Top 10 Souvenirs in Xi’an

Plan your Xi’an Tour? Xian is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. There are many exotic and unusual things to buy in Xian which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home.

If you are wondering what you can bring home, here is the list of the Top 10 Souvenirs in Xi’an for you to choose.

Check out Top Markets in Xi’an and Top Shopping Malls in Xian for more shopping information.

Terracotta Warrior Replicas 西安兵马俑纪念品

Terracotta Army is a clay army of more than 8,000 life-size terracotta figures of soldiers and horses discovered in 1974 in Xian, Shaanxi after they were buried underground for more than 2200 years.

Terracotta Warrior Replicas

The museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses has produced imitations since 1982. It is not difficult to take the terracotta warriors and horses back home. Many different types of replicas are available as souvenirs, from a few inches tall to life-size.

About 38 kilometers southwest far away to Xian city, there is a county named “Hu” gathering all kinds of peasant paintings. The naissance of this art is a miracle for it has been conquered so many people by its unique charm.

Peasant Painting from Huxian, Xi’an (Image Credit: Elysian木木)

Those paintings show the sweet farm life style – tranquility, simpleness, and gratification. It is a great local treasury in Hu county. You can make a good harvest of Chinese paper-cut, mud models and farmer paintings.

Tri-colored Glazed Pottery 唐三彩

Tang Dynasty tri-colored glazed pottery (Tangsancai) is mostly yellow, brown and green in color. The glaze is made by adding metallic oxides to the basic glaze. During the firing process the chemicals in the glaze create a variegated effect.

This type of pottery was primarily made in Xian and Luoyang, the capital cities of the Tang Dynasty. Although tri-colored glazed pottery was also produced during the Liao and Jin Dynasties, it was not made in large quantities and its quality was not as good as that of the Tang Dynasty.

Tri-colored Glazed Pottery

Dough Sculptures 面塑

The Shaanxi people, famous for their rich variety of dishes made from wheat, aside from making various food with dough, also mould it into various “dough figures” to admire as well as for good luck.

They send them to friends as gifts to extend lotions or pay tribute to gods. The dough figures are therefore also called edible artistic works.

Shaanxi Paper-cuts 陕西剪纸

Paper-cutting is a very distinctive visual art of Chinese handicrafts which serves as window decorations. With bright red paper-cuts of all kinds on snow white window paper, the atmosphere appears a lot more festive.

At the same time, it contains people’s good wishes.   Shaanxi paper-cuts are considered to be both bold and unconstrained, brief and exaggerated works of art. Originating in the cradle of ancient Chinese culture, they have been handed down from generation to generation among people.

Yaozhou Porcelain 耀州瓷器

The Yaozhou Kiln was a well-known blue porcelain producer in northern China during the Song Dynasty. At present, the kilns in Yaozhou mainly put out porcelain pieces for daily use decoration. The products maintain the varied textures of the Song Dynasty’s porcelain.

Xian Lacquer Ware 西安漆器

Lacquer is a natural substance obtained from the sap of the lacquer tree, a tree indigenous to China. Up to a few hundred layers of lacquer are applied to an objects surface in order to attain the final thickness of between five and eighteen mm.

While traditional imperial lacquer ware came in the form of chairs, screens, tables and vases, today one can find objects ranging from trays, cup and vases to small decorative boxes. It is being produced in Xian lacquer-ware workshop today.

Xian Jade Carving 西安玉雕

Xian Jade Carvings boast 5,000 year history. Large amounts of jade ornaments have been discovered during the archaeological excavations.

Nowadays all kinds of nice-looking and exquisitely-carved jade craftwork articles, such as jade bowls, jade bracelets, jade pendants, etc., are being produced in Xian Jade Carving Factory.

Qinqiang Opera Mask 秦腔戏曲脸谱

The Shaanxi Opera Masks are made by the facial makeup of Shaanxi Opera. In the opera performance, the different grease paints colored on the faces of the performers stand for different characters, for instance, red for loyalty; impertinence or intrepidity; yellow for atrocity; blue and green for hotspurs; white for treacherous court officials and baddies.

