Xian, located in central-northwest China, records the great changes of the country just like a living history book. Called Chang’an (meaning the eternal city) in ancient times, Xian is one of the birthplaces of the ancient Chinese civilization in the Yellow River Basin area. As the eastern terminal of the Silk Road and the site of the famous Terracotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty, Xian has won a reputation all over the world. (Check our Xian Tour)
Here listed are 15 things you must see and never miss out in Xian:
Xian Ancient City Wall is the most complete city wall survived in China as well as one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. The wall was built in the Tang dynasty (618 -907) and enlarged in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The construction of the Xian City was formally started in the seventh year of Emperor Hongwu reign (1374) and completed in the eleventh year of Hongwu reign (1378). Check Xian City Wall Tour with Terracotta Warriors Museum.
Terracotta Museum: A terracotta army guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, which lures travelers from all over the world. In a quest for immortality and eternal power, China’s first emperor chose to have himself buried with some 8,000 life-size, intricately carved soldiers, horses, and chariots. Discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, the terracotta army then wore painted uniforms, but exposure to the air and sun has turned them black. Check our tour package to Terracotta Army Museum.
The Provincial History Museum considers it an obligation to be a showcase of ancient civilizations. It is situated in the southern suburb of Xian City, northwest of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Since it was opened to the public in 1991, its architectural buildings, internal apparatus, and exhibits have made it famous as a first-class museum in China.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda: As the symbol of the old-line Xian, Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. Originally built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang.
Mt. Lishan: Situated at the northern foot of Mt. Lishan in Lintong County, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Xian City, Huaqing Hot Spring is famed for both its dainty spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) and his concubine Yang Guifei in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Its long history and location among the wonderful landscapes of Xian should entice any visitor to visit and bathe in this hot spring
The Banpo Museum is located in the eastern outskirt of Xian City, Shaanxi Province. As the first museum at the prehistoric site, it was built at the base of the excavations of the Banpo site. It is a typical Neolithic matriarchal community of the Yangshao Culture dating back about 6,000 years. At that time, the Banpo people used tools made primarily of wood and stone. Women, the crucial labor force, were responsible for making pottery, spinning, and raising the family, while men fished.
The Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China and its location is northwest of the Drum Tower (Gu Lou) on Huajue Lane. It was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). This was a result of Islam being introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan during the mid-7th century when some of them settled down in China and married women of Han Nationality. Their descendants became Muslim of today. The Muslim played an important role in the unifications of China during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Hence, other mosques were also built to honor them.
The Drum Tower is located northwest of the Bell Tower, it was initially built in 1380 during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In ancient China, especially from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the drums were used to signal the running of time and on occasion were used as an alarm in emergency situations. The architecture style of the Drum Tower is a combination of the styles of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Qing Dynasty. However, the Drum Tower also has some innovative features. For example, it should be mentioned that there is no iron nail used anywhere in the Drum Tower.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Market: Chinese and Western medicine have radically different views about how we become ill. In Western medicine, the notion that emotions can play a significant role in physical health is a controversial hypothesis. In Chinese medicine, however, the links between body, mind and spirit have always been recognized and indeed lie at the heart of the system. There is a saying that western medicine cures the external causes but Chinese Medicine cures the internal causes.
Muslim Street: Just as its name implies, Muslim Street is the hub of the Muslim community in Xian City, Shaanxi Province. Located beside the Drum Tower, it is about 500 meters (about 547 yards) long from south to north. This street is paved with dark colored stone with green trees providing heavy shade during summer; the buildings on both sides of the street are modeled on the styles of both the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasties (1644-1911). Some of the constructions are restaurants; while others are stores. But here there is one thing in common: the owners are all Moslems.
Forest of Stone Steles Museum: Once the site of the Temple of Confucius during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), the Forest of Stone Steles Museum is situated on Sanxue Street, near the south gate of Xian City Wall. It was initially established in AD 1087 when some precious stone steles were moved here for safe keeping, including the ‘Classic on Filial Piety’ written by Emperor Xuanzong in AD 745 and ‘the Kaicheng Stone Steles’ carved in AD 837. The Forest of Stone Steles used to be the principal museum for Shaanxi Province since 1944, and then because of the large number of stone steles, it was officially named as the Forest of Stone Steles Museum in 1992.
The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian. The city, which was formerly known as Chang’an has a very long history, and was the imperial capital during 13 dynastic periods. Of these, the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) was the most prosperous and glorious of all. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is an outstanding exponent of this ancient stable and prosperous society, keeping alive its splendid culture and providing an insight into the peaceful life style of the period.
Chinese shadow puppets are made of flat pieces of transparent leather carved into shapes of human, animals and scenery. The puppeteers hold the shadow puppets in front of a lamp. The light of the lamp casts the puppets’ shadow on a screen, thus the Chinese name Pi Ying Xi, leather shadow opera, suggests. The Chinese shadow puppets have existed in China for over a thousand years.
Dumpling Dinner: Xian, an ancient city that has been the nation’s capital during no less than eleven dynasties spanning more than a thousand years is regarded as the home if not the birthplace of the great dumpling tradition. It was here that the art of creating the most tasty and delicate of dumplings was refined and no visit to the city is complete unless you partake of a Dumpling Dinner.
The Hanyang Tomb and Museum is about 20 kilometers or 12 miles from Xian. The museum has an underground exhibition hall so that people can see the results of the archeological digs in the big mausoleum complex of Emperor Liu Qi (188 to 141 BC) of the Han Dynasty, his wife, officials, dynastic clan members, and commoners. There is also a graveyard for slaves who built the complex. The underground hall was opened in 2006. The archeological dig site only covers a small area, but the whole burial complex is immense. It covers a total area of about 10 square kilometers or 4 square miles. It is like a little city or a little kingdom complete with miniature statues of animals, servants and soldiers positioned in various places like a make-believe miniature kingdom. Along with the underground exhibition, there is an above ground regular museum building that houses exhibits, and visitors may also go out to see and even participate in the archeological digs if arrangements are made.
