How To Spend 3 Days In Xi’An (Beyond The Boring Guidebooks)

Once the capital of some of China’s most influential dynasties, Xi’an is a city dripping in history. As one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals and the starting point of the Silk Road, this place has seen 6,500 years of cultural significance.

With a title like that, you’d think the internet would have exciting ideas for exploring this second-most popular tourist destination in China, right? Wrong.

The search results for Xi’an are so boring they almost made me reconsider going.

When I was planning my trip to Xi’an, every travel blog and website I came across felt like a copy-paste of the same tired recommendations. Bike the city walls, check out the Terracotta Warriors, visit the Wild Goose Pagoda… blah blah blah.

Sure, these are must-see sights, but what about the fun stuff not centered around history? Like where to eat, where to soak up the local vibes, and where to experience the real Xi’an? I couldn’t find any of this stuff in the search results. To be frank, what was out there was quite useless.

So, I did what any determined traveler would do—I teamed up with my other tripmates for research. My Chinese parents!

Between their deep dives into Chinese websites and Chinese YouTube rabbit holes and my hellbent need to make this trip awesome, we pieced together a 3-day itinerary that’s actually worth your time.

Our itinerary is packed with history, sure, but also incredible food, fun period costumes, and large-scale shows that’ll make your jaw drop to the floor because of how good they are.

In my humble opinion, this itinerary is way more fun than the majority of them out there. Ready for the best three days in Xi’an?

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

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Xi’an, China: Why Is It Such A Popular Destination?

I’m going to assume you’re currently like I was: headed to China as a first-timer and knowing absolutely nothing about Xi’an beyond maybe hearing about the Terracotta Warriors in passing.

If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. I didn’t know much either—just that Xi’an was one of the stops on my trip because it had been on my parents’ bucket lists for decades.

But you know what I learned after visiting? This city is an absolute goldmine of history and culture that will make you wonder why it doesn’t get more hype in Western travel guides. In fact, Xi’an is now the second-most popular tourist destination in China.

Driving through the city center at night, the grand architecture and the crowds of the Bell Tower area really stuck out to me (it felt almost like the Arc de Triomphe area in Paris). Yes, there were times when Xi’an felt like Paris of the East to me!

The area came alive with Chinese tourists dressed in hanfu, snapping endless photos with their bright selfie lights. Street vendors were out selling cute, old-timey souvenirs that go along with the costumes.

To say Xi’an is a popular destination is an understatement.

A quick (and not-boring) history lesson

Xi’an was once the capital of several of China’s most important dynasties — Western Zhou, Han, Sui, and Tang. You’ll encounter the words “Han” and “Tang” throughout our itinerary (like Hanfu costumes and Tang Everbright City).

It also happens to be the Eastern starting point of the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that connected China to Europe and the Middle East, allowing people to exchange goods, ideas, and cultures.

Xi’an was the starting point (or “eastern terminus” in history speak), meaning it was where merchants, travelers, and goods like silk, spices, and pottery began their journey westward. Because of this, the city became a hotspot center for trade and cultural blending for centuries.

But perhaps its most famous historical claim is being home to the Terracotta Warriors. This mind-blowingly massive collection of life-sized clay soldiers was commissioned by China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, as part of his elaborate mausoleum.

Xi’an brings its history to life for tourists through its experiences

Historical landmarks and museums are just the beginning though. With thousands of years of history, how does a city make it fun for tourists to learn?

Xi’an knows how to bring its ancient charm to life through cultural attractions.

You can watch a theatrical retelling of a Tang emperor and his concubine’s legendary romance or dress up in traditional hanfu costumes for photos that’ll make you look like the star of your own Chinese period drama.

There’s Tang Paradise, a garden-style park packed with elaborate pavilions, fountains, and other ancient architecture, making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time as a member of the royal court in the Tang Dynasty.

Then there are the grand shows all across town. As of writing, there are four major shows worth watching, all of which depict different parts of Xi’an’s history through the centuries. We watched 2 out of 4 of them ourselves, but if you can fit in more, do not skimp. They are so epic!

Hungry? Hit up Muslim Street for local specialties like mutton soup, biang biang noodles, lamb skewers, fresh pomegranate juice, or dried persimmon while soaking up the lively atmosphere.

See, there’s a reason this city is such a magnet for tourists—and after spending even a day here, you’ll get it too!

