Many first-time visitors to Xi’an ask: What should I pay attention to when traveling in Xi’an? From visa application, best travel seasons, common issues at the Terracotta Army, ways to visit the City Wall, food taboos in the Muslim Quarter and how to spot street scams, you may easily encounter troubles without knowing these in advance. The following Xi’an travel tips cover pre-trip preparation, international transportation, attraction pitfall avoidance, safety and scam prevention, and food hygiene. Read it carefully before departure, and you can effectively reduce unnecessary troubles in Xi’an, making your journey smoother and safer.
Pre-trip Preparation Tips for Xi’an Travel
Visa
Three common entry methods. A regular tourist visa is suitable for stays longer than ten days, and you need to apply for it at a Chinese embassy or consulate in advance. The 240-hour transit visa exemption applies to citizens of 54 countries. Entering through Xi’an and traveling to a third country, you can stay in 24 provincial-level regions including Shaanxi for ten days. You must hold a passport valid for more than three months and a connecting flight ticket to a third country within 240 hours. The 24-hour visa exemption is for transit passengers who do not leave the airport; those who want to leave the airport can apply for a temporary entry permit.
Best Travel Seasons
The temperature in spring and autumn ranges from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, suitable for outdoor activities, which is an ideal time to visit the Ancient City Wall and outdoor attractions. In summer, the temperature often exceeds 35 degrees Celsius with strong sunlight, so you need to make preparations for heatstroke prevention. In winter, there are fewer tourists and accommodation prices are lower, but the climate is dry and cold, so you need to wear thick clothes.
Luggage List
Xi’an has a dry climate, so you need to bring moisturizing skincare products to prevent skin from drying and cracking. Prepare sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and other sun protection items in summer; prepare thick down jackets, scarves and gloves in winter. The walking distance between attractions is long, so a pair of comfortable sports shoes is the most important. In addition, you need to bring your own power bank and common medicines such as gastrointestinal drugs and band-aids.
Special Reminder: The Muslim Quarter is an ethnic Hui community. Pork products and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in halal restaurants. Please abide by local customs. It is also recommended to take photos of your passport and visa pages and store them in your phone or email before departure, so that you can quickly provide information in case of document loss.
Airport Transportation Tips for Xi’an Travel
Arrival at the Airport
Xi’an Xianyang International Airport is the largest aviation hub in Northwest China. Travelers from overseas usually need to transfer in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Chengdu. After landing, go to the border inspection area and present your passport and visa. The arrival card can be filled out in advance on the plane. Terminal 5 has a special area for temporary entry permit application and English guidance.
From the Airport to the Urban Area
The airport is about 47 kilometers from the city center. There are three main ways:
- Airport Bus: The fare is about 25 CNY, the journey takes about one hour, direct to stops such as the Bell Tower, with the highest cost-performance ratio.
- Subway: The fare is about 10 CNY, transfer to the urban area, with English signs throughout, suitable for travelers on a budget.
- Taxi or Online Car-hailing: The cost is about 100 to 120 CNY, the journey takes about 40 minutes, fast but possible traffic jams during peak hours.
Important Reminder: Do not follow private car solicitors at the airport, as the price is not transparent. Take official taxis at designated areas. The late-night airport bus will wait for the last flight.
No.1 Pit of the Terracotta Army
Accommodation Area Tips for Xi’an Travel
Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Areas
- Around the Bell Tower and South Gate: Top choice. Best transport access, within walking distance to the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter. Many older hotels here, and rooms at the same price are smaller.
- Around the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: Suitable for travelers who love nightlife, adjacent to the Tang Paradise Everbright City. The housing price is about 20% more expensive.
- Xiaozhai Business District: Convenient for dining and shopping, within walking distance to Shaanxi History Museum, with moderate prices.
- Near Xi’an North Railway Station: Suitable for taking high-speed rail the next day, but far from urban attractions, taking an extra hour for round trips every day.
Practical Booking Suggestions
Book at least two weeks in advance during peak seasons. Most low-cost homestays are located in old residential buildings without elevators and with poor sound insulation. Check recent real reviews. Book through official platforms, do not trust roadside solicitors.
Special Reminder: Choose accommodation near Xi’an North Railway Station if you take an early high-speed rail the next day; otherwise, it is recommended to stay in the urban area.
Popular Attraction Tips for Xi’an Travel
Terracotta Army: Common Problems to Avoid
- Opening Hours and Ticket Prices: Peak season 8:30-18:30 (stop entry at 17:00), off-season 8:30-18:00 (stop entry at 16:30). Ticket 120 CNY (including Lishan Garden), real-name reservation on official channels seven days in advance.
- Stay Away from Unofficial Tour Guides: Do not follow roadside solicitors. Some drivers take tourists to private VR experience halls at low prices. The only official tour needs a 120 CNY ticket.
