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Cradle of Chinese Civilization

Xi'an architecture

Xi'an served as the capital of China for over 1,100 years across 13 dynasties, making it one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in the world. It is home to the Terracotta Army — over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers buried with the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 210 BC and rediscovered by farmers in 1974. Xi'an is also the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, the trade network that connected China to Rome.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 210 BCOldest · Terracotta Army
  • 64 mTallest · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Before you go

  • Fly intoXi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY)

    Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is one of the busiest in northwestern China and has undergone continuous expansion to serve the city's growing role as a tourism hub. A high-speed rail link connects the airport to the city's North Railway Station. The airport serves as a hub for several Chinese carriers and connects to major international cities in Asia.

  • CurrencyChinese Yuan (¥)
  • LanguageMandarin Chinese

    Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua) is the standard language, though the local Xi'an dialect (a variety of Zhongyuan Mandarin) has distinctive pronunciations that visitors to Beijing might notice. The ancient Muslim Quarter's Hui community also maintains a tradition of Sino-Arabic language mixing in daily life. Written Chinese characters connect Xi'an to 4,000 years of continuous written history.

  • Getting aroundXi'an Metro & Buses

    Xi'an's metro system has grown rapidly with multiple lines connecting the ancient walled city to the modern suburbs. The ancient city wall itself has become a transit landmark — you can rent a bicycle and cycle the entire 13.7km circumference of the wall's top. The city's bus network is extensive, and high-speed rail connects Xi'an to Beijing (4.5 hours) and Chengdu (3 hours).

5 landmarks in Xi'an

  1. Terracotta Army
    Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Terracotta Army

    Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710600

    Over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried with China's first Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 210 BC and rediscovered by farmers in 1974. Each warrior has unique facial features, representing one of archaeology's most significant finds of the 20th century.

    Built
    210 BC
    Style
    Qin Dynasty funerary
    Stories
    1
    Today
    UNESCO World Heritage Site & museum
  2. Xi'an City Wall
    Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Xi'an City Wall

    Nanmen, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi

    One of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China, constructed between 1370 and 1378 during the Ming Dynasty on the foundation of Tang-era fortifications. At 13.7km in circumference, 12 metres high, and 15-18 metres wide at the base, it is wide enough for tourists to cycle its full perimeter.

    Built
    1378
    Style
    Ming Dynasty military
    Height
    12 m (39 ft)
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Heritage site & bicycle path
  3. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
    Photo: Alex Kwok, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

    Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061

    A seven-storey Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda built in 652 AD by Emperor Gaozong to house sutras brought from India by the monk Xuanzang. Standing 64 metres tall, it remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in Chinese Buddhist architecture.

    Built
    652
    Style
    Tang Dynasty Buddhist
    Height
    64 m (210 ft)
    Stories
    7
    Today
    UNESCO World Heritage Site & active temple
  4. Bell Tower of Xi'an
    Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Bell Tower of Xi'an

    West Fifth Rd, Lianhu District, Xi'an, Shaanxi

    A Ming Dynasty wooden tower built in 1384 at the exact center of Xi'an's ancient city, originally used to sound the time each morning. Its three-tiered roof with upturned eaves and green glazed tiles sits on a massive brick base with arched passages on all four sides.

    Built
    1384
    Style
    Ming Dynasty
    Height
    36 m (118 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Museum & historic landmark
  5. Muslim Quarter, Xi'an
    Photo: Qianeal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Muslim Quarter, Xi'an

    Beiyuanmen, Lianhu District, Xi'an, Shaanxi

    A historic neighborhood around the Great Mosque of Xi'an, home to the Hui Muslim community whose ancestors arrived along the Silk Road over 1,300 years ago. The labyrinthine streets are lined with vendors selling lamb skewers, pomegranate juice, and roujiamo.

    Built
    650
    Style
    Islamic-Chinese vernacular
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Cultural heritage area & food street

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