Xian – Top Tourist Attractions worth visiting!

Xian is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It is famous for its endless treasure chest of history, culture, and artifacts.

Some of the tourist attractions in Xian are mentioned below.

Terracotta Warriors Museum

It is a World Heritage site which features a spectacular display of thousands of terracotta warriors, bronze weapons, and horses. The site was discovered in 1974 by some local Yang Shaanxi farmers who were digging a well. The human-size warrior figures are thought to be part of the funeral of Qin Dynasty’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang who ruled from 259 to 210 BC. The troops are regarded as models of the real army of Qin. The best aspect of the site is the fact that no two warriors look alike. The site is divided into 3 exhibition pit. The largest pit is 7 meters deep, 62 meters in width, and 230 meters in length. It is home to about 6000 soldiers in battle formation. When you stand in front of the army, you can get a real-life feeling of being in a battlefield.

The Xian City Wall

• It is one of most well preserved fortifications in the country. It was constructed during Ming Dynasty era, over 600 years ago, with quicklime, earth, and glutinous extract of rice. It is 15 meters in width, 12 meters tall, and nearly 14 km long. Each point of compass has 4 watchtowers. The main gate which acted as the entry point to the town for visitors is located in the Southern Watch Tower. Tourists can walk or cycle on the wall. The latter is the better option; it offers unique views of the city with modern architecture and skyscrapers on one side and the traditional past on the other side.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

• It is Xian’s most symbolic structure. The 7-storey pagoda was constructed when Xian was the thriving Tang Dynasty’s capital city, about 1300 years ago. It is thought that the pagoda was built to honor master monk Xuanzang who had travelled west to India and returned with the sutras and greater understanding of Buddhism. Tourists can climb to the top and get majestic views of the old part of the town, with neat busy winding roads, contemporary high rises, and traditional ancient houses. The base of the pagoda features a grand plaza where locals gather for leisure, entertainment, and fun activities.

Muslim Quarter

• Located in old town center, the Muslim Quarter is an ethnic Muslim neighborhood which is home to over 20,000 Muslim Hui locals and ten mosques. Xian’s The Great Mosque is the largest and oldest mosque in the country. Historians in China believe that the ancient trade Silk Route between Europe, Middle East, and China started in Xian. The Muslim Quarter is the ideal place to get a feel of the Islamic heritage in Xian. It is also one of the best places to shop for trinkets and enjoy delicious street food. The area has a plethora of small restaurants which pack the narrow alleys and even spill out onto the roads.

Mount Huashan

• It is not only one of the top 5 mountains in the country, but also the most dangerous. The mountain rises to 2,155 meters and features incredible walkways and steep slopes. Huashan is situated 120 km east of Xian; tourists can take a train or shuttle bus to reach there. The most popular attraction on the mountain is the Chang Kong Plank Road. It is a 50 cm wide and 50 meter long wooden plank train constructed along a vertical cliff, about 1000 meters from the ground. Adventurers can walk the path with a protection harness and enjoy a hair-raising experience.

Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

It is a great place to learn about the Tang Dynasty and Chinese history. The museum building is spread across 65,000 square meters and is home to more than 350,000 Chinese relics and cultural artifacts dated from the Stone Age to mid-nineteenth century. Tourists can check out exhibits like well-preserved terracotta soldiers, horses, ceramics, bronzes, Tang and Han bronze mirrors, calligraphy, currency, coins, scrolls, and rubbings, etc. Entry is free, but only four thousand tourists can visit per day. Visitors can buy memorabilia at different gift shops.

Bell & Drum Towers 

From Ming Dynasty onwards, all the cities in China had a drum tower and a bell tower. Every day the drums were sounded at dusk and the bell at dawn, as a means of depicting time. The Bell and Drum towers in Xian are situated in the center of the city and connect 4 roads coming from all directions inside the city wall. Tourists can get awesome views of the city and its diverse architecture from the top of the towers.

Other tourist attractions in Xian include Forest of Stone Steles, Hanyang Tombs, Huaqing Hot Spring, and the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.