What to Do in Xi’an: Terracotta Warriors, Food, and City Wall Tips

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My Xi’an Visit

I spent a few days in Xi’an travelling with Z. The experiences in this article are based on what we personally visited and ate during that trip.

Prices, opening hours, reservation rules, and transport fares can change, so treat the practical details as a starting point and check the current official or booking-platform information before you go. My recommendations are based on what we enjoyed, what surprised us, and what I would change if I returned.

Xi’an at a Glance

• Best first visit: Two to three full days.
• Do not miss: The Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an City Wall, and Muslim Quarter.
• Best food strategy: Share several dishes instead of ordering one enormous meal.
• Best City Wall timing: Late afternoon into early evening, subject to weather and opening hours.
• Book ahead: The Terracotta Warriors and museums or attractions that require timed reservations.
• My biggest lesson: A guide adds valuable context at the Terracotta Warriors, while the City Wall is easy to enjoy independently.

How to Get Around Xi’an

For the main sights in central Xi’an, walking and the metro are usually the easiest options. The Bell Tower, Drum Tower, City Wall, and Muslim Quarter are close enough to combine in one old-city day, although the distances feel longer once you have been walking since breakfast.

We used Didi when it made more sense, especially for the Terracotta Warriors. That was the simplest option for us because it avoided figuring out which bus to take and gave us a direct journey from the hotel.

The metro is useful for moving longer distances around the city, but leave extra time for finding the correct entrance, navigating large stations, and dealing with a little confusion if the app, translation, or payment system decides to make things interesting.

My practical approach would be simple: walk in the old city, use the metro for longer journeys within Xi’an, and use Didi when you are travelling to an attraction outside the centre or carrying luggage.

Xi’an City Wall: Walking, Cycling, and Sunset Tips

The Xi’an City Wall forms a roughly 14-kilometre loop around the old city and is more than 600 years old. It was built during the Ming Dynasty and remains one of the most complete ancient city walls in China.

We walked a section of it. Self-guided. No tour. Just us, the wall, and a lot of bricks.

The walk itself is straightforward. We entered at the South Gate, Yongningmen, which is the most dramatic and photogenic entrance. The top of the wall is flat and wide, so walking is easy. You look down at the city on one side and the older neighbourhoods on the other. That contrast is the whole point.

Modern tower blocks sit beside traditional rooftops. Traffic moves below you while the wall stays almost completely still. You are walking the line between two versions of Xi’an.

If you want to rent a bike, rental stations are available at the main gates. When we visited, the listed price was 45 RMB for a single bike and 90 RMB for a tandem. Rental periods and service hours can change, so check the current terms at the station before setting off.

A full bike circuit takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours at a steady pace. Walking the entire wall takes longer, especially if you stop for photos. I walked about a quarter of it, and that felt right for me.

I found late afternoon, around 4 PM, more comfortable because the heat had started to ease and the light was becoming more golden. If you want to catch sunset from the wall, leave enough time to enter before the final admission period. Opening hours can vary, so check the current schedule before visiting.

What I’d do differently: I wish I had booked a guide. Not for the wall specifically because it is easy enough to understand on your own, but for the context. The stories, the details, and the things you do not notice by yourself.

The wall is enjoyable without a guide. But you will get more out of it if someone explains what happened here and why the wall still matters.

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Xi’an Muslim Quarter Food Tour: What to Eat

Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, often associated with Huimin Street and the surrounding Hui neighbourhood, sits in the centre of the old city near the Drum Tower. It is not just one food street. It is a network of narrow lanes, food stalls, restaurants, shops, mosques, and residential streets shaped by Xi’an’s long connection with Silk Road trade.

The busiest streets are lively and heavily visited, but the side lanes can feel more interesting. During the day, the area feels more like a market. In the evening, it turns into one long food crawl.

Many stalls become noticeably busier from around 5 PM, with the crowds usually building later in the evening. Go hungry. Share everything. Do not treat the Muslim Quarter like one giant restaurant.

Some stalls are better for a quick snack, while others are better for sitting down with a bowl of paomo or noodles. My advice is to walk around first, look for places with a steady flow of local customers, and avoid filling up on the first thing you see.

What to Eat in Xi’an

These are the Xi’an foods I would prioritise, in roughly the order I would eat them if I were doing the crawl again.

Roujiamo. This is a chopped braised pork sandwich stuffed into a freshly baked flatbread, and it was the best thing I ate in Xi’an. The bread was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The meat was fatty, rich, and fell apart when I bit into it.

I found a spot packed with local customers, which is usually the right call. Roujiamo is filling, so save it for later if you want to eat your way through the street.

Biang Biang Noodles. These are belt-width noodles served in a sauce heavy on vinegar, chilli, garlic, and umami. The show is the noodle maker slapping the dough against the counter. The sound is a constant rhythmic bang that can startle you in the middle of your meal.

The noodles are chewy, wide, and excellent at carrying the sauce. They were not as spicy as what I ate in Chengdu, although that depends on the restaurant and how much chilli oil goes into the bowl. I ate mine happily.

Yangrou Paomo. This is the famous lamb soup served with shredded flatbread. It arrives as a bowl of broth that looks like it could feed a small army.

The ritual is that you break the flatbread into the broth yourself. This is fun until you realise you have made too much bread and now have to eat it all. I could not finish mine. The staff looked offended. I apologised with my eyes and showed them my extended belly.

Lamb Skewers. These are usually seasoned with cumin and chilli, then grilled over charcoal and served on sticks. They are common throughout the Muslim Quarter and were consistently good during our visit.

They are cheap, fast, and easy to eat while walking, which makes them useful when you want to keep sampling rather than sit down for a full meal.

Jianbing. This is a savoury crepe made with egg, crispy wonton, scallions, and sauce. It is more commonly eaten at breakfast, but you can find it at night too.

It is the kind of thing you eat while standing beside a cart and watching the vendor assemble it in front of you.

Liangpi. These cold, chewy rice noodles are usually served with vinegar, garlic, chilli oil, and herbs. They are lighter and more refreshing than the heavier meat, bread, and noodle dishes, so they make a useful reset when you have already eaten too much.

Budget: A casual shared food crawl cost us roughly 50 to 100 RMB per person. That estimate is for street food and simple dishes, not an elaborate sit-down restaurant meal with drinks. Prices and portion sizes vary by stall and neighbourhood.

Or take a Xi’an Gourmet and Street Food tour and make it easy.

What I Would Eat If I Had One Evening

If I only had one evening in Xi’an, I would not try to eat everything.

I would start with lamb skewers or liangpi, move on to biang biang noodles, and finish with roujiamo if I still had room. I would save yangrou paomo for a proper sit-down meal because the portion is serious and the bread-breaking ritual takes more time than the smaller street snacks.

The mistake would be arriving hungry and immediately ordering the biggest dish on the menu. Share where you can. Xi’an food rewards curiosity, but it punishes poor portion management.

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Visiting the Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors are the main event, but they are not a quick city-centre attraction. The museum is in Lintong District, roughly 40 kilometres northeast of central Xi’an, so transport, traffic, tickets, and the size of the complex all need to be part of your plan.

We used Didi for the journey there and back. It was easy and affordable when we travelled, but fares are live and can change with traffic, demand, and your pickup location. There are also public transport options if you want to save money, although they take more planning.

The museum complex has three main pits, along with other exhibition areas. The site is massive. Allow at least half a day including transport, and more if you want to explore the wider mausoleum complex and the bronze chariot exhibition.

Pit 1

Pit 1 is the huge one. It feels more like an aircraft hangar than a museum room, and the viewing platform gives you a wide view over rows of life-size terracotta warriors arranged in battle formation.

The figures are not identical factory copies. Their faces, hairstyles, clothing, armour, gestures, and roles vary, although the popular claim that every single face is completely unique is more complicated than the dramatic version suggests.

