Xi’an—once called Chang’an—served as the starting point of the Silk Road and the capital for 13 dynasties. Its streets still hum with that legacy: temples and mosques tucked behind old courtyards, market lanes perfumed with cumin and chili, and one of the best-preserved city walls in China tracing a perfect rectangle around the old town.

Most travelers come for the Terracotta Army, but stay for the layers: Tang-era pagodas, vibrant Hui Muslim culture, and a museum scene that reads like a primer on Chinese civilization. Evenings are a spectacle—fountain shows, lantern displays, and stirring folk opera—set against the glow of the ancient ramparts.

Practical notes: English signage is decent at major sights; rideshare (Didi) and the metro make getting around easy. Book museum time slots in advance, avoid Mondays for many museums, and bring cashless payment (WeChat/Alipay) plus a backup card. Food is a highlight—roujiamo, biangbiang noodles, and paomo are nonnegotiable.

Xi’an

Xi’an balances grandeur and grit. One moment you’re pedaling a bicycle atop a 14th‑century city wall; the next you’re slurping noodles under red lanterns or listening to the call to prayer drift over the Great Mosque. South Gate neighborhoods brim with cafés and craft beer, while the Qujiang district around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda offers parks, museums, and night shows.

Where to stay: Base yourself near the Bell Tower/Drum Tower for easy access to the City Wall and Muslim Quarter. Families often prefer Qujiang for green space and the pagoda parks. Browse stays on Hotels.com (Xi’an) or apartment-style options via VRBO (Xi’an).

Getting in: Fly into XIY (Xi’an Xianyang International). Check fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com (typical domestic routes from Beijing/Shanghai/Chengdu run $50–$140 one-way, 2–3 hrs). From the airport, take Metro Line 14 to Xi’an North Railway Station (35–40 min, ~10 CNY) then Line 2 to the city center, or taxi/Didi (45–60 min, ~120–160 CNY).

Arriving by train: High-speed G-trains connect major hubs—Beijing (4.5–5.5 hrs, ~500–650 CNY second class), Shanghai (6–7 hrs, ~560–700 CNY), Chengdu (3.5–4 hrs, ~300–420 CNY). Search schedules/prices on Trip.com trains.

Day 1: Arrival, South Gate Stroll, and Sunset on the Wall

Morning: Travel to Xi’an. Eat light on the way so you’re ready for an evening food sampler.

Afternoon: Check in near the Bell Tower or South Gate. Shake off jet lag with coffee at % Arabica (Datang Everbright City branch is scenic) or Maan Coffee near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda—both pour consistent espresso and easy brunch plates.

Evening: Head to Yongningmen (South Gate) for the City Wall. Rent a bike on the ramparts (single ~45–60 CNY/90 min; tandem ~90 CNY) and ride east-west for golden-hour views over tiled roofs and neon lanes. Dinner at De Fa Chang (dumpling banquet with pumpkin, walnut, and shrimp varieties; order a tasting set) or Lao Sun Jia for classic mutton paomo—tear your flatbread into the bowl, then the kitchen finishes it with rich broth and tender meat. Nightcap on Defu Alley: try Near Wall Barley Craft Beer for a malty red ale and a people-watching patio.

Day 2: Terracotta Warriors and Huaqing Palace

Morning: Early start for the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses (about 50–60 min by car; Tourist Bus 5/306 from Xi’an Railway Station East Square is the classic budget run). Aim for opening to beat your tour-bus neighbors. Expect 2.5–3 hours across Pits 1–3; Pit 1’s rank-and-file infantry is the showstopper. Tickets run ~120–150 CNY depending on season.

Afternoon: Continue 15 minutes to Huaqing Palace in Lintong—imperial hot springs and gardens at the foot of Mount Li. Stroll the pavilions and mirror-like ponds, and if the weather’s clear, ride the short cable car for views over the Wei River plain. Grab a simple lunch nearby—biangbiang noodles (broad, hand-pulled ribbons with chili, vinegar, and garlic) or liangpi (cool, chewy noodles) from family-run stalls along Lintong’s main drag.

Evening: Back in the old town, wander the Muslim Quarter (Beiyuanmen and lanes around the Drum Tower). Snack-hopping is the point: Fanji Roujiamo for a peppery, slow-braised pork “Chinese burger,” Jia San Guantang Baozi for soup-filled buns, and skewers dusted with cumin and chili. If you prefer a sit-down, Tong Sheng Xiang does refined paomo and Shaanxi cold dishes. Dessert: sticky rice cakes (zenggao) or honeyed persimmon cakes hot from the griddle.

Day 3: Shaanxi History Museum, Pagodas, and Grand Tang Mall

Morning: Shaanxi History Museum traces Zhou bronzes, Han lacquer, and Tang tri-colored sancai ceramics in a tight arc—arguably China’s best regional museum. Timed tickets are required; most days are free with a small fee for special halls. It’s typically closed on Mondays—plan accordingly.

Afternoon: Walk or metro to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Da Ci’en Temple). Climb for skyline views, then browse the tranquil temple courtyards. Coffee break at a nearby specialty café—look for light-roast pour-overs and a quiet second floor, or grab milk tea if you’re running on fumes.

Evening: The Grand Tang Mall (Datang Everbright City) comes alive at night with drum troupes, costumed “Tang ladies,” and light installations stretching for blocks. Catch the free music fountain on the North Square of the pagoda (times vary by season; typically after dusk). Dinner nearby: Xi’an Restaurant (Jiefang Road branch) for Shaanxi classics—cold noodles with garlic-sesame, spicy saozi noodles, and tender “Qin-style” roast lamb—then a stroll under the lanterns.

