Shaanxi

陕西 · Shǎnxī

Terracotta Army · Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

1Cities

21Sights

2Stories

Cities in Shaanxi

Xi'an Bell Tower lit up at night

2–3 daysXi'an西安The Terracotta Army, a city wall you can cycle and the Muslim Quarter food street.best Mar–May, Sep–Oct

Top sights

Rows of terracotta warriors in Pit 1 of the Terracotta Army museum

秦始皇帝陵博物院（兵马俑）Terracotta ArmyThousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor.Xi'anBooking required

Gate towers on Xi'an's Ming-dynasty city wall above green trees

西安城墙Xi’an City WallThe best-preserved Ming city wall in China, 14 km around, which you can cycle on top.Xi'anBooking recommended

Tang-style main building of the Shaanxi History Museum with its front pool

陕西历史博物馆Shaanxi History MuseumOne of China’s best museums, covering the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang capitals.Xi'anBooking required

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda framed by pine trees in evening light

大雁塔Big Wild Goose PagodaA Tang dynasty pagoda built for scriptures brought back from India, with a fountain show at night.Xi'an

Shopfronts and street stalls in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter

回民街Muslim QuarterBusy lanes of Hui Muslim street food behind the Drum Tower.Xi'an

Stories from Shaanxi

HistoryThe well that found an armyIn 1974 farmers digging a well near Xi’an hit pieces of clay. They had found the First Emperor’s army, and the tomb it guards is still sealed.

Travelers of the pastThe monk who walked to IndiaIn 629 a young monk slipped out of Chang’an against an imperial ban. He came home years later with 657 texts, and a pagoda rose to keep them.