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To Make Sense Of This Xi’an Travel Guide…

Some quick things to know:

• Dazhong Dianping = the Yelp of China. Get the app so you can read reviews for establishments, see star ratings and pictures, and get the addresses of the places I recommend in this guide.
• Some of the restaurants in this guide have multiple locations. If the location I’m recommending is far from where you’ll be staying, search on the Dianping app to see if there’s a closer location.
• Looking up specific addresses is tough when you’re abroad. I did most of my research once I touched down in China and had access to Apple Maps (China version). FYI, Google Maps is barely usable for Xi’an planning (as well as the rest of China).
• The links provided are sites that I actually booked from. For Xi’an, I used Trip.com and GetYourGuide to book all my attraction tickets. Trip.com is a really good place to read user reviews before committing to any paid attraction.
• Get familiarized with how China works before diving into this travel guide. Here are 30 essential things to know about China before your trip.

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How To Spend 3 Days In Xi’an, China

This itinerary contains everything we did on our own trip to Xi’an. Since we got into Xi’an by plane late, we had a half-day on our first day. I’ll refer to it as Day 0 below.

While not all the places we ate at were 5/5’s, I did include the ones that were winners so you have an idea of where to eat for your own trip.

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ve got coming your way:

• Day 1: Terracotta Soldiers, An Army Reborn, Muslim Street
• Day 2: City Walls of Xi’an, Silk Road Camel Bell Show, Datang Everbright City
• Day 3: Dumping Buffet, 12 Hours In Chang’an, Tang Dynasty Dinner Show

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Day 0 in Xi’an

Our flight got us from Hong Kong to Xi’an at around 5pm, so we only really had time to check-in, eat dinner, and roam around for a post-meal stroll. Hence, Day 0.

Traffic is horrible in Xi’an. Depending on what time you fly in, you’re looking at about 1-2 hours from the airport (XIY) to the city center.

Didi’s are quite cheap, so even though you’ll need to endure a frustratingly long car ride to get to the city center, at least you’ll rest easy knowing you aren’t shelling out hundreds for a 2-hour car ride.

We had a total of 4 people and tons of luggage. We ordered a premium 6-person van on Didi and paid 220 RMB ($30 USD).

Check-in at the hotel

We stayed at Jinmao Hotel Xi’an Downtown, and it was an absolutely fantastic stay. It was affordable, conveniently located, and had lots of small touches that made our stay memorable — we could not have found a better hotel.

The location was spot-on—tucked away on a side street with plenty of street food vendors and restaurants, and just a 5-minute walk from the Drum Tower and Muslim Street (Huimin Street).

The room was super spacious, and the free breakfast had a great mix of Western and Chinese options, including made-to-order wontons and noodle soups. The kitchen also stays open in the evening, so you can grab a bowl of noodle soup or tongyuan dessert whenever you want. Completely free of charge!

I cannot recommend this hotel enough!

Dinner: Zhuichang’an (醉长安)

Since Shaanxi cuisine is not something we are used to eating, we asked our Didi driver for tips on where to eat. He told us that Zhichuang’an is a popular Shaanxi restaurant with multiple chains, and there just so happened to be a location literally 20 steps from our hotel.

We ate there. It was FANTASTIC.

Since we were noobs at Shaanxi cuisine, we still weren’t really sure what to order, so we asked the waitress and opted for one of their set menus. We added on a dish that we saw nearly everyone eating: their signature braised pork leg over rice.

Not gonna lie… this was one of the BEST dishes we ate over the course of our 3 weeks in China! Out of everything we tried, this was the standout dish. The other dishes were good too, but this one was great.

A lot of the other diners were eating one of their signature chicken dishes which looked great too. You can explore the menu more on Dazhong Dianping.

Name of restaurant: Zhichuang’an (Bell Tower Location) – 醉长安(钟楼旗舰店)

Address: 竹笆市7号 (next to Mehood Lestie Hotel, Xi’an Bell and Drum Tower South Gate)

See the Bell Tower and Drum Tower at night

Wrap up your first night in Xi’an by visiting the Bell Tower and Drum Tower at night before you call it a day. Chances are, you’ll pass by these during the day naturally as you visit sights around the city.

But they’re completely different after dark. During the day, they’re just your standard gray (adorned with some red lanterns), but at night, they light up with all kinds of reds, golds, and greens. So pretty!

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Day 1 in Xi’an: Terracotta Warriors

For your day trip to Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum (aka the Terracotta Warriors), do yourself a favor and buy your tickets in advance.

