Combined with the announcements of Xi’an Culture and Tourism Bureau since 2025, we have carefully compiled the following Xi’an travel guide for you. The information of attraction policy, transportation time, ticket price, etc. in this guide is based on the content of the latest announcement in 2025, aiming to provide you with the most accurate and practical travel guide.
How to get to Xi’an
International and Domestic Transportation
By plane: Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is the largest aviation hub in Northwest China.In 2025, the brand-new T5 terminal is fully operational, with new direct flights to London and Dubai. If you arrive at night, you can choose the 24-hour Airport Bus Line 1, which costs only RMB 25 and takes you directly to the Bell Tower in the city center in about an hour.
High Speed Rail: The fastest way to Xi’an is by high speed rail from Beijing or Shanghai, which takes only 4-6 hours and costs between RMB 550-669. Upon arrival at Xi’an North Station, you can seamlessly transfer to Metro Line 2 and reach the Bell Tower in just 25 minutes and RMB 4. The North Station has clear signs in English and Chinese and supports the use of Alipay to purchase tickets.
Transportation in the city
Metro: In 2025, Xi’an added Metro Line 16 to connect the airport with the high-tech business district. The original metro lines 14 and 9 cover popular attractions such as the Terracotta Warriors and the Huaqing Pond. You can use Alipay’s “Xi’an Metro Ride Code” to scan the code and enter the station, with one-way fares ranging from RMB 2-8.
Bicycle Sharing: We recommend you to use Meituan or Qinglang Bicycle Sharing, which have many parking spots. You can ride from Shuncheng Alley of the city wall to the Beilin Museum and then to the Shuyuan Gate, which is about 3 kilometers and takes about 30 minutes.
Top sights in Xi’an
Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum
Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Huaqingchi Station Exit C, then transfer to Lintong Bus No. 602 (fare: RMB 5, 30 minutes) or Bell Tower Through Bus (with interpretation headset).
Special Experience: The Lishan Park Bronze Chariot and Horse Exhibition Hall has fewer visitors, only 1/3 of the Terracotta Warriors, and you can see the gilded bronze chariots up close. In addition, the newly added VR Immersion Theater shows the 4D film “The Great Qin Empire” (ticket price RMB 50, shown throughout the day from 10:00 to 17:00).
Xi’an City Wall
Night Tour: The Hanguangmen Ruins Museum is open at night until 22:00, recreating the defense system of the Tang Dynasty city gates through holographic projection technology. The South Gate Bike Rental Center offers a “Sunset + Light Show” package (RMB 99, including bike, drinks and admission to the Observation Deck).
Big Wild Goose Pagoda & Datang Night City
Schedule: From 17:00-19:00, you can take free photos of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda framed with the sunset at the observation deck on the 4th floor of the Joy City. 20:30-22:30, the “Twelve Hours of Chang’an” neighborhood live-action interactive play has been added (advance reservation is required, tickets are priced at RMB 198 per person).
Niche Cultural Experiences
Stele Forest Museum: A must-visit for calligraphy lovers, offering a topography experience (RMB 50 per sheet, limited to 30 people per day). Recommended to follow an English speaker (two sessions at 10:00 and 14:00).
Daming Palace National Heritage Park: take a vintage train tour of the 3.4-square-kilometer site area. the IMAX Theater shows the documentary “The Palace of a Thousand Palaces” (RMB 60 for tickets with Chinese and English subtitles).
Surrounding Day Trips
New Route to the Dangerous Peaks of Mount Hua
High-speed train: It takes only 38 minutes from Xi’an North Railway Station to Huashan North Railway Station, with a ticket price of 54.5 yuan. The scenic area has launched a special “West Peak Night Climbing” line (19:00-23:00, reservations required), equipped with headlamps and safety officers. Transparent glass viewing platform has been added to the Longkong Trail (30 RMB for safety rope ticket).
Famen Temple Cultural Line
Transportation: Take a direct bus from Xi’an West Bus Terminal to Famen Temple, which takes only 1.5 hours and costs 35 RMB. On the first and fifteenth days of each month, there is a new English speaking service called “Relic Veneration Day”.
Hukou Falls Seasonal Limitations
Winter Special: Between December and February, the “Ice Waterfall Light Show” (19:00-21:00) is offered. You can buy the “Icefall Special Line” package ticket (including round-trip bus and tickets, the ticket price is 298 RMB) at Xi’an North Railway Station.
Practical Tips (new version in 2025)
Reservation: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses and the Shaanxi History Museum have a “time-sharing reservation system”. Foreign visitors can reserve tickets up to 7 days in advance through Trip.com. The “Song of Eternal Hatred” performance has added a new “VIP Viewing Box” (RMB 888 per 2 persons), which includes a hot spring footbath and Tang-style refreshments.
Payment and communication: Alipay has launched an “Expatriate Visitor Edition” that supports Visa and Mastercard (passport authentication required). However, please note that some of the old stores on Hui Min Street only support cash payments (e.g. Liu Jixiao’s preserved beef and mutton), so it’s advisable to have 500 RMB on hand for emergencies.
Cultural Taboos: When visiting Guangren Temple (Tibetan Buddhism), please walk clockwise around the sutra tube and avoid taking pictures of the Buddha’s face.
5 Days Xi’an Travel Guide
| Dates | Morning Itinerary | Afternoon + Evening Itinerary |
| Day 1 | Terracotta Warriors and Horses + Lishan Garden (with tour including explanation) | Huaqing Palace “Song of Eternal Hatred” Night Show |
| Day 2 | City Wall Riding + Beilin Museum | Shuyuanmen for the Four Treasures of Literature, Bell Tower Night View |
| Day 3 | Shaanxi History Museum (special exhibition must see) | Big Wild Goose Pagoda + Datang Hibiscus Garden Chinese costume shooting |
| Day 4 | Huashan one-day tour (west on the north down the ropeway) | Wrestling Bowls of Wine at Yongxingfang after the return trip |
| Day 5 | Free choice: Famen Temple/Hukou Falls | Qujiang Pond Ruins Park Walking + Shopping for Handicrafts |
There is also an article about food around Xi’an attractions recommended for you.Xi’an Food Tour
Another useful information on how to get to Xi’an from various international and domestic cities.