Xi'an was China's capital for over a thousand years. The Qin unified the country here. The Han opened the Silk Road here. The Tang dynasty — China's golden age — ruled from here. If Beijing is modern China's political center and Shanghai its business center, Xi'an is where the civilization itself began.
What you\'ll see in Xi'an
The Terracotta Army
8,000 life-sized soldiers, each with a unique face, buried 2,200 years ago and forgotten until 1974. Nothing prepares you for the scale.
Ancient City Wall (by bike)
14 km of perfect 14th-century fortification — the best-preserved city wall in China. Bike it at sunset.
Muslim Quarter
A street food scene that exists because Arab and Persian merchants settled here along the Silk Road, 1,300 years ago.
Shaanxi History Museum
One of the best museums in China — artifacts from 13 dynasties that ruled from Xi'an.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
A 7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to house scriptures brought back from India.
Tang Dynasty Show
Music, dance, and costumes from China's golden age — performed in a Tang-style theater.
Practical info
Tours through Xi'an
Ready-made itineraries that include this city.
Xi'an: Ancient Capital & Aerospace Frontier — 5 Days
China's ancient capital — home of the Terracotta Army, the start of the Silk Road, and today a hub of space and aerospace research.
Grand Tour: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai — 12 Days
The full China experience. The Great Wall, Terracotta Army, Forbidden City — plus AI labs, autonomous vehicles, and the world's largest smart port. Three cities, one civilization.
Nearby destinations
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