The scale is what gets you first. Then you start noticing individual details: a moustache here, a different hairstyle there, the posture of an archer, or the rank implied by someone’s clothing.

The longer you look, the less the army feels like one mass of grey clay.

Pits 2 and 3

Pit 2 includes cavalry, infantry, archers, and chariots. Pit 3 is much smaller and is generally understood as a command post, with high-ranking figures and a different layout from the enormous first pit.

Together, the pits form part of an estimated army of more than 8,000 figures. The warriors are roughly life-size, with their height and clothing varying according to rank and role.

I expected the numbers to be impressive. I did not expect the arrangement to feel so deliberate. Even from above, you can see that this was not a random collection of statues. It was an organised military system recreated in clay.

What surprised me

The site is not a finished archaeological display. Not every figure associated with the estimated army has been excavated, and archaeological research and conservation continue.

The exact areas open to visitors can change, but the sense that you are looking at an ongoing project adds another layer to the visit. You are not simply walking through a museum containing old objects. You are watching part of a much larger story being uncovered, preserved, and interpreted.

The crowds

It is busy. School groups, tour groups, families, and independent travellers all move through the same spaces.

You view the main pits from raised platforms rather than walking among the warriors, so do not expect to get close to every figure. People generally let you through when they can, but patience helps.

The scale is something you cannot really understand from photographs. You need to stand there and see the rows continue into the distance.

The history of the Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 after local farmers uncovered pottery fragments while digging a well. The figures were created for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unify China, and were buried near his mausoleum around the end of the third century BCE.

The warriors originally had painted surfaces and were accompanied by bronze weapons. Much of the visible colour was lost after excavation, which is why the figures now appear mostly grey.

The surviving weapons and traces of paint are reminders that this was not simply a collection of statues. It was part of a huge funerary complex designed to accompany the emperor into the afterlife.

Entry fee: Adult admission is commonly listed at 120 RMB, but confirm the current price when booking. Opening hours, final entry times, and booking rules can vary by season, holiday period, and special operating schedule.

Book through the current official channel or a reputable booking platform before travelling, especially during public holidays. Our hotel helped us arrange the visit, which removed some of the friction.

Half day or full day?

Half a day is enough if you mainly want to see the pits and museum areas. Allow a full day if you want to explore more of the surrounding mausoleum complex, include the bronze chariot exhibition, travel by slower public transport, or visit without rushing.

Hire a guide or go self-guided?

We went self-guided. The signage was decent and we could read the history ourselves. But honestly, I would hire a guide next time.

The same lesson I learned at the Forbidden City applies here. A good guide brings the engineering, politics, construction, and scale to life. Without one, you are looking at thousands of clay soldiers and thinking, “That is a lot of clay soldiers.”

With a guide, you understand why they are there, how they were made, and why it matters that the emperor’s tomb itself has not been opened.

We did appreciate being able to make our own schedule and avoid being shuffled around. It is always a trade-off, and the better choice depends on your group size, budget, and interest in the history.

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Where We Stayed

We stayed at the W Xi’an, and the hotel helped us arrange our visit to the Terracotta Warriors. That was useful because it removed some of the uncertainty around booking and transport.

For most first-time visitors, staying near the old city is the most convenient choice. It puts you closer to the City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter, and many of the evening food options.

A newer hotel farther from the old city can still work well if you prefer larger rooms, modern facilities, or a quieter atmosphere. Just factor in the extra travel time when planning sightseeing days.

Other Things to Do in Xi’an

Small Wild Goose Pagoda

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda sits inside Jianfu Temple and was built during the Tang Dynasty, between AD 707 and 710. It was originally taller, but earthquakes damaged the upper levels over time.

I found it quieter and less commercial than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, with more of a local atmosphere. The Xi’an Museum is also within the temple complex, so you can combine both visits if you want a little more history without crossing the city.

