Travel to Xian, tour guide
The terracotta warriors of Xian have always been the main tourist attraction of this city. However, there are many other attractions that can lead us to know what was the first capital of unified China for twelve dynasties, cradle of the oldest civilization in the world.
Xian is located more than 1,100 kilometers southwest of Beijing (it is reached by plane on a journey of about two hours). The rich history, tradition and culture of this city is fascinating, although perhaps the first impression is that of a place that is too industrial. Keep in mind that there are more than seven million people living in this city, hence the bustle can be excessive.
Spring and autumn are the best times to travel to Xian , since the winters are very cold and between the months of July and September the monsoon season is very wet. Lovers of Chinese history and culture should consider it as an essential visit on their itinerary.
VISITS
- The Terracotta Army
Main attraction of Xian, is located on the outskirts of the city, about 30 kilometers. It reproduces the human army of Qin, forming part of the gigantic tomb of the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, Qin Shihuang, founder of the Chinese empire between 247 and 208 BC. Terracotta soldiers were declared World Heritage Sites in 1987 and were discovered in 1974. The enclosure can be visited every day from 08.00 to 18.00, and the price of admission is 110 yuan (13.50 euros).
- Bell Tower
Located inside the city walls, it is the symbol of Xian. It is 36 meters high and was built in the fourteenth century, during the Ming dynasty, although it was placed in its current place in 1582. It marks the nerve center of the city, since it leaves the four main roads of the walled neighborhood. It has served to mark the hours and, the sound of his bell, was used to indicate the beginning of the day and the opening of the city gates.
- Muslim Quarter
It is recommended to enter this neighborhood through the Drum Tower, as it will take us to the Great Mosque, representative monument of this corner of the city. This mosque was built in the middle of the eighth century, and only Muslims can enter it. It is a pleasure to stroll through the labyrinth of narrow streets in the neighborhood, where small art is mixed with Muslim, both in its markets and in its buildings.
- Shaanxi History Museum
Located in the southern neighborhoods of the city, this building complex houses an exhibition of more than 110,000 pieces with everything found in the surrounding area. They cover practically all dynasties and it is the best place to know the archeological history of the city. You can visit every day from 09.00 to 17.00 (until 18.30 from April to October), and the best way to get there is the bus.
- Great Wild Goose Pagoda
It is possibly the most beautiful pagoda in Xian, in addition to the best known. Built in the middle of the seventh century, it is always full of faithful and tourists. Your visit is not only recommended for the architecture and magic of the building, but for the beautiful views it offers of the city itself. It is 60 meters high, and is open every day until 7 pm. The enclosure is completed with two pavilions. Also noteworthy is the visit to the Pagoda of the Little Wild Goose.
- Walled enclosure
Xian is a walled city, which still contains a good part of its walls and moat. This site dates from the 14th century, although it was restored and decorated in the 80s of the 20th century. It consists of 12 kilometers of perimeter and 12 meters high, the South Gate being the most important (it can be visited until 22.30, and offers magnificent views of the city). In the four corner it has watchtowers.
EXCURSIONS FROM XIAN
In addition to the famous Terracotta Army , we have to approach the Neolithic village of Banpo , an archaeological site located 6 kilometers from the city, discovered and mid-twentieth century. At 40 kilometers from Xian we have the imperial tombs of the Han dynasty. Let's not forget the necropolis of Zhao Ling and Qian Ling , the parks of Mao Ling and Huaqing , the Temple of the Dharma Gate and Xianyang.
WEATHER
The climate in Xian is continental monsoon type. It can be said that summer is a hot and very humid season, with which the thermal sensation is greater, especially from July to September. For its part, winter is very cold and dry, with hardly any rain. Therefore, as we said at the beginning, the best time to travel to this area is spring and autumn, times when temperatures are not extreme.
PURCHASES
Antiques and works of art are some of the items to be purchased at Xian. The main streets of the historic center, such as Dong Dajie, Nan Dajie and Jiefang Lu have some of the best traditional shops. There are also different shopping centers, such as Ginwa, Minsheng and Kai Yuan. Xian is full of souvenirs with the famous terracotta soldiers and other pieces from the different Chinese dynasties. Do not forget either the markets of the Muslim Quarter.
GASTRONOMY
Here we can eat everything from traditional Cantonese food to other regions. Famous are dumplings (stuffed dumplings that are cooked in the soup), sesame rolls stuffed with mutton from the Muslim Quarter (where you can taste the best Xian kebab), steamed lamb, steamed bun , the biang biang mian (noodles with many spices) and the Rou Jia Mo (meatloaf). In the city there are many street stalls in the center, and international restaurants are mainly in the hotels.
NIGHT LIFE
In this city we can enjoy bars, restaurants, discos, cafes, karaokes ... The Great Wild Goose Pagoda offers Monday night, Wednesday and Friday, to begin with, a light and fountain shows. From here we can go to the city center, to have dinner at their restaurants, around the Bell Tower. In the center, after dinner, we also have karaokes (very popular), bars, pubs and even discos.
TRANSPORTATION
The center of Xian can be easily explored on foot. In any case, the bus service has a network of vehicles that frequently run through the city center and the suburbs. It also has minibuses, smaller, faster, but more crowded. For a longer and safer ride we can use taxis, but taking care that the taximeter is placed correctly. We can rent a car or a bike, although the traffic here is somewhat chaotic.
HOW TO GET
The best way to get to Xian is through its Xianyang International Airport , located 13 kilometers from the city. From here you can take taxis or buses to go to Xian. From Beijing or Shanghai it takes two hours to fly. Another option is to travel by train from Beijing, on a night train, leaving at 22.30 from the Chinese capital and arriving at Xian at 08.30 hours.
ACCOMMODATIONS
In this city you will find hotels of all kinds, from the most modern and exclusive to small accommodation, pensions, hostels and mid-level hotels. If you want to book a room in the city, I recommend clicking on the following link: Hotels in Xian .