Xi’an Tourist Sites: 15 Best Places to Visit & 5 to Skip

When people talk about Xi’an tourist sites, most immediately think of the Terracotta Army. But if you’ve actually spent a few days in Xi’an, you’ll know that this ancient capital of thirteen dynasties has far more to offer than just one pit. If you’re searching for “Xi’an tourist sites” and want to figure out “where to go, how to plan your trip, and how to avoid crowds and scams” all at once, this article is for you. I’ll cover the list of attractions, ticket prices, how to avoid pitfalls, and the best itineraries all at once—so you don’t make the same mistakes I did on my first visit. Before planning your itinerary for Xi’an’s tourist sites, keep this in mind: the real pitfalls in Xi’an aren’t the attractions themselves, but the information gap.

I. Let’s start with the conclusion: The 15 Most Worthwhile Tourist Sites in Xi’an

I’ve divided the best Xi’an tourist attractions into three areas. Following this route will save you the most travel time. This layout reflects the general consensus on where the vast majority of Xi’an’s must-visit attractions are located and serves as a curated collection of the top things to do in Xi’an:

• Old City: Xi’an City Wall, Bell and Drum Towers, Hui Muslim Street, Beilin Museum, Guangren Temple, Xiangzi Temple
• Qujiang New District: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty Never-Sleeping City, Shaanxi History Museum, Small Wild Goose Pagoda (Xi’an Museum), Tang Dynasty Furong Garden
• Lintong District: Terracotta Army (Museum of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin), Huaqing Palace, Mount Li

These 15 attractions pretty much cover all the highlights of what I consider to be the top things to do in Xi’an, and they make up the Xi’an must-visit attractions itinerary I take my friends on every time. For first-time visitors, the top things to do in Xi’an really boil down to three things: “exploring history, eating at the night market, and cycling along the city wall.” If you only have time to pick five, my top five must-visit attractions in Xi’an are the Terracotta Army, the City Wall, the Shaanxi History Museum, Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps, and Hui Muslim Street. If you’d like to see the full illustrated list, check out this guide to the best Xi’an tourist attractions, which breaks down the opening hours and activities for each spot in greater detail.

II. The 6 Most Common Pitfalls for Foreign Tourists

This is something competitors rarely explain in detail, but I have to mention it. Ticket prices for Xi’an tourist sites aren’t expensive in and of themselves; what really adds to the cost is the “information gap.” To make the most of your visit to Xi’an’s tourist sites, start by avoiding these pitfalls:

By the way, official reservations for the Terracotta Army can be made through the official website or WeChat official account. You can also book through Ctrip or Klook, but WeChat Pay at the site often requires a mainland Chinese phone number, so it’s safest for international visitors to book in advance through overseas platforms.

Keep these tips in mind, and your experience at Xi’an’s top tourist attractions will be taken to the next level. You’ll also be able to better enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Muslim Quarter’s food street without having your mood ruined by scams.

III. Can’t Get By Without Alipay? Practical Tips for Payments and Communication

For many tourists in Xi’an, the biggest headache isn’t the attractions themselves, but payment. Most subway turnstiles don’t support contactless payments with foreign credit cards, so there’s only one solution: download Alipay or WeChat Pay and link an overseas bank card. Once linked, get the “Xi’an Subway Ride Code” and simply scan the code to enter the station; You can handle everything from booking tickets for the Terracotta Army and renting bikes on the City Wall to even buying persimmon cakes at the night market right within the app. As for language, download a translation app in advance—snapping photos of attraction signs and menus and using the translation feature is usually sufficient, so you don’t need to worry about communication issues at Xi’an tourist sites. Oh, and almost all admission fees at Xi’an tourist sites support payment via these two apps by scanning a QR code; cash, on the other hand, isn’t very practical.

IV. How to Avoid Crowds at the Terracotta Army: Timing Guide

Many people ask, “How to avoid crowds at the Terracotta Army?” The answer can actually be summed up in three sentences. The key to avoiding crowds at the Terracotta Army is “timing,” which is also repeatedly emphasized in this Xi’an Terracotta Army guide. The timing recommendations in this guide are based on multiple field tests:

• 8:30–9:30 Morning opening: The fewest people and the best lighting for photos
• 9:00–11:00 Peak tour group traffic: Avoid this time if possible—waiting in line to enter Pit No. 1 is a real pain
• After 3:30 p.m.: Tour groups have dispersed, and it’s quiet again

Among Xi’an’s attractions, the Terracotta Warriors are the main highlight, so knowing how to avoid crowds at the Terracotta Warriors is especially important. Keep in mind that the Terracotta Warriors are included in the Xi’an tourist sites ticket price at ¥120 (including Lishan Park); during peak season, admission closes at 5:00 PM and the site clears out by 7:00 PM. The official viewing order is: Pit 2 → Pit 1 → Pit 3 → Bronze Chariot and Horse Museum. Pit 1 is the largest, while Pit 2 features the most intricately crafted kneeling archer figures. For a more comprehensive guide to the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, be sure to use the audio commentary; otherwise, you’ll just be looking at “clay figures.”

