Attractions to See

Top Attractions

1. Terra Cotta Army

The Terra Cotta Army is definitely Xi’an’s top one attraction. It is the most important archeological excavations of the 20th century as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a super large collection of life-size terra cotta sculptures in battle formations.These sculptures are the reproductions of troops of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210BC) who is the first emperor of the first united dynasty of Imperial China.

The sit now has been named Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum showing the life stories of Qinshihuang and its once-powerful empire.

2. City Wall

Xi’an City Wall is the most completed city wall from ancient China. It is also known as the largest military defensive systems in the entire world.

The wall was extended on the wall built Tang Dynasty (618 - 907).When the Ming’s dynasty’s first emperor Zhu Yuanzhang took over Huizhou, a hermit called Zhusheng advised him to build high walls and preserve food supplies to be an emperor slowly. In that case, he could strengthen the city and unify the other states.

The wall after built is 12 meters (40 feet) tall, 12-14 meters (40-46 feet) wide at the top and 15-18 meters (50-60 feet) thick at the bottom. It has a deep moat surrounding it. A rampart sticks out from the wall every 120 meters. 98 ramparts were for defending enemies against enemies climbing up.Every rampart has a sentry building for protecting the whole wall without exposing themselves. Additionally, the distance between every two ramparts is just an arrow’s distance. The soldiers can shoot the enemies easily. There are 5,948 crenellations on the outer side of the city and some parapets on the inner side to prevent the soldiers from falling off.

3. Big Wilde Goose Pagoda

The Big Wide Goose Pagoda is a holy place for Buddhists and a symbol of old Xi’an as well. The Pagoda is a well-preserved building in the southern suburb of Xian City. It is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from downtown and stands inside the Da Ci'en Temple complex. It was listed as the World Heritage on June 22, 2014. Besides, it is also an AAAA Tourist Attraction as well as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve. Many tourists come here not only worship the Buddhism but also appreciate the grand architecture.

The pagoda was built in 652 during Tang Dynasty (618-907). It initially was served as the place for collecting Buddhist materials taken from India by the monk Xuanzang. Xuanzang, under the order of the emperor Gaozong (628-683), went off to India, the cradle of Buddhism, to get Buddhist materials. He traversed 100 countries and spent 17 years to get Buddha figures, 657 kinds of sutras, and some Buddha relics. The emperor named him the first abbot of Da Ci’en Temple. He supervised the construction of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Additionally he translated 1,335 volumes Sanskrit in sutras into Chinese with the help of 50 hierarchs. It is very significant in Chinese history of translation. Based on his journey, he wrote a book ‘Pilgrimage to the West’.

4. Mount Huashan

Mount Huashan is 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Xian in Huaying City. It is famous for its steep and narrow paths, precipitous crags and high altitude. Its five peaks are the best attractions. East peak is the best location to see the sunrise. West peak is very elegant. South peak’s altitude is the highest. North peak is known as Cloud Terrace Peak and Middle Peak. People also call it Jade Lady Peak.

The mount is also the origin of several influential Taoist temples where many emperors participated in the Taoist activities. They sacrificed to the god of mountain and made it the holy place of Taoism. At the foot of the mount, tourists can find many Taoism elements.

5. Shannxi History Museum

The Shannxi History Museum is the 'the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures'. It gives a miniature overview of China’s five thousand year history.

The museum was the first modern national museum built in 1983.It was open to the public in 1991. It covers an area of 65,000 square meters (16 acres).There are four main sections of the museum’s exhibition hall- the Preface Hall, the permanent exhibition hall, the temporary exhibition hall, and Tang Mural Paintings Hall.

Other Attractions

Bell Tower Drum Tower Great Mosque Forest of Stone Steles Museum Shaanxi History Museum Muslim Quarter Botanical Garden City God Temple Cool Cave Site Park Daming Palace Site Daxingshan Temple Defu Lane Gao's Grand Courtyard Guangren Temple Hancheng Lake Park Jianfu Temple Local Courtyard Visit Qinglong Temple Qujiang Polar Ocean Park Qujiang Pool Park Shaanxi Nature Museum Shaanxi Grand Opera House Shuyuanmen Cultural Street Small Wild Goose Pagoda Tang Dynasty Palace Tang West Market Tang Paradise Temple of Eight Immortals The Site of Weiyang Palace Xian Museum Xingqinggong Park Huaqing Palace Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Banpo Museum Hongmen Banquet Site Museum Shuilu Temple Tangyu Hot Springs Wangshun Mountain White Deer Famen Temple Scenic Area Qianling Mausoleum Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty Great Buddha Temple Maoling Mausoleum Sanyuan City God Temple Taibai Mountain Tomb of Huo Qubing Xianyang Museum Zhaoling Mausoleum Chongyang Palace Cuihua Mountain Gaoguan Waterfall Guanzhong Folk Art Museum Heihe National Forest Park Louguantai Huxian Peasant Painting Qinling National Botanical Garden Qinling Wildlife Park South Wutai Mountain Straw Hut Temple Taiping National Forest Park Western Zhou Chariot Burial Pit Xiangji Temple Xianyou Temple Museum Xingjiao Temple Zhuque National Forest Park Zhongnan Mountains Hancheng Lewa Adventure Farmers' Caves