Top 50 Best Things to Do in Xi'an
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Top 50 Best Things to Do in Xi'an

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  • Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museumtop_1
    󰺂10
    21.99
    Xi'an.Terracotta Army/Hua Qing Palace33.8 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoSun Yang visits the Terracotta Army in Xi'an
    trip best small logoAchieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
    Highlights:
    󰀆The highest point of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor overlooking the Weihe
    󰀆Qin's tomb viewpoint over Wei River
    󱨠Saved by 8616 users󱨠83775 positive reviews
    4.7/5
    桃zi小~🍑桃zi小~🍑

    To fully appreciate the Terracotta Army, we booked a guided tour for six people through Ctrip. My companions brought large suitcases, which the guide led us to the free luggage storage. We were lucky today; it wasn't crowded, so we leisurely saw everything we wanted to see. Our guide, Ms. Li Wenxuan, provided exceptionally detailed explanations. I heard she's been working here for 20 years, and she described each artifact to us in detail. Her explanations were longer than those on the product details page, making for a truly excellent experience!

  • Xi'an City Walltop_2
    󰺂8.9
    9.9
    Xi'an.The bell tower The drum tower/The Xi’an Circumvallation1.8 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoYou can also see the Xi'an City Wall lantern show on New Year's Eve
    trip best small logoAchieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
    Highlights:
    Interactive Lantern Festival of Light and Shadow during the Lunar New Year
    Interactive light show festival
    󱨠Saved by 3889 users󱨠42310 positive reviews
    4.6/5
    M29***82M29***82

    The Xi'an City Wall is so full of historical charm! 🏯 Strolling along the wall offers a wide view, with the Bell Tower and modern architecture creating a picturesque scene. ✨ Walking with friends, taking photos along the way, the atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant. 📸 The Orange Tunnel is bustling with people, full of energy! 🔥 A perfect experience, highly recommended! 💕💕

  • Song of Everlasting Sorrowtop_3
    󰺂8.7
    43.79
    Xi'an.Terracotta Army/Hua Qing Palace27 km from downtown
    trip best small logoAchieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
    Highlights:
    󰀆Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty
    󰋄Tang Dynasty love story reenactment
    󱨠Saved by 3286 users󱨠13208 positive reviews
    4.5/5
    EshyEshy

    Worth it🤩🤩. Amazing performance, traditional choreography, wonderful melody . A mix of Modern and classic . A must see show . #memories, #Broadway Chinese version

  • Xi'an Bell Tower
    4
    󰺂8.4
    5.5
    Xi'an.The bell tower The drum tower/The Xi’an Circumvallation8m from downtown
    trip best small logoAchieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
    Highlights:
    Panoramic view of Xi'an from the top of the Bell Tower
    󱓊Panoramic view of streets & Drum Tower
    󱨠Saved by 2374 users󱨠15548 positive reviews
    4.5/5
    东篱把酒@东篱把酒@

    Xi'an Citywalk | A Time Machine After a Carb-Filled Walk As dusk settled, I emerged from the Yongningmen subway station and looked up—wow! The golden roof of the Bell Tower was bathed in the glow of the sunset, looking like amber—absolutely stunning! This old building, dating back to the Ming Dynasty, is now gently embraced by glass curtain walls and a sunken plaza, both ancient and modern. In the Line 5 transfer passage, a Ming Dynasty ceremonial guard is "walking" on an AR wall, with vermilion palace lanterns and neon signs lighting up together, surprisingly harmoniously. On the basement level, the food market is filled with the irresistible aroma of biangbiang noodles with chili oil. Next door, at Shaanxi Shisan, young people are queuing up to try the fermented rice flavored ice cream—it's all so novel! On the third-floor observation deck, donning VR glasses, the morning bell and evening drum of the Bell Tower and the drone show at Yongning Gate "fold" before your eyes. A blogger in Hanfu walks past under the eaves, the sounds of wind chimes and helicopters mingling in the wind—it's incredibly captivating! This is the Bell Tower as seen through my eyes—unpretentious and unpretentious, seamlessly blending old traditions with modern life, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the aroma of food and the interplay of light and shadow, experiencing Chang'an firsthand. #AncientTowerNewFashion #CarbsAndCyber ​​#SixHundredYearsInAGlance

