China Travel Tips – Tour-Beijing.com

How to Visit Xi’an in Two Days (Tips, Photos & Map)

June 7th, 2023

Plan your Xi’an tour? Xi’an is one of the most visited cities in China after Shanghai and Beijing in terms of international visitors. No matter you plan to visit Xian following your trip to Beijing, or on your ongoing travel to Shanghai, Xi’an is often lingering in your mind for its enchanting Terracotta Warriors.

So basically how many days do you need to visit Xian? Based on my own experience, a two-day tour in Xian is a sweat spot, allowing you to catch the highlights of Xian while smoothly fitted into your ongoing trip to Beijing or Shanghai.

Day One: Xian City Tour

You are supposed to allocate one full day ( or two half days ) for your classic Xi’an Day Tour, which basically include the attractions such as:

Big Goose Pagoda
Shaanxi Provincial History Museum
Xian City Wall
Xian Bell & Drum Towers
Xi’an Muslim Quarter & Food Street
Xian Tang Dynasty Dinner Show

Big Goose Pagoda
The temple and its surrounding area are full of life, people-watch. Its north square is home to the largest musical fountain in Asia; its south square leading to the Great Tang All Day Mall, a 1500-meter sightseeing avenue where you immersed in Tang Dynasty culture while enjoying shopping, dining, entertaining, sightseeing and business travel.

Check out How to Visit Big Goose Pagoda for more travel information

Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Daci’en Temple

The temple and the pagoda itself takes 1 or 2 hours to visit while the whole area ( squares, gardens ,etc.) takes much longer time, providing people with wonderful free leisure and entertainment.

Shaanxi Provincial History Museum
A 2-3 hour visit to Shaanxi Provincial History Museum is a good starter for your eye-popping glimpse of the Terracotta Army. A free entry ticket allows you to visit the three permanent exhibition halls (No.01 – No.03 ), which display the artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi Province.

Check out How to visit Shaanxi Provincial History Museum for more travel information.

Xian was the ancient capitals for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. Of the 13 dynasties, Tang Dynasty was the Golden Age of China, when Europe was in its Dark Ages after the fall of Rome.

Xian City Wall
Xian is home to the most complete and well-preserved ancient city wall in China and one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world as well.

Check out How to visit Xian City Wall for more travel information.

Xian City Wall was initially built in Tang Dynasty (618 -907), based on which, the existing wall was rebuilt in Ming Dynasty during the period between 1374 and 1378. Now the remaining Xian City Wall is 12 meters tall, 18 meters wide at the base, 12-14 meters wide on the top with a perimeter of 13.74 km in length and a deep moat surrounding it.

Xian Bell & Drum Towers
In Chinese history from Ming Dynasty, each city had a bell tower and a drum tower. The bell was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in ancient time, a means of telling time.

Check out How to Visit Xian Bell Tower for travel information.

Xian was not exception. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi’an date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The two are located in the center of the Xian city connecting the four roads from east, south, west and north within the city wall. Atop the Bell Tower you will have a panoramic view of the Xian City; atop the Drum Tower you will have a bird’s eye view of the Muslim Quarters.

Xi’an Muslim Quarter & Food Street
The Terracotta Warriors Museum will be definitely a must-to-see on your Xian travel plan. But one equally important thing to do and you cannot afford to miss is to have a taste or glimpse of the exotic food on the streets in the Muslim community in Xian. These back streets are full of life with a rich strong feel of Islamic cultural vibe.

Check out How to visit Muslim Quarter in Xian for more travel information.

The Muslim Community is known as Muslim Quarter in Xian or colloquially called “Huifang (回坊）” in Chinese. It is said there are over 300 Muslim local snacks on the streets in Xian Muslim Quarter that attract a consistent flow of visitors everyday coming here to savor or just have a glimpse.

Xian Tang Dynasty Dinner Show
For most first time visitors, it is a pleasant surprise that you won’t find yourselves lonely when night falls in the ancient city of Xian. The major avenues of Xi’an like Xi Dajie, Nan Dajie and Dong Dajie are brightly and beautifully lit lined with luminous neon signs stores. If you are not interested in the street evening shopping, then the Big Goose Pagoda Square and Nanhu Lake are the favorite night hangouts, where the dazzling lights and beautiful scenery will surely shock you! Is this Xian? Yes, it is!

Check out Xian Tang Dynasty Dinner Show for more information

If you prefer a night performance to kill your night time, Tang Dynasty Show is your best choice, which is on the most Xian visitors’ top 10 attractions list. Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is an outstanding element of this ancient rich and prosperous society, giving an insight into the peaceful life style of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). There are two major venues to put on the performance – Shaanxi Song & Dance Theatre and Tang Dynasty Palace, which both offer two choices – performance including dinner or excluding dinner.

