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Home / Where / China / Xi’an

Xi’an

The Chinese have always known Xi’an to be a city of great importance. It was, after all, one of China’s ancient capitals. It was only in 1974 when a group of local farmers discovered the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and his magnificent Terracotta Army that the rest of the world became interested too...

Signature Xi'an Experiences

Curated, half-day experiences led by local personalities, historians or experts in their field that offer a deep dive on a particular topic

Trip Customisation

The in-house service where we put it all together for you

Tour Guides

Native Chinese Tour Guides with years of experience, perfect for general sightseeing

Vehicle Hire

To maximise your time, and help you get around with minimal hassle

Hotels

So much choice! But a handful offer more reasons to stay than most

What To Eat

Six Xi'an culinary experiences to get excited about

Must See Sights

Bespoke’s pick of the best for the ultimate trip

The Neighborhoods

Hit the ground running with our insider’s guide to Xi'an’s need-to-know neighborhoods

Must See Sights

Bespoke’s pick of the best for the ultimate trip

The Terracotta Warriors

Need we say more? This is no doubt the reason you’re in Xi’an in the first place. This vast archaeological site lay undiscovered for more than 2,000 years until local farmers discovered it in 1974. It’s an epic story that’s still only half told – and continues to fascinate.

The Muslim Quarter & The Great Mosque

As a significant stop on the Silk Road, Xi’an has a surprisingly metropolitan past. For centuries it was one of the biggest and most sophisticated cities on earth, and nowhere is the influence of the Middle East more prevalent than in the city’s atmospheric Muslim Quarter and pretty Xuexi Lane Mosque

The City Walls & Shuyuanmen

Xi’an’s mighty City Walls are among the largest and best preserved in the country – and a leisurely bike ride atop this ancient structure is a must. We always stop by the nearby Shuyuanmen area too, for its Old China street market vibes and numerous calligraphy-supply stores.

The Big Goose Pagoda

This dramatic leaning tower is hugely significant and a great place to learn about Chinese Buddhism. First built nearly 1500 years ago, one of its functions was to store important documents brought to China from India by the monk Xuan Zang, the main character in the Chinese classic Journey to the West.

The Small Goose Pagoda

Because you can never have too many goose pagodas, right? We actually prefer this chilled out spot to its bigger brother, and consider it an overlooked gem.

Han Yang Ling Mausoleum

Often referred to as a ‘mini Terracotta Army’, this archaeological treat on the outskirts of town dates back to 150 A.D. The tomb of emperor Liu Qi and his empress has been left exactly as it was discovered – visitors walk along glass pathways constructed directly over them.

What To Eat

Six Xi'an culinary experiences to get excited about

Noodles

Xian is known for its noodle varieties, but our favorite has to be biang biang mian – super thick noodles served with delicious local vinegar and a kick of chili.

Muslim Quarter Snacks

This part of town
comes to life in the evenings: Smoke billows from lamb skewers on outdoor grills, noodles are pulled streetside and baskets of dried fruits line the streets. A feast for the senses!

Suan Mei Tang

This sour plum juice is a truly gorgeous concoction of smoked Chinese plums, rock sugar and sweet osmanthus. It’s great for digestion too.

Homestyle Shaanxi Food

A typical Shaanxi meal
consists of cold dishes, stir-fried local veggies and flavorful meat dishes. With sides of local dumplings and noodles on standby (just in case you’re still not full!)

Local Craft Brews

Xi’an’s bars are few in number but have a genuinely local feel. Near The Wall – the city’s first microbrewery – is a good place to start.

Rojia Mo

Aka China's version of a hamburger: succulent pulled pork stuffed into a chewy, doughy patty. Delicious.

Hotels

Xi'an's hotel scene is still relatively under developed. Here are our top picks!

The Sofitel & Sofitel Legend

Bang in the center of the city, the bustling Sofitel offers all the amenities you’d expect from a five star hotel, while the smaller Legend aims for a quieter, more exclusive ambiance complete with personal butlers for guests. For those that want to explore Xi’an’s local eats by night, this is a great base.

The Westin

With views onto the nearby Big Goose Pagoda, this is a fresh, contemporary hotel in a modern part of town that’s a great choice for families. The lobby even includes a branch of Shan 13, the hip ice cream store with a focus on delicious flavors from the region.

The Hyatt Regency

The newest of the high-end hotels, the Hyatt Regency is located in a newly developed area to the south of the city some distance from the center. It is, though, close to the highway that leads to the Terracotta Warriors – perfect if this is your only reason for visiting. The spacious outdoor areas and lake view rooms offer a calm, resort-like fee too.

The Neighborhoods

Hit the ground running with our insider’s guide to Xian’s need-to-know neighborhoods

Within Xi’an’s remarkable city walls lies its historic center. It’s a gritty area but includes the compelling mosques and vibrant backstreets of the Muslim Quarter which come to life at night. The south gate area is also worth exploring – an old market specializing in calligraphy supplies by day hides a handful of emerging hipster hangouts, great street food ops and craft beer bars.

Just south of the center, the Yantaqu has been heavily redeveloped in recent years. It’s home to – yep, you guessed it – those two goose pagodas that you’ll be hearing a lot about. You’ll also find a handful of other interesting sites here including the excellent Shaanxi Provincial Museum, as well as some of the sleek new hotels and malls.

Xi’an’s most famous site is actually located almost 45km from the city center in the suburb of Lintong, at the foot of the Li Mountains. Forgotten for a couple of thousand years, the area was suddenly thrust back into the limelight when the Warriors were rediscovered in 1974. It’s still a largely rural place – the journey there takes you passed fields of pomegranate plantations and you might still spot the occasional cave home.

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Bespoke Travel Company Ltd
Head Office: 07A110, 7th Floor, No.10 Jintong Xi Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
必思博( 北京)旅行社有限公司, 北京市朝阳区金桐西路
10号远洋光华国际AB座7层07A110
Tel: (+86) 151 0167 9082

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