Terracotta Warriors   兵马俑

The buried army of Qin Shihuangdi is one of the largest and most stunning archaeological finds of the 20th century. Discovered in 1974 at Lintong, 35 kilometres east of Xi'an, the warriors and horses have deservedly become known as a Wonder of the World. Now exhibited in situ, the life-size terracotta figures so far excavated testify to the power of the man for whom they were moulded to protect in afterlife.

This site is an archaeological find on a monumental scale. Literally an army of sculptured warriors, it is a stunning display that every visitor to China should see.

Qin Shihuang's Tomb  

The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is the largest preserved tomb in China. No doubt thousands of statues still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological site, which was not discovered until 1974. Qin (d. 210 B.C.), the first unifier of China, is buried, surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors, at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures are all different; with their horses, chariots and weapons, they are masterpieces of realism and also of great historical interest.

There is not actually a lot to see on this site aside from a large hill so if you are interested to stop because of the historical significance it does not take that long.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda   大雁塔

The Big Goose Pagoda, perhaps the most beautiful building left in Xi'an today, is one of the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks. Completed in 652 CE, the pagoda was built at the request of the Tang monk, Xuan Zang, whose pilgrimage to India is immortalized in the 16th-century Chinese novel Pilgrimage to the West or Monkey.

Xuan Zang asked Emperor Gaozong to build a large stone stupa like those he had seen on his travels. The emperor offered a compromise brick structure of five storeys, about 53 metres (174 feet) high, which was completed in 652 CE. Originally called the Scripture Pagoda, it is said to be where Xuan Zang translated into Chinese the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India. Its present name, Big Goose Pagoda, has never been satisfactorily explained.

Walk or Bike the Old City Wall   城墙

The old city wall is high and wide which leaves a road on the top which is empty. A peaceful retreat from the billions for strolling or getting on a bike. We organize as part of our tours a bike trip on the city wall. You can bike the entire circuit in 1-2 hours or just cruise along part of it then return. You can stop at various viewpoints and look down at the scene below. Nice for photographers. Great fun and a chance to work off some of those delicious Chinese meals we serve you!

Xi'an's 14th-century wall still stands, although today it is intersected by a few modern roads. It is one of the most important city walls in China and certainly one of the best examples from the Ming. Construction began during the reign of Hongwu, the first Ming emperor, on the remains of the Sui and Tang wall and took eight years to complete. Repairs and renovation have now been carried out by the local government to restore the wall to its original splendour and the structure is now once again completely connected. The circumference is 13.7 kilometres (8.5 miles), and it is 12 metres (40 feet) high, 12-14 metres (40-46 feet) wide at the top and 15-18 metres (49-59 feet) wide at the bottom. It is surrounded by a moat.

Muslim Street   穆斯林街

Muslim Street while touristy, is genuinely local too. A great place to stroll and see traditional Muslim culture alive and well in China. Worth visiting by day or night, the food is authentic and is a great place to have a Muslim style meal. There are a variety of shops selling different souvenirs and the area should be the itinerary for photographers. Not to be missed, Muslim Street is one of Xian's major attractions.

The early Muslims in China came from what was known at Xiyu, or 'the west', areas usually identified as Arabia or Persia. These people were much different from the Chinese in terms of their language, culture and physical appearance. Like other foreigners in China, they were labeled 'foreign sojourners'. Islam was first introduced by Arab merchants during the Tang dynasty, and flourished during the Yuan (1279-1368). The Muslims gradually became concentrated in the northwestern part of the walled city, where they remain to this day. The community now numbers more than 60,000, or about one percent of the city's population. The residents, whose families have lived here for hundreds of years, are proud of their religion. They strongly identify with their mosque, frequently introducing themselves as 'belonging' to this or that mosque. This is because...   Read more here

Xi'an 西安

Xi'an is considered one of China's must see destinations, the home to the Terracotta Warriors. People usually visit Xi'an for 1 or 2 nights and is a good part of a loop between Beijing and Shanghai or other destinations. You can get there by plane or the overnight train is also convenient from Beijing.

Xi'an is one of the few ancient Chinese cities with its old city wall still intact. You can walk on it or even ride a bike. The Muslim area is colorful and authentic, worth a walk around and also not a bad place to have dinner and do a bit of shopping.

The Terracotta Warriors are about 1 hour outside the city, look on the map below for details. Nearby the warriors are the Huaqing Hotsprings, which is more of a nice park with an historic spring, but no swimming.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner