Just one call of Chang An, Xi’an is traced back to the long river of history. Unlike Nanjing, the Jinlin in Jiangnan seems solemn but restrained and graceful.
Unlike Beijing, the then Beiping is still today’s Imperial City.
After so many years , Xi’an has become an ancient city whose elegance and grace has faded, and that it makes people miss its lost beauty and charm.
It is a mysterious ancient capital.Whether it is the renowned Terracotta Army, Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, or just an unknown tomb, it will make you think about grave-robbery.
It is a paradise for delicacies.
The city contains more than the famous food: Chinese hamburgers, a bowl of Spicy Soup, and the Xi’an cold rice noodles that can seen everywhere in the world.
Every time getting out of the Xi’an Railway Station, seeing the tall city wall and taking a bus to the Small and Big Wild Goose Pagoda through the Bell and Drum tower, you will be deeply moved, for you feel like walking among the words in the history books, and in the meantime, wandering in the alleys full of a strong flavor of life.
Today I am going to introduce to you the first city in history — Xi’an that has more than the Terracotta Army and Chinese hamburgers.
The first thing we gotta do in Xi’an is visit the ancient capital, instead of seeing the the Terracotta Army which is extremely crowded.
Some say that only in Xi’an can you feel the historical senses through the modern atmosphere in so many high-rises. The city wall enjoying 1400-year history, encloses the whole city.
On one side locates the new area, and on the other the old. The temple relic, which has undergone several dynasties, stands in harmony with the downtown.
It shows to us our ancestors’ inheritance and enjoys modern atmosphere leisurely. It is a metropolis as well as an ancient capital. You must witness its historical traces if you visit the city.
|| The Ancient City Wall — Enjoy the City in A New Way
Reaching Xi’an Railway Station, you can see the very long wall which does not strike you as amazing. It just stand tall and upright, safeguarding the city. But when mounting the city wall at sunset, you will witness the grandeur and splendor of it.
Although there is the place where you can rent bicycle on the top of the wall, it would be very hurry to finish the sight in ninety minutes. So it would be a good idea to take a walk on it.
There is no destination, so you might as well wander around the wall. Going up to the wall from the north gate to the west, you will see the old style and features of Xi’an on the left side, and new city zone on the right. You feel as if standing at the crossing of the space-time, which makes you delighted.
Address: Yong Ning Gate( South Gate), An Yuan Gate(North Gate) in the downtown in Xi’an
Ticket: 54 RMB including mounting the wall 27RMB for student
Time: 8:00 — 22:00, after 18:00 it is only for going down but not for up
|| Cao Tang Temple — it is not as famous as Fa Hua Temple, but an ancient temple of thousand years which is worth appreciating
Although its reputation is not very widespread, its historical role is very decisive. This is the place where the eminent monk — Kumārajīva translatedThe Diamond Sutra. Beacuse it is less visited, the Temple seems astonishingly tranquil.
Although obscure, it is still very neat and beautiful, with its gate standing erect, and its red bricks being striking, bamboos permeating all over the temple. In addition, there is an old respectable monk, who is deaf, clears the Temple, enjoys fasting and respects Buddha.
Address: on the north foothill Mt. Kui Feng, Cao Tang Village Hu County
Ticket: boom season(1 May ~ the end of November) 25 RMB
slack season (1 Dec ~ the end of Feb in next year) 15 RMB
Time: 7：30~18：00
|| Guang Reng Temple — a Tibetan temple in Xi'an
Most famous temples in Xi'an are located in Zhongnan Mountain. Among all the temples in the city, the Guang Ren Temple might be the most remarkable one other than Da Ci En Temple and Jian Fu Temple which are famous thanks to Xuan Zang (a monk in the Tang Dynasty) and the Small and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
The temple is located on the northwest corner of the city wall. Standing on the city wall, you can see the gold shining dome. Compared with other temples in Xi’an, the buildings here are more attractive and dazzling.
The Temple in the morning is fantastic: the wooden door is opened with the creaking sound; some Lamas are sweeping the ground, some have just finished their early lesson( reciting passages from scriptures), and others are beginning to cleanse dust on the figure of the Buddha. Tibetan monks are dressed mainly in deep-red color which are extremely nice against the background of the vague sunset. People are still enjoying their dreams while monks are doing their work.
