11 Best Things To Do In Xian, China: Find Your Path

When showcasing its cities, destinations, and landmarks to tourists from around the globe, China casts its magic. From the historic palaces in Beijing to the glitzy skyscrapers in Shanghai, the country will bewitch any kind of traveler. Then, there’s this very important city in Chinese history – Xian. If you are traveling to China, don’t forget to stop by Xian. It’s a wonderful city. There are plenty of exciting things to do in Xian. 

Xian is a city in and the capital of Shaanxi province in north-central China. The city is situated in Shaanxi’s south-central part, at the southern limit of the Loess Plateau. It sits on a low plain on Wei River’s south bank. And just to the south, the Qin Mountains dramatically rise above this plain. 

Geographically speaking, Xian is beautiful, but it also casts its beauty historically. This place is one of the most important in the history of the country. Aside from being the capital of several ruling dynasties in the past, it is also a center for trade. Xian was the eastern terminus of the famed Silk Road, the ancient trade route that once connected China with the Mediterranean. 

Ever wondered about the things to do in Xian? Read on to find out. 

Some Of The Best Things To Do In Xian

Xian may be home to the famous Terracotta Army, but aside from this, there are more things to do in Xian. Let’s get to know them a bit better. 

1. Finally Be Able To See The Famous And Historic Terracotta Army In-Person

Are you also among those who wished you could see the places you learned from your Asian history class in-person? Well now that you’re here enjoying the things to do in Xian, you’ll finally be able to do so, particularly getting mesmerized by the famous Terracotta Army up close and personal. Yes, they are in Xian. 

Discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, the Terracotta Army, dating from approximately the late 200s BC, is a collection of sculptures ornately made of terracotta that depict the armies of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. He had these terracotta warriors built with the purpose of protecting him in the afterlife, as he feared the vanquished spirits that may haunt him after his death. 

The terracotta figures consist of warriors, chariots, and horses. It is estimated that the three pits housing the Terracotta Army hold more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. Deserves your visit, for sure. 

2. Jog Along The Xian City Walls

What if you can work your legs out and jog with the background of this Chinese city’s old walls before you? What a sight this will be, indeed, and you can do so while you’re here enjoying the things to do in Xian. 

If you are a fan of those historic Chinese movies and TV series, you will be reminded of them when you visit this place. Xian is one of the few cities in China where the conspicuous old city walls still stand. So, if you don’t want to miss any of the historic action, you should definitely include this on your things to do in Xian list. 

Built in the late 1300s during the illustrious Ming dynasty, these magnificent 12-meter high walls are surrounded by a dry moat and form a rectangle. While most sections have already been restored or rebuilt, you can still see it as they were in the past as you walk or jog the walls. 

You may also cycle around these walls, or use a golf cart if you feel a little lazy. And, if you wish to get a fantastic view of old Xian, use the entrance inside the walls beside the Forest of Stelae Museum. En route, you will be on a vantage point that showcases the city’s hotchpotch of old and new. You can see the Guangren Temple from here, as well as other landmarks with a bird’s-eye view.

These things to do in Xian will astonish you as much as the activities in Beijing, China’s capital, will. Continue your journey. View our Beijing guide here. 

3. Tour The Seven-Storey Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Pagodas are scattered around China and in various other parts of Asia. But perhaps nothing will compare to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a pagoda that consists of seven storeys! 

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is also one of Xian’s most famous landmarks, other than the Terracotta Army. Located southeast of the South Gate and formerly within the old Tang dynasty city walls, this landmark dominates over the surrounding modern buildings. One of the best examples of a pagoda from the Tang dynasty – square-ish rather than round – it was completed in 652 AD to provide a residence for Buddhist sutras brought back from India by Xuan Zang, a monk. 

Today, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda has been developed to cater to global tourism. Visitors can climb this pagoda to get views over town within a glassed-in enclosure. This is also one of the things to do in Xian that you shouldn’t dare miss.

