How to Spend 4 Days in Xian – What to See & Do in Xian in 4 Days
Planning to spend 4 days in Xian? Here, we have prepared the perfect 4-day Xian itineraries and helpful guide and tips for you. The itinerary is complete with things to do, see, eat, along with important details you need to know – like how to escape the crowds of the Terracotta Warriors, and where to stay – that are important for planning your Xian trip.
Are 4 Days Enough to Visit Xian?
Given the amount to do and see in the city, 4 days in Xian is a proper amount of time you should plan for to avoid running around from sight to sight without time to immerse in the historical atmosphere of the city and enjoy its many authentic delicacies.
Our biggest tip for planning a trip to Xian is to slow down, feeling the weight of history surrounding you.
What to See and Do in Xian in 4 Days?
With four days, you will comfortably be able to visit all the highlights of Xian. The list of the best things to do in Xian is enormous, like riding a bike atop the Ancient City Wall, having sufficient time to discover the historical treasures in the Terracotta Army and Shaanxi History Museum, enjoying the spectacular Tang Dynasty shows, capturing the iconic Bell and Drum Towers and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, experiencing the city’s vibrant nightlife, plus having a day trip to Mt. Huashan, etc.
If you like authentic local experiences, consider a calligraphy class, cooking class, Tang costume experience, or learning to play Taichi at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
You will also have time to explore a few hidden gems, like experiencing a shadow puppet show. Or, consider adding in a food tour, or more leisurely time.
All in all, if you are traveling to Xian for the first time, you can cover the most iconic sites while adding in some special experiences based on your preferences in these 4 days.
Overview of Xi’an’s Popular Attractions and Their Locations
Before getting to the day by day itinerary, you can get a general ideal of the location of Xi’an’s popular attractions:
Iconic landmarks such as Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, Great Tang All Day Mall, Bell and Drum Tower, etc. are all located in the downtown area.
The world-famous Terracotta Army is about 40 km from Xian city center, and about 70 km from Xian Xianyang International Airport. If you like, you can arrange it and the Huaqing Palace, which is about 9.6 km away, on the same day.
Mount Huashan, boasting the world’s most dangerous hiking trail and breathtaking sceneries, is about 120 km east of Xi’an (about 2 hours’ drive). You’ll need at least one day if you want a hiking and sightseeing there.
How to Spend Four Days in Xian – Day-by-day Itinerary
Day 1: Xian arrival + Downtown area exploration
The first day is for you to get to Xian from other cities. It is convenient to take either flights or high-speed trains to reach the city. We recommend to book an early flight or train so you can have an afternoon to get some rest and leisurely stroll around the Bell and Drum Towers, and Muslim Quarter to experience local street life and food.
The airport is connected with the city center by multiple shuttle buses. From Xian North Railway Station, you can reach the downtown are easily by Metro Line 2 or Line 4. The Xian Railway Station is only about 5 km from the Bell Tower, you can easily reach there by taxi, bus or Metro Line 2.
Related reading: How to Get to and Around Xian.
Day 2: Terracotta Army + Ancient City Wall + Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Get up early this morning for your trip to Terracotta Warriors and Horses. The museum typically sees the fewest crowds as soon as it opens. Therefore, you are advised to arrive at the site in the early morning and get in line before 8:00 AM, before the large tour groups arrive. It is about a 45 minutes’ drive from the city center to the museum.
Plan about 3 hours for the Terracotta Army. After lunch, drive back to the downtown area. You can ascend the Ancient City Wall, enjoying leisure walk and cycle atop the wall. It will reward you with not only magnificent military structures but also stunning panoramic view of the city and the surrounding Bell and Drum Tower.
Then, move to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This well-preserved ancient building was intended to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha in the Tang Dynasty. Around the pagoda are many Tang Dynasty-styled architectures, providing a great opportunity for dressing in Tang Dynasty costume and taking some memorable photos.
- Recommended Night Activities: If you are still energetic at night, enjoy a wonderful Tang Dynasty show and dumpling dinner, or head to the musical fountain at the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. >>Get inspired by more our Xian night tours.
Day 3: Enjoy a Day Trip to Mt. Huashan or Shaanxi History Museum + Local Cooking Class
Plan A: Mt. Huashan Full Day Tour
You’ll need to get up early (at around 7:00 AM) and drive about 2 hours to hike Huashan Mountain. Or, you can get to Xian North Railway Station to take a high-speed train in around 0.5 hours.
Take a cable car up the North Peak and start your hiking from there. Along the way, visit Taoist temples, intricate carvings, and stunning scenery. At around 5:00 PM, take the high-speed train or drive back to Xian downtown.
- Recommended Tour: 4 Days Xian Classic Tour with Mt. Huashan
Plan B: Visit Shaanxi History Museum + Experience Local Cooking Class + Shadow Plan Show
If you are interested in history and local culture, arrange Shaanxi History Museum and some local experiences on this day.
Shaanxi History Museum is a treasure trove of China’s rich historical legacy. You need to reserve the ticket in advance. Plan for about 3-4 hours for the museum.
- Good to know:The museum is close on Mondays. Its tickets can be a bit tricky to book, and tickets are released four times each day: 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM, and 7:00 PM for booking three days in advance.
If you travel us, after the museum exploration, we can arrange a local family visit for you to delve into the art of crafting Chinese dishes.
Following this, head to the Gao Family Courtyard to watch a shadow play show – an intangible cultural heritage. And you can have a chance to learn to create your own shadow play.
Day 4: Yangling Mausoleum of the Han Dynasty + Xian Departure
After breakfast, you can head to Yangling Mausoleum of the Han Dynasty – the most well-preserved Han Dynasty imperial tomb complex discovered to date. The mausoleum features an extensive collection of unearthed artifacts, including figurines representing various social statuses, ceramic animals, wooden chariots and horses, daily tools, etc.
The afternoon is left for you to catch your departure flight or train.
√Recommended 4 Days Xian Tours:
- 4 Days Xian Classic Tour with Mt. Huashan
- 4 Days Xian Tour Package with Tang Dynasty Dance Show
- 4 Days Beijing Xian Tour by Overnight Train
Where to Stay in Xian
Hotels around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda or the Bell Tower are good choices as they are near major attractions, with convenient transportation and a variety of food options.
If you plan to spend a whole day visiting the Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace, and watching the Song of Everlasting Sorrow Show at night, it’s recommended to stay a night near Huaqing Palace for added convenience.
Helpful Xian Travel Tips
- Getting around Xian: Subway is the top choice for getting around Xian, thanks to the city’s well-developed subway network.
- Xi’an is suitable to visit year-round, but spring and autumn are widely recognized as the best times to visit. The mild weather in these two seasons makes it comfortable to enjoy both outdoor and indoor activities.
- 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Xi’an: Xi’an has adopted a 144-hour visa-free transit policy for foreigners from 54 countries under certain conditions. Take advantage of the policy if you meet the requirements.
- When visiting historical sites like the Shaanxi History Museum and Terracotta Army, it’s recommended to hire a guide or join a local tour to help you understand the historical stories and cultural significance behind these landmarks.
