Shaanxi Province, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation, boasts a wealth of tourist attractions. The glorious ancient Chinese dynasties of Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang left behind a profound cultural heritage in Shaanxi, while the natural scenery of the Loess Plateau and the Qinling and Bashan Mountains is equally enchanting. With numerous attractions, this itinerary spans 6 days, prioritizing sites with significant social influence—encompassing both historical and cultural landmarks as well as natural wonders.
Xi’an, alongside Athens, Rome, and Cairo, is known as one of the world’s four great ancient capitals. From the 11th century BC to around the 10th century AD, 13 dynasties or regimes established their capitals here over 1,100 years. Xi’an alone offers an abundance of attractions, and as Shaanxi’s provincial capital, it occupies 3 days of the itinerary. Mount Hua, one of the Five Sacred Mountains, is located in Weinan City and is scheduled for a day trip. Yan’an, a paradise for red tourism, also features stunning natural landscapes and is allocated 2 days. This is an in-depth travel guide designed to balance relaxation with immersive, meaningful experiences at each attraction.
Day 1: Xi’an City
Itinerary: Emperor Qinshihuang’s Terracotta Army Museum → Huaqing Palace → The Muslim Quarter
Attraction Highlights
- Emperor Qinshihuang’s Terracotta Army MuseumLocated 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, built directly atop the original pits of the Terracotta Army. It is the world’s largest underground military museum. The pits are burial sites for the mausoleum, arranged in a triangular formation facing west. Pit 1, the first discovered, is rectangular with sloped entrances on all sides; Pits 2 and 3 lie to the left and right. The thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors here are awe-inspiring—truly the Eighth Wonder of the World. Over 6,000 figures feature unique faces, authentic historical relics.
Core Experience: Visit Pit 1 (grand military formation) → Pit 3 (command center) → Pit 2 (kneeling archers + bronze weapons) → Lishan Garden Bronze Chariot Museum (don’t miss the genuine “Crown of Bronzes”).
Immersive Activity: Join the “Archaeology Simulation” workshop (reservation required; hands-on restoration of terracotta fragments).
Peak Avoidance Tip: Arrive at 8:00 AM when it opens, head straight to Lishan Garden, and return to the Terracotta Army at 10:00 AM to avoid tour groups. Opt for official guided tours and use AR glasses to reconstruct ancient Qin army battle scenes.
- Huaqing PalaceNestled at the foot of Lishan Mountain in Lintong, it was historically an imperial hot spring resort. Today, only the ruins remain, but it hosts the spectacular live show The Song of Everlasting Sorrow—a modern masterpiece inspired by the ancient Tang poem. A benchmark in Shaanxi’s tourism industry, it ranks among the top 5A-level scenic areas for management quality.
Bonus: The Song of Everlasting Sorrow provides waterproof cushions on rainy days—shows go on rain or shine.
- The Muslim Quarter (Fangshang)A food and cultural district in Beiyuanmen Street, Lianhu District, Xi’an, comprising Beiyuanmen, Beiguangji Street, Xiyangshi, Dapiyuan, Huajue Lane, and Sajin Bridge. It became a Hui settlement in the late Northern Song to early Southern Song dynasties and evolved into a traditional commercial area during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Home to 10 mosques (including the Great Mosque of Huajue Lane), blending Chinese and Islamic architecture, it reflects ethnic integration and ancient trade heritage. A top Xi’an attraction for folk culture and cuisine.
Must-Try Foods: Ding’s Crispy Fried Pork, Jia’s Three-Flavor Soup Dumplings.
Day 2: Xi’an City
Itinerary: Shaanxi History Museum → Giant Wild Goose Pagoda → Datang Furong Garden → North Square Music Fountain → Datang Everbright City · Chang’an Twelve Hours Theme Block
Attraction Highlights
- Shaanxi History MuseumThough rated 4A, it carries more influence than many 5A sites. A National First-Class Museum and one of China’s most representative institutions, housing unparalleled relics from the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties. Free tickets require booking 2–3 days in advance.
- The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda stands at the southern end of Yanta Road in Xi’an. In the 22nd year of the Zhenguan reign (648 AD), when Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, was still a crown prince, he ordered the construction of Ci’en Temple on the former site of the Sui Dynasty Wulou Temple to pray for blessings for his late mother, Empress Wendé. Shortly after the temple’s completion, the eminent monk Xuanzang gathered distinguished Buddhist scholars from across the nation to establish an unprecedented scripture translation institute. A vast number of Buddhist scriptures were translated here, pioneering a new era in Chinese translation history, and the Faxiang School of Chinese Buddhism was founded in this temple.In the 3rd year of the Yonghui reign (652 AD), Xuanzang supervised the construction of a five-story Indian-style pagoda in the western courtyard to house the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India. With a brick exterior and earthen core, the pagoda collapsed roughly 50 years later. During the Chang’an reign of Empress Wu Zetian (701–704 AD), a seven-story Chinese-style pagoda was rebuilt on the original site, officially named Ci’en Temple Pagoda in the Tang Dynasty, commonly known as the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.It is a seven-story wooden-imitation brick pagoda with a quadrangular pyramid structure and a vase-shaped spire. The base is 25 meters in side length, and the total height reaches 64.517 meters. Built entirely of tightly jointed blue bricks, its exterior is decorated with flat pillars, architraves and giant brackets. As one of the well-preserved landmark architectures of Chang’an City in the Tang Dynasty, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda bears profound historical significance.
