Xian Travel

Xian Travel
Originally known as Chang’an, Xi’an was in ancient times the starting point of the famed Silk Road. Over a period of more than 2,000 years, Xi’an was the capital city of eleven different dynasties. Along with Rome and Constantinople, this city was a world leader in culture and trade and played a vital role in bridging the gap between East and West. Often called a “living museum”, the Terracotta Warriors from the Qin Dynasty, along with other relics and excavations that are nearby, such as the restored city wall, the Big Goose Pagoda, and the Banpo Neolithic Village tell the story of why Xi’an is considered to be such an invaluable historical site in China. Xi’an is located in the southern portion of the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi Province, with the Qinling Mountains to the north and the Weihe River to the south, Xi’an, the provincial capital, is the largest city in northwest China.
Public Transportation

Located in the geographical center of the country, Xi’an is one of the best connected cities in China in terms of travel. There are many national and international flights in and out of the city airport and the rail and bus services operating in the city are also good.

The city airport, Xiguan, is approximately 40 km northwest of Xi’an. Northwest Airways, China United Airways, and Dragon Air all operate out of the airport. There are daily flights to and from Xi’an to Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Guilin, and Qingdao and there are a few flights each week to Lhasa as well as to Hong Kong, Macau, and Japan.

The train station in Xi’an is in the northeast part of town just outside the city walls. It is a hub for trains heading west or east and the line actually splits here. Some trains head north to Beijing and others east to Shanghai.

The main long distance bus station is located opposite the railway station in the northeast of the city.

Taxis in Xi’an are plentiful and easy to find and all are metered.

The best way to travel in Xi’an by yourself (as in most cities in China) is to use a bicycle. There are bikes for rent at most hotels in Xi”an and the rental averages CNY 10-20 per day with a CNY 300 or a passport posted as a deposit.

Where to go

Huaqing Hot Spring

Huaqing Hot Spring (huaqing chi), located 30 kilometers east of Xi’an at the foot of the Lishan Hills, is a popular retreat for Emperors more than 2500 years ago because of the clear, mineral water.

Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses

One day in 1974, near Xi’an, some farmers accidentally stumbled upon this site of the terracotta soldier built to guard the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Banpo Museum

The Banpo Museum, located three miles east of Xi’an, was built in 1958. It is located on the north side of Banpo village on a site that dates to the matrilineal period of the Neolithic period over 6,000 years ago.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)

This famous Buddhist pagoda is situated inside Da Ci’en (Thanksgiving) Temple, which is four kilometers south of Xi’an City. Tang Emperor Gaozong (628-683) commissioned the building of this temple in 652 during the Tang Dynasty as a tribute to his mother who suffered an early death.

What to Buy

Xi’an is a terrific place to do some great Chinese souvenir shopping, especially for cultural items and antiques, which are generally cheaper and more varied there than in other cities.

Folk Paintings

One very special type of souvenir from Xi’an is local folk painting.

Lacquerware

Lacquer is a natural substance obtained from the sap of indigenous lacquer trees.
What to eat
Xi’an cuisine has a good hearty style that should satisfy even the biggest appetites. Noodles and dumplings are staples and are almost always filling and delicious. Yang Rou Pao Mo is a tasty Xi’an specialty that consists of mutton soup served with wheat flour flat bread. The hard bread is broken up and added to the soup and the mixture is eaten along with pickled garlic cloves. Try the “dumpling feast” at the Xi’an Dumpling Feast Restaurant on Jiefang Road where 108 different kinds of Chinese dumplings (Jiaozi) are on the menu. Also worth trying are the Defachang Restaurant and the Baiyunzhang Northwest Style Snack Restaurant.

Some other Xi’an snacks and special dishes include Sour Soup Dumplings and Guantang Steamed Baozi.

Good Western food in Xi’an is, unfortunately, harder to find but there are several places off Dongdajie and, on the northwestern outskirts of the city near the Renmin Hotel on Fenghe Road, there are two restaurants that offer great Western food at reasonable prices.
Where to stay
Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza Hotel

Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza Hotel, a 5 star hotel situated outside the South Gate. And within viewing distance of the Ming Dynasty City Wall. It is invested by famous local Ginwa Group and managed by Howard Johnson International. Our hotel is the leading address for distinguished business and government leaders as well as discerning travelers visiting the ancient city of Xian. The award-winning hotel with its 198 deluxe rooms, highly acclaimed restaurants, advanced conference rooms and recreational facilities is one of the best in Xian. The hotel is within walking distance to the heart of the pulsing commercial and government districts.