This isn’t the kind of attraction where you want to wing it—tickets sell out, and scrambling to figure it all out on the day of can be a real headache. Honestly, you might not even get in if you try buying on the day of.

Here are two ways you could approach your visit:

Option 1: Book a guided tour upfront

If dealing with logistics isn’t your thing, go for a guided tour that includes everything—transportation, tickets, and an English-speaking tour guide.

Some tours even bundle in stops at other landmarks like the city walls, a pagoda, or Muslim Street.

Yes, this option is more expensive, but it’s good for those who want a stress-free, done-for-you experience. You can find guided Terracotta Warriors tours on sites like Viator or Trip.com with an added bonus: they are foreigner-friendly and don’t require a mainland China phone number to book.

Option 2: Buy tickets and hire a guide when you get there

If you’re traveling on a budget OR need a bit more flexibility, you can buy individual tickets to Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum and hire one of the many tour guides waiting at the entrance. This is what we did.

Since we had plans to watch An Army Reborn after visiting the Terracotta Warriors, we didn’t want to be tied to a guided tour that came with round-trip transportation. The theater was just a 10-minute car ride away from the terracotta museum.

Keep in mind that most official ticketing sites require a mainland China phone number to book, but Trip.com doesn’t—this is where we snagged our tickets.

Once there, we hired an official tour guide at the entrance for 400 RMB ($55 USD) total, for 4 people. Linda, our tour guide, spent 4.5 hours with us, taking us to the different dig sites, the onsite jade factory, and more.

This option is great if you want to keep your day at the mausoleum open-ended but still want the expertise of a guide to explain what you’re seeing. And if you also want to watch An Army Reborn like we did, option 2 is the way to go!

Either way, plan ahead—you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle and make the most out of this bucket-list experience.

Getting there: Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site

The site of the terracotta warriors is about 1 hour away from the city center of Xi’an.

From our hotel in the city center to the Terracotta Army Museum, we paid 91 RMB ($13 USD).

Address: Lintong District, Xi’An, Shaanxi, China

Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum

With your tour guide, you’ll spend about 2.5 hours exploring the different pits and areas of the mausoleum site. Here’s a quick overview of what our guided tour consisted of:

Our guide, Linda, handed each of us our audioguide gadgets so that we could hear her talking even from a distance. Very much needed because of how insanely crowded it is inside the pit.

She helped my dad obtain his free senior citizen ticket to the museum, walked us to the entrance, and got us through the mayhem pretty quickly.

Once we were in, to save time and beat the crowds, we opted for the paid shuttle instead of walking to the mausoleum entrance. You can either take the shuttle or walk 2km to reach the mausoleum site.

She started the tour by giving us background info on the Qin dynasty and the first Emperor of China, who unified China and ordered the construction of the mausoleum. Since we knew virtually nothing about him, we asked her all kinds of elementary questions which she graciously answered.

From there, we moved from pit to pit, all of which housed over 7,000 artifacts, including warriors, chariots, horses, and weapons.

The tour focused on three main pits:

• Pit 1: The largest, containing over 3,000 warriors in battle formation.
• Pit 2: Features cavalry, infantry, and chariots.
• Pit 3: The command post with high-ranking officers.

In 1974, a group of farmers discovered the site by complete accident — the whole area was entirely just farmland not too long ago. You can still see the farmer’s orange house which still stands next to the mausoleum.

Linda explained how these pits were discovered one by one, touched on the reconstruction of the soldiers, and the significance of the different warrior types and formations.

She also pointed out interesting details like the individual facial features of the warriors (made of 8 face molds, all painted differently), the different body shapes they all had, and the craftsmanship involved in creating them.

She also touched on the topic of the ongoing excavation process and restoration efforts. On weekdays, you can actually see archaeologists at work at the site.

One of the most fascinating things she told us was how when the warriors were first unearthed in 1974, the terracotta warriors were actually brightly colored with paint.

But because of how quickly the paint oxidized once it was exposed to air, the paint flaked off and faded almost immediately (within minutes). It’s like the colors were literally disappearing before the archaeologists’ eyes.

This rapid deterioration is why a large portion of the warriors are still kept underground. Scientists and archaeologists made a tough call: they decided it was better to keep a lot of the warriors buried rather than risk losing more of the original colors and details.

The idea is that future generations might develop better preservation techniques. So by keeping some warriors buried, we’re basically saving them for a time when we can unearth them without destroying their original appearance.

