15 Things To Do In Xian, China (Other Than Historical Landmarks)

Tired of seeing the same old historical landmarks in the Xi’an travel guides on the web? I sure am!

If you’re like me, temples and museums don’t cut it—sometimes, the best way to learn history is through immersive experiences.

This list of things to do in Xi’an, China is perfect for those of us who don’t respond well to snoozy museums/historical landmarks and prefer to dive into history the fun way!

Whether it’s reliving the Silk Road days at The Legend of Camel Bell, transporting yourself to the royal gardens of the Tang Dynasty at Tang Paradise, or experiencing an emperor’s scandalous love story at The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, we think you’ll find a few interesting activities in this Xi’an attraction guide.

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An Army Reborn: Terracotta Warrior Show

In a nutshell: An immersive show based on the oldest family letters ever discovered in Chinese history — correspondences written by two Qin Kingdom soldiers to their elder brother back home.

This Terracotta Warrior-themed 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! I watched this show with my family, and all of us ended up crying at some point during the show because of the likelihood that, in real life, these brothers never made it home to their families.

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 much fun.

👉 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.

Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site

In a nutshell: Located on the outskirts of the city, the Terracotta Warriors consist of thousands of life-sized statues dating back to 210-209 BC, built to protect the emperor’s final resting place.

Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site needs no introduction. This is where the terracotta warriors were unearthed back in 1974.

Exploring the Terracotta Army Museum is a true bucketlist experience, but to truly appreciate the historical significance and intricate details of the site, hiring a guide is a must.

Whether you join a full-day tour or hire a guide at the museum entrance, a knowledgeable expert will help you navigate the different pits, provide all the background info and context you need, and make your visit far more enriching than if you just walked in on your own.

With a guide, you’ll spend around 2.5 hours exploring the museum, including its three main pits: Pit 1 (the largest, showcasing over 3,000 warriors in battle formation), Pit 2 (featuring cavalry, infantry, and chariots), and Pit 3 (the command post with high-ranking officers).

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

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow

In a nutshell: A song-and-dance show based on a love story between a Tang Dynasty emperor and his favorite concubine.

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow is a great alternative to An Army Reborn. While the storylines are completely different, both shows are located near the site of the terracotta warriors.

Taking place at the Huaqing Palace (near Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site), this show depicts a love story between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his favorite concubine.

While it might seem like a made-up love story, it’s actually based on a true story — this actually took place more than 1,300 years ago!

This show takes place outdoors, with the iconic Mount Li serving as the background of the performance.

During the months of November and December, performances take a pause (which is the main reason we didn’t get to watch this show for ourselves).

Address: No. 38 Huaqing Road, Lintong District, Xi’an City

Muslim Street (Huimin Jie)

In a nutshell: A famous district 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 (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.

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.

Try Shaanxi cuisine at Zhuichang’an

In a nutshell: A popular Shaanxi restaurant with multiple locations featuring local specialties like Shaanxi gourd chicken, pork knuckle over rice, Qinchuan beef stinky tofu, and more.

Zhichuang’an is a well-known Shaanxi restaurant chain, and one of its locations is conveniently situated just steps from Xi’an’s Bell and Drum Tower South Gate.

The menu offers a variety of Shaanxi specialties, making it a great introduction to the region’s cuisine.

For first-timers, the set menus offered on the dazhong dianping app are a good starting point, but don’t miss their signature dishes!

The braised pork knuckle over rice is a standout, highly recommended for its rich flavors and tender texture. Another popular choice is the gourd chicken, a house specialty that many diners rave about. Of course, you can also try classics like biang biang noodles for a taste of Shaanxi’s culinary heritage.

This was hands-down one of our most memorable meals during our 3 days in Xi’an, China!

Zhichuang’an (Bell Tower Location) / In Chinese: 醉长安(钟楼旗舰店)

Address: 7 Zhuba Market (next to Mehood Lestie Hotel, Xi’an Bell and Drum Tower South Gate).

Enjoy a dumpling buffet at De Fa Chang

In a nutshell: 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.

Locals in Xi’an love their dumplings. In fact, Xi’an is where the art of crafting the most delicious and intricately designed dumplings was perfected.

During your time in Xi’an, make time for dumplings at the age-old restaurant famed for its dumpling buffet, De Fa Chang, near the Muslim Quarter.

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

Walk or bike the city walls

In a nutshell: A tourist favorite. Walk or bike along the city walls of Xi’an.

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.

The Silk Road Legend of Camel Bell Show

In a nutshell: A show that depicts travelers along the Silk Road. This one’s got some jaw-dropping special effects!

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

In this show, 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!

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

👉 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 tick

Tang Paradise

In a nutshell: China’s first large-scale cultural theme park that reproduces the landscape of the royal gardens and palaces of the Tang Dynasty.

Tang Paradise (Datang Furongyuan, 大唐芙蓉园, Tang Furong Garden) is a 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, which you’ll likely end up at during your time in Xi’an.

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

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

There are 14 cultural 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).

The scenic stuff is a big draw, but you’ll also find Tang-style dance performances throughout the day. 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

In a nutshell: A 2,100-meter-long pedestrian road designed to bring Tang Dynasty culture to life. It’s completely free to visit.

Stretching from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to the Tang City Wall Heritage Park, Datang Everbright City is an immensely popular area 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 of the costume shops in this area will include it in the base price.

Empress of the Great Tang Dinner Show

In a nutshell: Experience the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty with a blend of traditional performances and dining all rolled up into one unforgettable night.

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! There are mixed reviews about the food, so I suggest you read the reviews on Trip.com before picking your final experience.

Twelve Hours in Chang’an

In a nutshell: Inspired by a Chinese TV series, this building recreates a bustling Tang-era market with authentic architecture, music, performances, and over 100 traditional food stalls.

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.

Shuyuanmen Ancient Cultural Street

In a nutshell: Lined with Ming and Qing Dynasty-style architecture, this cultural street is a treasure trove of calligraphy, art, jade, and traditional crafts.

Shuyuanmen Ancient Cultural Street is a charming, traditionally decorated 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 to the sounds of ancient instruments like the xun and bamboo flute, played by shopkeepers, to liven the atmosphere up a little!

Kaiyuan Shopping Mall

In a nutshell: Sick of the old-world attractions? Go shopping at one of the largest modern malls in Xi’an.

Kaiyuan Shopping Mall is going to be the most convenient mall to get to if you’re staying near the Bell Tower.

This mall spans two basement levels and seven floors, offering a variety of merchandise by brands like Uniqlo, Nike, and local brands.

The fifth floor is a highlight, featuring two observation decks with super pretty views of landmarks like the Bell Tower and Drum Tower.

Other floors cater to a range of goods, from clothing and home appliances to beauty products and a food plaza.

Day trip to Mount Hua

In a nutshell: Huashan is one of the five Great Mountains of China, famous for its dramatic cliffside views, ancient temples, and spiritual significance in Taoism and Buddhism.

Outdoor lovers and adventurers may want to consider a day trip to Mount Huashan, one of China’s most sacred mountains.

Upon arrival, take the cable car (included in combo tickets on Trip.com) to the North Peak, where you’ll be treated to spectacular views of sheer cliffs and temples that cling to the rock.

From there, spend a few hours hiking—perhaps visiting the Gold Lock Pass, where thousands of locks adorn the trail’s fences, symbolizing wishes and prayers.

You can also choose to hike to other peaks for an even more challenging adventure or simply explore the surrounding temples and sculptures.

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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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