Do you want to know the customs of different countries? Do you want to feel the charm of ancient Chinese cities? Or do you want to try traditional Chinese food? If you are interested in those questions, visit Xi’an. Once the capital of 13 dynasties, it is a city with a rich history. Therefore, most foreign tourists interested in Chinese history and traditional architecture choose to visit this city to check it out.
How to get here？
Xi’an is located in the center of the China continent, so transportation in this city is convenient. You have many choices to arrive here. If you come from another country, taking an airplane is the best choice. Xianyang International Airport is only about 30 minutes drive from downtown Xi’an. If you set off near Xi’an, the high-speed rail is your best choice. At present, there are three high-speed rail stations that can be chosen at will, and they are closer to the urban area than the airport. When visitors travel in the city, they could take the subway, taxi or tourist direct line. Anyway, it is not a problem to travel here.
Xi’an’s location in China map by anonymous
Which scenic spot is the most representative of Xi’an?
Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army is a world cultural heritage, at the same time, it is also the eighth miracle in the world. It is the burial object of the first emperor in ancient China. This emperor opened up a channel, unified currency, words, and measurement unit in China, and was also the first emperor to build the Great Wall. When the emperor was still in office, he ordered a large number of clay figurines to be built in order to protect his afterlife. These terra cotta soldiers had different features, and their bodies were different and lifelike. They were all made according to the real scale of 1:1, including soldiers, horses and even chariots. They are all made by the people with their hands, so it took them 39 years to finish the construction. When you enter the scenic spot, you can choose to rent an explaining machine. Whenever you go to some specific position, you can hear the explanation of the scene in front of you, which includes not only Mandarin but also English and other major languages. Get tickets online.
By Sarah Ward
Immersive experience——The Song of Everlasting Sorrow(vedio)
This performance is the first large-scale historical dance drama in China. The whole performance lasts about an hour and 10 minutes. This is an outdoor live show with the Lishan Mountains as the background, and the Huaqing Palace, where the performance takes place, is also the real place of historical stories. Through lighting, dancing, music, fireworks and other aspects, it shows the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and tells the story of the tragic love between Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Princess Yang Guifei. The whole scene is very impressive. You can immerse yourself in the Tang Dynasty style and enjoy the dance and music with Chinese classical characteristics.
It should be noted that the performance is only available at night from the end of March to the end of October. If necessary, please purchase tickets in advance and check the relevant return transportation. Get tickets online.
Photos from the show by anonymous
Try authentic local food
- Lamb paomo
Bake the fermented flour and add it to the steaming lamb broth. Paomo is steeped in lamb soup with a unique and delicious taste. You can walk into any shop down the street, and every shop will serve the most authentic food.
by author
- Roujiamo
Roujiamo is a kind of pastry with a gap in the middle, which is filled with preserved and tasty preserved meat. The cake tastes crispy on the outside, soft and tender in the middle, and the meat is delicious with fat and thin fillings. Now there are not only pork fillings but also many flavours, such as beef and onion fillings. So if you have a taboo, you can tell the shopkeeper in advance, and they will recommend the best taste for you.
by author
- Liang pi
Liangpi is a cold noodle made from wheat flour, usually with shredded cucumber, carrot, peanut and a moderate amount of chilli and sesame oil. Of course, there are many other flavours and garnishes to choose from when you buy them. A video shows how to make it by yourself.
by author
These are the usual things tourists do, but there are many other options. You can check out these sites and choose for yourself.
- https://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/shaanxi-shanxi/xian
- https://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/
- https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/xian.htm
