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7-Day Xi'an Itinerary

7-Day Xi'an Itinerary

TL;DR — Seven days in Xi'an (西安) covers the city's three "must-sees" — Terracotta Army (兵马俑), Ancient City Wall (城墙), and Muslim Quarter (回民街) — plus three day trips: Hua Shan (华山), Famen Temple (法门寺), and Hukou Waterfall (壶口瀑布). Add a Tang dynasty evening show and the Shaanxi History Museum (陕西历史博物馆) for the full Silk Road eastern terminus experience. Xi'an is a 4,000-year-old capital with the most intact Ming-era city wall in China. Best months: March-May, September-November. Avoid July-August (35°C+) and the first week of October (Golden Week).

Day 1: Old Xi'an + Tang Welcome

Morning (09:00–12:30): City Wall

  • 09:00 — Metro Line 2 to Yongningmen Station (永宁门站).
  • 09:30 — Xi'an City Wall (西安城墙), ¥54 entry. The best-preserved Ming-era city wall in China, 13.7 km around. Bike rental ¥45/2 hours or single-seat electric cart ¥80/hour. 3 hours.
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Tongshengxiang (同盛祥) inside the wall area. ¥60-100/person.

Afternoon (13:30–17:30): Beilin + Bell Tower

  • 13:30 — Beilin (碑林, Forest of Steles Museum), ¥75 entry. 1,000+ years of Chinese calligraphy carved in stone. 1.5 hours.
  • 15:30 — Bell Tower (钟楼) + Drum Tower (鼓楼), ¥50 combo. The 1380 city-center landmarks. 1 hour.
  • 16:30 — Muslim Quarter (回民街) early-evening walk. The street food is famous but the actual best stalls are inside the alleys. Free to walk.

Evening (19:00–22:00)

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Ma Hong (马洪) for biangbiang noodles (biáng biáng miàn). ¥40-60/person.
  • 20:30 — Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show (唐乐宫), ¥298-498/person. 70 min, with English subtitles. Book 3+ days ahead.

Day 2: Terracotta Army

Morning (07:30–13:00): Terracotta Army

  • 07:30 — Depart from hotel. Downtown Xi'an is 1 hour to Terracotta by metro Line 9 + bus, or 45 min by taxi (¥120-150).
  • 08:00 — Tourist shuttle (¥30) from Lintong. Terracotta Army and Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (秦始皇帝陵博物院) opens 08:30, ticket ¥120.
  • 08:30 — Pit 1 (一号坑) — the famous 230m-long chamber with 6,000+ life-size warriors. 1.5 hours.
  • 10:00 — Pit 2 (二号坑) — cavalry and archers. 45 min.
  • 10:45 — Pit 3 (三号坑) — command post. 20 min.
  • 11:15 — Bronze Chariots Exhibition (铜车马展厅) — 30 min.
  • 12:00 — Lunch at Lintong. 葫芦头 (húlútóu, pork intestine stew) at a local restaurant. ¥30-50/person.

Afternoon (14:30–18:00): Return + Huaqing Palace

  • 14:30 — Bus/taxi back to downtown.
  • 15:30 — Huaqing Palace (华清宫), ¥120 entry. The Tang-era imperial hot spring, 30 min from Terracotta. The Song of Everlasting Sorrow (长恨歌) show is performed here in summer evenings. 1.5 hours.
  • 17:00 — Return to downtown.

Evening (19:00–22:00)

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Defachang (德发长) for dumplings. ¥60-100/person.
  • 21:00 — Tang Paradise (大唐芙蓉园) night walk, ¥120 entry. Optional.

Day 3: Day Trip to Hua Shan (华山)

Morning (06:00–12:00): Travel + Cable Car

  • 06:00 — HSR from Xi'an North Station (西安北站) to Hua Shan Station (华山站), ¥55, 30 min.
  • 07:00 — Bus or taxi to Hua Shan Visitor Center (华山游客中心), ¥20-30.
  • 08:00 — Hua Shan (华山), ¥160 entry. Cable car (西峰索道 or 北峰索道) ¥80-150 one-way.
  • 08:30 — Take the West Peak Cable Car (西峰索道). The 4,000+ steps alternative is for serious hikers only.
  • 09:30 — Arrive West Peak (西峰, Lotus Peak) at 2,083m. Walk the plank walk (长空栈道) — a 30-min cliff-side path with iron chains. 1.5 hours.

Afternoon (13:00–18:00): Five Peaks

  • 13:00 — Lunch on the mountain at one of the peak restaurants, ¥60-100/person.
  • 14:00 — Visit the other four peaks: East Peak (东峰), South Peak (南峰, 2,154m, the highest), Middle Peak (中峰), North Peak (北峰). Each 30-60 min hike.
  • 17:00 — Descend via North Peak Cable Car (北峰索道) or West Peak Cable Car (西峰索道). 30-45 min queue in peak season.
  • 18:00 — Bus back to Hua Shan Station, HSR to Xi'an.

Evening

  • 21:00 — Late dinner at Wei Fang (魏家凉皮) for liangpi (cold noodles). ¥30-50/person.

Day 4: Famen Temple (法门寺)

Morning (08:00–13:00): Travel + Famen Temple

  • 08:00 — Bus from Xi'an West Bus Station (城西客运站) to Fufeng (扶风), 2.5 hours, ¥65. Or private car (¥700-900 round trip).
  • 10:30 — Famen Temple (法门寺), ¥120 entry. A 1,800-year-old Buddhist temple that houses a finger bone relic of the Buddha (佛指舍利). 3 hours. The Underground Palace (地宫) is the highlight.
  • 13:00 — Lunch at Famen Temple restaurant row. ¥50-80/person.

