https://https://uk.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/xi-an/best-things-to-do/100001406738
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in Xi'an [2025]
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Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
4.7
/5
126400 reviews
9.6
From £12.60
Based on 15,041 reviews
Terracotta Army/Hua Qing Palace | 33.8 km from downtown
Phone +8602981399127
Address: Lintong District, Xi'An, Shaanxi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 4-5 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
The highest point of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor overlooking the Weihe
Qin's tomb viewpoint over Wei River
Saved by 7102 users82889 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Don't mind the timing mentioned, you can still exchange tickets and enter in the morning. Just because with the guides around the place. They will keep asking to be your guide. Some will bring you to another location. It was a great package and we enjoyed our time there.
The Terracotta Warriors Museum is a historically important place to visit with impressive array of figurines of soldiers and some horses displayed. However, even in September, the place tends to be jammed packed with visitors and at certain spots it was difficult to get a good view due to the crowd. There wasn't much greenery to soften the hard concrete structures, hence it could be quite stifling in the heat if it is a hot day. It was also a fairly long way to walk from the entrance to the museum pit buildings. Hence, in conclusion, this place of interest tends to be over-hyped and over-rated notwithstanding its historical value and significance.
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Xi'an City Wall
4.6
/5
55459 reviews
8.9
From £5.67
Based on 7,875 reviews
The bell tower The drum tower/The Xi’an Circumvallation | 1.8 km from downtown
Phone +8602987272792
Address: The city center of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, is rectangular, with four gates: Dongchanglemen (Xi'an City Wall, Huancheng East Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an), Xi'an Dingmen (West Street and Xijuyuan Lane) Nearby Xi'an City Wall (Huancheng West Road), South Yongning Gate (No. 2 South Street, Beilin District, Xi'an), Bei'an Yuanmen (Intersection of North Street and Huancheng North Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an)
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-4 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Interactive Lantern Festival of Light and Shadow during the Lunar New Year
Interactive light show festival
Saved by 3249 users41768 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It's quite good. As soon as you enter, you can feel the heavy historical atmosphere. The ancient city wall creates a majestic and upright aura. After entering, because it is too tall and too close to feel it directly, it is as if you can travel through time and space and return to the ancient scene.
One of the must-see attractions, the latest entry is 10 o'clock, and all lights are turned off at 11 o'clock. I heard that the whole route is very long. We went relatively late and did not ride at night. You can try it if you go earlier. It seems that the rental fee is not cheap. It has a unique style!
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Song of Everlasting Sorrow
4.5
/5
21902 reviews
8.8
From £19.84
Based on 59 reviews
Terracotta Army/Hua Qing Palace | 27 km from downtown
Phone +864000299989
Address: No. 38 Huaqing Road, Lintong District, Xi'an City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-1.5 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty love story reenactment
Saved by 2724 users12991 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Definitely worth visiting! But you’ll need to understand mandarin, otherwise you’re there just for the effects. The performance was mesmerising, I really enjoyed the show.
It's beautiful and worth seeing. The only problem is that the seats are too close together and you have to endure the heat. But the outdoor live performance is acceptable. The overall performance is great and impressive. You can't do anything without buying the Ctrip lounge. You can't even walk around. The snacks are also very different from the pictures. The sunflower seeds are soggy and not crispy. It's very simple. I feel that the money was not spent. I didn't go there earlier than others. I didn't feel that I got any special service. But again, the performance was great.
No.
4
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Xi'an Bell Tower
4.5
/5
20098 reviews
8.5
From £3.15
Based on 2,338 reviews
The bell tower The drum tower/The Xi’an Circumvallation | 8m from downtown
Phone +8602987276420
Address: Intersection of the East, West, and North Sizhi Streets in Beilin District, Xi'an
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Panoramic view of Xi'an from the top of the Bell Tower
Panoramic view of streets & Drum Tower
Saved by 2020 users14807 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
[View] This bell tower is arguably one of the most magnificent in China.
[Fun] Located in the city center, it's a landmark in Xi'an.
[Value for money] Very good value, convenient for getting around.
To enter the scenic area, you need to take the underground passages from various entrances. You'll need to buy a ticket to enter the area near the entrance to Metro Line 2. It's also open at night. The view from the Bell Tower is fantastic, with views of the Drum Tower, Bell Tower Hotel, and Kaiyuan Shopping Mall. The scenery is even more stunning in the drizzle. After reaching the tower, there's a cultural and creative shop where you can buy a commemorative coin from the vending machine.
No.
5
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Tang Paradise
4.3
/5
25547 reviews
8.4
From £7.14
Based on 489 reviews
Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall | 5.8 km from downtown
Phone +8602985511888
Address: No. 99, Furong West Road, Qujiang New District, Xi'an
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Boat tour of the royal garden on Furong Lake
Boat show: Tang Dynasty Dream
Saved by 2044 users13407 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
This place is definitely worth a visit, especially during the evening, the lights are amazing, pine tree aroma and flower bed aroma throughout the whole circuit. Dont miss !
This attraction is calm and peaceful during the day. It's good for relaxing and one of the preferred things to do in xi'an
No.