4. Visit Famen Temple, Know To House Parts Of The Buddha’s Sacred Finger Bone

Dating all the way back to the second century AD, did you know that Famen Temple was constructed to house parts of the Buddha’s sacred finger bone? They were presented to China by King Asoka of India who undertook the distribution of these relics from Siddhartha Gautama.

Aside from this, many travelers also make a trip here for its superb museum that houses a collection of Tang dynasty treasures, such as the small crystal and jade coffins that originally contained the four separated sections of the holy finger. There are also artifacts from the Roman Empire here, as it was believed to have also reached China during the 100s AD. Worth visiting? Definitely. This is also one of the things to do in Xian that should be part of your wishlist.

5. Head To Guangren Temple, The Only Tibetan Buddhist Temple In The Province 

Tibet is around a thousand miles from Xian, but there’s a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the province, the Guangren Temple. Be sure to include visiting this temple on your list of things to do in Xian.

The only Tibetan Buddhist temple in the entire province where Xian is, this temple dates back from the early 1700s, though rebuilding took place in the 1900s. 

As a sacred venue for worship among Tibetan Buddhists, this temple is shrouded in mystery and filled with spiritual energy. Perhaps the most valuable object in the temple resides in its final hall, where you can find a golden representation of the Buddha resting upon a Tang dynasty pedestal. And, there’s only one other like it anywhere in the world, at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

If the things to do in Xian will take you to the country’s ancient heritage, you’ll see glitz and glamor in Shanghai, another city in China. View our Shanghai guide here. 

6. Choose To Go On A Full Day Xian Highlights Tour With Lunch

If you wish to enjoy the best things to do in Xian, but prefer not to make your itinerary and just rest it upon tour operators, there is a full day tour here where you can get to see and experience Xian’s highlights, with lunch included already. Plus, it is a private tour already, so you just don’t save time, but you also own your time. 

The places you’ll be visiting are the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the Xian City Wall, the Small Goose Pagoda, and the Muslim Quarter.

7. Savor Xian’s Dishes In This Evening Food Tour

When you are done admiring the city’s history, you may be looking out for the fun things to do in Xian. How about an evening food tour? Sounds exciting? Inviting? Let’s do it then!

Set out with your expert guide in this tour that will take you to the best dishes in Xian. You’ll get to explore hidden streets and quaint alleyways in the Xian city walls where you will also visit favorite eateries among the locals. Experience Xian’s cuisine and culture by dining at the same places where locals visit, with unlimited food and beverages (including beer) already included in this tour. 

In particular, you will get the chance to discover off the beaten paths in the Xian city wall, get to know families who have been making gastronomic specialties for generations at the Muslim Quarter, and end your tour at a local brewery where you can sample some craft beer. These are indeed some of the best things to do in Xian that you shouldn’t miss. 

8. Admire The Great Mosque 

If you are wondering whether you are reading that right on this rundown of the best things to do in Xian, you are. Yes, there is a mosque in China, particularly in Xian. A mosque is a Muslim place of worship so to find one in where other religions like Buddhism are predominant is rather interesting. 

Plus, believe it or not, this mosque, known as the Great Mosque, is bigger than many temples in China. It gorgeously blends Chinese and Islamic architectures that form one of the most fascinating sacred sites in the country and the world. 

While its present appearance is mostly from the Ming and Qing dynasty, the mosque was founded during the eighth century. Thus, Arab influences are seen from its central minaret – cunningly disguising as a stumpy pagoda – to the sizable turquoise-roofed Prayer Hall behind the complex, this dating from the Ming dynasty. Admiring the Great Mosque is one of the best things to do in Xian.

Things to do in Xian are spectacular, right? Go further south of China and you will discover Hong Kong. Discover Hong Kong in this guide. 