The Shaanxi Opera Masks are not only kinds of artful and exquisite handicraft articles but the rare data for studying the art of Shaanxi Opera and folk customs and practices.

Qinqiang Opera Mask
Qinqiang Opera Mask

Rubbings of the Stone Tablets 西安碑石拓片

Stone tablets bear evidence to ancient records, inscriptions, statues and architectural decorations. Over 3000 stone tablets from the Eastern Han Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty are preserved in the Forest of Stone Tablets in Xian.

Most of the tablets were created by some famous ancient calligraphers.   The Shaanxi Relics Management Department had some of the tablets rubbed by experts, but only in small amount. The Applied Art Department has copies of the original tablets made in order to make rubbings in large numbers. As souvenirs, the copies are also well received among tourists.

Rubbings of the Stone Tablets
Rubbings of the Stone Tablets

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

Further Readings


Beijing Xian High Speed Train Experience
Best Time to Visit Xian
How to Visit Xian in Two Days?
Xian Airport Transportation
Xian Railway Station Transportation
Xian Taxi: Xian Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Xian City Layout
Xian’s Top 7 Iconic Landmarks
Where to Stay in Xian
Top 10 Attractions in Xian
Top Things to Do for Kids in Xian
How Visit Terracotta Army
How to Visit Xian on a Budget
The Starbucks in Xian
Top Markets in Xian
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Xian
Top 10 Best Restaurants in Xian
Top 10 Souvenirs in Xian
Xian Tourist Traps, Xian Tourist Scams

Tips for Visiting Muslim Quarter in Xian
Tips for Visiting Xian City Wall
The Ramparts of Quebec City and Xian City
Tips for Visiting Shaanxi History Museum
Tips for Visiting Xian Bell Tower
How to Visit Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Top 10 Photography Spots in Xian
The Night View of Great Tang All Day Mall
Tips for Visiting Hanyang Tombs Xian
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow Show in Xian
Tips for Visiting Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Yaodong Cave Dwellings in Xian
Tips for Visiting Huaqing Hot Springs in Xian
How to Visit Mount Huashan
Mt.Huashan Snow Scenes Photos
How to visit Xiyue Temple
Top 10 Hostels in Xian
Top 10 Xian Luxury & Boutique Hotels
Xi’an: An Exotic City with an Undeniable Historical Depth

Best Places to See Autumn Leaves around Xian
Muslim Streets in Muslim Quarter in Xian
Hua Jue Xiang, Huajue Lane at Xian Muslim Quarter
The Night View of Great Tang All Day Mall
Xian City Wall Night View
What to do in Xian after dark
Xian’s Best Street Food
Xian Muslim Quarter Exotic Food
Xian Bar Street
Spring Festival Lantern Exhibit in Xian
Xian Terracotta Army Pictures

How to Visit Maijishan Grottoes from Xian by Train
How to Visit Hukou Waterfall
How to Visit Huangdi Mausoleum
Xian Lhasa Flight Experience (Tips, Photos & Map)
Beijing Xian Flight Experience
Datong Xian High Speed Train
Reviews on Beijing Xian Luoyang Tour

Visit Xian in January (Weather, Wear, & Tips)
Visit Xian in February
How to Visit Xian in March
Visit Xian in October
How to Visit Xian in November
Visit Xian in December

Any questions, just drop a line.

4 thoughts on “Top 10 Souvenirs in Xi’an

  1. Hi, I visited the exhibit in San Francisco. At their gift shop, there was a cube that opened up to different shapes which had pictures of Xian where the terracotta soldiers were found. Do you know where I could buy one now?

  2. Hello Su Stafford,

    It is the first time for us to learn about the magic a cube that opened up to different shapes which had pictures of Xian where the terracotta soldiers were found. It is very interesting. If we could find here in Beijing or Xian, we will contact you. Thanks!

  3. My husband and I purchased a 22 inch high jade or jacket kneeling warrior statue several years ago from the Xian win Terra cotta wattior and horses museum. Are these jade or jadite? My husband has since passed away and I am interested in buying another similar statue. Is there a catalogue or where can I go to see the selection from the gift shop on a website? Thank you.

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