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A photograph of Xi'an

City guide · China

Xi'an

Xi'an has a legible historic centre enclosed by the City Wall, with the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter close together. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda an...

Photograph · ScareCriterion12 · CC BY-SA 4.0

2,462 Places
Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walking, metro and city bus

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Xi'an

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Xi'an has a legible historic centre enclosed by the City Wall, with the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter close together. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and major museums form a southern cultural cluster. The Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace and other Lintong sites lie well east of the centre and require a separate excursion.

Checked 2026-08-26

Practical information

Language spoken
Standard Chinese; regional languages are widely used
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+86 mainland · +852 Hong Kong · +853 Macao
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Renminbi (CNY); HKD and MOP in the SARs
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
110 police · 120 medical on the mainland
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, C and I · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers mainland China and both SARs

Planning a visit

September · September cools Xi'an to a 24.7°C mean high, although precipitation peaks at 108.0 mm.

  1. January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  2. February: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  3. March: good time to visit
  4. April: best time to visit
  5. May: best time to visit
  6. June: good time to visit
  7. July: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  8. August: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  9. September: good time to visit — current month
  10. October: best time to visit
  11. November: good time to visit
  12. December: viable with meaningful trade-offs

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

36 places match

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Category

Historic monuments 12 Museums 0 Places of worship 10 Nature sites 12 Viewpoints 2 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 36 1 to 2 hours 15 Half a day or more 1

Interests

History 2 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Dayan Pagoda North Plaza Dayan Pagoda North Plaza
    07 1 hour

    Dayan Pagoda North Plaza

    大雁塔北广场

    Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square is the broad public plaza immediately north of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an's Yanta District.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  2. Qujiang Lake Site Park Qujiang Lake Site Park
    08 1 hour

    Qujiang Lake Site Park

    曲江池遗址公园

    Qujiang Pool Heritage Park is a reconstructed heritage landscape in Xian, China, occupying the site of the historic Qujiang Pool that flourished during the Tang Dynasty.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  3. Xi'an City God Temple Xi'an City God Temple
    09 30 min

    Xi'an City God Temple

    都城隍庙

    Xi’an City God Temple is a Taoist temple complex in the historic city. Its name refers to the city god, a protective deity in traditional Chinese religious culture.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  4. Gao Family Courtyard Gao Family Courtyard
    10 1 hour

    Gao Family Courtyard

    Gao Family Courtyard is a preserved historical residence located within Xian's Muslim Quarter. The compound represents traditional Shaanxi architecture and offers visitors an interior space distinct from the surrounding food streets.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  5. Daxingshan Temple Daxingshan Temple
    11 30 min

    Daxingshan Temple

    大兴善寺

    Daxingshan Temple is a historic Buddhist temple in Xi'an, China, known locally as 大兴善寺. It remains a religious institution and a destination for visitors interested in Buddhist history, Chinese temple culture, and the long cultural history of Xi'an.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  6. Guangren Temple Guangren Temple
    12 30 min

    Guangren Temple

    广仁寺

    Guangren Temple, or 广仁寺, is a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xi’an. It adds a distinct religious and cultural dimension to a city often introduced through imperial history and Han Chinese heritage.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  7. Qinglong Temple Qinglong Temple
    13 45 min

    Qinglong Temple

    青龙寺

    Qinglong Temple, also known as 青龙寺, is a historic Buddhist temple site in Xi’an. Its importance is closely connected with Esoteric Buddhism and the Tang dynasty, when the temple served as a centre for Buddhist learning and scripture translation.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  8. 兴教寺 兴教寺
    14 30 min

    兴教寺

    Xingjiao Temple is a Buddhist temple located in the southern suburbs of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  9. Cuihua Mountain Cuihua Mountain
    15 20 min

    Cuihua Mountain

    翠华山

    Cuihua Mountain, also known locally as 翠华山, is a natural mountain destination in the Xi'an area of Shaanxi. The mountain belongs to the Qinling landscape south of the city and offers a change from Xi'an's dense urban streets.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
  10. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
    16 45 min

    Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

    秦始皇帝陵博物院丽山园

    The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is the burial complex associated with Qin Shi Huang, the ruler who unified China and established the Qin dynasty.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  11. Daxuexixiang Mosque Daxuexixiang Mosque
    17 30 min

    Daxuexixiang Mosque

    大学习巷清真寺

    The Great Learning Lane Mosque, known locally as 大学习巷清真寺, is an Islamic place of worship in Xi’an’s historic urban fabric.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  12. Caotang Temple Caotang Temple
    18 30 min

    Caotang Temple

    草堂寺

    Caotang Temple, known locally as 草堂寺, is a Buddhist temple in the Xi’an region. Its identity is tied to Buddhist scripture translation and the early development of Buddhist thought in China.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  13. Xiangji Temple Xiangji Temple
    19 30 min

    Xiangji Temple

    香积寺

    Xiangji Temple, known locally as 香积寺, is a Buddhist temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The temple adds a religious and architectural dimension to a city better known internationally for imperial history and archaeological sites.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  14. Mount Li Mount Li
    20 20 min

