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Things to Do in Xian

Top attractions, best neighborhoods to wander, and the food you shouldn't skip in Xian, China — 2026 traveler picks.

Top places to see

Landmark

Terracotta Warriors (Bingmayong)

90 min from XIY

World's 8th Wonder — 8,000+ life-size clay soldiers guarding Emperor Qin's tomb. CNY 150 entry. 3-4 hours. Bus 5 (306) from Xi'an Railway Station.

Landmark

Xi'an City Wall (Ming Dynasty)

55 min from XIY

World's largest and best-preserved ancient city wall (14km). Bike rental on top CNY 45 for 3h. Sunset best. CNY 54 entry.

Neighborhood

Muslim Quarter + Great Mosque

55 min from XIY

Historic Hui Muslim district — street food, Islamic architecture, Great Mosque. Free walking. Best evening for street food.

Landmark

Wild Goose Pagoda + Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square

65 min from XIY

Iconic Tang Dynasty pagoda (652 AD) with fountain shows evening. CNY 50 entry pagoda. Free square + evening fountain show.

Book tours + skip-the-line tickets

Compare tours + attractions in Xian across GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com — free cancellation on most, and prices match direct booking.

Things to do in Xian

Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.

Tours, tickets & day trips

Our pick

GetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Xian and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.

Browse XianJust need timed-entry attraction tickets? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Xian.

Eat here first

Biangbiang mian (belt-shaped noodles). Yangrou paomo (mutton soup with flatbread). Rou jia mo (Xi'an burger — spiced meat in flatbread). Liang pi (cold noodles). Persimmon cakes. Chinese pastries.

Local tip

XIY has 144-hour transit visa exemption — Xi'an is UNIQUELY perfect for Chinese layovers because you can visit Terracotta Warriors AND Old City Wall. Metro Line 14 to city opened 2021 — massive game changer, only CNY 8-16 vs old shuttle CNY 25. For 6h layover: Old City Wall + Muslim Quarter. For 12+ hours: Terracotta Warriors possible (90 min each way + 2-3h visit) — feasible with 8+ hour layover. Book Terracotta tour or DiDi.

Where to stay

Hotels across Xian — filter by neighborhood + budget on the map below.

Where to stay in Xian →Xian layover guide →XIY arrival transport →