Day 2: Terracotta Warriors, Huaqing Hot Spring and Banpo Museum

On the second day, you have a full day east excursion to Terracotta Warriors, Huaqing Hotspring and Banpo Museum.

Terracotta Warriors & Horses
Huaqing Pool ( or Huaqing Hot Springs)
Banpo Museum

Terracotta Warriors and Horses
To visit Army of Terra Cotta Warriors is the main reason why you are here in Xian. Get up early and have a fast breakfast like the first day, then get to Terracotta Warriors and Horses.

Check out How to Visit Terracotta Warriors for more travel information.

It is 37 kilometers away from the downtown area. The museum covers an area of 16,300 square meters, divided into three sections: No. 1 Pit, No. 2 Pit, and No. 3 Pit respectively. It is the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century.

Huaqing Pool
After lunch, you can take Y5 back to Museum Lishan Station, then walk to Huaqing Hot Springs. Huaqing Pool is located at the foot of north Lishan Hill in Lintong, leaning against Wei River in the north. Since ancient times, it has ever been a famous bathing and tourist destination.

Check out How to Visit Huaqing Hot Springs for travel information.

The favorable geographical condition and natural environment make it one of the cradles where ancient people settled and it was also a favorite place for emperors to build their palaces as a resort.

Banpo Museum
After finishing your exploration in Huaqing Pool, you can take Bus No. 307 and go to Banpo Museum. The Banpo Museum is located in a modern building some three miles to the east of Xian. As the first museum at the prehistoric site, it was built at the base of the excavations of the Banpo site.

Check out Xian Banpo Museum for more information.

The museum gives access to the excavated buildings, has a collection of artifacts from the site, and also has several reconstructed houses designed to resemble the Neolithic settlement.

Enjoy your two-day Tour in Xian!

Tip: Hassle-free Xian Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Xian guided tours:

Xian Tour
Xian Day Tour
Xian Tour Packages
Beijing Xian Tour

How to visit Bird’s Nest and Water Cube

June 6th, 2023

The successful Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has left a deep impression on people’s mind in the world. For many foreign visitors, the temptation is still great to visit the Bird’s Nest (Beijing National Stadium ) and Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Centre).

Well, how, when to visit the two fancy Olympic sites? What do you expect from them? Any tips for visiting the two Olympic buildings?

Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center).

Personally I’ve been to the Olympic Park for several times. We’ve rounded up some practical tips helping you plan your own trip to the great architectures in the Olympic Park.

Tip 1: Subway is highly recommended

Both Bird’s Nest and Water Cube are easily accessible through subway, cheap and fast. Take Subway Line 10 and get off at Beitucheng Station. Then interchange for Subway Line 8 and get off at the next station to the north – Olympic Sports Center or the second station – Olympic Park ( Olympic Green ). Once you come out from the subway, you are inside the Olympic Park. The park is free to the public.

Check out How to take subway in Beijing for some practical information on the metro system in Beijing.

If you are familiar with Beijing public bus system, taking a bus is also advisable due to its numerous buses available:

Bus 409, 426, 645, 653, 656, 658, 660, 689, 694, 740, 740, 753, 758, 803, 839, 849, 850, 858.

Taxi is not recommended mainly due to the fact it is hard to find a parking lot. So very often your driver has to stop in a parking area a bit far from the Olympic Park and you have to walk a long distance before you get to the park.

Tip 2: An evening tour better than a daytime visit

Of course, during the daytime, you can have a close look at their true faces. But the bird’s nest is so much concrete and the water cube looks lifeless. Just too little shade and shelter provided by trees, very hot in summer!

Beauifully Lit-up Beijing National Stadium

If you come here in the evening, things are a world of difference! The Water Cube displays a different colour pattern each evening, looking like a fantastic magic box.

It is said that solar panel inside the nest collects the sun’s rays by the daytime and light the bird’s nest by night. An illuminated bird’s-nest gives you much for thinking!

Tip 3: Outside or inside?

Many people just take some pictures from their outside; some prefer to go inside exploring. Which is better? It all depends.

The Picture of the Whole Stadium Illuminated

If you have limited time, or you are not interested in what is going on inside, then just have a glimpse. That’s all right. If you are more curious about the inner structures of the two buildings, inside visiting is high recommended if you have sufficient time.

Opening time and Entrance fee for Bird’s Nest:
09:00 – 18:0
RMB: 50
Water Cube: RMB30
Water Park: RM 200
Swimming only: RMB 50

Tip 4: Avoid public holiday or weekend

If you are not interested in the people-watching, just avoid coming here on public holiday and weekend. On the tourist season, tickets are hard to get. You have to line up for quite some time before you buy entrance tickets.

