[Eight Days and Seven Nights in Xi'an] From the Terracotta Warriors to the Huaqing Palace, a Thousand-Year Time Journey
For eight days and seven nights, I set out from southern Taiwan, soaring through time and space, from the dawn of Pingtung to the ancient capital where Qin Shi Huang first stood. From eating, seeing, walking, drinking, and listening, this journey was filled with the echoes of history and the rhythm of modernity.
🛫Day 1: Departing from Pingtung, Flying to the Millennium Capital
I departed Pingtung early in the morning for Kaohsiung Airport, connecting via Hong Kong, and finally arrived at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport in the afternoon. First impression: dry air and a rich historical atmosphere. That evening, I headed straight to Sajinqiao Food Street—a true terracotta warrior wonderland for your taste buds. Don't miss the spicy hot soup, mutton soup buns, and biang biang noodles. Fun fact: The Xi'an character "biang" is one of the most complex in all of China, with 58 strokes. Just looking at it will make you full.
🏺Day 2: The Magnificent Awe of the Terracotta Warriors
Today's highlight is, of course, the Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Army Museum—one of the Eight Wonders of the World. We also hired a park guide to show us around the special exhibitions and explain the facial expressions, hairstyles, and military ranks of the terracotta warriors. We entered Pit 2 and Pit 3, and finally, off-peak, Pit 1. Seeing the rows of imposing terracotta warriors was truly awe-inspiring, as if time had stood still.
For lunch, we had biangbiang noodles and lamb skewers at a small restaurant in the park. It was simple and authentic. We were worried about the October Golden Week crowds, but surprisingly, we managed to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sights without being overwhelmed. Perfect!
🥢Day 3: From the Drum Tower to the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps: Ancient Charm by Day, Trendy by Night
In the morning, we ascended the Drum Tower and took panoramic photos of the entire tower from the fifth floor of the Kaiyuan Shopping Mall. For lunch, we enjoyed their signature gourd chicken at the mall's "Drunk Restaurant Chang'an"—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and even the skin was fragrant.
In the afternoon, we spent our "Internet Celebrity Day" exploring the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps, Xi'an Joy City, the Chang'an Twelve Hours Street, and the Tang Paradise. Every place felt like a set from a time-travel drama—by day, it was ancient Chang'an, and at night, it transformed into the neon-lit "Tang Chao Night Market."
🏯 Day 4: Bell Tower Tour and a Dialogue Between the Past and Present of the Ancient Capital
After changing hotels today, we set off for the Bell Tower. Interestingly, we hired a local driver for a 60-minute tour around the scenic area for just 100 RMB, listening and observing as we went. The driver jokingly said, "Xi'an is a thousand-year-old capital, but there are very few historical sites because they were all demolished!" I thought it was an exaggeration, but it turned out to be true—only the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and city wall remain today, making them even more precious.
🏡 Day 5: From Gao Family Compound to Yongxingfang, Experiencing the Daily Life of Chang'an People
In the morning, we visited Gao Family Compound, taking in the carvings and layout of the Qing Dynasty mansion. We then visited the Forest of Steles Museum and Shuyuanmen Pedestrian Street, and finally, the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Folk Customs Street in Yongxingfang. The area is bustling with delicious food and handmade crafts, and I even unexpectedly ran into the internet celebrity "A Yin" herself. The atmosphere was incredibly lively. In the afternoon, we climbed the city wall at Yongning Gate (South Gate). Looking down, the entire city shone through the bricks and tiles of history. The tour guide mentioned that the ancients emphasized "dual defense, both internal and external," when designing the city wall. Their wisdom truly rivals modern military engineering.
🏔Day 6: Huashan Sword Contest! A Day-Long Challenge
We met at 6:25 AM to depart for Huashan. Huashan has five peaks, and the ancient saying, "Since ancient times, there has been only one path to Huashan," was no exaggeration. Although there is now a cable car, the queue alone took 1.5 hours. We had originally planned to ascend and descend west, but due to strong winds, the cable car was suspended, forcing us to ascend and descend north. It was a bit of a shame, but safety comes first.
My husband, a Jin Yong fan, said Huashan was the setting for the "Huashan Sword Contest" in "The Return of the Condor Heroes," and we had to visit. As I stood atop the mountain and watched the sea of clouds roll in, I suddenly understood the heroic spirit of the martial arts novel: "One sword opens the gates of heaven."
🏛Day 7: The Hardest-to-Get-In Shaanxi History Museum and Yang Guifei's Hot Spring
Finally secured a reservation at the Shaanxi History Museum, known as "the hardest to get into in Xi'an"! Inside, the show is truly spectacular—packed with Tang Dynasty sancai (three-colored ceramics), gold, and bronze artifacts, it feels like a treasure trove.
In the evening, we moved to the Haitang Yuya Hot Spring Hotel near Huaqing Palace to experience the "Guifei Hot Spring." As night fell, we watched the live performance of "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow." The dance of water and fire intertwined on a magnificent stage, and the love story of Li Longji and Yang Guifei was reborn under the lights. At that moment, it truly felt like "dreaming back to the Tang Dynasty."
♨️Day 8: Morning Tour of Huaqing Palace, Return to Taiwan Filled with Memories
On our last day, we spent a leisurely stroll through the Huaqing Palace grounds. This place isn't just Yang Guifei's hot springs, but also bears witness to the modern-day "Xi'an Incident"—bullet holes still remain in Chiang Kai-shek's hideout. The weight of history rests quietly between the mountains and the springs.
At noon, we packed up and flew back to Taiwan. Eight days and seven nights were like watching a time-traveling epic from the Qin Dynasty to the Republic of China. What I brought back weren't just souvenirs, but a new understanding of history.