6
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Shaanxi History Museum
4.7
/5
30788 reviews
8.2
Based on 1,629 reviews
Xiaozhai/Shaanxi History Museum | 4 km from downtown
Phone +8602985253806
Address: No. 91 Xiaozhai East Road, Yanta District, Xi'an (Northwest Side of Big Wild Goose Pagoda)
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
A million years of treasures
Interactive ancient life experience
Saved by 1926 users14414 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
As an important cultural landmark at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, the Shaanxi History Museum uses cultural relics to build a corridor of time and space, allowing visitors to touch the pulse of civilization of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties among the blue bricks and gray tiles, and feel the profound accumulation of Chinese culture.
The experience of visiting the Shaanxi History Museum was great! Zhang Lixuan's guide explained in particular in detail, and the historical stories behind each cultural relics were martyred. From the meaning of the bronzeware's decoration, to the craft characteristics of Tang Sancai, the explanation is both professional and vivid. Make people instantly cross the millennium Zhang Lixuan tour guide also cleverly combined the poetry dictionary, and combined Shaanxi as the glorious history of the 13th Dynasty as a wonderful picture. The 3-hour explanation is large but not boring. Even the children can hear it fascinated. They really do "let the cultural relics speak", and the heavy history and culture are lively and interesting. It is highly recommended!
No.
7
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The Longest Day in Chang'an Theme Block
4.1
/5
4500 reviews
8.1
From £7.14
Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall | 5.5 km from downtown
Phone +864001806888
Address: East side of Mandi Square, Grand Tang Mall, Xi'an City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Immersive Tang Dynasty street experience
Tang Dynasty immersive city life
Saved by 957 users3353 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
If you are wondering if it's worth it is. I recommended giving it a shot. It was so beautiful, you are like in a real c-drama. I felt amazing. If I have another chance, I will definitely go again. 😍
It's a very photogenic place, but it's not very big. You can finish the tour in a short while, and two hours is enough to watch the show. Generally speaking, you can come and have a look, but don't be too special. For girls, it is recommended that they wear Tang suits and Hanfu when they go shopping.
No.
8
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Grand Tang Mall
4.5
/5
1889 reviews
8.0
Based on 47 reviews
Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall | 5.3 km from downtown
Phone +8602985228412
Address: Big Wild Goose Pagoda South Square, No. 6, East Section of Huanta South Road, Yanta District, Xi'an
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
9 themed sculptures on avenue
Iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Saved by 2350 users1443 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The scenery was stunning, the lights dressing the city like a voluptuous young woman, and people were completely captivated by the atmosphere! We all felt like we were back in our youth, enjoying ourselves to the fullest. Time seemed to flow backwards, yet it seemed to have frozen. Before we knew it, it was almost midnight, and we realized we were tired and it was time to go back to bed!
Xi'an's Tang Dynasty City, a city that never sleeps, is a top-tier destination in China. Compared to other cities that never sleep, its beautiful nightscape and illuminations go beyond the unique and captivating cultural performances. While there are snack and drink shops, they don't take up nearly the entire area, creating a market-like atmosphere unlike other places. Travel photography here feels seamless, and people of all ages feel like they've traveled from the Tang Dynasty to the modern era.
No.
9
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Daming Palace National Heritage Park
4.1
/5
8448 reviews
7.9
From £6.30
Based on 103 reviews
Daming Palace/Xi'an Railway Station | 4 km from downtown
Phone +864000096635
Address: Taihua South Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Cherry blossoms around Taiye Lake
Political center & national symbol (Tang Dynasty)
Saved by 585 users4761 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The winds and rains of the past and the dust of the future, whose merits and demerits will be passed down to future generations. Daming Palace, the pinnacle of ancient Chinese palace architecture, although only rammed earth rubble remains today, it is a must-see for those who study the history of Chinese architecture. Perhaps the ruins park looks like an ordinary country park and cannot compare to those amusement parks, but standing here, you can still hear the echoes of the distant prosperous Tang Dynasty in your heart.
There weren't many tourists, and the two museums were excellent, highly recommended. The ruins park only has some rammed earth platforms left, so it's worth a quick tour. If you're going to visit the ruins park, you absolutely have to buy a tour bus; it's so large you'll either tire yourself out or get sunburned. I recommend standing on the Hanyuan Temple ruins to experience the world's center, roughly 1,300 to 1,000 years ago, right under your feet. It feels like a dialogue between time and space!
No.
10
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Big Wild Goose Pagoda
4.6
/5
9879 reviews
7.9
From £1.05
Based on 3,467 reviews
Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall | 4.7 km from downtown
Phone +8617792398839
Address: Yanta Road, Yanta District, Xi'an City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Asia's largest musical fountain square
Spectacular Xi'an views (Top of tower)
Saved by 1252 users4757 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Near Datang Sleepless City, and the big goose pagoda is inside Da Ci En Temple 🛕 . Can come to see Chinese culture for better exploration
Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a landmark building in Xi'an. It is also a 5A-level scenic spot that Chinese and foreign tourists must visit when visiting Xi'an. It has a high cost-effectiveness and is worth a visit.
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