Xi'an itineraries

Warriors and the Wall

Taxi out to the Terracotta Army first thing, cycle the wall in the afternoon, then the Muslim Quarter and Datang Everbright City after dark. The most Xi'an you can pack into one day.

Bell Tower Base, Tang Nights

Base yourself beside the Bell Tower. Day one heads south to Yanta: the history museum, the pagoda, Datang Everbright City and the Tang Paradise night show. Day two stays inside the walls on foot: breakfast lane, mosque, dumpling banquet, wall ride and the South Gate lights.

Three Days from Qujiang

Two nights at the mouth of Datang Everbright City. Day one is the museum and pagoda quarter, day two goes entirely to the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace, day three loops the wall, the steles and the Muslim Quarter before the airport.

Festivals & seasons

• 2 — City Wall Spring Festival Lantern Fair
• 2 — Datang Everbright City New Year street shows
• 3 — Everlasting Regret outdoor season opens
• 4 — Cherry blossom at Qinglong Temple
• 5 — May Day holiday crowds
• 7 — Midsummer heat and downpours
• 10 — Autumn: the best weeks, minus National Day
• 10 — Xi'an Marathon
• 11 — City Wall International Marathon
• 11 — The thousand-year ginkgo at Guanyin Chan Temple
• 12 — Winter Everlasting Regret and snow on Mount Hua

Souvenirs

• Mini terracotta warriors
• Huanggui persimmon cakes (shizibing)
• Brushes, ink and a carved stone seal
• Shaanxi shadow puppets
• Tang sancai pottery
• Shaanxi History Museum merchandise
• Bingfeng orange soda
• Walnuts, jujubes and dried persimmons