Xi'an Travel Guide
Xi'an, prounounced "she-ahn" is the capital of Shaanxi, the largest city in north-west China. It had served as the nation's capital for more than 1000 years. The Terra-cotta Warriors and Horse of Xi'an is the greatest archeological found of last century. There are more interesting attractions in Xian, like Xian City Wall, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, the Great Mosque, Muslim Markets, Big Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Hot Springs, Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, Famen Temple, Qianling Tomb, Mt. Huashan, Huangdi Mausoleum and more.
To see all the major attractions mentioned above will take you 2 - 4 days. If you only have one day in Xian for sightseeing, you are suggested to visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Xian City Wall. Spending two days in Xian will be ideal for you - one day for the city tour of Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, Xian City Wall, the Bell Tower, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Great Mosque and Muslim Market; another day for the excursion to the Terra-cotta Warriors and Banpo Museum or Huaqing Hotspring.
If you have one extra day, you are advised to either drive 85 km west of Xian to explore Famen Temple and Qianling Tomb or 200 north to visit Huangdi Mausoleum. Or if you are interested in the mountain hiking, you may go 120 km east to hike Mt. Huashan.
If you have much more time for sightseeing in Xian, it's no problem for you to spend a week and even more time enjoying and exploring Xian and its neighbors. Xi'an is also the beginning point of the Silk Road leading west as well as a good starting place to travel Tibet.
How to plan your travel in Xi'an ?
Whether you are a very independent traveler or a frequent travel agency users (there are pros and cons to this approach), when traveling Xian, it is a great way to combine independent travel with private or group sight-seeing to make the most out of your short Xian trip since Xian has too much history! You'll get the history of Xian from a local English-speaking guide, where the guidebooks leave you short.
Step 1: Book your flight or train tickets to Xian
Once you decide to visit Xian, the first thing you should do is to book either your flight or train tickets to Xian. Most of the travelers go to Xian from Beijing, Shanghai or other provinces within China either by flight or train.
Beijing and Xian is about 910 kilometers apart, 1 hour 40 minutes by flight or 13 hours by overnight train. The daily flights between Beijing and Xian are plentiful. There are also more than 10 trains per day linking the two cities. Taking one day round trip from Beijing to Xian is much sought after by many time-strapped travelers, who fills business and pleasure trips into single junkets. Going to Xian by Train is also a good choice.
Shanghai and Xian is about 1210km apart, 16 hours by express train and 2 hours by flight. There are several day train and overnight trains running between Xian and Shanghai. Beijing-Shanghai daily flights are plentiful.
Beijing Xian Train Tickets Shanghai Xian Train Tickets
Beijing Xian Flight Schedule Shanghai Xian Flight Schedule
Step 2: Book your hotel in Xian
After your flight or train tickets are booked, your next important job is to book your accommodation in Xian. There are over 200 star-rated hotels in Xian. So you have a hard job to find an ideal hotel. You may ask your travel agent to do it for you. Or you may check the hotels through the online hotel booking travel wesbsites such as expedia.com - travelocity.com - booking.com - priceonline.com and many more. If you are mentally drained by the search for the over 200 star-rated hotels in Xian, you may check our chosen 9 best value hotels in Xian.
Step 3: Find the top things to see and do in Xian
After your accommodation and inter-city transportation are arranged, you are going to search the top things to see and do in Xi'an. It takes time to enjoy everything that Xian City can offer. But if you only have a few days to spare, you can see the top ten attractions or do the top 10 things in Xi'an. In that way, you can say that you have visited Xian, even if your stay there lasts only for a few days or just the weekend. See Top 10 things to do in Xian for more information.
Step 4: How to get from Xian airport or Xian Railway Station to your hotel?
Now you are concerned about the way of transportation either from Xian Xianyang International Airport or Xian Railway Station to your hotel in Xian. First, you should learn some basic information on Xian Xianyang International Airport and Xian Railway Station.
Xian Airport Shuttle Bus
Xian Airport Taxi
Xian Railway Station & Transprtation
Xian Airport and Railway Station Private Transfer
Step 5: Schedule your travel in Xian
Please find below my suggested Xi'an travel plan for your reference:
1) Xi'an in One Day:
Day 01: Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors, City Wall
2) Xian in Two Days:
Day 01: Shaanxi Museum, Big Goose Pagoda, Great Mosque, Bell Tower and Forest of Stone Steles Museum
Day 02: Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors, City Wall
3) Xian in Three Days:
Day 01: Shaanxi Museum, Big Goose Pagoda, Great Mosque, Bell Tower and Forest of Stone Steles Museum
Day 02: Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors, City Wall
Day 03: Famen Temple, Qianling Tomb
4) Xian in Four Days:
Day 01: Shaanxi Museum, Big Goose Pagoda, Great Mosque, Bell Tower and Forest of Stone Steles Museum
Day 02: Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors, City Wall
Day 03: Famen Temple, Qianling Tomb
Day 04: Huashan Mountain Hike or Excursion to Huangdi Mausoleum
Step 6: Get around in Xian City
The city of Xian within the ancient city wall is walkable. Most of the city attractions in Xian is located within the city wall, like Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Great Mosque, Forest of Stone Steles Museum. Other city attractions are also walkable in the south of the walled city including Big Goose Pagda, Shaanxi Provincial Museum.
The must see site - Terra-cotta Army is about 50km in the east of Xian while Famen Temple and Qianling is approx 100km west of Xian. To visit these fairly distant places, you need to take the public transportation tools including taxi, publis bus or you may hire a private car.
| Xian Taxi | Xian Airport Shuttle Bus | Xian City Public Bus | Xian Bike |
| Xian Railway Station | Xian Airport | Xian Subway |
Step 7: Xian Travel Information
Traveling is also a way of learning. Xian, of course, is a world of difference from your hometown. Having some empathy or putting yourself in "Xian's shoes" is highly recommended. It is necessary to cram for some basic facts and travel information about Xian before starting your trip.
Xian Hotels, Xian Transportation, Xian Attractions, Xian Shopping, Xian Dining, Xian Nightlife, Xian Weather
To book a tour from a local travel agency, you'll get much history of Xian from a local English-speaking guide. We organize Xian tour from the moment you touch down at your airport to when we deliver you back there at the end of a perfect holiday. Or you may choose any of the travel service from us including transport, day tours, accommodation, meal arrangements, night shows, and tour guides. | Xian Private Tour | Xian Bus Tour |
| Xian Tour from Beijing | Xian Tour from Shanghai |
| China Tours including Xian |
Questions & Answers:
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