9. Meld With Xian’s Muslim Community

With the facts about the Great Mosque, we know that this may interest you – that Xian in China is also home to a Muslim population (and they’re not very minor). Considering that it is in a country where Buddhism is a major religion, seeing followers of Islam amidst Buddhist believers is something you shouldn’t miss on your things to do in Xian itinerary.  

The backstreets that lead north from the imposing Drum Tower form the Muslim Quarter, known as the home of Xian’s Muslim community, the Hui community, or non-Uyghur Chinese Muslims (Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group originating from Central and East Asia) for centuries, perhaps as far back as the Ming dynasty or even further into the past. 

The narrow streets of the Muslim Quarter are dotted with butcher shops, sesame oil factories, smaller mosques hiding behind gigantic wooden doors, men wearing white skull caps and women wearing colored scarves around their heads. 

Things to do in Xian here get livelier at night, and for Hui street food and snacks, you can head down Beiyuanmen, but keep in mind that it is almost always crowded.

10. Stumble Upon China’s Ancient Culture At The Shaanxi History Museum

Being one of the ancient capitals of China, Xian is a great place to learn about Chinese history. While you can’t personally get all the ancient relics in a single place for viewing, the Shaanxi Provincial Museum has done the work for you. 

The Shaanxi Provincial Museum, located northwest of the Big Goose Pagoda, is one of the best museums to visit while you are in China. It showcases collections ranging from the times of the ape men to the glorious Qing Dynasty before the Opium War in 1839. The collections include everything from large bronze wars to exquisite golden carvings. Visiting this museum is one of the must-try things to do in Xian. Certainly not to miss. 

11. Flash Your OOTD Wearing The Hanfu, The Oldest Traditional Outfit In China

If Seoul in South Korea has the hanbok, in Xian in China, they have the hanfu traditional garb. And you can get the chance to wear it while you’re here having the things to do in Xian. 

The hanfu, also referred to as “han clothing” – since most of the Chinese today are of Han ethnicity – is the oldest traditional wear in China. Until the Han dynasty, the hanfu was adopted and vigorously promoted by the country’s ruling class. It then became the national attire of the Han ethnic people.   

As a major capital during the Han dynasty, Xian is the perfect place to learn more about the hanfu. There are various areas in this Chinese city where you can try on this costume as you wrap yourself around this unique experience of ancient culture.

China is magical. From the things to do in Xian, continue your journey to Macau, the meeting point of East and West, a special administrative region of China. Read our Macau guide here.

Best Things To Do In Xian: Travel Tips You Should Know Before You Go

While Xian is also a city in China, as with Beijing and Shanghai, to name a few, the things to do in Xian are, of course, distinct from the activities in other Chinese cities. Thus, you should know the essential travel tips so you are not left feeling clueless of the culture while you are here. 

• The best times to visit Xian are during its spring (May to May) season and fall (September to November) season. The cool breezes and mild temperatures during these seasons are most suitable for sightseeing tours. 
• If you are traveling with a tour agency, only go with the reliable ones. Xian is known for its illegal travel agencies that offer tours at low prices. 
• It is not easy to hail a taxi in Xian. Drivers can reject passengers, especially during rush hours, so be sure you look forward to this. 
• Free Wi-Fi is almost everywhere. 
• If you wish to escape the crowd, avoid visiting on weekends, or during national holidays like Labor Day and Chinese New Year. Tourist areas can get extremely busy during these times. 

Xian, China’s Ancient Capital 

Once the eastern terminus of the famed Silk Road, and where various cultures and faiths gather, as well as being home to emperors, monks, courtesans, merchants, warriors, and merchants, Xian is jam-packed with so many activities. There are lots of exciting things to do in Xian. 

Its glory days may have ended in the early 10th century, but still, a considerable amount of its ancient pieces survive today amidst the roaring modern metropolis. Xian served as the capital city of 13 glorious dynasties that spanned over a millennium. Your visit to China will be magical. Your visit to Xian will be spellbinding.