Xi'an was the capital of several Chinese dynasties and the eastern end of the Silk Road, and today it fits an unusual amount into a small area: a Ming-dynasty city wall you can walk or cycle, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Muslim Quarter's food lanes, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Terracotta Army an hour or so outside the city. Three days covers the main sights. This guide covers who Xi'an suits, how the city is laid out, what to book before you go, how to get in from the airport, and the seasons. Where we could not open an official source we say so, and we mark every figure that is not official.
For entry rules, mobile payments, internet limits and train booking across China, see the China hub; we do not repeat them here. Dedicated pages cover the Terracotta Army and where to stay in Xi'an. If you are coming from the capital, our Beijing guide is the natural first stop.
Who Xi'an suits
Xi'an suits people who like history and street food. Wikivoyage describes it as the capital of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties and the start of the Silk Road. The old-city sights sit close together and several metro lines serve them. Two things to plan for: the Terracotta Army is outside the city and takes half a day round trip, and the Muslim Quarter is crowded. Wikivoyage warns that prices there are high and rubbish is visible, and suggests trying only the Hui (Muslim) dishes.
The city in words
- Inside the City Wall is the old city. The Bell Tower stands at the centre with four streets running to the four directions, the Drum Tower is about 200 m to the west, and the Muslim Quarter lies just beyond it (Wikivoyage).
- South of the wall has shopping, bars and nightlife, which Wikivoyage calls the most interesting part outside the wall.
- Qujiang and Yanta in the south-east hold the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Tang Paradise park and the Great Tang All Day Mall.
- Xi'an North station is the high-speed rail hub, about 15 km from the centre (Wikivoyage).
- Lintong in the north-east is home to the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace.
Main sights
Terracotta Army. The museum's own site says Pit 1 covers 14,260 square metres and holds roughly 6,000 figures. Adult tickets are CNY 120 and must be booked by real name in advance, with the original passport checked at the gate. Fees, hours, how to book and how to get there are on the Terracotta Army page.
Xi'an City Wall. Wikivoyage gives the wall as 13.7 km long and 12 m high, built in the Ming dynasty on the foundations of the Tang-era Chang'an wall. Walking the full circuit takes about 4 to 5 hours and bicycles can be rented on top. We could not open the wall's official site on the day we checked, so the fee, hours and bicycle price below come from unofficial sources that do not agree.
| Item | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Adult CNY 54, students and children 6 to 18 CNY 27 | Wander in China (not official) |
| Hours | South Gate 08:00 to 22:00 (Mar to Oct) and 08:00 to 20:00 (Nov to Feb); other gates often close earlier | Wander in China |
| Hours (other source) | 08:00 to 23:00, but most gates close at 18:00 to 19:00 and only the South Gate stays open to 23:00 | Wikivoyage |
| Bicycles | About CNY 45 for 3 hours (Wander in China), or CNY 40 for 120 minutes plus a CNY 200 deposit (Wikivoyage) | The two disagree |
| Booking | WeChat mini-program "Xi'an City Wall Scenic Area" with a passport, or buy at the gate | Wander in China |
The two sources disagree and we could not reach the official site, so treat this table as a rough frame and confirm at the South Gate or in the mini-program before you pay. Wikivoyage notes that rain can stop bicycle rental because the surface is slippery.
Muslim Quarter (Huimin Street). A set of small lanes in the Hui community inside the wall, with restaurants and street food near the Great Mosque. The Bell and Drum Tower area is lit up after dark, per Wikivoyage.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Wikivoyage links it to the Daci'en Temple and to the end of the monk Xuanzang's journey to fetch Buddhist scriptures. Metro lines 3 and 4 share Dayanta station. We did not check the pagoda's entry fee or climbing hours, so ask on site.
Great Tang All Day Mall. A Tang-dynasty themed night-time walking district close to the pagoda. We did not check opening hours or events. If you stay around Qujiang you can walk there.
Huaqing Palace. In Lintong on the same bus route as the Terracotta Army. Wikivoyage gives 38 Huaqing Road, open 07:00 to 19:00 (Mar to Nov) and 07:30 to 18:00 (Dec to Feb), with an adult ticket of CNY 120. That is not an official figure and we did not check it with the site.
Mount Huashan. Wikivoyage places it about 120 km from Xi'an, around 35 minutes by high-speed train. The summit is 2,160 m, the hike is about 6 km and takes 4 to 6 hours, or you can ride a cable car. We could not open the scenic area's official site and the prices we found disagree (cable car CNY 70 on Wikivoyage, CNY 80 and 140 elsewhere depending on route), so we publish none. Check the official channel before you buy, and note that strong wind can stop the cable cars.
