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Major city

Xi'an西安

Go to Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and the city walls; allow 2 nights, 4.5 hours from Beijing by high-speed rail.

Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Rules in force · 5
  • 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 end of the Silk Road and the capital of several dynasties. It is home to the Terracotta Army, a walled centre and a Muslim Quarter with street food. High-speed rail links it to Beijing and Chengdu.

At a glance

Known for
Terracotta Army · City Wall · Muslim Quarter · Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Avoid
Jul–Aug (hot), Dec–Feb (cold)
Nights
2
Airports
XIY Xi'an Xianyang (Airport shuttle and metro line 14)

Where to sleep

Inside the City Wall

Walkable to the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter.

Near the railway station

Rail access.

Getting around

Metro and taxis; buses run to the Terracotta Army. Inside the wall, the centre is walkable.

Watch out

  • Terracotta Army: go early to avoid crowds; entry tickets may need advance booking.
  • Set up mobile payment in advance.

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.

Back to China

Sources

Sources