Xi’an – Where the Terracotta Army Stands Guard
Xi’an is the capital of Shaanxi province and is one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals, having been the capital under various dynasties, most notably the Tang dynasty. The city was also one of the main stops along the Silk Road. Xi’an is a massive city with a lot to see and do, especially if you are a fan of history.
The most famous site in Xi’an, and perhaps one of the most famous in all of China, is the Terracotta Army. This army of clay can be found just to the east of the city and is one of main reasons people visit Xi’an.
Besides the Terracotta Army, Xi’an has various other historic sites worth visiting, as well as delicious food that can’t be found elsewhere in China.
Things to do in Xi’an
- Terracotta Army
- Xi’an City Wall
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- Bell and Drum Towers
- Great Mosque of Xi’an
- Muslim Quarter
Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army, or sometimes the Terracotta Warriors, are sculptures of the army of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. The Army is around 2,200 years old, and was built as a mausoleum to surround the emperor’s tomb.
Discovered by famers in 1974, the Terracotta Army has slowly begun to be excavated. When you visit the site, you can walk around pits where row upon row of clay soldiers stand guard.
At the site of the Terracotta Army there is a museum detailing the history and construction of this massive tomb. Some of the terracotta figures have been removed from their pits and put on display, allowing you to get quite close to them so as to see the magnificent detail on them.
The main pit of the excavation open to visitors is like a large aircraft hangar. Inside you’ll find the rows of Terracotta Warriors as well as generals, horses, and the chariots they pulled.
It is a very impressive site and of course one you have to see when visiting Xi’an.
Xi’an City Wall
The Xi’an City Wall encloses the oldest part of the city and is 14km in length. Atop the wall is a walkway allowing you to walk around the old city. As it’s fairly long, I recommend choosing just a section of the wall to cover. I walked from the South Gate to the southeastern corner.
If you visit around the Chinese New Year, then you can see lots of lanterns displayed along the wall.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda dating back to the 7th century, where it was constructed during the Tang Dynasty.
The pagoda sits inside large temple grounds with other buildings to explore, including its own bell tower.
You can head inside the 64.1m tall pagoda where you’ll find engraved statues of Buddha. You can also get a view across Xi’an, though it was snowing when I visited so the view was quite limited.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is the sister pagoda of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, also built during the Tang Dynasty but slightly after, in the early 8th century.
This pagoda is within walking distance of its larger sister, and sits in a park alongside the Xi’an Museum.
It’s a little quieter than the bigger pagoda and can’t be entered due to damage, but it’s still worth the visit to see this ancient Buddhist structure.
Bell and Drum Towers
The Bell and Drum Towers are located close to each other in the centre of Xi’an. The Bell Tower is situated in the middle of a large roundabout, or intersection, where four streets meet.
You can cross over and enter the tower where you can see large bronze bells dating back to the Tang dynasty. The bell tower rang at dawn while the drum tower signalled the end of the day.
The Drum Tower is located nearby on the edge of the Muslim Quarter. It offers a good view over the centre of Xi’an.
Inside and around the tower you can of course find a large display of drums.
If you arrive at the right time you might catch the drum show which is performed every day.
Great Mosque of Xi’an
The Great Mosque of Xi’an, located in the Muslim Quarter, was originally built during the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty was known for its religious tolerance. Nowadays the mosque serves as both a place of worship and as a tourist site.
Within the grounds of the mosque you’ll find various courtyards housing gardens, steles, pavilions, and of course the main prayer hall. Unfortunately tourists can’t enter the main prayer hall, but there is a camera set up displaying a live image of inside this hall.
Muslim Quarter
The Xi’an Muslim Quarter encompasses the area around the Drum Tower, Great Mosque of Xi’an, and the surrounding streets. This site is home to one of the best street food markets I came across in China.
Day or night you can walk through the Muslim Quarter and pick up street food, or have a look around the many shops and stalls in the area.
I highly recommend trying the roujiamo (肉夹馍). It’s like a bun containing beef or lamb and it is delicious.
There’s a large variety of food to try here so come with an empty stomach and you won’t leave disappointed!
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