Things to do in Xi'an
Top sights and attractions to build your days around once you know when to go.
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain, the city is the most populous in the province and third-most populous in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populous in Northwestern China. Based on the city's 2025 1% population sample survey, its estimated year-end resident population was 13.24 million, of whom 10.72 million were urban residents.
Chang'an
Chang'an, located in China's Shaanxi Province, was the capital city of several Chinese dynasties, including the Western Han and the Tang, from 202 BC to 907 AD. At various times, it was the largest city in the world. Its name was subsequently changed, and during the Ming dynasty period its modern name of Xi'an was adopted.
Great Mosque of Xi'an
The Great Mosque of Xi'an, also known as the Huajue Xiang Mosque due to its location on 30 Huajue Lane, and is sometimes called the Great Eastern Mosque, is a mosque located in the eastern segments of the Xi'an Muslim Quarter (回民街), Xi'an, in the Shaanxi province of China.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda or Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a seven-storey Buddhist pagoda in the Daci'en Temple complex in southern Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. It was first built in 652, when Xi'an was the Tang capital Chang'an, under the direction of the monk and translator Xuanzang. The original five-storey structure was rebuilt during the reign of Wu Zetian and repaired in later dynasties; the present brick exterior reflects major work carried out during the Ming dynasty.
Banpo
Banpo is a Neolithic archaeological site located in the Yellow River valley, east of present-day Xi'an, China. Discovered in 1953 by Shi Xingbang, the site represents the first phase of the Yangshao culture and features the remains of several well organized settlements—including Jiangzhai, which has been radiocarbon dated to c. 4700 – c. 3600 BCE). An area of 5 to 6 hectares was surrounded by a ditch, probably a defensive moat 5 to 6 meters wide. The houses at Banpo were circular, built of mud and wood on low foundations, with overhanging thatched roofs. There also appear to have been communal burials.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda or Little Wild Goose Pagoda is a Tang-dynasty brick pagoda in the former Jianfu Temple precinct in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. It was built between 707 and 709, when the city was the imperial capital Chang'an, and was associated with the temple's translation of Buddhist texts brought from India.
Daming Palace
The Daming Palace was the imperial palace complex of the Tang dynasty, located in its capital Chang'an. It served as the imperial residence of the Tang emperors for more than 220 years. Today, it is designated as a national heritage site of China, and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor". The area is located northeast of present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.
Epang Palace
The Epang or Efang Palace was a Chinese palace complex built during the reign of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China and the founder of the short-lived Qin dynasty. It is located in western Xi’an, Shaanxi. Archaeologists believe that only the front hall was completed before the capital was sacked in 206 BC.
Stele Forest
The Xi'an Beilin Museum, commonly known as the Stele Forest, is a museum of inscribed stone monuments and stone sculpture in Beilin District, Xi'an. Its historical collection was established at the local Confucian temple and prefectural school in 1087. The museum preserves texts and sculptures dating from the Han dynasty to the Qing dynasty, including Confucian classics, major works of Chinese calligraphy, religious inscriptions and funerary sculpture.
Shaanxi History Museum
Shaanxi History Museum, which is located to the northwest of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in the ancient city Xi'an, in the Shaanxi province of China, is one of the first huge state museums with modern facilities in China and one of the largest. The museum houses 1,725,754 objects or sets (2021), including murals, paintings, pottery, coins, as well as bronze, gold, and silver objects. Planning for the modern museum began in 1983, and it was completed and opened on 20 June 1991. Its appearance recalls the architectural style of the Tang dynasty.
St. Francis Cathedral of Xi'an
St. Francis Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. Its construction began in 1716 and was completed in 1727. Since 1930, the church has been the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Xi'an.
Shaanxi Province Stadium
Shaanxi Province Stadium, also known as Zhuque Stadium because it is located near Zhuque Square (朱雀广场), is a multi-use stadium in Xi'an, China. It is used mainly for football matches and athletics events. The stadium had a capacity of 50,100 people, but a renovation in 2020 reduced it to 43,000. It was named Coca-Cola Stadium from 2005 to 2007.
Places from Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Contains affiliate links.