Life with ArielXi’an, once named Chang’an, boasts a long history of over 3,000 years and was the capital of 13 Chinese dynasties in the past, including the most important ones like Qin, Western Han, Sui, and Tang. If I have to pick one city to admire China’s rich cultural and historical heritage, it is Xi’an. It is perhaps the only city where people can wear traditional Chinese costumes and walk comfortably on the streets running daily errands. My best childhood friend lives in Xi’an. I visited her in February 2023 and was blown away by the well-preserved ancient remains as well as Xi’an’s fast-growing tourism.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum
Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum is where the world-famous Terracotta Warriors are located. The Terracotta Warriors are Qin Shi Huang’s army for his afterlife which is a part of the huge 56-square-kilometer mausoleum. Much of the mausoleum has not yet been excavated including the tomb. But technology indicates the layout of the mausoleum resembles the layout of ancient Xianyang, Qin’s capital at the time, and it is full of extravagant burial artifacts and rare treasures.
This museum is about 1-2 hours of drive away from downtown and always crowded. So plan to spend almost a full day for your visit. In addition, there is a long walk from the museum gate to various exhibits, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Also, I highly recommend to get a tour guide at the ticket office so that you can learn more about the history of the Qin Dynasty and the relics of the mausoleum. Please hire only official guides with licenses at admission. And avoid those frauds soliciting at parking lots or inside the museum.
Terracotta Warriors
No one leaves Xi’an without seeing the Terracotta Warriors because it is the 8th wonder of the world. It was built over 2,000 years ago in the Qin dynasty for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, as his army for afterlife. Over 8K warriors were sculptured using terracotta, painted and buried in the mausoleum. It not only shows off Qin Shi Huang’s ambition and power but, more importantly, well represents the talents, skills, and wisdom of Chinese craftsmen.
The most impressive part is that every single warrior is unique. The army was not made by a simple act of copy-and-paste. Instead, the soldiers have different facial expressions and gestures as if they were alive. For instance, young soldiers are leaner and have fewer wrinkles on their faces; army officers with higher ranks are dressed differently from those with lower ranks; all soldiers hold real weapons such as swords, spears, and daggers. Moreover, details like hair strands, bottoms of shoes, and finger prints are miraculously presented.
Although the warriors look like they are covered in mud, they were actually colorfully painted using precious stones and plants when created. However, the colors will fade off minutes after the mud is removed. It’s amazing that people from thousands of years ago were able to create this wonder with incredible amount of detail.
There are 3 pits containing the army. What we can see today is all in Pit 1. And it has been in excavation and restoration for almost 50 years. Pits 2-3 are not yet excavated. I doubt I can live that long to witness their restoration.
Legacies of Qin Shi Huang
After you visit the museum, I recommend a 3D show next to the museum featuring Qin Shi Huang’s great achievements and enduring legacy. The most well-known facts are that he initiated the construction of the Great Wall and built his majestic mausoleum including the Terracotta Army. Both are considered wonders of the world.
But as the first emperor who unified China, his influence is much more far-reaching. For instance, Qin Shi Huang standardized currency, trade, language, and measurement units. He also built a massive national road system and a major canal allowing water transport between north and south China. All facilitated the economic and cultural development of the powerful empire. In addition, he planned the construction of the grand and luxurious Epang Palace, considered “the best palace of all times”. Unfortunately, the palace was burnt down during wars. Otherwise, I have no doubt it would become another world wonder.
Datang Everbright City and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Datang Everbright City is a 2km long pedestrian mall with shopping centers, restaurants, and museums at the foot of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. It is a must-see for tourists visiting Xi’an. To me, it mimics a street of the Tang Dynasty in a modern way. Tang Dynasty is considered the peak of China’s political power and cultural richness. Walking on this street is a reminder to be proud of Chinese culture, the continuous history, and our fast development in the modern era.
Datang Everbright City is spectacular at night with all types of light displays. There is even a section where trees are illuminated by lights in poetry forms. Besides, landmark buildings along the streets were all built in similar pagoda styles with tiled roofs and red pillars. At night, they are consistently casted in warm red lights topped with bright golden roofs. Furthermore, you will find mini shows and statues of famous poets and emperors of the Tang Dynasty all over the Datang Everbright City. Because it’s a popular sightseeing destination, be ready for crowds in the evening – leave plenty of time and stay flexible.
My recommended route starts with Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in the late afternoon. The Giant Goose Pagoda is a monumental Buddhist pagoda built in the Tang Dynasty. It once held sutras and figurines of Buddha and has become an important landmark of Xi’an. In the evening, first watch the water and light show in front of the pagoda, have dinner, and then head to Datang Everbright City.
Bell Tower and Drum Tower
Bell Tower and Drum Tower erect in the center of Xi’an. In fact, the city was developed around these two iconic towers. Both were built in the Ming Dynasty. As their names indicate, Bell Tower has several bells inside and Drum Tower has drums. Back then, the bells would be ringed at dawn to indicate the start of the day and drums would be beaten at sunset to end the day. Right now, they are open for tourism only. People need to buy tickets and make reservations to get access.
They both are grand architectures and even more beautiful at night. Their edges are all lit up in a golden glow. The contrast of these two ancient erections and the surrounding modern streets represents China – growing from beautiful past and thriving in present.
Xi’an City Wall
The fortifications of Xi’an were built in the Ming Dynasty for military purposes and have been refurbished several times afterwards. It is majestic, 14 kilometers long with different types of towers in between. On top of the walls is a walkway. When I visited, I was lucky enough to see the annual light exhibit on the walkway for the lantern festival. The city wall was lit up in red and radiating golden rays. In addition, hundreds of light displays and lanterns were shaped into items, characters, and story scenes that best represented Chinese culture. It was spectacular and dazzling.
Xi’an Cuisine Featuring Xi’an Muslim Quarter
Xi’an’s cuisine is all about dishes made of flours, ranging from noodles to buns and dumplings. Xi’an Muslim Quarter (or Huimin Street) is one of the most popular spots to get a taste of Xi’an. Muslim population started to reside in Xi’an thanks to the Silk Road which Muslim merchants used to do trades with China. Today, the Muslim Quarter serves both authentic Muslim cuisines and classic Xi’an dishes.
Chinese restaurants know how to create hype and attract customers. The one I went to is decorated like a palace from the Tang Dynasty using beautiful lantern ceilings, red wood pillars, and antique tables and chairs. The dinner was also accompanied with three different traditional dance shows. Even the dishes were in special designs that represented Chinese culture. For example, shrimp balls were made into lychees hanging on a small tree, celebrating the love between Yang Guifei and Emperor Li of the Tang Dynasty; and candy-like desserts were shaped into pen brushes, honoring talented poets of the Tang and Song Dynasties.
Other Places Worth a Visit around Xi’an
If you visit in summer, enjoy Xi’an’s natural beauty! Huaqing Hot Springs and Huaqing Palace at the foot of Mount Li have a history over three millennia. They are famous for one of the romance scenes of Emperor Li and Yang Guifei. In addition, Zhongnan Mountains are stunning and also one of the origins of Doasim. Last but not the least, Mount Hua, the “Western Mountain” of the Five Great Mountains of China, is only about 2 hours of drive away from Xi’an. The hiking trails are difficult, but you will never forget the breathtaking views along the way.