Day 4: Day Trip to Mount Huashan (Hua Shan)

Morning-to-night: Take a high-speed train from Xi’an North to Huashan North (~35–40 min; ~35–55 CNY second class; check Trip.com trains). Shuttle to the visitor center, then choose your route: the West Peak cable car is spectacular and saves time/legs; the North Peak cable car leads to classic ridge walks. The full West–East–South–North circuit takes 4–6 hours depending on cable car choices. Pack layers, sun protection, and water; in peak season, lines can be long. Optional “Plank Walk” (harnessed) is for the brave and weather-dependent. Return to Xi’an by early evening.

Dinner back in town: unwind with hot pot or go local—Qishan saozi noodles (sour-spicy broth with diced pork and tofu) and garlicky cold noodles. For a toast to your climb, Defu Alley’s cocktail bars pour solid G&Ts and Chinese tea–inspired spritzes.

Day 5: Hanyangling, Changle Gate, and Tang Music & Dance

Morning: Visit the Hanyangling Mausoleum (Emperor Jingdi). The glass walkways suspended over excavated pits reveal ranks of small, lifelike clay figures—farmers, officials, animals—offering a quieter counterpoint to the Terracotta Army. Budget ~2 hours; plan 40–50 minutes by car/ride-hail each way.

Afternoon: Return to the city for Yongxingfang (near Changle Gate), a food-and-craft street showcasing Shaanxi snacks made the old-fashioned way: hand-stretched noodles, stone-milled mung bean jelly, and vinegar-drizzled dumplings. Pop over to Shuyuanmen Culture Street to browse calligraphy brushes, paper, and woodblock prints—a good spot for artful souvenirs.

Evening: Book a Tang Dynasty Music & Dance performance with dinner—an elegant, touristy (but fun) showcase of courtly choreography and pipa and guzheng strings. If shows aren’t your thing, dine at Sanqin Yijia for hearty Guanzhong cuisine: stewed lamb with flatbread, liangfen jelly, and stir-fried greens with aged vinegar.

Day 6: City Wall East Loop, Great Mosque, and Tea Time

Morning: Enter the City Wall again via the East Gate for a quieter loop and different skyline views. Pause at bastions to watch old Xi’an unfold below—bicycle bells, market chatter, a skyline of eaves and new towers.

Afternoon: Explore the Great Mosque, a serene fusion of Chinese architecture and Islamic faith tucked behind the market lanes. Dress modestly and remember it’s an active place of worship; entry is typically ticketed. Lunch afterward at a hidden-gem noodle house for hand-pulled youpo chemian (hot oil noodles) tossed with scallion and chili. Spend an hour at Gao Family Courtyard if performances are scheduled—shadow puppetry and Qinqiang snippets offer a window into local folk arts.

Evening: Tea house crawl: sample jasmine pearls and aged pu’er, learning proper rinses and steep times. For dinner, try Tong Sheng Xiang’s branch near the Bell Tower for a polished take on classics, or keep it casual with cumin lamb skewers and grilled eggplant along the Muslim Quarter’s side alleys. Finish with walnut date cake or tanghulu candied hawthorns.

Day 7: Pagoda Parks, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: If you missed it earlier, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi’an Museum make a perfectly paired, low-key morning—less crowded, with a leafy park ideal for a quiet walk. Brunch nearby at a café serving shakshuka and sourdough, or keep it local with spicy tofu pudding (doufunao) and sesame-studded baked bread.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping: pick up paper-cuts, miniature terracotta figures, or Shaanxi vinegar. If time allows, stroll Daming Palace National Heritage Park to imagine Tang Chang’an’s massive palace complex. Depart for XIY using Metro Line 14 (to North Station, then Line 2/airport transfer) or a taxi/Didi (~1 hr).

Evening: Fly onward or continue China travels by high-speed rail. Check flight options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; trains on Trip.com. For your next base, browse stays on Hotels.com or VRBO.

Dining short list (save for any day):

• Lao Sun Jia: Time-honored paomo with richly spiced broth; order pickled garlic on the side.
• Tong Sheng Xiang: Polished service and a full spread of Shaanxi staples beyond paomo.
• De Fa Chang: Iconic dumpling banquet—ask for the sampler to try creative fillings.
• Fanji Roujiamo: Classic Shaanxi pork “burger,” fatty and fragrant in a crisp bun.
• Jia San Guantang Baozi: Soup dumplings with a Hui Muslim twist; don’t forget the vinegar-ginger dip.
• Near Wall Barley Craft Beer (Defu Alley): Solid Chinese craft brews steps from the South Gate.
• Yongxingfang stalls: Hand-pulled biangbiang noodles, persimmon cakes, and vinegar-scented snacks made before your eyes.

Local tips: Reserve museum slots early (peak travel: Apr–Oct, major holidays). City Wall is best near sunset; the Muslim Quarter is quieter at lunch. Carry small bills for street snacks; most vendors also accept QR payments. Cable cars at Huashan save time; plan your route to make the most of viewpoints and train schedules.

Seven days in Xi’an lets you move from imperial capitals to incense-filled courtyards at an easy pace. You’ll meet warriors in ranks, taste centuries in a single bowl of noodles, and watch the city glow like a Tang poem come to life after dusk.