What Xi'an Is

Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province, in central-northwest China. It is a city of about 13 million people and one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban sites in the country. For English-speaking travellers, Xi'an is usually the second stop on a first China trip, after Beijing or Shanghai, and the main reason is simple: the Terracotta Warriors are here, and so is one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in China.

The city is a prefecture-level city and a major rail and air hub. It has its own metro system, an international airport, and high-speed rail links to Beijing (about 4.5 to 6 hours), Shanghai (about 6 to 7.5 hours), Chengdu (about 3 to 4 hours) and Luoyang (about 1.5 hours).

Where Xi'an Is and How to Get There

Xi'an sits in the Guanzhong Plain, with the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Wei River to the north. The city centre is built around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, and the old town inside the city wall is where most visitors stay.

  • By air: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is about 40 km northwest of the city centre. The airport express metro line and shuttle buses run into town; a taxi takes around 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.
  • By high-speed rail: Xi'an North Station handles most high-speed services. It connects to the metro network, and it is about 30 to 40 minutes from the old town by metro or taxi.
  • By metro: Lines 2 and 6 serve the Bell Tower area, which puts you within walking distance of the Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter and the South Gate of the city wall.

History in Brief

Xi'an, known in earlier periods as Chang'an, served as the capital of several Chinese dynasties over more than a thousand years. It was the eastern end of the Silk Road and, during the Tang dynasty, one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

The city wall you see today was built in the Ming dynasty, in the 14th century, on the foundations of an earlier Tang imperial palace complex. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower date from the same Ming period. The Terracotta Warriors were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well east of the city, and the site has been excavated and opened to the public in stages since then.

Main Sites

Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum — about 35 km east of the city in Lintong District. Three excavation pits are open to visitors, with Pit 1 the largest. The site also has a cinema and exhibition halls. Allow at least half a day including travel.

Xi'an City Wall — a rectangular Ming wall roughly 14 km around, with gates at the four sides. You can walk the full circuit or rent a bike on top. The South Gate (Yongningmen) is the most convenient entry point from the old town.

Bell Tower and Drum Tower — two Ming towers in the centre of the city, a few minutes apart on foot. Both can be climbed, and both are lit up at night.

Muslim Quarter — the streets around Beiyuanmen, just north of the Drum Tower. It is a working neighbourhood with food stalls, small shops and several mosques, including the Great Mosque, which blends Chinese architecture with Islamic layout.

Shaanxi History Museum — near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, with a large collection of Tang and pre-Tang artefacts. Entry is free but requires advance booking, and numbers are capped daily