Xi'an Citywalk: 3-Day Itinerary — Imperial Glory of Qin & Tang Dynasties

Overview

Xi'an, ancient Chang'an, capital of 13 dynasties and the Silk Road starting point, with 3,100 years of history. Lonely Planet calls it "China's history in miniature." Three days to witness the Terracotta Army, cycle the 600-year-old city wall, taste centuries-old flavors in the Muslim Quarter, and feel the Tang Dynasty come alive at the Grand Tang Everbright City.

Best Season: March–May, September–November Budget: ~¥1,500–2,800 per person Transport: Metro covers major sights; stay near Bell Tower for convenience

Day 1: Terracotta Army & Huaqing Palace

Morning: Terracotta Army Museum

Getting there: Tourist shuttle from Yisu Theater (near Bell Tower), ~1 hr Tickets: ¥120 (includes pits + Qin Mausoleum)

The 8th Wonder of the World. Over 8,000 unique terracotta warriors.

Visit order: Pit 1 (largest, 6,000+ figures) → Pit 3 (command center) → Pit 2 (elite troops) → Bronze Chariots

Tips: Hire a guide or audio guide (¥40) — without historical context, you'll miss most of the magic.

Afternoon: Huaqing Palace

Getting there: Bus 613 or taxi from Terracotta Army (~15 min) Tickets: ¥120

Imperial hot spring palace of the Tang Dynasty, love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang Guifei. Also the 1936 Xi'an Incident site.

Evening: "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" Show

Spectacular outdoor performance at Huaqing Palace. Tickets ¥268–988, book 3–5 days ahead. Seasonal: April–October.

Day 2: Tang Dynasty Landmarks

Morning: Shaanxi History Museum

Getting there: Metro Line 2/3, Xiaozhai Station Tickets: Free (WeChat reservation 3–7 days ahead) | Treasure Gallery ¥30

One of China's finest museums, 1.7 million artifacts.

Must-see:

Tang Dynasty mural paintings
Hejia Village gold and silver hoard
Famous pieces: gold animal-head agate cup, Empress's jade seal

Tips: Allow 2–3 hours; bring original passport

Afternoon: Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Getting there: 15-min walk from museum Tickets: Da Ci'en Temple ¥40, pagoda climb ¥25

Built in 652 AD for monk Xuanzang's Buddhist scriptures. Climb for panoramic city grid views.

Evening: Tang Paradise → Grand Tang Everbright City

Tang Paradise: Free entry (reservation needed). Visit after 4 PM for daylight + night lights.

Grand Tang Everbright City: Free pedestrian street with Tang-themed light shows and street performances. Hanfu (traditional dress) photos are hugely popular.

Day 3: City Wall & Muslim Quarter

Morning: Cycle the Ancient City Wall

Getting there: South Gate (Yongning Gate) Tickets: ¥54 | Bike rental ¥45/2 hours

China's best-preserved ancient city wall, built 1370–1378, 13.7 km perimeter.

Route: South Gate → East Gate (Changle Gate) → Jianguo Gate, about 1/3 of the circuit.

Lunch: Yongxing Fang Food Street

10-min walk from East Gate. Shaanxi intangible heritage food:

Zichang Pancakes: Paper-thin northern Shaanxi crepes (¥15)
Bowl-Smashing Wine: Drink and smash the bowl for luck (¥5)
Biangbiang Noodles: One belt-wide noodle (¥20–30)

Afternoon: Bell & Drum Towers + Muslim Quarter

Bell Tower (1384): ¥30. Drum Tower: ¥30. Xi'an's iconic center.

Muslim Quarter: Behind Drum Tower, 600 years of Muslim food culture.

Must-eat:

Yangrou Paomo (Lamb Pita Bread Soup): Tear bread → soak in broth → eat (¥35–50)
Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger): Crispy bread with braised meat (¥10–15)
Liangpi (Cold Noodles): Spicy, tangy Shaanxi soul food (¥8–12)
Pomegranate Juice: Fresh-squeezed from Lintong pomegranates (¥10)

Pro tip: Skip the main street, explore Dapiyuan and Sajinqiao alleys for more authentic food.

Evening: Shuyuanmen Cultural Street

Near the Forest of Steles Museum. Calligraphy, ink stones, and scholarly atmosphere.

Practical Info

Transportation

Metro: 4 lines, ¥2–7, covers major sights
Bus: ¥2, tourist shuttles to Terracotta Army
Taxi: Starting ¥9/2km
High-speed rail: Xi'an North Station connects nationwide

Accommodation

Budget: Bell Tower/South Gate, ¥200–400/night
Mid-range: Big Wild Goose Pagoda/Qujiang, ¥400–800/night
Luxury: Westin/Gran Meliá, ¥800+/night

Food Map

Paomo: Lao Sun Jia, Tong Sheng Xiang
Roujiamo: Qin Yu, Zi Wu Lu Zhang Ji
Liangpi: Wei Jia Liangpi
Biangbiang Mian: Yongxing Fang, Muslim Quarter
Zenggao (sticky rice cake): Dong Nan Ya Zenggao
Bingfeng Soda: Xi'an's local cola

Tips

Shaanxi History Museum reservations fill fast — book 7 days ahead
Terracotta Army: a guide makes all the difference
"Song of Everlasting Sorrow" needs 3–5 day advance booking
City wall cycling: bring sunscreen, spring/autumn ideal
Muslim Quarter: respect Muslim customs (no pork)
Xi'an summers are very hot; Terracotta site has minimal AC

Xi'an — a city that lives inside history. Three days from the iron army of Qin to the golden age of Tang, from wall-top winds to street-level flavors — every step spans millennia.