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Xi’an

China travel guide

What to see in Xi’an

The Terracotta Warriors, a city wall you can cycle along and the Muslim Quarter and its food.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 8 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to September and from November to January
  • Stay in Beilin
  • Typical food: Roujiamo
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

Xi’an highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Terracotta Warriors

    The funerary army of the first emperor.

  2. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

    A Buddhist pagoda from the Tang dynasty.

  3. Bell Tower

    A Ming tower in the walled centre.

  4. Drum Tower

    The entrance to the Muslim Quarter.

  5. Great Mosque of Xi’an

    A mosque built in traditional Chinese style.

  6. Shaanxi History Museum

    An archaeological collection spanning thirteen dynasties.

  7. Small Wild Goose Pagoda

    A Tang pagoda in a quiet park.

  8. Huaqing

    Imperial hot springs at the foot of Mount Li.

Where to stay in Xi’an

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Beilin · Muslim Quarter · Yanta

Day trips from Xi’an

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Xi’an

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Xi’an are from March to September and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

Typical food of Xi’an

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Xi’an from your kitchen).

Roujiamo
Photo: Gary Soup · CC BY 2.0

Roujiamo

Xi’an’s “Chinese burger”: pork braised for hours with spices, chopped and stuffed into a toasted flatbread. In the Muslim Quarter it comes in a beef version.

  • Serves 6
  • 3 h

Ingredients

  • 1 kg pork belly or shoulder
  • 4 tablespoons of soy sauce (light and dark)
  • 3 tablespoons of rice wine
  • 30 g rock sugar or brown sugar
  • 2 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 bay leaves and 1 teaspoon of Sichuan pepper
  • 1 piece of ginger and 2 spring onions
  • For the bread: 400 g flour, 4 g yeast, 220 ml water

How to make it at home

  1. Blanch the meat, rinse it and put it in a pot with the spices, soy sauce, wine, sugar, ginger and spring onion. Cover with water and simmer gently for 2½ hours.
  2. Knead the flour with the yeast and water and leave to rise for 1 hour.
  3. Shape flatbreads of about 10 cm and toast them in a dry frying pan, then in the oven until they sound hollow.
  4. Chop the meat on a board with a little of its broth, and some green pepper if you like.
  5. Split the breads and fill them with the juicy meat.

The trick: Keep the broth: in Xi’an it’s used again and again for the next braise.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a busy local spot with a queue. The dishes you can’t miss are in the China guide.

Frequently asked questions about Xi’an

What to see in Xi’an?

Terracotta Warriors, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Great Mosque of Xi’an and Shaanxi History Museum.

What to see in Xi’an in 3 days?

Don’t miss Terracotta Warriors, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Great Mosque of Xi’an and Shaanxi History Museum. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Xi’an?

The handiest areas to stay are Beilin, Muslim Quarter and Yanta.

What’s the best time to travel to Xi’an?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Xi’an are from March to September and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

What day trips can you take from Xi’an?

Terracotta Warriors and City wall by bike.

What is the typical food of Xi’an?

Roujiamo. Xi’an’s “Chinese burger”: pork braised for hours with spices, chopped and stuffed into a toasted flatbread. In the Muslim Quarter it comes in a beef version.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.