is reasonably cycle-friendly.
Day Trip Transport
For the Terracotta Army site and Huaqing Hot Springs, public buses depart from near Xi'an Railway Station. Tour buses and privately arranged transport are also common. Verify current schedules locally.
Things to See & Do
Terracotta Army (Bingmayong)
The Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, located approximately 30 kilometres east of the city, is Xi'an's signature attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discovered in 1974, the site contains thousands of life-size clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried with the First Emperor of Qin, Qin Shi Huang. Three main excavation pits are open to visitors. Allow at least three hours. Admission fees and hours: verify on the museum's official website before visiting, as these change periodically.
Ancient City Wall (Chengqiang)
Xi'an's Ming Dynasty city wall is one of the best-preserved ancient fortifications in China, enclosing a roughly rectangular perimeter of about 14 kilometres. Visitors can walk or rent bicycles on top of the wall, which offers views over both the old city and modern Xi'an. The wall is particularly atmospheric at dusk.
Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) and Great Mosque
The Muslim Quarter is a densely packed neighbourhood reflecting the city's historic Hui Muslim community, whose presence in Xi'an dates back to the Tang Dynasty Silk Road era. The main pedestrian street is lined with food stalls and small shops. The Great Mosque of Xi'an, set within a traditional Chinese courtyard layout, is one of the oldest and most architecturally distinctive mosques in China. Non-Muslim visitors are generally admitted to the courtyard; verify current access arrangements locally.
Shaanxi History Museum
Housing one of China's premier collections of historical artefacts, the Shaanxi History Museum covers the region's role as a centre of Chinese civilisation across multiple dynasties. The collection includes Tang Dynasty gold and silver objects, ancient bronzes, and murals. Entry is free for part of the collection but limited daily tickets are required; verify current ticketing procedures on the museum's official website.
Bell Tower and Drum Tower
These two Ming Dynasty landmarks stand at the heart of the old city, surrounded by a busy commercial area. Both can be entered for a small fee. The Bell Tower sits at a major intersection and is especially photogenic at night.
Huaqing Hot Springs
Located at the foot of Mount Li, east of the city, Huaqing is a historic palace and hot spring complex associated with the Tang Emperor Xuanzong and the imperial concubine Yang Guifei. The site also has significance relating to the 1936 Xi'an Incident. Verify current admission and hours locally.
Mount Hua (Huashan)
One of China's Five Sacred Mountains, Mount Hua is located roughly 120 kilometres east of Xi'an and is reachable by high-speed rail. It is known for its dramatic granite peaks, steep trails, and famous plank walks along sheer cliff faces. It is a strenuous day trip or overnight excursion and not suitable for those with significant mobility limitations or a fear of heights.
Food & Drink
Xi'an's food culture is one of the most distinctive in China, shaped by the city's position at the gateway to Central Asia and its large Hui Muslim community. The regional cuisine is hearty, wheat-forward, and different in character from better-known Chinese regional cuisines such as Sichuan or Cantonese.
Key Dishes to Try
- Biangbiang Noodles (Biángbiáng miàn): Extremely wide, hand-pulled noodles typically served with chilli oil, garlic, and various toppings. The character used to write 'biang' is one of the most stroke-complex Chinese characters in use.
- Rou Jia Mo: Often described colloquially as a 'Chinese burger,' this is braised meat — commonly pork or beef/lamb in halal versions — stuffed into a baked flatbread. A ubiquitous street food.
- Yang Rou Pao Mo: A substantial soup of crumbled unleavened flatbread cooked in a rich lamb or beef broth, often garnished with glass noodles and pickled garlic. Diners at traditional restaurants typically break the bread themselves.
- Cold Skin Noodles (Liang Pi): Chewy, cool wheat or rice noodles served with chilli oil, vinegar, and sesame paste. Common as a street snack.
- Persimmon Cakes (Shi Zi Bing): Flat, pan-fried pastries made with persimmon, common in autumn.