  • Tang Paradise
    5
    󰺂8.3
    12.46
    Xi'an.Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall5.8 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoChang'an Lantern Festival to Open Early on New Year's Day | Jan 2026-Jan 2026
    trip best small logoAchieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
    Highlights:
    󰋄Boat tour of the royal garden on Furong Lake
    󱓊Boat show: Tang Dynasty Dream
    󱨠Saved by 2378 users󱨠13408 positive reviews
    4.3/5
    Anonymous userAnonymous user

    Booked the tickets with a drum performance at 7 pm. Reached Tang Paradise at 4 pm to take some photos at the garden before watching the drum performance. Enjoyed the performance. It was in a small cozy theatre. Actual musicians performed in the performance.

  • Shaanxi History Museum
    6
    󰺂8.1
    Xi'an.Xiaozhai/Shaanxi History Museum4 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoFollow "Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 3" to See National Treasures
    trip best small logoFeatured in 2026 Asia 100 - Family-friendly Attractions
    Highlights:
    󱨜A million years of treasures
    Interactive ancient life experience
    󱨠Saved by 2263 users󱨠13823 positive reviews
    4.7/5
    _TI***v1_TI***v1

    Our guide June is very good and professional. She is humorous and shared many interesting stories about the history of china and Shaanxi. Highly recommend to visit Shaanxi History museum. I would love to visit again when I come to Xi'an next time.

  • The Longest Day in Chang'an Theme Block
    7
    󰺂8.0
    12.46
    Xi'an.Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall5.5 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoThe Longest Day in Chang'an Theme Block Launches "Tang Dynasty Garden Party"
    trip best small logoNo. 2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Xi'an
    Highlights:
    󱓊Immersive Tang Dynasty street experience
    󱓊Tang Dynasty immersive city life
    󱨠Saved by 1215 users󱨠3562 positive reviews
    4.1/5
    Anonymous userAnonymous user

    Venue rather small than expected, but immersive experience with the many NPCs makes the visit really worthwhile. Looked high & low in Xi’an for 火晶柿子 from the drama series, but it can only be found here! Highly recommended to try it, indeed delicious. Also recommend 石头拌饭 in the food street. At times may feel somewhat constrained due to the small venue cos not that much space to stroll around & different performances take place on rotation more or less around same spots, but despite so can still easily spend an entire day here if chasing after the various scheduled performances. Will still come here again when next visit Xi’an!

  • Grand Tang Mall
    8
    󰺂7.9
    Xi'an.Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall5.3 km from downtown
    trip best small logoAchieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
    Highlights:
    󰀆9 themed sculptures on avenue
    󱓊Iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda
    󱨠Saved by 2727 users󱨠1461 positive reviews
    4.5/5
    ❤️洋洋❤️洋洋

    The Tang Dynasty Never Sleeping City is not only a tourist attraction but also a carrier of cultural heritage. It regularly hosts cultural activities such as Tang poetry recitals and traditional musical instrument performances, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the literary and artistic achievements of the Tang Dynasty while enjoying their visit.

  • Big Wild Goose Pagoda
    9
    󰺂7.9
    1.84
    Xi'an.Dayan Pagoda/The Grand Tang Mall4.8 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 6 of Night Attractions in Xi'an
    Highlights:
    󱨜Asia's largest musical fountain square
    󰋄Spectacular Xi'an views (Top of tower)
    󱨠Saved by 1574 users󱨠4724 positive reviews
    4.7/5
    悠悠春妮悠悠春妮

    You need to buy a ticket to Da Ci'en Temple to get close to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Climbing the pagoda requires a separate ticket, which is separate from the entrance ticket. Looking up at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda amidst the red walls and green tiles, with the wind chimes on the eaves gently ringing, it feels like traveling back a thousand years. Touching the scriptures in the Xuanzang Sanzang Courtyard, you can feel the warmth of the wisdom of the ancients.

