great city with great ancient history - xian ancient wall, drum tower and bell tower, grand mosque, terra-cotta, etc.
have a lot of transportation to getting around - bus, metro, taxi, moto-rickshaw but the problem is language to pick the right one and to tell where your want to go. easier take taxi and show your map. at the time our visit the air quality not very healthy - haze.
Frankly speaking I didn't have so much info about Xi'an before. The main reasons I went there is the historical Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter.
Just come to relax in the winter after quite challenging year for us(with my wife). Dont have higher expectations. But, we changed our mind starts from our first day. There are plenty of 4-5 star hotel, 4-5 star mega mall and very good public trasnport and very nice people. Only negative site in Xi'an is their public toilet. Only one word to describes, HORROR!
Xian is the an ancient capital of China and is endowed with many great historical places to visit. You can also see how the Muslims live harmoniously in this area besides the many Buddhist, Taois and other religions, right in the centre of the city surrounded by its ancient wall.
Spend a good day to explore the wall via bicycle.
This is a great tourist city. The local people are very friendly and helpful and loves to share things about their city.
I've done some of the private tours (Can be found outside major tourist attractions or major bus hubs to tourist attractions) and would recommend them if you have someone travelling with you and someone in the group speaks Chinese. I recommend being very careful in taking these tours. Doing them though has allowed me to see sites in Xi'an I would otherwise not see or getting a better experience from popular sites (These people are well connected).
Only place worth going is Huashan, try spend 2 days there. The rest of the historical places is too brief and superficial.
My advice is start at the museum then do the sights, there is little you can saw about the warriors other than stunning but to first understand everything else around the town make it even better
A big sprawling metropolis. A long drive to the airport... 85klms. Grey and hazy atmosphere. However, there is plenty to see including the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Pagodas in the centre of the city and of course the Muslim Quarter.
A must visit city, but dont stay too long.
Chinese old capitals for over thousand years. We have tayed 4 nights and missed lots of attractions. I believed you need at least two weeks to see them all.
If you visit Xian, you have to make a trip to the terracotta army to see for yourself! Hua Shan is another sightseeing spot worth visiting! Awesome!
It's a very foreign friendly city. There are so few foreign friendly cities in China. Many people can speak English here.
The Terracotta Waariors is obviously the main appeal of this place. You can visit this site entirely in about 3 hours. The public buses were very easy to use to get there. Although, there are solo many domestic tourists, that visits to almost any sight here feels a little bit like being at Disney World; hot, crowded, people pointing their camera as non- Asain visitors and gift shops everywhere.
Xian is a wonderful city. To cycle the wall to get a view is a must as well going on a guided trip around the city.
It's full of history and culture along with modern shopping areas to accommodate everyone. The food is great and the locals are so friendly, no wonder it is called 'the peaceful city in the West' of China.
Xian is a fantastic historical town worth many visits. Just like the wordless pavilion of Wu Zetian emperor, it is difficult to find a suitable word to describe the rich historical fortune of Xian
get a guide whenever you can afford or else you have no idea what you are looking at as there is no audio guide available except at ShaanXi Museum.
Only the Terracottas were worth a visit. The rest of the sights are similar to what you would see in the rest of china
join a tour to mount hua, it is a day trip that can come back the same day. also visit the xian wall, it is historical building that must visit.
Nice place for local cheap food and local made products, attractions are easily accessible, very cheap transportation, locals are not friendly at all, night air is too polluted, very little English speaking, very safe because of frequent police presence, beautiful night lights.
Full of history and culture, this is the one place in China that has to be visited. its not too big, in fact you could walk all around the walled city within a day or two.
Its also not as busy as most chinese cities (relatively that is, as most chinese cities are incredibly crowded and noisy). there are also many shopping malls and food either western or chinese are easily available.
It is very worthwhile to visit all historical places nearby xi an. It has more than. 3000 years culture.
Only one thing is the taxi drivers choose passengers and will only go the place that they want to. They are super unfriendly.
Xian is an ancient city very rich in Chinese history, esp. the ancient Emperors. You need to do some research into it's original existence to appreciate it's history before your visit there.
You will be amazed.
I would like to recommend you to stay for sight seeing one day only. It is too difficult to get taxi.
I never saw other cities like Xian in China in case of taxi. I moved for sight seeing by taxi. I found it was not so easy to get taxi and had to give up to go to some places.
Do visit Tang Dynasty, pagoda, bell and drum tower, muslim street, terra cotta warriors, hot springs, laser show on fountain
Enjoyable place with great food and shopping. Pagodas are great and buses and subway very convenient.
Nightlife is great too.
Xian is less crowded than other bigger cities in China and that makes it our popular choice. The city wall which is still a standing historical site provides such amazing view of the inner city and cycling around is such fun when you are above the traffic!
Difficult to communicate with the locals as the english language is not widely spoken. Lovely places to visit.
Enjoyed riding the bicycles arôund the walls.
Been to China numerous times but to Xian was my first visit and was mesmerized by this historical city.
More sights to explore outside the city of Xian. Recommend to those who appreciate the historical monuments and chinese culture.
A fund city that is pretty easy to get around. Stay inside the old city walls and experience the old city lane way street food vendors ad barbecues and Muslin Quarter.
Ride the city wall and don't rush back to make the 90min time limit for an extra $2 you can ride at your leisure. Stay at least 2 nights (3 if you have the time) to see the Terracotta warriors, ride the city wall, walk the muslin quarter, see the Big Goose Pergoda and surrounding area. Check out the Drum and Bell towers at night all lit up with some of the longest kite sets I've ever seem flying in the night sky.
Xian is a destination city - for sightseeing. a must do for all Travelers and its not expensive with a wonderful and proud history the people's attitude reflect this.
Helpful, honest and friendly as you would expect. Stayed at two hotels and staff were perfect at both. Guides awesome and looked after us superbly. 100% recommend the visit.
Since the railway is just opened to public in recent years, only two railway lines were in place and provide service.
Many attractions were not covered by current railway system (seems the extension of railway is under contruction). In the meantime, it's not easy to call a taxi at Xi'an, and so do more preparation on transportation before you go there.
Xian is a delightful city, clean and very friendly. The city itself is dotted with tranquil parks, but parks that are used daily by the people of Xian for tai qi, exercise and pleasure.
Sadly our itinerary meant we had to move on too soon, but it is definitely one city to which I should love to return !