- Datang Furong Garden Located southeast of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise is a large-scale theme park reconstructed in the style of imperial Tang gardens, situated north of the original Tang Dynasty Furong Garden ruins. It is the first comprehensive scenic spot in China that fully showcases the prosperity of the glorious Tang Dynasty. Covering an area of 1,000 mu, including 300 mu of water surface, the park is divided into fourteen themed zones, such as Imperial Culture Zone, Women’s Culture Zone, Poetry Culture Zone, Imperial Examination Culture Zone, Tea Culture Zone, Song and Dance Culture Zone, Catering Culture Zone, Folk Custom Zone and Water Show Performance Zone.It fully presents the majestic demeanor, splendid arts and grand momentum of the powerful Tang Empire. Major scenic spots inside include Purple Cloud Tower, Phoenix Singing Theatre, Imperial Banquet Palace, Tang-style Market, Fragrant Garden, Ladies’ Museum, Rainbow Pavilion, Lu Yu Teahouse, Apricot Garden, Soul of Poetry, Tang Poetry Gorge, Qujiang Water Scenic Area, Flag Pavilion, Beauty Parade, Peach Blossom Dock and Cornel Terrace.
- The North Square Musical Fountain, also known as the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Musical Fountain, is situated on the central axis of the North Square. Covering a water area of 20,000 square meters, its eight-level frequency conversion water array in the cascading pool is the largest of its kind worldwide. Each tier features seven cascades, corresponding perfectly to the seven stories of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.The fountain boasts 22 independent water displays, including blooming lotus flowers, 100-meter running water jets, misty sea of clouds, seagull dances, butterfly and flower interactions, water-and-fire fog, and a 60-meter-high water column, all featuring cutting-edge technological designs. Four fountain sprays erupt from the water in a 60-meter-wide and over-20-meter-tall laser water curtain, bursting with low-temperature effects at a height of 6 meters. Adopting a high-fidelity long-distance professional audio system, it perfectly integrates sound, light, water and colors. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Musical Fountain holds multiple world records, including the cleanest water circulation system, the largest number of public benches, the longest light belt, the world’s first direct water diversion system and the most massive audio combination.
- Ever-Bright Tang City · The Twelve Hours of Chang’an Theme Block lies at the foot of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Yanta District, Xi’an. It is China’s only pedestrian street featuring large-scale Tang-style architecture themed on prosperous Tang culture, serving as a iconic landmark of Xi’an. The Twelve Hours of Chang’an Theme Block officially opened on April 30, 2022.Since then, Ever-Bright Tang City has continuously upgraded its facilities, striving to build a world-class cultural IP tourism and leisure district. Centered on prosperous Tang culture and Tang-style elements, it features core plazas including Zhenguan Square, Kaiyuan Square and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda South Square, as well as landmark sculptures such as All Nations Paying Tribute, Zhenguan Monument and Tang historical relief columns. It has become a classic business district and the city card of Xi’an.Visitors can enjoy an immersive Tang-style experience here. After renting Hanfu and professional makeup, you can join the All Nations Paying Tribute parade, explore Persian taverns and experience Tang-style imperial banquets (reservation required). Free performances are available, including Rainbow Feather Garment Dance at Immortal Mountain Red Dragon Pavilion and Extreme Joy Banquet, a laser show staged on the three-story performance stage.
Must-Try Foods: Bowl-Smashing Wine, Zichang Pancakes.
Day 3: Xi’an
Itinerary: Xi’an City Wall → Xi’an Beilin Museum (Stele Forest Museum) →Bell and Drum Towers Night View →Yongxingfang
Attraction Highlights
Xi’an City Wall is one of the most renowned ancient city fortifications in China and also the best-preserved ancient city wall across the country. Constructed in the Ming Dynasty, it stands as the most intact medieval city wall in China. Steeped in profound historical charm, the grand and magnificent city wall boasts extraordinary momentum. Walking and sightseeing along the wall offers wonderful panoramic views.
There are eight access gates leading onto Xi’an City Wall, distributed inside and outside the city. South Gate is the most convenient entry point, where the City Wall Visitor Service Center is located. The other seven gates are Wenchang Gate, Hanguang Gate, Heping Gate, Changle Gate (East Gate), Shangde Gate, Anyuan Gate (North Gate), and Anding Gate (West Gate).Wenchang Gate is close to the Stele Forest Museum, and Hanguang Gate houses a heritage museum, making them perfect for a combined visit.Warrior parades take place at South Gate at 10:00 and 11:00 every day, while traditional guard-changing ceremonies are held at the South Gate Suspension Bridge Square at 15:00 and 17:00. The large outdoor live show Dreaming Back to Chang’an is staged in the barbican of South Gate from 20:30 to 21:20, Thursday to Sunday.
