# Xi'an

The old capital of 13 dynasties: the Terracotta Army, a complete Ming city wall and some of China's best street food. Xi'an is compact inside its city wall, and the big day out — the Terracotta Army — is about an hour east of the city.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Region | Shaanxi |
| Altitude | 400 m |
| Best time | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| Suggested stay | 3–4 days |

## What Xi'an is like

Xi'an is compact inside its **city wall**, and the Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter and South Gate are all close together. The big day is the **Terracotta Army**, about an hour east of the city.

## Best way to see it

- Give the Terracotta Army a full morning, and add Huaqing Palace nearby
- Ride or walk a stretch of the city wall in the late afternoon
- Eat your way through the lanes around the Drum Tower in the evening
- See the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, and Datang Everbright City lit up at night
- If you have a spare day, Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River is a long but rewarding drive

The Terracotta Army has a lot of walking even with the electric cart, and summer sun is strong. Bring a hat and water.

## Sights

### Terracotta Army

Thousands of life-size clay soldiers buried to guard China's first emperor, in three excavated pits under huge halls. About an hour's drive east of the city.

Mostly flat but a lot of walking; 3–4 h with a headset guide.

## Good to know

- High-speed trains from Beijing take about 4.5–6 hours, and tickets are booked by passport name.
- Xi'an food is hearty and often spicy: biangbiang noodles, roujiamo, lamb paomo. Tell your travel designer if you need it mild.
- Singapore passport holders can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days.

## Our trips that visit Xi'an

- [Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai in 14 Days: Three Cities of Chinese Culture](https://unclepandatravel.com/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-14d) — max sleeping altitude 400 m, gentle day at ≤6k steps, longest drive ~4 h. From ¥12,245 per person, based on 6 guests in twin share.
- [Three Cities of Culture: Xi'an, Chengdu & Chongqing in 14 Days](https://unclepandatravel.com/tours/xian-chengdu-chongqing-14d) — max sleeping altitude 500 m, gentle day at ≤6k steps, longest drive ~4 h. From ¥8,645 per person, based on 6 guests in twin share.

## Related travel tips

- [Do I need a visa for China? (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia)](https://unclepandatravel.com/travel-tips/visa-entry)
- [How to pay in China: Alipay & WeChat Pay for visitors](https://unclepandatravel.com/travel-tips/pay-in-china)
- [Eating in China: ordering, spice levels and dietary needs](https://unclepandatravel.com/travel-tips/food-etiquette)

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- Source page: https://unclepandatravel.com/destinations/xian
- Language: English · Updated: 2026-10-22
- Operator: Hunan Panda International Travel Service Co., Ltd. (Uncle Panda Travel), licensed China travel agency, licence L-HUN-304745
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