Where to Eat
The Muslim Quarter is the most concentrated area for street food, though it caters heavily to tourists and quality and hygiene vary. Seek out local noodle shops and small restaurants away from the main tourist strip for a more everyday experience. Many restaurants around the Bell Tower and in residential neighbourhoods serve reliable regional food at modest prices.
Drink
Tea is widely consumed. Xi'an also has a developing café scene, particularly around universities and the southern districts. Alcohol is freely available in restaurants, bars, and convenience stores. The Muslim Quarter's restaurants generally do not serve alcohol.
Shopping
Xi'an's shopping ranges from tourist-focused handicraft markets to large modern malls. The area around the Muslim Quarter and the Shuyuanmen Cultural Street (near the South Gate of the city wall) is lined with shops selling calligraphy, traditional crafts, terracotta reproductions, shadow puppets, and other Shaanxi-themed souvenirs. Quality varies significantly; exercise appropriate scepticism with anything claimed to be antique.
Modern shopping malls are concentrated around the Bell Tower area and in newer commercial districts such as Xiaozhai. Major Chinese retail chains and some international brands are well represented. Bargaining is expected in open markets and at many souvenir stalls but is not the norm in fixed-price shops or malls.
Practical Information
Emergency Numbers
Verify current local emergency contact numbers before travel; in China, 110 is the general police number, 120 is for medical emergencies, and 119 is for fire services. These numbers are widely cited but confirm accuracy with official sources.
Hospitals
Xi'an has several large public hospitals and some facilities with international departments. For non-emergency medical matters, your accommodation's front desk can often recommend nearby clinics. Travel health insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly advised.
Language
Very little English is spoken outside of major hotels, large tourist sites, and some restaurants. Learning a handful of Mandarin phrases and having key phrases written in Chinese characters (for showing to taxi drivers, for example) will be genuinely useful. Translation apps with a camera function can assist with reading menus and signage.
Electricity
China uses 220V, 50Hz. The most common socket types are two-pin flat (Type A) and three-pin angled (Type I, similar to Australian standard). Universal travel adapters are widely sold locally. Check your device's voltage compatibility.
Time
All of China operates on a single time zone, China Standard Time (UTC+8), regardless of geographic position. This is relevant to note if travelling from western China.
Safety
Xi'an is generally considered a safe city for travellers by Chinese and regional standards. Violent crime against tourists is rare. Petty theft — pickpocketing in crowded areas such as the Muslim Quarter, tourist sites, and public transport — is the most realistic risk and can be mitigated with standard precautions such as securing bags and being alert in dense crowds.
Scams targeting tourists do exist, including overcharging in unmarked taxis, art student approaches offering to take visitors to galleries or tea ceremonies, and counterfeit goods sold as authentic antiques. Being aware of common scam patterns before arrival reduces risk considerably.
Traffic in Xi'an, as in most large Chinese cities, can be heavy and unpredictable; exercise caution when crossing streets, as pedestrian right-of-way norms differ from those in many Western countries.
China's legal and political environment differs significantly from Western liberal democracies. Be aware that laws regarding speech, political activity, photography of certain facilities, and other matters may differ from those in your home country. Research these matters before travel.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Xi'an's cultural identity is shaped by its position as a cradle of Chinese civilisation and its historic role as a cosmopolitan Silk Road hub. The city has a significant Hui Muslim community whose presence has influenced local food, architecture, and social life for over a millennium. The Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter are living expressions of this heritage, not simply tourist attractions.
When visiting religious sites — including the Great Mosque, Buddhist temples such as the Da Ci'en Temple (home of the Wild Goose Pagoda), and Taoist sites — dress modestly and follow on-site guidance regarding photography and behaviour. Remove shoes where indicated.
Xi'an also retains strong connections to traditional Chinese performing arts, including Qin opera (Qinqiang), one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera. Shadow puppetry is another traditional art form associated with the Shaanxi region. Performances and workshops are available for visitors at various cultural venues; verify schedules locally.