Entry is commonly listed as free, but advance reservation may be required through WeChat. Check the current opening hours and booking rules before visiting. Allow roughly 1.5 to 2 hours for the pagoda, temple grounds, and museum.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is more touristy and more commercial, but it is still worth seeing. It was built in AD 652 during the Tang Dynasty and remains one of Xi’an’s most recognisable landmarks.

The square in front becomes particularly lively at night, when the musical fountain show attracts huge crowds. Climbing the pagoda costs extra.

If you visit both pagodas, I would choose the Small Wild Goose Pagoda for atmosphere and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda for spectacle.

Shaanxi History Museum

I did not visit the Shaanxi History Museum, so this recommendation is based on its collection and reputation rather than my own first-hand experience.

The museum is commonly described as free, but reservations are usually required and the booking process can change. Check the current official information before building your day around it.

If you enjoy archaeology, bronze work, and Tang Dynasty history, this is the kind of museum that deserves more than a rushed hour between other attractions. Plan ahead and give yourself enough time to actually look at the exhibits.

Shadow Puppet Show

Traditional Shaanxi shadow puppetry is performed at venues including the Gao Family Courtyard in the Muslim Quarter. The experience is touristy, but it still gives you a short introduction to a traditional local art form.

Allow around 30 minutes if you are already exploring the Muslim Quarter and want something different from food stalls and souvenir shops.

Hanfu Dress-Up

Renting Hanfu and dressing up in traditional clothing is a fun way to experience Xi’an’s Tang Dynasty atmosphere, especially around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and other historic areas.

Read my first-hand guide to wearing Hanfu in Xi’an for what the experience was like and what I would know before booking.

How Many Days Do You Need in Xi’an?

Two full days is enough for the major highlights if you plan carefully.

Spend one day exploring the old city, walking or cycling the City Wall, visiting the Bell Tower and Drum Tower area, and eating your way through the Muslim Quarter in the evening.

Use the second day for the Terracotta Warriors. They are outside the city centre, so allow time for transport, the museum complex, crowds, and the journey back.

Three days feels more comfortable. It gives you time for the Shaanxi History Museum, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty show, or a slower food-focused day.

You can see Xi’an’s headline sights in less time, but rushing through the city would be a mistake. The best parts are not all inside one museum or attraction. They are spread across the wall, the food streets, the old neighbourhoods, and the evening crowds.

A Simple Two-Day Xi’an Itinerary

Day 1: City Wall, old city, and food

Start at the South Gate, Yongningmen, and walk or cycle the City Wall. Late afternoon is a good time to go if you want softer light and cooler temperatures, although you should check the current opening hours before setting off.

After leaving the wall, continue towards the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. You do not need to spend the entire day inside every attraction. The point is to experience the old city at street level as well as from above.

In the evening, head to the Muslim Quarter for a progressive meal. Share roujiamo, noodles, lamb skewers, liangpi, or yangrou paomo rather than ordering one enormous dish for each person.

Day 2: Terracotta Warriors and a slower evening

Travel to the Terracotta Warriors as early as you can manage. The museum is outside central Xi’an, and the journey can take roughly 1 to 1.5 hours each way depending on traffic and your transport choice.

Allow at least half a day for the pits and museum areas. Add more time if you want to visit the surrounding mausoleum complex or bronze chariot exhibition.

Return to central Xi’an for a slower evening. If you still have energy, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area, book a Tang Dynasty performance, or simply find another bowl of noodles and accept that your plans have changed.

If you have a third day

Use a third day for the Shaanxi History Museum, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Hanfu experience, a shadow puppet show, or a more relaxed food crawl.

You could also use the extra day to revisit an area you enjoyed instead of adding another attraction. Xi’an is not a city that needs to be conquered. It is better when you leave some room for wandering.

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Practical Xi’an Travel Tips

Xi’an is easy to enjoy once the main logistics are handled. The biggest mistake would be trying to squeeze every historical site into one exhausting day.