We also learned about the emperor’s tomb nearby and other pits containing various artifacts like bronze carriages and figures of entertainers.

During the tour, we opted for some additional interactive experiences that brought the terracotta warriors to life and helped us understand the mausoleum better. We also got some funny photos of us turned into terracotta warriors ourselves!

Our tour ended shortly after visiting the gift shop area, where you can buy your very own terracotta soldier set. They’ve got these certified authentic terracotta warrior replicas that are made with actual soil from the excavation site and come with a legit certificate.

According to our tour guide, they’re way better than those knock-offs you’ll find on the street, which are just made with whatever materials. If you’re gonna splurge on a souvenir, get the real deal!

👉 Need help finding a tour guide for your Terracotta Warrior museum visit? Send me a message if you want Linda’s WeChat info. She accepts advanced bookings!

Have lunch

At the end of most guided tours of the Terracotta Warriors, you’ll find yourself in an area packed with souvenir shops and restaurants. If you’ve opted for a morning visit (8:30-10 am), you’ll likely finish your tour of the site by around lunchtime.

Our guide tipped us off about a local must-try: mutton soup. We popped into one of the restaurants there and ordered two Shaanxi classics — biang biang noodles and mutton soup.

Biang biang noodles are thick, chewy hand-pulled noodles drizzled with chili oil and aromatics. They are unmissable in Xi’an… just look for two crazy-looking Chinese characters that look like 6 words smushed into one!

The mutton soup contained meat and mini rice dumplings, served in a rich and hearty broth. As someone who doesn’t mind gaminess, I really enjoyed the soup (but people who don’t like that lamb-y taste may not be a fan).

An Army Reborn

After lunch, we headed to our next stop: to watch An Army Reborn.

This show is one of the most immersive and unique experiences I’ve ever had!

The plotline is based on the oldest family letters ever discovered in Chinese history: correspondences written by Qin Kingdom soldiers, Heifu and Jing, to their elder brother back home.

These letters, unearthed in 1975 in Hubei Province, are currently displayed at the Yunmeng Xiangshan Museum in central China.

While the letters are real, An Army Reborn spins a fictional tale around them, following the brothers as they go to war and the emotional story of the family waiting for their return.

My use of the word “emotional” is no joke! All four of us cried at some point during the show because of the likely fact that these brothers never made it home to their families in real life.

What made this show so incredibly immersive is how you’re literally surrounded by all of the action and moving alongside the actors. Instead of sitting in a static theater, you move from set to set as the story unfolds.

At one point, we were running right behind the actors—soldiers heading into battle—straight into the next theater room. It was so exhilarating!

👉 Pro Tip: We booked these tickets through Trip.com and somehow ended up getting VIP treatment. Our tickets came with reserved seating, which meant front-row seating, and we were among the first to move to each new set. Beating the crowds made the whole experience even smoother and more enjoyable. English audioguides are included if you need it.

At this point, we called a Didi back to our hotel to rest up before dinner time. For dinner, we hit the streets to sample some local street snacks that put Xi’an on the map.

👉 ALTERNATIVE SHOW: The Song of Everlasting Sorrow – Taking place at the Huaqing Palace (near the site of the Terracotta Warriors), this show depicts a love story between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his favorite concubine — this actually took place more than 1,300 years ago! This show is outdoors, with the iconic Mount Li serving as the background of the performance.

Muslim Street (Huimin Jie)

The Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) near the Bell Tower is a must-visit for food lovers. It’s probably the #1 recommended activity in Xi’an after the Terracotta Warriors.

Steeped in history, the neighborhood has housed a largely Muslim population since the 7th century. Known for its savory street food and traditional Muslim dishes, this area really comes alive at night with tons of good food and unique shops to explore.

The Muslim Quarter’s narrow lanes are full of vendors of all sorts — you’ll find street snacks, butcher shops, sesame oil factories, tea shops, souvenir stores, and even mosques hidden behind enormous wooden doors.

The reason why most people visit? The food.

The smell of rou jia mo (Shaanxi-style “hamburgers” made with beef, lamb, or chicken), kao rou (grilled meat), spicy roasted tofu, biang biang mian (biang biang noodles), zenggao (glutinous rice and date cake), and freshly baked Muslim bread will make it impossible to resist grabbing a bite.

Everything here is halal, so no pork or alcohol.

👉 Need help figuring out what to eat? Opt for a guided food tour of the Muslim Quarter.