Address: No. 152, No,1 Northwest road, the northwest corner of the city wall, Lian Hu district
|| Shaan Xi History Museum — enjoy five thousands of China
Touring in Xi’an, you cannot miss the Museum as much as the Terracotta Army. It is the domestic renowned museum which is the first one equipped with modernized facilities. The Museum is free to citizens but limits the number of visitors.
So if you want to enjoy the trip in it in the very morning, you should be there earlier. Here, you can read and learn a great amount of knowledge about Chinese history from the ancient time to the modern time (the time span is more than one million years). Every utensil and exhibit is filled with our ancestor's wisdom and shows the city's generosity, which is awesome and respectable
Address: No.91 Small Zhaidong road (close to Cuihu road crossing) Yan Ta district
Time: in winter (15 Nov ~ 15 Mar next year) 9:00 — 17:30 (tickets are not available at and after 16:00)
in summer (16 Mar ~ 14 Nov) 8:30 — 18:00 （tickets are not available at and after 16:30）
The museum are not open to the public on Mondays ( except for national statutory holidays)
Ticket: Ticket is free but it is only distributed 4000 daily in a limited time (2500 before 14 pm, 1500 for after 14pm).
Individual visitor can only get one ticket with his personal ID card.
The ticket is only available on the very and unavailable after that.
The ticket for Jewelry Hall is 20 RMB per person.
The ticket for Tang’s fresco Treasure Hall is 150 RMB per person.
|| The church on the Five - Star street — a western church in the ancient city
The customs and practices of the city can be found every while western churches are scarce.
In the city proper locate a Catholic Church which has a considerable scale.
It is usually called South Church for the church is on the Five Star street and on the Southwest side of the city.
It was designed with brick-and-timber structure, constructed with grey bricks and tiles, and embellished with brick carvings, presenting a combination of Chinese and Western elements. The four neat rows of red wooden chairs stands in the church, being silent and solemn.
The particular Roman architectural style obviously does not fit the atmosphere of the ancient city. But once standing in front of the church, you will think about something meaningful quietly.
Address: No. 17 Five Star street Lian Hu district
|| Shun Cheng Alley — finding the local lifestyle
You will find a great number of alleys whose names are full of historical senses.
And ‘Shun Cheng Alley’ is the most remarkable one in Xi’an.
Shun Cheng Alley, just like its literal name, is an alley goes along the inner side of the wall.
In the morning, the sun sprinkles its light on the black bricks of the wall and on the screen walls of the Forest of Steles, generating a plain and dignified atmosphere.
The elder hang the bird cages on the trees by the road, and play a round of Tai Chi on the clearing in front of the Forest of Steles.
Dressed in white gown, the old barber, who put down the thermos flask and chat with customers sitting on the wooden chair, starts his work...
Being tired of seeing these well-known spots and wanting to know more about Xi’an, you might make a trip in the gaps between high-rises and along the root of the city wall, or go deep into the alleys and lanes of the city.
Address: Bei Lin district Xi’an Shaan Xi Province
In Xi’an One thing that you cannot forget to do is enjoy its foods
Chang’an City preserves well all the relics of Chinese dynasties as well as traditional foods created by our ancestors.
Here, you can find all kinds of flavor: hot, sweet , and numb and spicy, which meet people’s different needs.
The city has absorbed cultures of the thousand years, let alone the flavors of the same years.
You can get a perfect answer either from Xi’an’s appearance or from its delicacies.
The Flavor That Lingers in the Mouth
|| Spicy Soup — a warming-up breakfast that you must eat
Xi’anese normally do not prepare breakfast at home, because there are lots of breakfast stands in the alleys and on the streets. The local people prefer having a bowl of red Spicy Soup full of chili oil in winter mornings. Under the influence of pepper powder, you cannot feel the tip of the tongue and sweat a little, and a warm current spread all over you body from your chest and belly. This simple and tasteful breakfast will make you energetic all the morning.
