Seeing the Terracotta Warriors is probably considered up there with visiting the Great Wall when it comes to travelling to China. It’s one of those must-see places. As such, Xi’an is quite a popular destination! There’s lots more to do in this city than just see the warriors. This is my guide on how to spend 24 hours in Xi’an, China. Including where to stay, getting around, and your 48 hour itinerary.
Where to stay in Xi’an
In Xi’an, our tour group stayed in the Skytel Hotel Xi’an. Located within the old part of the city (inside the city walls), the hotel was in a good location. It was only a short walk to the Bell Tower and a short drive to most of the attractions we visited. But more on that below.
Getting around Xi’an
For the most part, we used Uber to get around Xi’an (when we couldn’t walk). The service was good, arriving quickly and getting us to our destination. However, the drivers were CRAZY! That’s something that stood out to us throughout our China trip; there seemed to be no road rules and cars and scooters alike drove like mad.
48 hour itinerary
Evening day 1: experience culture and amazing food at a dumpling banquet and performance
Did you know that each region in China has its own local speciality for food? In Xi’an, that’s dumplings so make sure you try some while you’re there! On our first night in Xi’an, we went to a dumpling banquet and dance and music show. The banquet was AMAZING. There were so many different kinds of dumplings: fried, steamed, savoury, dessert… You name it, we ate it. (It felt that way, anyway). There were even dumplings made into adorable shapes! Including an ECHIDNA!!!! (Yes, I am aware it was actually a hedgehog. But let me have my moment). The other shapes included a frog, duck and fish. I was vegetarian for the duration of the trip (more on that in an upcoming post) but for the non-vegetarians, the duck and fish-shaped dumplings contained duck and fish, respectively.
The music and dance show after the banquet was pretty amazing, too. It told the story of the Empress of the Great Tang, Wu Ze-Tian (the only female emperor in China) from when she started as a young court dancer to becoming an emperor. We were very impressed by the beautiful costumes and dancing, as well as the traditional instruments used to play the music.
This evening was rather expensive, so it’s not for everyone. However, if you have the money, I would highly recommend you find something like this in Xi’an!
Morning day 2: visit the Terracotta Warriors
You can’t travel to Xi’an without visiting the Terracotta Warriors. This is why the city is famous, after all! The Terracotta Warriors are located a short drive out of the city in a huge museum. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the best experience here. We got in late because of an issue with the tickets so had less time to explore. Plus we visited during the Chinese summer holidays so it was PACKED. I do not deal well with crowds so it was not a fun time for me. However, the museum was very interesting and is worth a visit.
We had a local guide for the day and she was quite good. We each got a headset which allowed us to hear her talking while we were wandering around. I’m generally not a fan of headsets but this setup was pretty nifty. I definitely recommend you get one if you’re with a tour group. My other top tip would be to stick to your group like glue! I have written in my diary that I almost lost my group and thought I’d never find them again moving from one pit to another. Not a fun time.
Guide to the museum
There are four sites within the museum: pits 1, 2 and 3 containing Terracotta Warriors, and a building that is home to two bronze chariots. The two chariots differ in that one driver is standing and the other is kneeling, and while one is an original, the other is a replica. They were found closer to the tomb than the warriors (which were 1.5 km away). This room was the worst for crowds, though, so be prepared.
To get an idea of the different types of warriors that were made, head to Pit 2. An example of each type of warrior can be found in display cases on one side of the pit, including the only whole warrior that was excavated (the rest were smashed and reconstructed). This warrior is particularly special because you can still see some of the original red colouring on its back.
In my opinion, Pit 1 is the most interesting to visit because it is home to most of the reconstructed warriors. Whilst there wasn’t as many warriors as I thought (or maybe it just seemed like less because of how huge the pit was), it was still very impressive to see them all lined up the way they would have been before they were buried then smashed. We could also see more soldiers in the process of being reconstructed, which was very interesting.
Terracotta Warriors fun facts
All of the soldiers in Pit 1 are low ranking foot soldiers, with some chariots thrown into the mix. Conversely, the other pits contained higher ranking soldiers like the archers, cavalry, and officers. Our guide explained to us that the soldiers were actually specifically placed in certain areas. The farmers were in the front with rows of actual soldiers behind to push them forward. The vast majority of the warriors are facing East because the enemy is fated to come from this direction. However, there is also one row each facing North, South and West. You know, just in case.
Lunch day 2: visit a local farming family
While you’re in the area, take the opportunity to have lunch at a local farmer’s house. The area under which the Terracotta Warriors were found used to be farmland. In fact, the farmers were the first to discover the warriors, but they thought they were ghosts. Once the warriors were found, the farmers had to move and some now make a living in the tourism industry. This includes people like our host, who open their homes to cook traditional, local dishes for tourists.
Our host was 67 years old and lived in the area when the warriors were discovered. He used to have a farm, but the government moved the village to accommodate the warriors. The dishes were all delicious, if a little spicy; I especially liked the cold noodles and fried pancakes. Overall, it was a super interesting cultural experience. Plus, you are supporting the community! I’d definitely recommend having one of these lunches if you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors. It is likely it will be included if you choose to take a tour.
Afternoon day 2: Learn about Buddhism at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Visiting the Big Wild Goose Pagoda within the Da Ci’en Temple complex was actually the highlight of Xi’an for me (aside from the food!). We chose to spend the afternoon here after our Terracotta Warriors trip and it was super interesting! A volunteer guide took us around the complex and she was very informative. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is 7-storeys tall and was built in the Ming Dynasty. It’s also wonky due to earthquake damage. So no, it’s not just my bad photography! There are two versions of the same story which tell how the pagoda got its name. It is said that at one time when the monks were starving, a flock of geese flew overhead, with one falling dead from the sky. In one version of the story, the monks eat the bird, but in the other, they bury the goose and build the pagoda on top.
The most interesting part of the Da Ci’en Temple was a series of Jade carvings which tell the story of Buddha. Not only was it interesting learning the full Buddha story, the carvings were really beautiful and intricate. Our guide also gave us a calligraphy demonstration, showing us how to write “Xi’an” using both characters and pictographs. Overall I’d highly recommend getting a volunteer guide if you visit the Da Ci’en Temple complex. We certainly learnt and experienced a lot more than if we had explored on our own.
Evening day 2: Admire the lights of the Drum and Bell Towers by night
Okay, so to be honest, the lights of the Drum and Bell Towers have nothing on the city lights in Shanghai. But they are definitely still beautiful and worth seeing! Historically in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, bell and drum towers were used to tell the time. Now, they are tourist attractions, being built in the traditional style and lit up in bright colours at night.
If you are feeling extra adventurous, you could check out the Muslim Quarter adjacent to the Drum Tower. Because Xi’an was the start of the silk road, Muslims congregated in this area of the city and sold food at stalls. This tradition continues today in this area, with plenty of food stalls to choose from! We took one look at the crowds and decided to head home!! We had had more than enough of crowds with the warriors earlier in the day…
Morning day 3: Catch a bullet train to your next destination!
So that’s how to spend 24 hours in Xi’an! On your final morning, you’ll catch a bullet train (or similar transport) to your next destination. For us, that was Beijing and the Great Wall of China! Don’t forget to check out my YouTube video if you’re wanting more inspiration for your China trip. You can also head to my China Destination page for more information about the country.
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