• Terracotta Warriors: Adult admission is commonly listed at 120 RMB, but confirm the current price, opening hours, final entry time, and booking rules before visiting. Allow at least half a day including transport.
• Getting to the Terracotta Warriors: We used Didi, and the journey was straightforward when we travelled. The live fare can change with traffic, demand, and your pickup location. Public transport is usually cheaper but takes more planning.
• City Wall: Entry is commonly listed at 54 RMB. Bike rental prices and rental periods can change, so check the current terms at the station before setting off.
• City Wall timing: Late afternoon worked best for us because the heat eased and the light became more flattering. Check the current closing and final-entry times if you want to stay for sunset.
• Muslim Quarter: Entry is free. Go hungry in the evening, share several dishes, and treat the area as a food crawl rather than a single restaurant stop.
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda: Entry is commonly listed as free, but advance reservation may be required through WeChat. Check the current opening hours before visiting.
• Big Wild Goose Pagoda: The surrounding area is free to explore, while entry to the pagoda and some attractions may cost extra. The fountain show schedule can change.
• Shaanxi History Museum: Admission is commonly free, but advance reservation is usually required. Check the current official booking process before planning your visit.
• Payment: Mobile payment is widely used, but carry a small amount of cash as a backup in case an app, phone, or connection decides to misbehave.
• Shoes: Wear comfortable shoes. The attractions themselves are manageable, but the distances add up quickly.
• Reservations: Book major attractions and museums in advance whenever timed entry or advance booking is required.
• Food budget: A casual shared food crawl cost us approximately 50 to 100 RMB per person. Prices and portions vary by stall and neighbourhood.
• Bike rental: Rental stations are available at the main City Wall gates, but prices, deposits, rental duration, and service hours may change.
• Travel updates: Check official attraction pages or your booking platform shortly before visiting. Public holidays, seasonal schedules, maintenance, and special events can affect access.

Read my China travel apps and logistics guide before you go.

Wondering where to stay in Xi’an? Read my guide to where to stay in Xi’an by neighbourhood.

Booking And Payment

For major attractions, check the current booking method before you arrive rather than assuming every ticket can be purchased at the gate. The Terracotta Warriors and several museums may use timed entry, advance reservations, or booking systems that are easier to navigate with help from your hotel.

We found hotel assistance useful, especially when arranging the Terracotta Warriors visit. If you are travelling independently, save the Chinese names of your hotel and planned attractions on your phone so you can show them to drivers or staff.

Mobile payment is widely used, but I would still carry a small amount of cash and keep your phone charged. A translation app, screenshots of booking confirmations, and an offline note with your hotel address can save a surprising amount of stress.

What I Would Skip With Limited Time

If you only have one day in Xi’an, I would prioritise the City Wall, the Muslim Quarter, and one major historical attraction. I would not try to force both pagodas, multiple museums, and the Terracotta Warriors into the same day.

If your time is extremely limited, the Terracotta Warriors are the sight most visitors will regret missing. If you have already seen several major archaeological museums in China and prefer atmosphere over scale, the City Wall and Muslim Quarter may give you a more enjoyable day.

My own priority order would be:

1. Terracotta Warriors.
2. Xi’an City Wall.
3. Muslim Quarter food crawl.
4. Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
5. Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
6. Shaanxi History Museum.
7. Shadow puppet show or Tang Dynasty performance.

That order is based on what I would choose for a first visit, not an objective ranking of every attraction in Xi’an.

Is Xi’an Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially if you like cities where the history is not confined to one museum and the food is strong enough to become part of the itinerary.

The Terracotta Warriors are the obvious reason to come, but they are not the only reason to stay. The City Wall gives you the best sense of how old and new Xi’an sit on top of each other. The Muslim Quarter turns dinner into an activity. The pagodas and museums fill in the gaps between the headline attractions.

If I came back, I would still visit the Terracotta Warriors and walk the City Wall. I would book a guide for at least one major historical site, spend more time exploring beyond the busiest Muslim Quarter streets, and arrive with a much clearer plan for the food.

That is the useful version of Xi’an: come for the emperor’s army, stay for the noodles, and leave room in the schedule for the city to surprise you.

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