At the main entrance to the Olympic sites, there are some convenience stores for you to buy water and snack food.

Tip 5: More than sightseeing

It is estimated that every weekday there are 20,000 to 30,000 daily visitors on coming to Olympic Park. About 5000 people will go inside either Bird’s Nest or Water Cube each day!

Most of the income of two buildings comes from the tickets selling and other comprehensive management, which just meets the cost for maintaining the two buildings.

To make the two buildings more lucrative, local government and management company are going to gradually change the two sports building into a leisure centre including eating, playing, entertaining, meetings and conference, hotels and sports events as well.

It is said that a trendy and high-end Olympic Theme Restaurant has been set up in Bird’s Nest. In Winter, the bird’s nest will be made a ski resort for a winter festival.

The entrance fee for the newly built water amusement parks costs RMB 200 per person. The entrance fee for the water cube still keeps at RMB 30.

Tip 6: More to see and to do in the Olympic Park

The Bird’s Nest and Water Cube are just two most important Olympic Buildings in the park. Other Olympic venues including Beijing National Indoor Stadium, the archery range, tennis courts and hockey rink in North Olympic Forest Park.

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:

Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Great Wall Tour
Beijing Winter Tour
Beijing Tours
China City Tours
China Tour

Xian’s Top 7 Iconic Landmarks

June 4th, 2023

A city’ name card or image symbol is best manifested in its iconic architectural landmarks. These landmarks are the barometer of the city’s history, economic development and the spiritual hope on it by its residents as well.

As one of the most famous ancient cities in China, Xian has its own unique cultural values and its historical sites.

To understand Xian’s landmarks is your first step to get to know Xian on your short Xian tour. Here are the seven you shouldn’t miss on your Xian tour.

1. Big Goose Pagoda (652) and its North Square (2003)

The Big Goose Pagoda is the most important symbol of the ancient city of Xian. It was originally built in 652 in Tang Dynasty ( 619 – 907 ) for Xuan Zang to put the scriptures and statues he had brought back from India.

It is the earliest and largest remaining brick square tower built in Tang Dynasty in China, an iconic Buddhist landmark combining the Indian Buddhist architectural forms with the Chinese Han vernacular building features. The present pagoda is 64.5 meters high with 7 stories, located inside Da Ci’en Temple south of Xian city centre.

Big Goose Pagoda

Musical Fountain at North Square of Big Goose Pagoda

Completed in 2003, the Big Goose Pagoda North Square mainly comprises Asia’s largest Tang Dynasty themed cultural plaza, Asia’ s largest musical fountain square, and Asia’s largest statue square. The construction of the huge cultural square features the Tang culture elements of Big Goose Pagoda and Da Ci’en Temple, combining the elements of the traditional and the modern. The music fountain starts at 8:00 pm everyday.

2. Xian Ancient City Wall ( 1274 – 1378 )

Xian Ancient City Wall is rectangle in shape with a perimeter of 14 km, 12 meters high, 18 meters wide at its base and 15 meters wide at its top. The wall has four main gates – East Changle Gate, West Anding Gate, South Yongning Gate and North Anyuan Gate.

The Xian city wall was built on the former imperial city walls of Tang Dynasty ( 619 – 907 ) and the current wall was rebuilt in 1374 and completed in 1378 with over 600 years.

South Gate to Xian City Wall

Xian City Wall was constructed in a way centered on a fairly complete defense system with its width longer than its height, standing as firm as a mountain. On the wall top, chariots and horses could be easily moved. It is the one of the most important city walls ever built in the late Middle Ages and the most well preserved ancient city wall in China.

After consistent repair and protection, the Xian City Wall now offers a good combination of the city wall, city moats and forest belt. You can walk, even cycle on the wall. Its south gate is the largest with a suspension bridge. Most of the tourists choose the south gate for sightseeing.

3. Xian Bell Tower (1384)

Xian Bell Tower was originally built in 1384 during Ming Dynasty ( 1368 – 1644 ). It is the largest and most well preserved bell tower among the numerous remaining bell towers in China. It is located in the heart of Xian city, the hub of the four avenues fanning out from the bell tower.

In ancient time, the bell in a bell tower was stricken at dawn and the drum in a drum tower was beat at sunset to indicate the end of the day.

The Xian Bell Tower was built on a square base, a wood and stone structure with two stories, three eaves and 4 upturned roof corners; it is 8.6 meters high at its base and 36 meters high above the base with a perimeter of 35.5 meters with an area of 1377.4 square meters. Today, the Bell Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on North Avenue. There is a staircase leading to the top of the Bell Tower.

4. Drum Tower (1380)

To the northwest of the Xian Bell Tower is the Xian Drum Tower. The Drum Tower is located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers. The Drum Tower got its name from the huge drum located within the building. In ancient time, the bell in a bell tower was stricken at dawn and the drum in a drum tower was beat at sunset to indicate the end of the day.