Getting to Xi'an
We have not confirmed a direct Bangkok to Xi'an flight from an airline or airport website. Wikivoyage lists Bangkok among the airport's international destinations, and AeroRoutes reported that Loong Air added Xi'an to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) from late September 2025. Neither is an airline site, so the most we can say is that a direct flight may exist: check real dates on the airline's site or a booking app. If you enter China elsewhere first, Wikivoyage lists high-speed G trains (up to 300 km/h) to Xi'an North from Zhengzhou in 2 to 3 hours, Chengdu in about 4, Beijing in 4 to 6 and Shanghai in about 7. Use the China Railway 12306 app described on the China hub for real timetables and fares.
From Xianyang Airport (XIY) into the city
Wikivoyage puts the airport about 40 km north-west of the centre, in Xianyang. Wikipedia says Terminal 5 opened on 20 February 2025 and all international flights moved there, and that metro Line 14 opened between the airport and Xi'an North on 29 September 2019, with two airport stations: Airport W. (T1, T2, T3) and Airport (T5).
| Option | What we found | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 14 | Airport to Xi'an North (Beizhan), then change to Line 2 or 4 into the city | Wikivoyage and Wikipedia; we could not open the Xi'an Rail Transit site |
| Metro fare | Search results gave about CNY 8 to 10 to Xi'an North and CNY 16 to 20 to the centre | Unofficial and inconsistent |
| Journey time | About 35 to 40 minutes to Xi'an North | Unofficial |
| Airport bus | CNY 25, about 1 hour, Line 1 to the Bell Tower and Line 2 to the railway station | Wikivoyage, not checked with the operator |
| Taxi | About CNY 150 to the Bell Tower | Wikivoyage, a rough range |
Wikivoyage warns of unlicensed drivers and touts who claim the last bus has left. Use official signs and counters. If you end up in an unlicensed car it says to note the plate number and call 12328. Station names for Terminal 5 differ between secondary sources, so read the signs in the airport before you board.
Getting around by metro
Wikivoyage gives a fare of CNY 5 per trip and lists the lines tourists use: Line 2 links Xi'an North, the Bell Tower and Xiaozhai near the Shaanxi History Museum, Line 3 passes Dayanta, Line 9 serves the north-eastern suburbs and the Terracotta Army area, and Line 14 serves the airport. We did not check the current fare on the metro operator's site, so the CNY 5 figure is unofficial. Wikivoyage says you can pay with WeChat Pay or Alipay at the gate, which ties in with the payments section of the China hub.
Seasons and weather
Wikivoyage says Xi'an has four distinct seasons and recommends spring and autumn. Summer is sunny and hot, so cover up and avoid shadeless places like the wall at midday. Winter is cold and dry. Monthly averages from Wikivoyage:
| Month | High / low (C) | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 / -4 | 9 |
| Feb | 9 / -1 | 13 |
| Mar | 16 / 4 | 28 |
| Apr | 22 / 9 | 50 |
| May | 27 / 14 | 68 |
| Jun | 32 / 19 | 86 |
| Jul | 33 / 22 | 104 |
| Aug | 31 / 21 | 97 |
| Sep | 25 / 16 | 117 |
| Oct | 19 / 10 | 67 |
| Nov | 13 / 3 | 28 |
| Dec | 7 / -3 | 7 |
By these numbers, April, May and October are comfortable, while December to February is below freezing at night. That last judgement is ours.
How many days
Our own suggestion, not an official figure: three full days. Day 1, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Muslim Quarter and the City Wall at dusk. Day 2, the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace on the same bus route. Day 3, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda with the Great Tang All Day Mall in the evening. Add a fourth day for Huashan, because you need time for queues for the cable car and the walk down.
Where to stay
We checked 11 hotels against their own websites, spread across the Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter, South Gate, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Qujiang, Xi'an North and Lintong. See where to stay in Xi'an for the area comparison.
How this guide compares
We read China Highlights' and Lonely Planet's Xi'an pages as English benchmarks on 17 October 2026. Both are good introductions with sights and itineraries. Neither gave us the Terracotta Army's real-name booking rule, the cap of 65,000 visitors a day, or a note on what could not be verified for the City Wall and Huashan. This page cites the museum's own site, shows where unofficial sources disagree, and marks everything we could not confirm.
Links on this page and our earnings
The booking buttons on this site's Xi'an pages open the providers' search pages. As of 17 October 2026 we have no registered affiliate link for Xi'an and earn nothing from them yet. We do not compare prices.
