Xi'an in 4 days
Once Chang'an, capital of many Chinese dynasties and starting point of the Silk Road, Xi'an still has 13.7 km of intact Ming walls around its centre. About 35 km to the east, the pits of the Terracotta Army hold close to 8,000 soldiers buried since 210 BC.
The plan, day by day
Day 1
- Morning
The Terracotta Army2 to 3 hFound by farmers digging a well in March 1974, three pits hold some 8,000 life-size soldiers, each face different, with chariots and horses.
- Afternoon
Han Yangling Mausoleumabout 2 hThe tomb of Emperor Jingdi, who died in 141 BC, with pits of small armless terracotta figures that once had wooden arms and silk clothes.
- Late afternoon
Great Mosque of Xi'anabout 1 hFounded in 742 in the Hui quarter and rebuilt under the Ming and Qing, entirely Chinese in style, with courtyards and a pagoda minaret.
Day 2
- Morning
The Bell Towerabout 45 minBuilt in 1384 and moved to the central crossroads in 1582, the 36-metre tower once rang to open the city gates at dawn.
- Afternoon
Forest of Stone Steles Museumabout 1 h 30Founded in 1087 in a Confucian temple, with around 3,000 carved steles, including the Kaicheng Stone Classics of 837: 114 slabs of Confucian texts.
- Late afternoon
Xi'an's Ming city wallsabout 2 hA 13.74 km circuit built between 1370 and 1378, 12 metres high and wide enough on top to walk or cycle the whole loop.
Day 3
- Morning
Big Wild Goose Pagodaabout 1 h 30Raised in 652 for the sutras the monk Xuanzang brought back from India, rebuilt in 704, seven storeys and 64 metres high.
Day 4
- All day
Mount Hua (Huashan)a full dayOne of Taoism's five sacred mountains, 120 km east of Xi'an: five granite peaks linked by steps cut into near-vertical rock and fixed chains.
Where to sleep in Xi'an
- Campanile Xi'an Bell Tower Huimin Street · €40 a night
- Mercure Xian on Renmin Square · €70 a night
- Bell Tower Hotel Xi'an · €60 a night
- Holiday Inn Express Xi'an Qujiang Center · €50 a night
- Sofitel on Renmin Square · €120 a night
- Hilton Xi'an · €110 a night
- Grand Hyatt Xian · €135 a night
Plan this trip
Hotel prices per room per night, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.