The ancient capital of 13 dynasties and home of the Terracotta Warriors — 2–3 days.
The Terracotta Army
- 90 minutes from the center: tourist bus 306/游5 from the railway station square (~¥7), or Didi (~¥120)
- Tickets ¥120; get the audio guide or a licensed guide at the gate — the story makes the pits come alive
- Pit 1 is the jaw-dropper; allow 3 hours including the museum
- Go on a weekday morning; combine with the nearby First Emperor's tomb mound
In the city
- City Wall — rent a bike and cycle the full 14 km rectangle (¥45, 2 hours, best at sunset)
- Muslim Quarter — snack street around the Great Mosque; come hungry at dusk
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda — Tang dynasty landmark with a nightly fountain show
- Shaanxi History Museum — free but brutally hard to book; reserve the moment slots open (7 days ahead, official WeChat)
Eat
Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), biangbiang noodles (the character has 58 strokes), yangrou paomo (lamb soup with torn bread), and pomegranate juice in the Muslim Quarter.
2-day plan
- Day 1: City Wall cycle → Bell/Drum Towers → Muslim Quarter dinner
- Day 2: Terracotta Warriors morning → Shaanxi History Museum → Big Wild Goose Pagoda evening
Gateway note: Xi'an is the natural second stop after Beijing — 4.5–6 hours by high-speed rail, or an overnight sleeper train for the experience.