V. Shaanxi History Museum: What to Do If You Can’t Get Free Tickets

Booking tickets for the Shaanxi History Museum is where first-time visitors most often run into trouble. Keep these hard-and-fast rules in mind: tickets go on sale at 5:00 p.m. daily, 5 days in advance; the museum is closed on Mondays; daily visitor capacity is limited to 12,000 people; visitors aged 65 and older can enter without a reservation by presenting valid ID; and if you no-show twice in a year, you’ll be blacklisted for 180 days. Be sure to plan ahead for your Shaanxi History Museum reservation—don’t wait until you’re at the gate to find out it’s fully booked. The trick to securing a reservation is to set an alarm; don’t trust scalpers. Can’t get a free ticket? Buy a ¥30 ticket for the “Treasures of the Tang Dynasty” exhibition, or head to the Xi’an Museum (Little Wild Goose Pagoda) instead—it’s less crowded and offers a better experience. The Xi’an Museum (Little Wild Goose Pagoda) offers free reservations and is quiet with fewer visitors. Its ancient Tang Dynasty Jianfu Temple architecture and gardens make for great photos—it’s the perfect alternative if you can’t secure a spot at the Shaanxi History Museum. Among Xi’an’s tourist attractions, the Shaanxi History Museum is the hardest to book, so plan ahead.

VI. Where Else Do Xi’an Locals Go Besides the Terracotta Army?

If you’re looking for quiet spots beyond Xi’an’s nightlife attractions, here are a few of my hidden gems: Guangren Temple (Xi’an’s only Tibetan Buddhist temple, with its red walls perfect for photos), Xiangzi Temple + Defu Alley (coffee shops in the old alley), and the Old Market (where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city walls from the rooftop). The main street of Hui Muslim Street is bustling but overpriced; locals prefer Sajin Bridge instead. The meatball hot and spicy soup and cured beef buns at Sajin Bridge are staples of the local breakfast—they’re half the price of those on Hui Muslim Street and much more authentic. Compared to daytime, the night view of Datang Ever Bright City is the true soul of the Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City; the lights reach their peak at 8:00 PM. For more off-the-beaten-path spots, check out this list. While the Tang Dynasty City is another nighttime attraction in Xi’an, the places mentioned above offer a more comfortable experience if you want to avoid the crowds. In fact, Xi’an’s nightlife isn’t limited to the Tang Dynasty City—a nighttime bike ride along the city walls is also incredibly relaxing. Xi’an isn’t just about Instagram-worthy hotspots; these local hidden gems are where you’ll discover the real Xi’an.

VII. Three-Day Itinerary Template + Pre-Departure Checklist

How many days should you spend in Xi’an on your first visit? My answer is that three days is the most comfortable for a first-time visit, and this is also the general consensus in most guides on “how many days to spend in Xi’an on your first visit”:

• Day 1: Evening bike ride along the city walls → Night views of the Bell and Drum Towers → Dinner at Shajin Bridge
• Day 2: Shaanxi History Museum in the morning → Big Wild Goose Pagoda → Datang Ever Bright City (night view—recommended to visit after 7:00 PM)
• Day 3: Full day in Lintong: Terracotta Army + Huaqing Palace

The highlight of Day 2 is actually the “City That Never Sleeps.” It’s worth waiting until 9:00 p.m. to catch the night view of Datang Ever Bright City—it’s even more spectacular then. Pre-trip checklist: Set up Alipay, download a translation app, set an alarm to snag tickets for the Shaanxi History Museum, and check the weather before renting a bike for the City Wall ride. Follow this Xi’an City Wall Cycling Guide: start at the South Gate, ride in the evening, and watch the sunset and the lights come on—it’s the cheapest and most therapeutic hour you’ll spend in Xi’an. The key takeaway from the Xi’an City Wall Cycling Guide is simple: don’t ride at noon—it’s hot and sunny. The guide also reminds you to bring a bottle of water; the 13.7-kilometer ride is no short trip. If you fit these Xi’an tourist sites into these three days, you’ll pretty much avoid any pitfalls.

FAQ

A Message for First-Time Visitors

The most enchanting thing about Xi’an is how it seamlessly weaves the everyday life of a thousand years ago into the hustle and bustle of today. Follow this guide to Xi’an’s tourist sites, and you won’t get lost in the crowds or have your wallet emptied by scams. For the best way to experience Xi’an’s tourist sites, take your time exploring and savoring the local cuisine—that’s the real secret.