If you’re still hungry after trying all the local specialties here, head to Yongxingfang Food Street near Zhongshan Gate along the city wall.

You can try other local Xi’an favorites like cold noodles (liang pi), soup-filled dumplings (guan tang baozi), and honey-glazed sticky rice (feng mi zong zi).

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Day 2: Castle Walls, The Silk Road, and Tang Dynasty

Walk or bike the castle wall

The Xi’an City Wall is a tourist favorite. If you’ve never walked a set of castle walls, now’s your chance!

Spanning approximately 8.5 miles (13.75 kilometers), it forms a complete loop for walkers and bikers to enjoy. For a quick morning excursion, take a walk from one gate to an adjacent one.

If you’re looking for a longer activity, you can rent a bike from one of the six rental locations at the South, West, North, East, or Hanguang Gates. The bike shops open at or around 8 am, so you can start your day early, enjoying the morning air and beating the crowds.

A complete bike loop takes about 75 to 100 minutes, depending on your pace and the number of photo stops you make.

Sadly, we had to skip this entire activity due to rain, but it was one of the things we were looking forward to doing on our itinerary!

Bell Tower and Drum Tower by day

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are two of Xi’an’s most iconic landmarks, located in the heart of the city. These structures once played vital roles in marking the time during the Ming Dynasty and earlier periods.

The Drum Tower is named after the huge drum it houses. Every day at dawn the drum beats to signal the end of the day, in contrast to the Bell Tower heard chiming at sunrise.

Both structures contain intricately crafted wooden drums and cast-iron bells that can be explored on foot. You can buy tickets to explore the two towers individually or as a combo ticket.

• Bell Tower tickets can be purchased in advance here
• Drum Tower tickets can be purchased in advance here

During our visit, the Drum Tower was under construction and wrapped up, which was a bummer for us. We were still able to enjoy the views of the Bell Tower though!

Silk Road: Legend of Camel Bell Show (Tuo Ling Legend Show)

If you’re a fan of live theater, The Legend of Camel Bell is a must-watch. As I’ve said before, Mainland China has some of the best large-scale shows on the planet.

While An Army Reborn was more of a play (has more talking), Legend of Camel Bell is more of a song-and-dance show that requires less listening and more watching.

One thing is for sure, this show WILL leave you awestruck. The technology, dancing, costumes — even the stage — are all next level.

In The Legend of Camel Bell, the Silk Road is brought to life with epic stage effects, water, props, over 30 live camels, wolves (played by dogs), and a wild storyline about young adventurers traveling from the Tang capital of Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an) to ancient Rome.

The super high-tech stage is worth noting. Instead of changing the props in between scenes, the entire audience platform spins to reveal a new set—hands down the coolest theater setup I’ve ever seen!

PRO TIP: Splurge for the VIP tickets (seats in the red area). The seats are way better for seeing all the action since the actors and animals extend past the main staging area. Plus, you might get splashed during the insane Buddha scene if you’re sitting in the front row seats (green area) — no more spoilers on that!

Captions are available in English, Korean, and Chinese, so you’ll follow the story just fine if you can read one of those languages.

They have multiple showtimes per day, but we caught the 3 PM show so we could fit in more activities in the evening.

👉 WHERE TO BUY TICKETS: Tickets are usually available on GetYourGuide and Trip.com. Some options come with round-trip transportation to and from the theater, while others only include the show tickets. Compare prices before buying!

Tang Paradise

After the show, get your mind ready to fully immerse yourself in Tang Dynasty culture. The rest of the day is all about the Tang Dynasty!

Tang Paradise is your first stop. This is China’s first large-scale cultural theme park that reproduces the landscape of the royal gardens and palaces of the Tang Dynasty.

Because of how tranquil it is, it’s the perfect way to ease yourself into Tang culture before heading to the livelier Datang Everbright City later in the evening.

Nearly everything in Tang Paradise reflects Tang Dynasty culture, from the costumed actors and staff to the music, performances, and even the food/drinks.

While you’re here, enjoy the beautifully restored pavilions, towers, water fountains, flower gardens, and ancient architecture.

There are 14 culture areas to explore in Tang Paradise, but the main spots in the park are Ziyun Tower for all the views, Nine-Bend Bridge, Fanglin Garden, Caixia Pavilion, Lu Yu Teahouse, and the water curtain show (a light-and-shadow show that feels like a journey through time).