- Photos and Shopping: Souvenirs in the commercial street outside the scenic area are expensive. Refuse directly if you meet people in costumes soliciting paid photos.
Shaanxi History Museum
Free tickets need to be reserved on the official WeChat five days in advance, which is difficult to book. You can buy tickets for the Tang Dynasty Treasures Exhibition (about 30 CNY), which is easier to reserve and you can see cultural relics from the Hejia Village Hoard. Shaanxi History Museum does not authorize third-party ticket sales. Selfie sticks are prohibited in the museum, large bags must be checked, and three hours should be reserved.
Xi’an City Wall
The total length is 13.74 kilometers, adult ticket 54 CNY, open until 22:00. Cycling is the best choice: single bike 45 CNY for three hours, deposit 100 CNY, rental points at each major gate. It is recommended to go up the wall after 4 p.m., as the surface temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius at noon. Prepare your own drinking water.
Muslim Quarter
The main street is crowded and expensive. Authentic food can be found in Sajinqiao or Dapiyuan. Pork products are prohibited in halal restaurants. Most skewered kebabs for toothpick tasting on the main street are reheated repeatedly, not recommended.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Tang Paradise Everbright City
A separate ticket is required for climbing the pagoda. You can watch the free music fountain if you do not climb the pagoda. The “paid photo”trick is common at night, refuse directly. Ask about charges clearly in advance if you need to take photos.
Night View of Tang Paradise Everbright City
Food Hygiene Tips for Xi’an Travel
Do not eat too greasy food for the first meal. As your stomach has not adapted when you first arrive in Xi’an, it is recommended to start with mild food such as roujiamo and cold noodles.
- Drink bottled water as much as possible. The tap water in Xi’an is hard, and foreign tourists are prone to stomach discomfort. It is recommended to use bottled water when boiling water in hotels.
- Choose roadside stalls carefully. If the stall owners do not eat their own food or there are no locals queuing, it is recommended to change stalls. Cold food such as cold noodles is easy to go bad in summer.
- Inform in advance of allergies. Be sure to inform when ordering if you are allergic to coriander, garlic, chili. Clearly state if you do not eat spicy food at all.
Recommended Restaurants: Roujiamo (Zilu Road Zhangji, Qin Yu), Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup (Lao Sun Jia, Yi Zhen Lou), Cold Noodles (Wei Jia Cold Noodles). Choose machine-cut pita bread for the first time.
Safety and Scam Prevention Tips for Xi’an Travel
The overall public security is good. However, keep your belongings in crowded areas: carry your backpack in front of you in the Muslim Quarter, Tang Paradise Everbright City, railway stations and buses, and do not put your mobile phone in your coat pocket.
List of Common Scams:
- Street Chess Endgames: Gang cooperation, tourists can never win, leave directly.
- Fake Antiques: Roadside “Terracotta Army fragments”are resin imitations, costing only dozens of yuan.
- Taxi Driver Recommendations: Most “free attractions”and “jade factories”recommended by drivers are shopping centers for kickbacks, politely refuse.
- Low-cost Group Tour Trap: “50 CNY one-day tour”is unreliable, with additional fees and compulsory shopping later. Choose official travel agencies and sign contracts to clarify items.
Cultural Etiquette:
- Do not take photos or make loud noises in temple halls, and do not step on thresholds.
- Do not climb fences or touch terracotta warriors when taking photos at the Terracotta Army.
- Do not carry or mention pork, and do not drink alcohol in the Muslim Quarter and halal restaurants.
Key Points of Pre-trip Preparation for Xi’an Travel
Confirm that your passport and visa are valid before departure. If you meet the conditions for transit visa exemption, you can save visa processing. Tickets for popular attractions must be reserved in advance through official channels, do not buy scalper tickets. Choose airport buses or official taxis from the airport to the urban area, do not follow solicitors. At the Terracotta Army scenic area, only buy the 120 CNY official ticket, enter before 9 a.m. to avoid the peak crowd, and beware of induced consumption by roadside unlicensed tour guides and VR experience halls. At the City Wall scenic area, cycle after 4 p.m. and prepare your own drinking water. In the Muslim Quarter, respect Hui customs, do not carry pork products, and go to Sajinqiao for authentic food. For diet, do not eat too greasy for the first meal, drink bottled water as much as possible, and prepare antidiarrheal medicine for travelers with sensitive stomachs. For safety, beware of chess endgames, fake antiques, shopping centers recommended by drivers, and keep your belongings in crowded areas. Do not take photos or make loud noises in temples, and do not step on thresholds. Abiding by the above Xi’an travel tips can effectively reduce accidents during the trip. If you are not familiar with document processing and attraction reservation processes, you can choose experienced service providers such as China Dragon Travel to assist with arrangements. Wish you a smooth trip in Xi’an.
