Private Xi'an City Tour

Start your one-day Xi’an city tour package at around 9:00 am, when your private guide and driver will meet you at your hotel.

Our first stop today will be the ancient City Wall. Over 600 years of vicissitudes have witnessed its change from an important military fortification to a cultural mark connecting the past and the present. In the 1950s, a fierce movement to demolish the ancient city walls emerged in China due to their failure in function and obstruction to urban modernization; however, Xi’an City Wall was preserved for historical protection. When strolling on it, stop occasionally at the crenels set every 120 meters (394 feet) to overlook the busy traffic at the foot of the Wall and the elderly relaxing by the moat, or look far into the distance at the skyline behind the new and old buildings. The walkway is so wide and long that there are even bicycle or sightseeing car rental points to facilitate your visit. If you are interested, the guide will be willing to assist with renting at your own expense.After that, let’s head to the Stele Forest (Beilin Museum). Seven major showrooms with a collection of ancient stone tablets, epitaphs, and stone carvings spanning nearly a millennium among more than 11,000 cultural relics await you to explore. With your guide, linger for a longer time before the world-famous Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum, which refers to the vivid relief sculptures of six galloping horses that helped Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) during battles, with four being the originals and two replicas. They were first discovered by a French sinologist and published in newspapers in 1907. Later, two of them were transported overseas by China’s then most notorious antique dealer and sold to the Penn Museum in USA for USD 125,000, which could buy a royal mansion located in the most bustling area of Beijing at that time. Also, pay attention to the Nestorian Stele on a level with the Rosetta Stele in the British Museum and the Moabite Stele in the Louvre Museum. It contains several lines of Syriac in a Chinese text, which is the earliest witness of Christianity being introduced into China from Syria during the Tang Dynasty.

As we drive through the city center, appreciate the ancient Bell and Drum Towers, which are the must-visit landmarks for every traveler to Xi’an. Then, we’ll get to the Muslim Quarter, one of the most popular food paradises in Xi’an. Wandering through the alleys paved with bluestone slabs, looking at the quaint restaurants and residences on both sides, smelling the aroma of local snacks in the air, and listening to the melodious Shaanxi Opera from the teahouses, you’ll feel the strong cultural atmosphere of the local ethnic market. Lunch is at your own expense, but your guide will be pleased to offer recommendations if needed. You can try the far-named specialties here, including Biang Biang Noodles, Cold Noodles, and Sour Plum Drink.In the afternoon, continue the trip to the Shaanxi History Museum, a large modern museum known as the “Pearl of Ancient Capital, Treasure House of China”, to learn about the profound Chinese civilization from the Stone Age to about 1840. Follow your guide to gain insights on all the highlights like bronze vessels, terracotta warriors from Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum, and gorgeous mural paintings. Examine the Bronze Tiger-Shaped Tally of Du County, a small token to mobilize armies in the Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 BC). It was created in half: the right half was held by the Qin emperor and the left half by a general - only when the two halves fitted together could over 50 soldiers be dispatched. Moreover, take a close look at the Agate Cup with Beast Head of the Tang Dynasty. Modelled after the Greek kylix and crafted by Persian craftsmen using rare sardonyx, it is the pinnacle of cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Road.

Next, stop by Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the earliest and largest square brick tower built during the Tang Dynasty to store Buddhist texts from India, and appreciate it from a distance. You’ll then have some time to explore the nearby Great Tang All Day Mall, a long prosperous pedestrian street, for a full immersion in the Tang culture. Stroll past young people dressed up as ancient people and under lines from Chinese poetry and red lanterns hung on the trees, and browse handicraft kiosks that interest you. Late into afternoon, we will drive you back to your hotel, unless you want to eat here and roam till late to admire the beautiful lighting and antique architecture complementing each other, and then take a taxi back on your own.

► Recommended Nighttime Activities (at your own expense):
For a deeper historical and cultural experience in Xi’an, the ancient capital of 13 dynasties, you are recommended to stay longer in Great Tang All Day Mall, rent a traditional Hanfu suit of the Tang Dynasty and put on matching makeup at one of the myriad studios, and then go around to take photos or enjoy free street performances as night falls, as most visitors do. With a wide variety of clothing styles and colors, whether you want to dress up as a regal empress or a cute princess, you would definitely be satisfied. What’s more, the illuminated Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the antique red walls will be the best backdrop for your photos.

► If you are looking for a day tour with the Terracotta Army Museum, or if you yearn for natural landscapes around Xi’an such as Mt. Huashan and Hukou Waterfall, please feel free to contact us for a personalized trip tailored to your preferences.