You’ll also find Tang-style dance performances throughout the day (even past 4pm). We recommend aiming for a late-afternoon visit just before sunset; the park becomes especially magical when lit up at night!

Address: No. 99, Furong West Road, Qujiang New District, Xi’an

Datang Everbright City

End your day at Datang Everbright City (or Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City), a 2,100-meter-long pedestrian road designed to bring Tang Dynasty culture to life.

Stretching from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to the Tang City Wall Heritage Park, this area is a popular hub for shopping, dining, entertainment, and photo ops — all made to make you feel like you’re living in the Tang Dynasty.

The pedestrian mall is open all day, but it’s best enjoyed at night because the area lights up with red walls, glowing trees, and plenty of photographers ready to capture your Tang Dynasty-inspired moments.

Dressing up in traditional Tang clothing, known as hanfu, is a super common activity here. You can admire the costume culture on the sidelines or rent your own costume and create your own movie-worthy memories.

Costume rentals are usually for 8 hours or 24 hours. They’re pretty cheap too. Hair and makeup sometimes cost extra, but some costume shops will include it in the base price.

I was totally down to dress up, aside from the fact that it was so cold during our trip in late November! So I ended up sticking chopsticks in my hair and called it a day.

In case you weren’t able to find good food at Tang Paradise or while walking through Datang Everbright City, there’s a shopping mall along the main pedestrian road. We popped in here after dinner for boba and dessert.

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Day 3: Dumplings, Twelve Hours in Chang’an, Tang Dynasty Dinner Show

If you didn’t get enough of Tang culture on Day 2, we’ve got two more immersive activities for you: the Twelve Hours in Chang’an cultural block and the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show!

Try the iconic dumplings at De Fa Chang

Locals in Xi’an love their dumplings. Before diving into the day’s activities, make time for dumplings at the age-old restaurant famed for its dumplings, De Fa Chang, near the Muslim Quarter.

As one of Xi’an’s most famous restaurants, De Fa Chang offers a buffet of Chinese dumplings that will satisfy even the hungriest of travelers.

This iconic spot serves dumplings shaped like rabbits, chickens, and even money bags, crafted from colorful doughs both thick and thin.

Fillings range from savory wild mushrooms to sweet red bean paste, and you can even cook baby pearl dumplings in lamb broth. Both meat and vegetarian options are available here.

Address: 3 Xi Dajie, Xian, Shaanxi 710001, China

Chinese Address: 西大街3号德发长酒店

Shuyuanmen Ancient Cultural Street

After filling up on dumplings, walk over to Shuyuanmen Ancient Cultural Street, a charming street near Xi’an’s South Gate that brims with history and artistry.

Lined with Ming and Qing Dynasty-style architecture, it’s the perfect spot to browse calligraphy, jade, and handcrafted keepsakes like shadow play figures and papercuts. Don’t miss the chance to bargain for artwork, including paintings by renowned local artists.

You can even listen for the sounds of ancient instruments like the xun and bamboo flute, played by shopkeepers to liven the atmosphere up a little!

Twelve Hours in Chang’an

If you geek out to immersive experiences like we do, get ready to immerse yourself in more Tang culture at the Twelve Hours in Chang’an Cultural Block.

Inspired by the Chinese hit series The Longest Day in Chang’an, this entire area is decked out like a bustling market from a thousand years ago, complete with authentic Tang architecture, music, performances, and even food stalls that offer over 100 traditional delicacies.

You’ll start on the first floor, where you can browse stalls selling Tang-style handicrafts like silverware, embroidery, spices, and glassware. It’s a perfect spot to pick up unique souvenirs that are way more unique than your average fridge magnet.

If you’re hungry, grab a bite of Tang-inspired treats on the first floor.

Head upstairs, and you’ll find a cultural banquet space that takes things up a notch with Tang music and dance performances.

All throughout the building, you’ll encounter actors, musicians, and dancers bringing history to life, all while you explore the themed spaces designed to pull you into the sights and sounds of ancient Chang’an.

👉 BUY TICKETS: The easiest way to buy tickets for this experience is on Trip.com. You can also snag additional experiences, such as the lunch or dinner show at the Tang Yan restaurant.

Empress of the Great Tang Dinner Show

The Empress of the Great Tang is a dinner show that’s earned itself well-deserved praise from both local Chinese visitors and foreigners too.

On average, they do 328 shows annually and have entertained more than 7 million visitors worldwide. Big deal? We’d say so!