The Drum Tower is 4 years older than Bell Tower and built in 1380 in Ming Dynasty ( 1368 – 1644 ). It went through two large-scale revamps in Qing Dynasty ( 1644 – 1911 ).

Today the Drum tower marks the southern entrance to the city’s Muslim Quarter which is an interesting area to walk around and have a look. You will feel as if you are in a “city within a city” in the Muslim Quarter. Atop the Drum Tower you will have a bird’s eye view of the Muslim Quarters.

5. Xian People’s Hotel (1953)

My selection of Xian People’s Hotel on the top list is to some extent due to the emotion and nostalgia the local Xian people have over the building. It used to the best hotel in 1950s where the experts from former Soviet Union stayed with a kind of mystery looming in people’s hearts.

The hotel was built in 1953 and revamped in 1985. It is one of the famous large courtyard hotels in China with an construction area of 63800 square meters. The hotel is composed of a group of buildings which feature the combination of Chinese architecture’s simplicity and elegance with the Western delicacy and splendor.

It is scattered with Chinese pavilion-topped buildings surrounded by classical Chinese gardens in a spacious compound. Today, part of the hotel complex has been turned to Sofitel Xian.

6. Xian People’s Theatre ( 1954 )

Xian People’s Theatre was originally built in 1954 in order to house the Northwest Art Work Troupe ( Today’s Shaanxi Singing and Dancing Troupe) that had been relocated from Yan’an to Xian.

The building features the mixed Chinese and Western architectural styles, and later it was encluded together with other 36 buildings completed in mainly in Beijing 1950s in the book named ” World Architecture History” published in UK.

Xian People’s Theater is known as the first modern theater in northwest China, hold more than 1000 persons. It is the venue for plenty of dramatic performances. Today, the theater is also converted into a dinner theater with integrated dining and entertainment. Add: No. 41, Beida Jie, Xincheng District, Xi’an.

7. Tang Paradise (2005)

Completed in 2005, Tang Paradise （大唐芙蓉园) is the largest culture theme park in the Northwest Region of China. Built and expanded on the former site of Tang Paradise in Tang Dynasty ( 618-907), now it is a model imperial garden to fully demonstrate the Tang Dynasty’s charm and grandeur.

The setting, a landscaped 165-acre site surrounding a willow-lined lake, captures something of the look and feel of classical Chinese landscape painting.

Throughout the Tang Paradise, there are twelve scenic regions including the attraction of Ziyun Tower Block, Elegant Lady Area, Imperial Banquet Hall, Fanglin Fragrant Garden, Phoenix Theater, Apricot Garden, Lu Yu Teahouse, Tang Marketplace and the Floating-drink at Qujiang Lake.

The Water Film is the main attraction in Tang Paradise. The screen of the water is a film of water, which makes you a wonderful and illusory feeling that you were on the scene in person. When the figures in the movie appear on the screen, it seems that they are flying to the sky or coming down from the heaven. It is indeed a splendid ocular enjoyment.

Open Time: 9:00 am-21:00 pm
Entrance fee: RMB 120 (high season): RMB90 (Low season)
Add: 99 Furong West Road, Qujiang New District, Xian ( to the southeast of Big Goose Pagoda)
How to there
Take Bus 609 from Bell Tower area and get off at the 12th stop of Tang Paradise （大唐芙蓉园）

Tip: Hassle-free Xian Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Xian guided tours:

Xian Tour
Xian Day Tour
Xian Tour Packages
Beijing Xian Tour

How to Visit Xi’an in Two Days (Tips, Photos & Map)

Day One: Xian City Tour

Day 2: Terracotta Warriors, Huaqing Hot Spring and Banpo Museum

Tip: Hassle-free Xian Guided Tours

Further Readings

How to visit Bird’s Nest and Water Cube

Tip 1: Subway is highly recommended

Tip 2: An evening tour better than a daytime visit

Tip 3: Outside or inside?

Tip 4: Avoid public holiday or weekend

Tip 5: More than sightseeing

Tip 6: More to see and to do in the Olympic Park

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

Further Readings

Xian’s Top 7 Iconic Landmarks

1. Big Goose Pagoda (652) and its North Square (2003)

2. Xian Ancient City Wall ( 1274 – 1378 )

3. Xian Bell Tower (1384)

4. Drum Tower (1380)

5. Xian People’s Hotel (1953)

6. Xian People’s Theatre ( 1954 )

7. Tang Paradise (2005)

Tip: Hassle-free Xian Guided Tours

Further Readings

About Us

Beijing China Travel Tips

Blogroll

Our Travel Service