Xi’an Beilin Museum (Stele Forest Museum) Located at No. 1 Sanxue Street, Beilin District, Xi’an, Xi’an Beilin Museum is the earliest established museum in Shaanxi. It specializes in the collection, exhibition and research of ancient steles, epitaphs and stone carvings, forming a unique art museum with distinctive characteristics in China. Visitors can appreciate authentic ancient calligraphy masterpieces and precious stone inscriptions here.
The Xi’an Bell and Drum Towers collectively refer to the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. First built during the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty, they have a history of more than 600 years and are the largest and best-preserved ancient bell and drum towers remaining in China. Both served as ancient timekeeping buildings.The Bell Tower is an elegant multi-eaved pavilion with a four-cornered pyramidal roof, while the Drum Tower was built to house large drums for sounding alarms and marking the hours. Featuring well-balanced architectural layouts, gorgeous colors and exquisite decorative details, the two landmarks carry strong traditional ethnic cultural features. As iconic symbols of Xi’an, they have received numerous state leaders including Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, as well as distinguished guests from home and abroad.
Yongxingfang was one of the 108 residential wards of Chang’an City in the Tang Dynasty. It is situated inside Zhongshan Gate (Little East Gate) in Xincheng District, Xi’an, on the former residence of Wei Zheng, a celebrated prime minister of the Tang Dynasty.In 2007, under the “Imperial City Revitalization Project”, the block was reconstructed in the original Tang-style ward layout. Today, it is the country’s first cultural block themed on intangible cultural heritage cuisine.In the early Tang Dynasty, this site served as Wei Zheng’s mansion, famous for having no main hall and the special building materials granted by Emperor Taizong for his funeral.The reconstructed core area covers 15 mu, gathering intangible cultural heritage delicacies and folk customs from 107 counties across 11 cities in Shaanxi. It has been officially rated as a national-level tourist attraction and cultural and tourism block.
Must-try local delicacies in Yongxingfang: bowl-smashing wine and Zichang pancakes. These two specialties are highly recommended, and you can choose other snacks according to your personal taste.
Day 4: Weinan City
Itinerary: Day Trip to Mount Hua
Attraction Highlights
- Mount Hua (West Yue)One of China’s Five Sacred Mountains, located in Huayin City, Weinan, 120 km east of Xi’an. At the intersection of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan, it borders the Qinling Mountains to the south and overlooks the Yellow River to the north—guarding the northwest gateway to the Central Plains. Known as the “Most Precipitous Mountain Under Heaven,” it has five peaks: East Peak (Chaoyang), West Peak (Lotus), Middle Peak (Jade Maiden), South Peak (Luoyan), and North Peak (Yuntai). Over 210 scenic spots include the Plank Walk (hanging cliff path), Turning Back on Air (three-sided drop), and Thousand-Foot Gorge, Hundred-Foot Gorge, Laojun’s Furrow (carved into cliffs). The “Hua Mountain’s Divine Palm” tops the Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong.
Full-Hua Express Route: West Peak Cable Car → South Peak (Plank Walk) → East Peak (Turning Back on Air) → North Peak Cable Car Down (≈5 hours).
Night Hike Challenge: Depart Yuquan Temple at 23:00; reach East Peak at 5:30 to watch sunrise over the sea of clouds.
Gear Tips: Non-slip gloves, headlamp (night hike), windproof jacket.
Day 5: Yan’an City
Itinerary: Huangdi Mausoleum → Hukou Waterfall
- Huangdi MausoleumThe tomb of Xuanyuan Huangdi, ancestor of the Chinese nation—the only recorded Huangdi Mausoleum in Records of the Grand Historian. A Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, 5A-level scenic area, national scenic spot, and national patriotism education base. Known as the “First Mausoleum Under Heaven,” it stands in Qiaoshan Mountain, north of Huangling County, Yan’an. Shaanxi is the root of the nation, Yan’an its soul, and Huangdi Mausoleum the spiritual symbol of Chinese civilization.
- Hukou WaterfallA national scenic spot, 4A-level tourist area, and national geopark. Straddling Jixian County (Shanxi) and Yichuan County (Shaanxi), it’s China’s second-largest waterfall and the world’s largest yellow waterfall. Along with Detian Waterfall (Sino-Vietnamese border) and Huangguoshu Waterfall (Guizhou), it’s one of China’s three great waterfalls. Summer brings torrential, majestic flows; winter freezes into rare giant ice falls. Unique phenomena like “Boat Drawn on Dry Land” and “Smoke Rising from Water” are iconic.
Day 6: Yan’an City
Itinerary: Day Trip to Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Scenic Area
Attraction Highlights
- Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Scenic AreaComprises Baota Mountain, Zaoyuan Revolutionary Site, Yangjialing Revolutionary Site, Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Site, and Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Hall. The epitome of Yan’an’s 445 revolutionary relics, housing precious artifacts from the older generation of revolutionaries. A national key cultural relic, national education base for patriotism, revolutionary tradition, and Yan’an Spirit, and one of China’s first classic red tourism sites.
Unique Accommodation
Experience northern Shaanxi cave dwellings (recommend “Loess Charm” Homestay).