Hand-picked places to stay
Examples of established Xi'an hotels, spread across areas and budget bands. Every fact below was checked against the hotel's own website or a reputable source on 2026-10-16 and links to that source. We have not stayed at these places and give no ratings; we show no prices because rates change daily. The band is the property class (hostel or guesthouse, mid-range, upscale), not a live price.
| Hotel | Area | Band | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel Xian | Bell Tower district, Xincheng | Upscale | It suits travellers who want an upscale historic hotel in the Bell Tower district. |
| Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square | Inside the city walls | Upscale | It suits travellers who want an upscale hotel with a large garden and pool inside the walls. |
| Grand Mercure Xian Renmin Square | Inside the city walls | Upscale | It suits travellers who want a walkable base inside the walls near metro lines 1 and 4. |
| Mercure Xi'an Downtown | Bell Tower, inside the walls | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want a mid-range base within walking distance of the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter. |
| Novotel Xian The Bell Tower | Bell Tower, inside the walls | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want to step out to the Bell Tower and take metro line 2 from the front door. |
| ibis Xi'an Huimin Street Hotel | Muslim Quarter, Guangji Street | Budget | It suits budget travellers who want to walk to the Muslim Quarter and the Bell and Drum Towers. |
| ibis Xi'an South Gate Hotel | South Gate, near Yongning Gate | Budget | It suits budget travellers who want shopping streets and the South Gate of the city wall nearby. |
| Mercure Xian Dayan Pagoda | Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Yanta | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want to be in the Yanta district near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. |
| Mercure Xi'an History Museum | Qujiang, Datang Everbright City | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want to stay near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Datang Everbright City night area. |
| Mercure Xi'an North | Near Xi'an North Railway Station | Mid-range | It suits travellers arriving or leaving by high-speed train who want to stay near Xi'an North station. |
| Angsana Xi'an Lintong | Lintong, near Lishan | Upscale | It suits travellers who want a resort stay in Lintong close to the Terracotta Army area. |
Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel Xian
- The hotel says it is housed in the 1953 Renmin Dasha building. [Source]
- The page lists distances to the Bell and Drum Towers (1.8 km), Beilin Museum (2.1 km), Yongning Gate (2.9 km), Muslim Quarter (1.5 km) and Yongxingfang (1.2 km). [Source]
- The pool and gym are for in-house guests only. [Source]
- The address is 319 Dong Xin Street, Shaanxi. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want an upscale historic hotel in the Bell Tower district.
Keep in mind: The page gives distances in km rather than walking minutes and names no metro station, so check the walk on a map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square
- The hotel says it is within the historic city walls, close to the Bell and Drum Towers, Muslim Quarter, City Wall and Forest of Steles. [Source]
- It says Metro Lines 1 and 4 are nearby. [Source]
- It lists 178 rooms, suites and apartments. [Source]
- It lists a 40,000 sqm garden, indoor pool, spa and fitness facilities. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want an upscale hotel with a large garden and pool inside the walls.
Keep in mind: The page says only that the metro is nearby, without a station name or walking time.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Grand Mercure Xian Renmin Square
- The hotel says it is within the Ming Dynasty city walls. [Source]
- It says Subway Lines 1 and 4 are a 5-minute walk. [Source]
- It says the historic attractions are within walking distance. [Source]
- The address is 319 Dongxin Street. [Source]
- The breakfast buffet at the 57 Cafe starts at 6:00am. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a walkable base inside the walls near metro lines 1 and 4.
Keep in mind: The page does not name the metro station for the 5-minute walk, so check the route on a map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Xi'an Downtown
- The hotel page (Chinese) says it is a 6-minute walk to Line 2 Bell Tower station and about 10 minutes to Line 1 Beidajie station. [Source]
- It says the hotel is 2.8 km from Xi'an Railway Station, about 10 minutes by car. [Source]
- It says it has 216 smart rooms. [Source]
- It says it is about 40 minutes by car from Xianyang airport. [Source]
- The address is No 8 Xixin Street, Xincheng District. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a mid-range base within walking distance of the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter.
Keep in mind: The main description is in Chinese and the English summary is shorter, so read the Chinese text or ask the hotel about details.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Novotel Xian The Bell Tower
- The hotel page (Chinese) says it is a 3-minute walk to the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter. [Source]
- It says the South Gate wall, Beilin Museum and SKP are 8 minutes on foot. [Source]
- It says the main entrance faces Bell Tower station Exit H of Lines 6 and 2. [Source]
- It says it has 198 rooms and suites. [Source]
- It says it has a 24-hour gym, a children's play area and a free self-service laundry. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want to step out to the Bell Tower and take metro line 2 from the front door.
Keep in mind: The detailed text is in Chinese; the Bell Tower area is busy, which the page does not address.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
ibis Xi'an Huimin Street Hotel
- The hotel says it is on Guangji Street, near the Bell and Drum Tower and Huimin Street. [Source]
- The address is No. 36 Yandian Street, Beilin District. [Source]
- It lists a leisure bar serving breakfast, coffee and cocktails. [Source]
- It lists a self-service laundry, gym and wireless network. [Source]
Suits: It suits budget travellers who want to walk to the Muslim Quarter and the Bell and Drum Towers.
