You might not know that Xi’an is the location of the starting point of one of the most prominent routes in history, the Silk Road, but you most likely know that it’s on the list of only four ancient cities that are still standing today. In fact, it was once the capital city of the nation, which is why a lot of Chinese locals feel pride whenever it is mentioned.
If you’re thinking about visiting Xi’an, you should know that it’s a place that has to offer a lot, including tourist attractions, amazing beverages, and local cuisine, as well as mesmerizing nature. To help you decide what you should do and see, here are the top 7 tourist attractions that you might want to focus on while there:
1. The “Terracotta Warriors” Are Waiting For You
The very first location that you must ensure that you visit while in the country is one of the biggest and most significant archaeological locations on Earth, The Terracotta Warriors. It’s considered to be the most important finding of the previous century and its main purpose was to protect and accompany the nation’s first emperor in the afterlife – similar to what the ancient Egyptians used to do.
While there, ensure that you take the tour so that you can learn all about the history of the place, as well as how the life-sized statues were made. Additionally, there are some activities that you can participate in. For instance, you can purchase a ticket to visit a small cave where you can learn the 2000-year old ancient techniques, which basically means that you can try to make one of the mini warriors by yourself – which makes a perfect souvenir.
2. Visit The History Museum
As we previously mention, Xi’an is thought to be a city of incredible historical significance, which is why it has a wide range of sites and relics. Although there are relics that are scattered all around the city, most of them found a home in the Provincial Museum called “Shaanxi”. Keep in mind, it’s one of the top 5 showrooms in the country and if you choose to visit it, you’ll see exhibitions ranging from the oldest dynasties all the way to modern-day relics.
3. Try Out Hanfu Costumes!
If you want to have a real experience and if you want to take some really awesome pictures, you should definitely opt for trying Hanfu costumes, the oldest traditional clothing of China. As the name implies, it was implemented by the Han Dynasty and shortly after, it has become the nationwide clothing of their people. Xi’an is one of the best places where you can learn about these costumes and if you want, you could choose from a wide range of options and get a special experience of this particular culture.
4. You Must Try The Local Cuisine
If there is one thing that you must take away from this article, it’s the fact that you cannot miss out on trying some of the best local meals on Muslim Street. Once there, you might get completely mesmerized by the colorful flagstones, and don’t worry, you can stay away from the sun if you walk close to the tree lines planted there. This street is, perhaps, one of the best locations for foodies, which is why you shouldn’t miss visiting it.
Now, even though the street is filled with various restaurants, you should really focus on the food stalls. Why? Well, it’s simple, you’ll be able to try a wide range of traditional dishes, including cakes, dried fruits, specially made bread, and don’t forget to try skewered meat! Traditional dishes are always an option, but if you’re up for something new, try some special snacks such as marinated beef stuffed inside of baked bread called roujiamo.
5. See The Drum And Bell Towers at Night
When you’re done visiting and trying various dishes on Muslim street, you should visit the Drum and Bell tower that is located nearby. It’s situated in the middle of the city, the tower is 20 feet tall, and there are amazing arched gates on all ends, which means that you can choose where you’ll enter the area. Also, the largest square – Zhonggulou – is across the tower, so, don’t miss out on taking a stroll there as well.
The tower is the largest of its type in the whole country, and the architecture is simply amazing. In fact, it’s decorated with approximately 2.000 studs, 4 large rings made out of bronze, as well as 28 drums that come in various sizes. Although it’s quite beautiful during the day as well, you might want to visit it during the night, mostly because the tower is also decorated with a wide range of lively and colorful lights. You can click here to learn more about the towers.
6. Mount Hua is Perfect For Hiking
You might be the outdoorsy type and if so, you should definitely choose to take a hike on Mount Hua. Besides enjoying some time outdoors, you’ll also be on one of the 5 sacred mountains of China. It’ll take you an hour and a half to get to the mountain from Xi’an, and once you begin your hike, you’ll be able to see a wide range of temples and shrines along the way. If you don’t feel like hiking, you should take a cable ride that’ll allow you to enjoy some truly amazing natural wonders.
7. Opt For a Dumpling Fest!
Last on our list of things to try, but definitely as interesting as everything else is that you should have a dumpling fest! This is, perhaps, an activity that you should leave for last, mostly because it’ll provide you with an amazing experience just before you arrive home. Keep in mind, there are various types of dumplings you could try while in the city and you could even choose to find out how to prepare them if you want.
Conclusion
If you’re planning on visiting Xi’an or if you simply wanted to know more about this amazing place, the attractions we’ve mentioned above are some of the best ones the city has to offer. Whether you choose to climb Mount Hua or if you try some traditional costumes, one thing is for sure – you’ll have endless hours of fun!
