Xi’an, an ancient capital of 13 dynasties, is a city where history breathes through every brick. By day, it’s a bustling modern metropolis, by night, it transforms into the poetic “Chang’an” of Tang Dynasty legends. Here’s a 3-day itinerary with 7 iconic photo spots and local food tips to help you explore Xi’an this timeless city.
3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Historical Heartbeat
Shuyuanmen Cultural Street: Wander through this scholarly alley filled with calligraphy shops and traditional architecture.
Yongningmen City Wall: Walk or bike atop this 600-year-old Ming Dynasty wall. Head west for a panoramic view of the Bell Tower.
Bell Tower: Capture its grandeur at night when golden lights illuminate the tower.
Day 2: Tang Dynasty Vibes
Qinglong Temple: A serene Buddhist temple famous for cherry blossoms (spring visits recommended).
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: Photograph from multiple angles:
Day: At the South Square with the Xuanzang Statue.
Night: Reflect the pagoda in the ponds of Daci’en Temple Park.
Great Tang All-Day Mall: Stroll this vibrant night market lit by Tang-style lanterns.
Day 3: Culture & Flavors
Muslim Quarter: Dive into lively food stalls and snap the fiery dragon sculpture at Zipei Ji Silver Shop.
Guangren Temple: China’s only Tibetan Buddhist temple in the east. Don’t miss the red prayer walls and golden rooftop.
Anrenfang Heritage Museum: A minimalist space showcasing Tang Dynasty artifacts and artistic installations.
7 Must-Capture Photo Spots
Daci’en Temple Park: Buddha statue + Giant Wild Goose Pagoda backdrop.
Great Tang All-Day Mall North Square: Statues and pagoda create a historical collage.
Yongningmen City Wall: Overlook the Bell Tower from the west section.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda South Square: Xuanzang Statue pointing toward the pagoda.
Guangren Temple’s Outer Walls: Red prayer walls and the “Corner of Life” alley.
Kaiyuan Mall 5F Observatory: Bell Tower + Drum Tower twin shot.
Yongningmen City Wall West Section: Golden hour magic on ancient bricks.
Food Tips
Xi’an is a carb-lover’s paradise! Don’t miss your private China tours 2025:
Roujiamo: Crispy pork belly stuffed in flatbread (often called “Chinese hamburger”).
Biangbiang Noodles: Chewy belt-wide noodles in chili oil.
Grilled Skewers: Lamb, beef, or veggies – smoky and spicy!
Yangrou Paomo: Lamb stew with crumbled bread. Pro tip: Share a bowl – it’s rich!
Xi’an seamlessly blends ancient grandeur with modern energy. Whether you’re chasing golden hour on city walls or savoring street food under neon lights, this city promises memories – and photos – that bridge centuries.
Safe travels and happy snapping!
In 2024, Xi’an received 278 million domestic and foreign tourists, an increase of 33.1% over the previous year, and realized a total tourism revenue of 335.039 billion yuan, an increase of 65.0%. [28] As of January 2024, Xi’an has 91 A-level scenic spots, including 5 AAAAA-level, 27 AAAA-level, 48 AAA-level, and 11 AA-level. [142]
Xi’an is one of the first batch of excellent tourist cities in China. Its cultural relics are characterized by high resource density, good preservation, and high level. Among the 155 basic types of tourism resources surveyed in China, Xi’an’s tourism resources account for 89.
There are 72 imperial tombs around Xi’an, including the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the “greatest emperor in history”, the ruins of the four major capitals of Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang, 11 tombs of Western Han emperors and 18 tombs of Tang emperors, and more than 700 ancient buildings such as the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, the Bell and Drum Tower, and the ancient city wall. [143]
As of March 2023, there are two sites and six heritage sites in Xi’an that have been included in the World Heritage List, namely: the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the Daming Palace Ruins of the Tang Chang’an City, the Weiyang Palace Ruins of the Han Chang’an City, and the Xingjiao Temple Pagoda.