Keep in mind: The page names no metro station or walking time, and the English text reads as machine-translated.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
ibis Xi'an South Gate Hotel
- The hotel says it is in the South Gate business circle. [Source]
- It says it is next to department stores and large shopping centres. [Source]
- The address is No. 95, S.Guanzheng Street, Beilin District. [Source]
Suits: It suits budget travellers who want shopping streets and the South Gate of the city wall nearby.
Keep in mind: The page names no metro station and gives no distance to the wall, so check the map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Xian Dayan Pagoda
- The hotel says it has 152 rooms. [Source]
- The address is No 6 Yanta West Road, Yanta District. [Source]
- It lists free high-speed internet, satellite channels, bluetooth speakers, a complimentary minibar and bathrobes. [Source]
- It lists a lobby bar on level 1. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want to be in the Yanta district near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Keep in mind: The page does not state the distance or walking time to the pagoda or a metro station.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Xi'an History Museum
- The hotel page (Chinese) says it is in the core of Qujiang New Area. [Source]
- It says it is easy to reach the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Datang Everbright City. [Source]
- It says it has 131 smart rooms. [Source]
- It says the laundry and fitness centre are open 24 hours. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want to stay near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Datang Everbright City night area.
Keep in mind: The Chinese text refers to Lines 3 and 4 Dayanta station, but gives no walking time.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Xi'an North
- The hotel says it is 500 m from a Line 2 station, 1 km from a Line 4 station and 1 km from the Xi'an North high-speed railway station. [Source]
- It says it is 23 km from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. [Source]
- It says it has 240 guestrooms. [Source]
- The address is Unit B Building 71 Capital, International City Fengcheng, Twelve Rd, Weiyang District. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers arriving or leaving by high-speed train who want to stay near Xi'an North station.
Keep in mind: It is outside the walled old city, so the sights in the centre are a metro ride away.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Angsana Xi'an Lintong
- The hotel describes itself as a hot spring luxury resort. [Source]
- It says it sits at the foot of Mount Lishan. [Source]
- The text invites guests to see the life-sized terracotta army. [Source]
- The address is No 8 East Yuechen Road, Lintong District. [Source]
- It lists pool depths of 1.2 m for adults, 0.6 m for children and 0.9 m for the massage pool. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a resort stay in Lintong close to the Terracotta Army area.
Keep in mind: It is far from the city centre, and the page does not give a distance or travel time to the museum.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Xi'an?
That depends on your passport. The rules for visa-free entry and 240-hour transit are on the China hub, with the dates we checked them.
Is there a direct flight to Xi'an from Bangkok?
Possibly, but we have not confirmed it. Wikivoyage lists Bangkok among the airport's destinations and a news report says Loong Air added the route from September 2025. Check dates on the airline's own site.
How do I get from the airport to the city?
Metro Line 14 to Xi'an North, then Line 2 or 4, or the airport bus and taxis in the table above. Confirm fares and times at the station, because we could not open the operator's site.
When is the best time to visit?
Wikivoyage recommends spring and autumn. By the monthly averages, April to May and October are mild, and December to February drops below freezing at night.
How many days do I need?
Three days for the old city and the Terracotta Army, plus one for Huashan (our suggestion).
Do I need to book the Terracotta Army?
Yes. The museum's site says everyone, including foreign visitors, must book by real name in advance. Details are on the Terracotta Army page.
How much does it cost to cycle on the City Wall?
The two sources we found disagree: about CNY 45 for 3 hours, or CNY 40 for 120 minutes plus a CNY 200 deposit. We could not reach the official site, so confirm at the gate first.
See also
- China hub: entry rules, payments, internet, trains
- Where to stay in Xi'an
- Terracotta Army tickets and how to get there
- Beijing travel guide
Official sources and further reading
- Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Site Museum (official, Chinese and English): ticket price, booking, hours
- Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Site Museum (official): home page, opening hours
- Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Site Museum (official): visitor guide, 65,000 daily cap
- Wikivoyage: Xi'an (districts, airport, metro, City Wall, climate; not official)
- Wikipedia: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (terminals, metro stations; not official)
- Wikipedia: Line 14 (Xi'an Metro)
- Wander in China: Xi'an City Wall guide (not official, checked 16 Oct 2026)
- AeroRoutes: Loong Air adds Xi'an to Bangkok (news report, not an airline site)
- China Highlights: Xi'an Travel Guide (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
- Lonely Planet: Xi'an (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
