I’ve never been more thankful for a bullet train in my life. Riding swiftly out of Bejing and into the awesomeness that is Xi’an was equal parts relief and thrill. I booked 5 nights in the city, and honestly wish I had at least 3 more. Xi’an is that awesome. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
Step 1: Eat!
Xians Muslim Quarter
Head over to Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter and munch on anything and everything your heart desires. My personal favorites include:
Pork/beef Sandwiched in Pita bread! (Rou Jia Mo)
Octopus on a stick!
Dumplings!
Potato Thingies!
Cake on a stick!
Don’t forget to try out hand-stretched noodles, pineapple cakes and pomegranate fresh juices while you are at it!
Step 2: Ride
Head over to the ancient gates and take a ride around the wall. You can easily rent a single or tandem bike for about 100RMB per hour. Peddle as your heart desires- the wall is a lot longer than it seems! It takes about 1.5 hours to finish an entire lap.
Beware: tandem bikes are a lot harder than they seem!! I think my partner lost all confidence in my ability to ride after experiencing me behind the wheel. (Notice that he is the one steering the bicycle. I lost that privilege fast.)
Step 3: Climb
Head over to Mt. Huashan and experience one of the most dangerous hikes in the world. If you aren’t that much of a daredevil, however, you can also opt for the cable car up! That will set you back around 120RMB per direction, but I’m told the views are worthwhile.
Check out my blog post on climbing Huashan here for more information (or to see my big ol’ boyfriend’s scared face).
Actually…here’s a picture of him looking terrified anyway. I guess he can handle having one of the worlds most dangerous jobs but can’t handle a little plank walk.
Step 4: Learn
Xi’an is full of ancient history. You can ride a bike on a wall older than America itself. (But seriously, how cool is that?) Some of the temples in the area are not only architecturally beautiful, but have gorgeous history behind them as well.
And don’t forget about the terracotta soldiers. It will take another 200 years before they are fully escavated and restored to their fullest potential, but there are thousands of soldiers already put back together for your viewing pleasure.
Step 5: Play
Xi’an has a famous light and fountain show just out front of the Big Goose Pagoda. There are a few throughout the day and night, but I recommend going to the 8:30 showing to get the full effect after dark. Be sure to get there early, because the crowds can get quite dense.
There is a street market just around the corner from the Pagoda. Perfect for grabbing a quick snack before you wait. I can’t express enough how good the food is in Xi’an. I was in heaven at the abundance of different things to try!
Well, that’s it y’all. There is so much more that this city has to offer than I can express in one post. Xi’an is one of the four Ancient Capital Cities of China, which means that emperors spent a lot of money and time developing it. Xi’an is rich in history and culture, and a total blast to explore.
Have you been here? What was your favorite part of the city?
