Northwest China city guide
Xi'an
Ancient capital sights, city walls, food streets, and Terracotta Warriors day planning.
Recommended stay2-3 days
Best seasonSpring or autumn for city walks and day trips.
What to plan around
- Terracotta Warriors
- City Wall
- Muslim Quarter
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
First-day pacing
- Separate city-center time from the Terracotta Warriors day.
- Save the return route before leaving town.
- Keep ticket and hotel records offline.
Transport notes
- Use metro for central movement where it fits.
- Plan extra time for major sightseeing transfers.
- Use ride hailing or staffed help when language is the bottleneck.
Apps for this city
Prepare these before arrival
DiDi China
Ride hailing, pickup points, and driver messaging
First-city transport and late arrivals
Alipay
Payments, transport QR codes, and local services
Payment setup and wallet fallback
Messaging, payments, mini programs, and service accounts
Payment and communication backup
Google Translate
Downloaded languages, camera translation, and typed phrases
Signs, menus, labels, and staffed help