How many days in Xi'an? 3 days, with the Terracotta Army first
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Xi'an was the capital of 13 dynasties and the eastern end of the Silk Road, and its walls are the most complete of any Chinese city. Give it three days: one for the Terracotta Army 40 km east, one inside the walls with the bike ride and the Muslim Quarter, and one for the Tang-dynasty city of pagodas and the region's best museum. Most visitors arrive by high-speed train from Beijing (about 4.5-6 hours).
Short answer
Two days covers the warriors and the old city. The third adds the Shaanxi History Museum and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, or a climb on sacred Mount Hua.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace
Morning. Take metro line 9 to Huaqingchi and a short bus or taxi, or the tourist bus from the east square of Xi'an railway station (about 1 hour), to the Terracotta Army museum. The ticket (about ¥120 in high season) also covers the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. Start in Pit 1, a hangar with some 2,000 restored warriors in battle order, then Pits 3 and 2.
Afternoon. See the two bronze chariots in the exhibition hall, then return 15 minutes to Huaqing Palace at the foot of Mount Li (about ¥120), the Tang emperor's hot-spring retreat, and site of the 1936 Xi'an Incident.
Evening. Back in the city, walk around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, lit at night, and eat in the Muslim Quarter next door.
Unofficial 'guides' and minibuses at the station and the site will offer rides and tours; buy tickets only at the official office or online, and arrive before 9:00 to beat tour groups.
Day 2: City Wall, Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque
Morning. Climb the City Wall at the South Gate (Yongningmen), about ¥54. The Ming-dynasty wall runs 13.7 km around the old city, 12-14 metres wide on top; rent a bike for about ¥45 for 3 hours and ride the full loop in about 1.5-2 hours.
Afternoon. Walk into the Muslim Quarter around Beiyuanmen and Xiyangshi streets. The Great Mosque (about ¥25), founded in the 8th century, looks like a Chinese temple, with courtyards of pavilions and a pagoda-shaped minaret.
Evening. The Muslim Quarter's food stalls are busiest after dark: lamb skewers at ¥3-5 each, persimmon cakes and yangrou paomo, a lamb soup with bread you tear into the bowl yourself.
Go up the wall at sunset: the lanterns come on along the ramparts and the light on the South Gate is the best of the day.
Day 3: Pagodas, museum and Tang nights
Morning. Reserve a free slot at the Shaanxi History Museum several days ahead with your passport (the separate Tang mural gallery costs extra). Allow 2-3 hours for its bronzes, jade and Tang gold.
Afternoon. Walk 15 minutes to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta), built in 652 to hold the Buddhist scriptures that the monk Xuanzang carried back from India. Entry to the Da Ci'en temple is about ¥50, with a small extra fee to climb the pagoda.
Evening. Watch the fountain show on the North Square of the pagoda (usually in the evening; check times), then walk south down Datang Everbright City (Datang Buyecheng), a 2 km pedestrian avenue of lit Tang-style buildings and costumed performers.
For a quieter alternative, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda next to the Xi'an Museum is free with reservation and far less crowded.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 as written and combine the City Wall in the morning with the Muslim Quarter and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda by night on Day 2. You lose the Shaanxi History Museum.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go to Mount Hua (Huashan), one of China's five sacred peaks, about 30-40 minutes by high-speed train to Huashan North, with cable cars and the famous plank walk; or to the Famen Temple to the west, with its Buddha relic.
Where to stay in Xi'an
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Near the Bell Tower | Hostels inside the walls, steps from the Muslim Quarter and metro lines 2 and 6. | ¥150-280 |
| Mid-range | Inside the walls (Bell Tower / South Gate) | Walk to the wall, the towers and night food. | ¥350-650 |
| Mid-range | Big Wild Goose Pagoda / Qujiang | Newer hotels near the museum and Datang Everbright City. | ¥400-700 |
| Comfort | Luxury hotels by the wall or Qujiang | International brands with views of the wall or the pagoda. | ¥900-2,000 |
Getting around
The metro reaches most sights: line 2 runs north-south through the Bell Tower, line 4 links the railway station and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and line 9 heads east towards Huaqing. Fares are about ¥2-6. High-speed trains use Xi'an North station, about 30 minutes by metro line 4 or 2 from the centre. From Xianyang airport, the airport metro line or shuttle bus takes about 1 hour. Taxis and Didi are cheap, about ¥15-30 across town.
What to eat in Xi'an
Xi'an's food is wheat and lamb, not rice. Roujiamo, chopped braised meat in a flatbread, costs about ¥10-15; in the Muslim Quarter it is beef or lamb. Biangbiang noodles are belt-wide hand-pulled noodles with chilli oil, ¥15-25. Try liangpi, cold noodles in vinegar and chilli, and yangrou paomo lamb soup with torn bread at an old restaurant near the Drum Tower for about ¥30-40. A dumpling banquet near the Bell Tower serves 15-20 shapes. Street food is safe where it is busy and cooked in front of you.
Best time to visit
April-May and September-October, with highs of 20-27°C. Summers reach 33-37°C and are humid, and winters are cold and dry, often hazy, with highs around 5°C. Avoid the Golden Week holiday (1-7 October) and the Chinese New Year period, when the Terracotta Army takes tens of thousands of visitors a day.
Month-by-month weather for Xi'an →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ¥120 | ¥250 | ¥650 |
| Food & drink | ¥80 | ¥180 | ¥400 |
| Sights & tickets | ¥100 | ¥170 | ¥300 |
| Local transport | ¥15 | ¥50 | ¥150 |
| Total per person, per day | about ¥315 | about ¥650 | about ¥1,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Chinese yuan (CNY); there is no separate tourist tax, and most shops and stalls expect payment by Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Before you go
Common questions
How do I pay in Xi'an as a foreigner?
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive and link a foreign Visa or Mastercard; both now accept international cards. Street stalls, taxis and metro machines expect mobile payment. Carry some yuan in cash as a backup, since a few small vendors still prefer it. Hotel front desks usually accept cards.
Do I need a guide for the Terracotta Army?
Not essential, but useful. The pits have little English signage beyond basic panels, so a licensed guide or the official audio guide explains how the warriors were found in 1974 by farmers digging a well. Hire guides only at the official ticket hall, not from people approaching you outside.
Do I need to book museums in advance?
Yes for the Shaanxi History Museum and the Xi'an Museum, which are free but require real-name reservations with your passport, often through WeChat mini-programs, several days ahead. The Terracotta Army sells tickets online and at the gate, and slots can run out on holidays.
Do I need a visa for China?
It depends on your passport. Since 2024 China has expanded visa-free entry for many European and other nationalities, and offers visa-free transit of up to 240 hours for travellers continuing to a third country. Rules change often; check the Chinese embassy website for your nationality before you book.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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