We took a direct fast train from Beijing to get to Xi’an. The Chinese fast train network is a great way to move around and can definitely save you some domestic flights.
Xi’an’s main attraction is of course the Teracotta Army. The museum is located 40 kilometres away from the city and easy to reach by public bus. As it was high season, we bought our entrance tickets online before making our way out of the city. The museum is definitely a must-see! Standing in front of all the soldiers and horses in the huge first pit is more than impressive. However, you need to be prepared to fight your way through masses of Chinese tourists to get to the first line and enjoy the view.
Xi’an is not only home to the famous Army, but also a very historical city with a beautiful city wall and a nice, old city center. Sights not be missed are: the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter with its Great Mosque and the Street food market, the Giant Goose Pagoda and of course the city wall itself.
We stayed in a cosy Airbnb apartment just outside the city wall, where we also found a small restaurant, that won us over on our first night. The waitress only spoke a few words of English and helped us to choose the dishes from the Chinese menu. They were definitely amongst the best ones we tried throughout China.