Why Xi'an?

Xi'an is one of China's oldest cities and the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road. For a weekend trip, it punches way above its weight — you get 3,000 years of history, an incredibly vibrant Muslim Quarter, and some of the best street food in all of China. If you only visit one city in China beyond Beijing and Shanghai, make it Xi'an.

A complete guide for first-timers and halal-conscious travellers



🗓️ Weekend Itinerary

Arrival day

After work night flight. Arrive at the hotel, eat dinner and off to bed for early start.

Day 1 — Walls, Warriors & the Muslim Quarter

Morning

  • Start at the Terracotta Army (兵马俑) — go early (opening at 8:30am) to beat the tour groups. Budget 3–4 hours here. The scale is genuinely jaw-dropping; the warriors were buried here to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb over 2,200 years ago.

Afternoon

  • Had lunch and take the shuttle to go to Underground Palace of the Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum area. There are multiple Mausoleums you can visit. 

Evening

  • Dive into the Muslim Quarter (回民街, Huimin Jie). This is the heart of Xi'an's Hui Muslim community, and the street comes alive at dusk with smoke from grill stalls, the smell of cumin, and lantern-lit alleyways. Eat everything.

Day 2 — Teas, Parks & Local Life

Morning

  • Chargee Bell Tower (钟楼) branch for morning tea and coffee

Mid-Morning

  • Stroll to the Bell Tower (钟楼) and Drum Tower (鼓楼) right at the city centre. Then go up to the Xi'an wall. Its ¥40 to get on the wall and rent a bike to go around the loop.

Afternoon

  • Do one final lap of the Muslim Quarter for dinner, or try a sit-down restaurant for a proper bowl of yangrou paomo (lamb stew with broken flatbread).
  • Visit the Great Mosque of Xi'an (清真大寺) — one of the largest mosques in China and built in a classical Chinese architectural style. Entry is around ¥25. It's peaceful and genuinely beautiful in the early morning light.

Evening

  • Go to Tang Dynasty park and shopping for Halal pastries

💰 Budget Breakdown (Per Person)

CategoryBudget (CNY)Notes
Terracotta Army entry¥120Book online to avoid queues
City Wall bike rental¥45Per person
City Wall¥40Unlimited entrance
Bell + Drum Tower¥75Combined (if you decided to go)
Big Wild Goose Pagoda¥50Park is free (i skipped this)
Street food (Muslim Quarter)¥80–150/dayVery affordable, cash recommended
Sit-down meals¥50–120/meal
Transport (metro + taxi)¥30–60/dayMetro and bus is very easy to use 
2-Day Total (estimate)¥600–900(~MYR 300–500)

💡 Tip: Download Alipay/WeChatpay before you go. Many vendors are cashless, and the tourist version of Alipay now works with foreign cards.

🏨 Where to Stay

Budget (¥150–300/night)

Mid-Range (¥400–700/night)

  • Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square — Excellent location, big rooms, great breakfast.
  • Hilton Xi'an — Reliable Western-standard hotel, frequent deals on booking sites.

Splurge (¥900+/night)

  • Grand Mercure Xi'an on Renmin Square — Gorgeous lobby, excellent service, central location.

💡 Location tip: Stay inside or just outside the City Wall for easy walking access to most sights. The Bell Tower / Zhonglou metro area is the best hub.

🕌 Halal Food Guide

Xi'an has one of the most authentic and accessible halal food scenes in China, centred around the Muslim Quarter and the surrounding Hui neighbourhoods.

Must-Try Halal Dishes

Yangrou Paomo (羊肉泡馍) The signature dish of Xi'an. You break apart unleavened bread by hand, pass it to the cook, and it gets slow-simmered in a rich lamb broth. Warming, filling, and deeply satisfying. Look for restaurants where you can see locals eating — a queue is a good sign.

Roujiamo (肉夹馍) — "Chinese Burger" Spiced slow-braised lamb (or beef) stuffed into a crispy flatbread. The halal version uses lamb; make sure to confirm when ordering. Some of the best ones are ¥10–15 at street stalls.

Biangbiang Noodles (油泼面) Thick, hand-pulled belt noodles tossed in chilli oil, garlic, and vinegar. The halal versions in the Muslim Quarter use beef or are vegetarian. The character for "biang" is famously the most complex in the Chinese writing system.

Lamb Skewers (羊肉串) Grilled over charcoal, seasoned with cumin and chilli. A staple of every evening walk through the Quarter. ¥5–10 per skewer.

Recommended Halal Restaurants

  • Lao Sun Jia (老孙家饭庄) — A century-old institution for yangrou paomo. Touristy but worth it for the classic experience.
  • Tong Sheng Xiang (同盛祥) — Another legendary paomo restaurant, often preferred by locals.
  • Muslim Quarter Street Stalls — For roujiamo, skewers, and persimmon cakes, just walk and follow your nose. Most vendors in the Quarter are Hui Muslim and serve halal food.

How to Identify Halal in Xi'an

  • Look for 清真 (qīngzhēn) — the Chinese word for halal — on signs and menus.
  • The Muslim Quarter is broadly halal; outside it, always check.
  • Large supermarkets (Walmart, Carrefour) have halal-certified sections.

🚇 Getting Around

  • Metro: Xi'an has a modern, clean metro system. Lines 1, 2, and 4 cover all the major tourist sites. Fares are ¥2–5 per journey.
  • Taxi / DiDi: Easy and affordable. Download DiDi (China's Uber) — it supports international cards.
  • Walking: The city centre is very walkable. The Muslim Quarter, Bell Tower, and City Wall are all within 10–15 minutes of each other on foot.
  • Bike: You can rent shared bikes (Hellobike, Meituan) via app, or rent one on the City Wall.

✈️ Getting to Xi'an

  • By air: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) has direct flights from many Asian hubs. The Airport Express metro (Line 14) takes you into the city in about 40 minutes for ¥30.
  • By high-speed rail: Xi'an is well connected to Beijing (4.5 hrs), Shanghai (6 hrs), Chengdu (3 hrs), and Zhengzhou (2 hrs) by HSR. The main station is Xi'an North (西安北站).

📱 Apps to Download Before You Go

AppUse
AlipayPayments everywhere
DiDiRide-hailing
Amap GlobalNavigation (works better than Google in China)
WeChatCommunication + mini-apps for ticketing and ordering
VPN (your choice)To acccess Google, Instagram, WhatsApp (unless if you use esim)

Final Tips

  • Visit the Terracotta Army first thing in the morning — crowds build quickly by 10am.
  • Carry some cash — smaller street stalls don't always accept apps.
  • Respect local customs in the Muslim Quarter — it's a living community, not just a tourist attraction.
  • Weekend evenings in the Muslim Quarter are spectacular — if you can only do one evening, do it here.
  • Book major attractions online to skip ticket queues, especially in peak season (May, Oct).

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