Xi'an Travel Guide: Terracotta Army, City Walls, and Muslim Quarter

Why Visit Xi'an

Xi'an was the eastern end of the Silk Road and the capital of thirteen Chinese dynasties. It has more imperial history than any Chinese city outside Beijing, but a fraction of the crowds. The Muslim Quarter is one of the best street food areas in all of China.

Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army (兵马俑) is one of the world's greatest archaeological discoveries — 8,000 life-sized warriors buried to guard the first Chinese emperor.

1. 1Book tickets in advance at the official website or Trip.com
2. 2Arrive early — the site gets extremely crowded after 10am
3. 3Hire an official audio guide or licensed guide at the entrance
4. 4Visit Pit 1 first (the largest), then Pit 2 (most interesting), then the exhibition halls
5. 5Allow 3–4 hours for a thorough visit

• ✓No individual warrior is identical — look for differences in facial features
• ✓The warriors were originally brightly painted — the colors faded after excavation
• ✓The tomb of the emperor himself has not been excavated and may never be

Ancient City Walls

Xi'an's City Walls (城墙) are the best-preserved ancient city walls in China — 14km in circumference and wide enough to drive a car on.

1. 1Rent a bike at the Yongning Gate (south gate) — cycling the full circuit takes about 2 hours
2. 2The walls are open until 10pm and beautifully lit at night
3. 3Entrance fee: ¥54, includes bicycle rental

Muslim Quarter Street Food

The Huimin Street (回民街) area is a 1km pedestrian street of food stalls, restaurants, and bakeries run by Xi'an's Hui Muslim community.

• ✓Roujiamo (肉夹馍): China's version of a burger — braised meat in flatbread
• ✓Biangbiang noodles (biángbiáng面): wide, hand-pulled noodles with chili oil
• ✓Yangrou paomo (羊肉泡馍): lamb soup with crumbled flatbread, a Xi'an institution
• ✓Pomegranate juice (石榴汁): freshly squeezed, sweet, and everywhere
• ✓Go in the evening when the street is most lively

Getting Around Xi'an

Xi'an's city center is compact and very walkable. The main sights within the city walls can be reached on foot or by metro.

1. 1Metro Line 2 connects the train station and Yongning Gate (City Walls south entrance)
2. 2DiDi works well for the Terracotta Army — about ¥60–80 each way
3. 3Bike rental inside the city walls is the most enjoyable way to explore