The show’s story is based on the life of a famous historical figure in China: Empress Wu Ze-tian of the Tang Dynasty. Empress Wu became a concubine of the Tang Emperor when she was only 14 years old.

With her wisdom, talents, and persistence, she managed to become the first wife of the emperor soon after and eventually ascended the throne to be the empress in her own right after he died.

With a classical Chinese live orchestra and a state-of-the-art stage design, this five-part dance and music show will bring you back to her empire and the glory that went along with it. At the time of writing, this is the only cultural show in Xi’an complimented by a live classical Chnese orchestra!

You can opt for a few different experiences:

• Just the live show
• Imperial Court Dinner + live show
• Dumpling banquet + live show

The dinner is served for the first 1.5 hours of the experience, followed by the show. There are English subtitles on the screens throughout the theater.

Address: 75 Changan North Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

👉 Pro Tip: Buy your tickets in advance on Trip.com — this is a popular activity that’s advertised all over town! Even our taxi drivers were advertising this show to us.

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Got More Time? Other Things To Do In Xi’an

Big Wild Goose Pagoda: During our itinerary, you’ll be able to lay your eyes on the Big Wild Goose Pagoda from afar. If that’s not enough, you can make time to get up close to it. There’s a small entrance fee to access the temple and another fee to climb up the pagoda.

Hancheng Lake Park – For some time outdoors, explore Hancheng Lake Park, located in the northwest of Xi’an. Alongside pretty natural landscapes, you’ll find heritage sites and architecture from the Han Dynasty.

Xi’an Museum – Museum lovers can delve into Xi’an’s rich history at this modern museum, located near the Jianfu Temple. Home to over 130,000 artifacts, the exhibits showcase treasures from the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang Dynasties.

Small Wild Goose Pagoda – For a quieter alternative to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, visit this tranquil Tang Dynasty-era gem. Nestled within the Jianfu Temple, it’s another good spot to experience a slice of Xi’an history. It also pairs perfectly with a visit to the nearby Xi’an Museum.

Kai Yuan Shopping Mall – Sick of the old-world attractions? Go shopping at one of the largest modern malls in Xi’an. Kaiyuan Shopping Mall is located in front of the Bell Tower.

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Our Trusty Xi’an Travel Tips

• Traffic is horrible in Xi’an. Depending on what time you fly in, you’re looking at about 1-2 hours from the airport (XIY) to the city center.
• Didi rides are super cheap. If you order small cars, you’re looking at rides that cost $1-3 USD within the city center. Airport rides are also pretty cheap, unless you opt for larger premium rides (we ordered a premium 6-person van on Didi and paid $32 USD).
• The Terracotta Warriors Museum is going to be extremely crowded. No matter when you go, prepare to be in swarms of crowds. According to our tour guide, April is the calmest time to visit.
• The Song of Everlasting Sorrow show takes a break for 2 months out of the year starting in November. Since this show takes place completely outdoors, you’ll wanna judge for yourself whether you want to watch it during the winter months. It’ll be cold!
• For all shows booked on Trip.com, you’ll want to show up at least 30 minutes early to find the ticket collection booths. Sometimes, Trip.com will include instructions on how to collect tickets; other times, they won’t. In the case where it’s unclear, just find some staff members to ask or ask at the information desks.
• When dining at restaurants, check out the offers on Dazhong Dianping first. The apps have special set menus and promotional prices offered almost everywhere you go. It’s totally normal to buy set menu deals on the app — even after you sit down! The restaurant staff will even help you if you need help doing it.
• Once you buy the set menus on Dianping, you’ll get a QR code. Just show the QR code to the staff to redeem. It’s so easy.
• Bring tissues/napkins with you whenever you go to the bathroom. There’s a 33% chance you’ll need your own toilet paper, a 33% chance the toilet paper is at the entrance of the bathroom area, and a 33% chance that there’s toilet paper in the stalls themselves.
• Get used to squat toilets, they are everywhere — even in the nice malls!
• Bring your own hand sanitizer or travel soap. Not all bathrooms have soap, especially in older buildings (like when you’re not hanging out in newer malls). Restaurants and luxury malls will usually have hand soap.
• China takes its security seriously. You’ll need to go through a metal detector whenever you take the train. Put your larger bags and belongings through a conveyor belt. If you have water on you, hand it to the attendees so they can check it for safety. A nuisance, but you’ll get used to it.

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