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7 Days in Yan'an

A week for Pagoda Hill, the free historic courtyards, Hukou Falls, the Yellow Emperor's mausoleum, Nanniwan with an Ansai drum show, and the sandstone slots of Ganquan.

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Best time: May-June or September-OctoberBudget: mid-range

Quick Answer

Is 7 days enough for Yan'an?

7 days is the sweet spot for Yan'an: enough time for the must-sees plus one day trip or food/rest day.

Source: NihaoVisit Yan'an guide

7-day Yan'an itinerary at a glance

Use our full Yan'an travel guide as the base and adapt it to 7 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.

Pagoda HillZaoyuan & Yangjialing sitesHukou WaterfallYellow Emperor's MausoleumYucha slot canyonsAnsai waist-drum show

Day 1

Pagoda Hill & Riverfront

Nine-story brick pagoda (44 m) on the 1,135 m hill, grottoes below, and the free light show across the hill face after dark.

yanan pagoda hill
yanan qingliangshan
yanan yanhe riverside

Day 2

Historic Sites Loop

Free with passport at every gate; budget about 2 h for the memorial hall (founded 1950, closed Mondays) and 30-60 minutes per courtyard site.

yanan zaoyuan
yanan yangjialing
yanan revolution memorial
yanan wangjiaping

Day 3

Hukou Waterfall Day Trip

About 3 h each way to Yichuan county; the Yellow River narrows from some 300 m wide to a 30 m slot and drops more than 20 m.

yanan hukou waterfall

Day 4

Huangling — Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum

About 2 h south; walk the cypress-shaded paths of Qiao Mountain and the Xuanyuan Temple hall of stone tablets before an early return.

yanan huangdi mausoleum

Day 5

Nanniwan & Ansai Drums

About 45 km southeast, the Nanniwan rice-paddy valley and its small exhibition hall; in the evening an Ansai waist-drum performance puts the loess rhythm on stage.

yanan nanniwan
yanan ansai drum show

Day 6

Ganquan Slot Canyons

About 1.5 h southwest; the Yucha sandstone slots run narrow and red-gold, the main channel about 1 km — go midday for light beams.

yanan yucha grand canyon

Day 7

Market Morning & Departure

A last morning on Erdaojie for oil-mo-mo and potato shreds (yangyu caca), then the train or coach onward.

yanan erdaojie food street

Budget for 7 days in Yan'an

Tier	Per day	7 days total
Backpacker	USD $50–$80	USD $350–$560
Mid-range	USD $100–$200	USD $700–$1,400
Luxury	USD $300+	USD $2,100+

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Frequently asked questions

What is the daily budget for Yan'an?

Budget travelers: USD $50–$80/day. Mid-range: $100–$200/day. Luxury: $300+/day. These cover hotel, three meals, transit, and one paid attraction per day.

Do I need a visa to visit Yan'an?

It depends on your passport — see our <a href="/china-visa-2026/">China visa guide</a> for the latest country-by-country list. Most Western passport holders can enter visa-free for 30 days as of 2026.

How do I get from the airport to the center of Yan'an?

Yan'an's main airport connects to the city center via airport bus, taxi, or metro where available. See the airport transfer section of our Yan'an guide.

Can I use 7 days for both Yan'an and a side trip?

Yes — with 7 days you can pair Yan'an with one nearby city (e.g. a short rail or bus side trip) and still have buffer days.

Is Yan'an safe for tourists?

Yes. Yan'an has very low violent crime rates and is widely considered safe for foreign tourists. Standard petty-theft precautions apply. See our <a href="/is-china-safe-2026/">is China safe</a> page.