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Major city · China

Xi'an西安

Go to Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and the intact Ming city wall; allow 2 nights, 4.5 hours from Beijing or 3.5 from Chengdu by high-speed rail.

Weather
see forecast
Best months
Mar–May and Sep–Nov: mild and dry, avoiding both summer heat and winter cold
avoid Jul–Aug (hot, occasional heavy rain), Dec–Feb (cold, dry and often smoggy)
Airport
XIY
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
  • East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
  • China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
  • China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
  • China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
  • China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
  • China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.

Xi'an was the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and served as capital for several Chinese dynasties, including the Qin and Tang. It is home to the Terracotta Army, discovered in 1974 near the tomb of China's first emperor, a fully walled old centre and a Muslim Quarter known for its street food. High-speed rail links it to Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Xi'an, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Terracotta Army at the Qin Shi Huang mausoleumThe intact Ming-dynasty City Wall, walkable or cyclableMuslim Quarter street food around Huimin StreetBig Wild Goose Pagoda and its Tang-dynasty groundsShaanxi History Museum's Silk Road artefacts
Airports
XIY Xi'an Xianyang (About 40 km from the centre; airport shuttle bus or Metro Line 14, roughly 1 hour)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Xi'an: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The metro and taxis cover the city; public buses or a tour bus run to the Terracotta Army site, about an hour outside the centre. Inside the wall, the old town is compact and walkable, and city-wall bike rental is a popular way to see it.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Inside the City Wall

Walkable to the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter.

Near the railway station

Convenient for early trains to the Terracotta Army or onward rail, but noisier.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Watch out

Safety

Low risk of crime against tourists; the main issues are crowds at the Terracotta Army and winter smog.
  • The Terracotta Army gets very crowded by mid-morning; go at opening and book tickets in advance where possible.
  • Winter smog can be heavy; check an air-quality app if it affects you.
  • Muslim Quarter food stalls vary in hygiene standards; choose stalls with visible turnover and fresh cooking.
  • Foreign visitors need a valid visa or transit exemption; confirm current rules with official sources.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Ambulance
120
Fire
119

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Xi'an. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May and Sep–Nov: mild and dry, avoiding both summer heat and winter cold · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, occasional heavy rain), Dec–Feb (cold, dry and often smoggy)
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast
  4. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to China

Sources