  • Daming Palace National Heritage Park
    10
    󰺂7.8
    11
    Xi'an.Daming Palace/Xi'an Railway Station4 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 3 of Family-friendly Attractions in Xi'an
    Highlights:
    󰋄Cherry blossoms around Taiye Lake
    󱨜Political center & national symbol (Tang Dynasty)
    󱨠Saved by 676 users󱨠4926 positive reviews
    4.1/5
    南方小🐟崽南方小🐟崽

    The overall architectural style is well preserved, and the lantern festival is also very beautiful. However, the scenic area is very large, and there are relatively few cable cars, making it inconvenient to visit with elderly people.

Best things to do in Xi'an (2025)

Looking for the ultimate experiences in Xi'an? From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, Xi'an offers an exceptional collection of activities and attractions that cater to every type of traveler.

Whether you’re here for sightseeing, adventure, or cultural exploration, these top-rated activities promise unforgettable memories.

Top-rated things to do in Xi'an

If you want to make the most of your trip, these activities deliver the full Xi'an experience. Expect popular attractions, unique local experiences, and must-see spots that capture the essence of the city.

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

• Xi'an.Terracotta Army/Hua Qing Palace | 33.8 km from downtown

• : The highest point of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor overlooking the Weihe,Qin's tomb viewpoint over Wei River

Xi'an City Wall

• Xi'an.The bell tower The drum tower/The Xi’an Circumvallation | 1.8 km from downtown

• : Interactive Lantern Festival of Light and Shadow during the Lunar New Year,Interactive light show festival

Song of Everlasting Sorrow

• Xi'an.Terracotta Army/Hua Qing Palace | 27 km from downtown

• : Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty,Tang Dynasty love story reenactment

Things to do for unique experiences

These activities provide memorable experiences beyond the ordinary. Enjoy cultural tours, adventure sports, guided excursions, and immersive local experiences designed for all interests.

Things to do near Xi'an

If you want to explore attractions just outside Xi'an, there are plenty of activities that combine scenic surroundings with convenient access to the city, perfect for day trips or short excursions.

Each of these activities offers a unique escape within 1–3 hours of Xi'an, ideal for travelers who want to combine sightseeing with local experiences.

What makes things to do in Xi'an special

• Iconic landmarks: Visit must-see sights that define the city.
• Local experiences: Engage in culture, crafts, and unique activities.
• Accessible adventures: Easily reachable attractions for all travelers.
• Diverse options: From relaxing experiences to adventurous outings.

Tips for booking things to do in Xi'an

1. Plan ahead for popular attractions to avoid long queues.
2. Book early for guided tours or seasonal events.
3. Compare prices and packages on Trip.com for exclusive deals and bundled experiences.
4. Consider weekday visits for a quieter and more personalized experience.

Experience the best things to do in Xi'an

Ready to explore the best of Xi'an? Discover Trip.Best's curated list of things to do and experience adventure, culture, and unforgettable memories.

Book your perfect activities on Trip.com today, where excitement and discovery awaits.

What Best Things to Do are there in Xi'an?
These are all Best Things to Do in Xi'an:Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, Xi'an City Wall, Song of Everlasting Sorrow, Xi'an Bell Tower, Tang Paradise
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Xi'an?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Xi'an include:Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum:4.7, Xi'an City Wall:4.6, Song of Everlasting Sorrow:4.5, Xi'an Bell Tower:4.5, Tang Paradise:4.3
At what locations in Xi'an can Best Things to Do in Xi'an be found?
The Best Things to Do in Xi'an are mainly located in:Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum:Xi'an, Xi'an City Wall:Xi'an, Song of Everlasting Sorrow:Xi'an, Xi'an Bell Tower:Xi'an, Tang Paradise:Xi'an
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