Recommendation: Liu Lao Hu Spicy Soup
Only local people know where the store is.
Although the door of the store is very old, it does not hinder the business at all.
If you want to have the soup, you must get up very earlier. Otherwise, you will be waiting in a long queue.
The soup has two different sizes: small bowl and big bowl.
It would be extremely wonderful to have the soup and a steamed bread dotted with pepper.
There are many vegetables in the soup: tomatoes, meat balls, carrot, white gourds, green beans and broccolis.
Mixing the vegetables and enjoying the delicacy, you will feel spicy and numb in the mouth, but soon the body gets warm.
In addition, the salted duck eggs are amazing here!
Address: No.12 Cong Xin Lane (close to Lian Hu road),Lian Hu district
Consumption per capita: 8 RMB
|| Marinated Meat in Baked Bun — you can miss the beautiful landscape, but you cannnot miss this delicacy
You would feel like omitting something if you do not eat the Chinese hamburger in Xi’an.
The best bun is the one with soft bun and half fat and half lean meat.
The bun does not taste good if the meat is too fat or too lean.
Combined with the crispy bun,the oil that comes from the fat meat blends into the lean meat, the food is very enjoyable.
Xi’anese are very practical: they eat just one bun and will not be hungry for half day.
Recommendation: Dong Guan Ji Xiang
As bun-lover, I strongly recommend you this one.
Every time you go there, you can see lots of people queuing.
The crust was baked with an old pan, which is crispy on the outside and soft in the inside, and the meat is neither fat nor lean.
Having a bite of it , you will feel completely satisfied.
It would be so cool to eat it and a bowl of meatball soup or steamed cold noodles.
Address: No.31 Ji Xiang Village, Yan Ta district
Consumption per capita: 12 RMB
|| Pita Bread Soaked in mutton and beef Soup — Make a Xi'an food with your hand
If you think the mouth is the only thing you need to enjoy delicacies, then you would be totally wrong.
Want to eat Pita Bread Soaked in mutton and beef Soup? You must use the hands to make it .
Normally, we will split the bread by ourselves in order to get a nice taste.
It’s totally worth it when the tasteful soup flows into our mouth and down to the stomach.
The soup is very mellow and bread becomes sticky and glutinous.
Just a bowl of the it will make you warm and full.
Recommendation: Lao Mi Jia Da Yu Pita Bread
There is a big board on the door, so the store is very recognizable.
It has been here for really a long time and get recognized by local people.
After ordering the dish, you will wait in the line...
People who are at different ages or come from different countries will do the same thing — to split the bread.
Being spit, the bread will be sent to the kitchen for further process.
After it is done, the staff will send it to you and then you can enjoy this half self-made dish.
Address: No. 126 Xi Yang Shi Lian Hu district
Consumption per capita: 38 RMB
|| Mirror Cakes in Wooden Cages － ingenious snack
You will often see on the roadside some pedlers pushing a handcart to sell mirror cakes, saleswomen wearing ethnic clothes and steaming hot cakes.
The cake is small and round like a mirror and thinner than a finger.
The main ingredient is the flour ground from Jiang rice.
There is a thin sheet of iron in the wooden cage. Then, the pedler will at first put enough rice powder into the cage, sprinkle brown sugar, green and yellow sugar, place minced green and red silk on it. And at last put one cage onto another which looks like a pagoda.
There is one gear on the top of the pagoda:
When the cakes are done, there is a lengthy sound coming from the top which will draw many people’s attention.
Recommendation: Ma Lin Cartoon Mirror Cake
Address: No.6 West Yang Shi street, Gu Lou Li, Lian Hu
Tips: you can see many stands on the street.
|| Bing Feng Soda — the exclusive taste in Chang'an City
In the ancient Chang’an City, every one remember this— Bing Feng soda
Xi’anese know that Bing Feng belongs to them.
It tastes very cool!!
A bottle of Bing Feng soda, combine with bowl of cold rice noodle, one marinated meat in baked bun, and with one pita bread soaked in mutton and beef soup, becomes the most fascinating meal.