    Mount Li

    骊山

    Mount Li, known locally as 骊山, is a prominent mountain located near Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, China. It rises on the northern edge of the Qinling mountain range and overlooks the Wei River valley.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
  15. 王顺山国家森林公园
    21 1 hour

    王顺山国家森林公园

    Wangshun Mountain National Forest Park is a protected mountain destination near Xi'an, known locally as 王顺山国家森林公园. It forms part of the Qinling landscape in southern Shaanxi and suits travelers seeking forest, mountain air, changing vegetation, and outdoor recreation.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  16. 秦二世陵遗址公园 秦二世陵遗址公园
    22 1 hour

    秦二世陵遗址公园

    Qin Ershi Mausoleum Heritage Park preserves the burial site of Qin Er Shi, the second emperor of the Qin dynasty. The site offers a focused encounter with the later chapter of the dynasty that unified China.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  17. Xingqinggong Park Xingqinggong Park
    23 1 hour

    Xingqinggong Park

    兴庆宫公园

    Xingqing Palace Park is a public park in eastern Xi'an on the site of historic Xingqing Palace, once a political and residential center during the Tang dynasty.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  18. Lianhu Park Lianhu Park
    24 1 hour

    Lianhu Park

    莲湖公园

    Lianhu Park, known locally as 莲湖公园, is a public park situated in Xian, Shaanxi Province, China.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  19. Revolution Park Revolution Park
    25 1 hour

    Revolution Park

    革命公园

    Revolution Park, known locally as 革命公园, is a public urban park in Xi'an. The park provides a green setting within a city whose major attractions often focus on walls, towers, museums and imperial history.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  20. 广运潭公园
    26 1 hour

    广运潭公园

    Guangyun Lake Park, locally known as 广运潭公园, is a lakeside public green space in Xi'an. It offers a change of rhythm from the city's historic monuments, busy commercial streets, and dense urban setting.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  21. FengQing Park
    27 1 hour

    FengQing Park

    丰庆公园

    Fengqing Park, locally known as 丰庆公园, is a public green space in Xi'an. It gives visitors an opportunity to step away from the city's dense streets and spend time in an urban park setting.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  22. 永阳公园
    28 1 hour

    永阳公园

    Yongyang Park is a public green space in Xi'an, a city historically known as Chang'an and recognised for its long imperial and cultural history.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  23. 秦岭四宝科学公园
    29 1 hour

    秦岭四宝科学公园

    Qinling Four Treasures Science Park is a wildlife and conservation-focused attraction in the Xi'an area. Its name refers to four characteristic Qinling species: the giant panda, golden snub-nosed monkey, takin, and crested ibis.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  24. Yongxingfang Yongxingfang
    30 45 min

    Yongxingfang

    永兴坊

    Yongxingfang is a visitor-oriented cultural and food district where Shaanxi traditions are presented through regional dishes, themed architecture, craft displays, and pedestrian lanes. It works best as a relaxed tasting stop rather than a single monument.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  25. Yongning Gate (Yongningmen) Yongning Gate (Yongningmen)
    31 45 min

    Yongning Gate (Yongningmen)

    永宁门

    Yongning Gate is the southern gate of Xi'an's historic city wall. Known as the Gate of Eternal Peace, it combines a preserved Ming-era defensive setting with an active urban landmark.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
Show 5 more places

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Use the City Wall as the central reference: the Bell and Drum towers sit near its middle, the Muslim Quarter lies to the northwest, and the gates define practical entry points. Group the southern pagoda and museum district separately. Lintong is not a quick addition to a wall walk; reserve a substantial block for the eastern archaeological sites.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk inside the walled centre and use the metro between the rail stations, southern cultural district and other urban zones. Xi'an's official English portal groups transportation with its visitor information. Confirm the current operator map for the final connection to Lintong sites, since the metro does not remove every road transfer between the city and individual archaeological entrances.

Checked 2026-08-26

Nearby districts and related places

Nearby places

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Xi'an?

A fixed stay length is not recorded. Build the visit around the walled centre and southern cultural district, then add Lintong and the eastern archaeological sites only when the available time supports a separate journey.

What is the best way to organise sightseeing in Xi'an?

Group places by district instead of crossing the city repeatedly. Start with the walled centre and southern cultural district; treat Lintong and the eastern archaeological sites as separate routes with their own travel allowance.

How do I get around Xi'an?

Use Walking, metro and city bus. Walk within compact clusters and consult the linked official transport information before making longer transfers or relying on a particular route.

Can I explore Xi'an mainly on foot?

Only within individual neighbourhood clusters. The main visitor areas are separated by distances, waterways, major roads or regional approaches, so longer links normally need public transport or a licensed vehicle.

Which Xi'an sights need separate transport planning?

Plan Lintong and the eastern archaeological sites separately from the walled centre and southern cultural district. Check the current route, return connection and any access requirements on the official source before departure.