Afternoon (14:30–18:00): Famen Museum + Return

  • 14:30 — Famen Temple Museum (法门寺博物馆), included. 4,800+ Tang dynasty treasures, many unearthed in 1987.
  • 16:30 — Return to Xi'an.

Evening (19:00–22:00)

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Lao Sun Jia (老孙家) for paomo (泡馍, lamb and bread soup). Tear the bread yourself. ¥50-80/person.
  • 21:00 — Datang Furong Garden (大唐芙蓉园) for the water-screen movie (水幕电影). ¥120 entry.

Day 5: Shaanxi History + Tang Style

Morning (08:30–12:30): Shaanxi History Museum

  • 08:30 — Metro Line 2 to Xiaozhai Station (小寨站).
  • 09:00 — Shaanxi History Museum (陕西历史博物馆), free (¥20 for special exhibitions). One of China's top 3 museums. Book free tickets 1-7 days ahead via WeChat mini-program "陕西历史博物馆".
  • 12:00 — Lunch at Qujiang Restaurant (曲江宾馆) for upscale Shaanxi cuisine. ¥80-150/person.

Afternoon (13:30–17:30): Big Wild Goose Pagoda + Tang Style

  • 13:30 — Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔), ¥50 entry (climb ¥30 extra). The Tang-era Buddhist complex, 64m tall. 1.5 hours.
  • 15:00 — Tang Paradise (大唐芙蓉园), ¥120 entry. A Tang-dynasty themed garden. 2-3 hours.
  • 17:00 — North Square (大雁塔北广场), free. The musical fountain is at 20:30.

Evening (19:00–22:00)

  • 19:00 — Dinner at the Qujiang Tang Dynasty themed area (multiple options). ¥100-200/person.
  • 21:00 — Musical Fountain Show (大雁塔北广场音乐喷泉), free, 20:30-21:00. The largest musical fountain in Asia.

Day 6: Day Trip to Hukou Waterfall (壶口瀑布)

Morning (06:30–13:00): Travel + Waterfall

  • 06:30 — Bus from Xi'an East Bus Station (城东客运站) to Hukou Waterfall (壶口瀑布), 4 hours, ¥120. Or private car (¥1,200-1,500 round trip, recommended for the long drive).
  • 11:00 — Hukou Waterfall (壶口瀑布), ¥100 entry + ¥40 shuttle. The world's largest yellow-waterfall, where the Yellow River (黄河) narrows from 400m to 30m. 2-3 hours.
  • 12:30 — Lunch at the on-site restaurant. Try yellow river carp (黄河鲤鱼). ¥60-100/person.

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): Return + Yan'an Stop

  • 14:00 — On the return, optional stop at Hukou (壶口镇) Yan'an Memorial (延安纪念馆), free. 1 hour.
  • 16:00 — Return drive to Xi'an. 4 hours.

Evening

  • 21:00 — Late dinner at Hongxing (红星饭店) for Shaanxi countryside cuisine. ¥60-100/person.

Day 7: Departure + Final Look

Morning (09:00–12:30): Small Wild Goose Pagoda

  • 09:00 — Xi'an Museum (西安博物院) + Small Wild Goose Pagoda (小雁塔), ¥50 combo. 2 hours. The Tang-era pagoda is the most photogenic in Xi'an.
  • 11:00 — Anyuanmen Old City Wall (安远门), free. 30 min walk.
  • 11:30 — Lunch at Tongshengxiang (同盛祥) for biangbiang noodles before departure. ¥40-60/person.

Afternoon (13:30–17:00): Final Shopping

  • 13:30 — Yongxingfang (永兴坊), free. A 1,300-year-old street with Shaanxi folk food and crafts.
  • 15:00 — Tang Market (大唐不夜城), free. A Tang-themed pedestrian zone.
  • 16:00 — Return to hotel. Pack. Head to Xi'an Xianyang Airport (XIY) via metro Line 14 (¥16, 45 min).

Practical info

  • Airport: Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) — airport metro Line 14 to downtown, ¥16, 45 min. Taxi ¥100-150.
  • HSR: Xi'an North (西安北站) is 30 min by metro Line 2 from downtown. Direct HSR from Beijing (4.5 hours), Shanghai (6 hours), Chengdu (3.5 hours).
  • Hotels: Stay inside the city wall, near the Bell Tower (钟楼) or South Gate (永宁门). Mid-range: ¥300-500/night. Boutique courtyard hotels: ¥600-1,200/night.
  • Best season: March-May, September-November. Avoid July-August (35°C+, humid) and the first week of October (Golden Week).
  • What to skip: Louguantai (楼观台) or Cuihua Mountain (翠华山) on a 7-day trip — not worth the time vs. the day trips above.

Budget estimate

| Item | Per person (CNY) | |---|---| | Hotel (6 nights, mid-range) | 2,100–3,000 | | Food (7 days) | 800–1,200 | | Transport (metro + bus + HSR day trips) | 800–1,200 | | Tickets (Terracotta, Hua Shan, etc.) | 1,500–2,000 | | Tang Dynasty Show | 300–500 | | Total (excl. international flight) | 5,500–7,900 |

Verify with: 12306.cn for HSR (Xi'an-Hua Shan), the Terracotta Army's official WeChat mini-program for ticket booking, and Hua Shan official site for weather-related closures (closed in extreme weather).