Tips: it can be seen in any restaurants and supermarkets. Plus, you can now buy the canned soda.
|| Deep-fried Persimmon Pastry — childhood in the pastry
To the local people, the pastry is one of their memory about childhood.
It contains many stuffs: sesame, sweetened bean paste, five kernels, fruits.
There are so many flavor that you must have difficulty in choosing them.
Just tell the staff how many you want to have, and he/she will give a piece of paper, and then you can choose at your heart’s content.
The crust is made from glutinous rice, which is very soft.
The pastry is stuffed and fried, and there are other ingredients in it.
Although it seems a little oily, but you will not feel uncomfortable.
There are semi-finished goods in vacuum pack, so you can buy some to cook them at home.
Address: Muslim’s Quarter Bei Lin district Xi’an
Consumption per capita: 2 RMB
A place where you can make a pig of yourself
|| Yong Xing Fang — A bite of Xi'an
Speaking of many food streets in Shaan Xi, lots of people will think of Muslim’s Quarter.
While Yong Xing Fang, which is located at Xiao Dong Men, is less known by people.
Yong Xing Fang contains all classical foods and snacks of Shaan Xi.
Although there is no century-old shop here, it has been labeled as Shaan Xi non-inheritance techniques.
What you should do is just go there have help yourself!
Address: Yong Xing Fang Dong Xin street Xin Cheng district
|| Yuan Village — Old street with old flavor
Muslim’s Quarter is not the only place where you can enjoy Xi’an dilicacies.
Yuan Villiage, which is not far from the downtown, is worth visiting.
The whole village is molded on Zhong Guan ancient village.
You can see on the both narrow side the plain and old tile-roofed stores
The whole street is permeated with all kinds of flavor, which makes people cannot wait to have them.
Owing to the the limited space of the store, the chairs and tables are put outside the it, so many people stand in line waiting for the meal.
The shopowners are very practical and honesty, because they write down all the ingredients and source of them on the paper and hang it in front of the store.
Address: Yuan Village Yan Xia Town Li Quan county, Xian Yang
Still have time? — please come here to hear the literary tune
You can see more other than Shaan Xi Opera
If you have spent in Xi’an lots of day making a through tour in its streets and alleys, tasted local delicacies, then you might as well go and find Xi’an tunes.
In Xi’an, some like singing some short sentences in Qin Opera at the foot of the city wall, some will find their soul by playing Rock N Roll.
And this is Xi’an which contains different kinds of literary activities: classical, intense, lively, literary.
|| Rock N Roll in Xi'an — a good climate for Rock N Roll
Shaan Xi has underwent ups and downs in history, and now it needs shouting and relieving.
As a result, Xi’an has become the city that contains most Rock breath other than Beijing.
Here once produced three heavyweights in Rock circle: Zhang Chu, Zheng Jun, Xu Wei.
Owing to the immaturity of the rock market in Xi’an , the Rock circle is lucky enough to maintain its purity. Nowadays, there are still many underground bands and excellent music talents are composing the splendor of the Rock music, narrating their growth and ideals.
|| Shu Yuan Gate — the alley full of most literary air
There is no better place than Xi’an to place such literary streets like Shu Yuan Gate.
The street, which is in the Retro style, fits most in Xi’an.
It is filled with scholar atmosphere as well as with surprises and excitements.
You do not have to pose as a lover of culture.
If you see anything that you like, just buy it.
And if there is nothing that interests you , taking a walk is also nice.
Forgetting the hasty metropolis and skyscrapers, it would be fantastic to wander in the ancient alleys and to enjoy the particular atmosphere of the ancient city.
Address: on the east side of South Gate Bei Lin district Xi’an
Time: all day long (stores normally are closed at 10, and even earlier in winter)
About Our Local Guide
Tina
Tina graduated from Xi'an International Studies University, and is fluent in both English and Chinese. Being born and raised in Xi'an,she knows the best places in the city. From ancient temples and museums to wonderful restaurants and street vendors with local delicacies that will tickle your taste buds. Tina will help you explore Xi'an like only a local can and experience the many wonders Xi'an offers.
Any question，feel free to add wechat “Citymaster_”
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