Holiday in Xi'an

About Xi'an

Xi'an is the place where Chinese civilization began — and this is no exaggeration. As Chang'an, this city was the capital of 13 dynasties for over 1,000 years, the eastern endpoint of the Silk Road, and with a million inhabitants in the 7th century, the largest city in the world. Today, Xi'an connects this 3,100-year history with the pulse of a modern 10-million metropolis, where the Ming Dynasty city wall encloses the historical core like a stone belt. The Terracotta Army is the reason why most travelers come to Xi'an — and it exceeds all expectations. Over 8,000 life-sized soldiers, horses, and chariots, each with an individual face, were accidentally discovered in 1974 by a well digger. They have guarded the tomb of the first Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang for 2,200 years. Three excavation pits, a museum, and the sheer number of figures make the visit an experience that cannot be captured in photos — you have to stand there and let the rows of this stone army impress you. The city wall of Xi'an, the only completely preserved ancient city wall in China, is 14 kilometers long, 12 meters high, and wide enough to ride a bike on — which thousands of visitors and locals do every day. The bike tour takes about 90 minutes and offers changing perspectives of the old town inside and the modern skyline outside the wall. The Muslim Quarter (Hui Quarter) around the Great Mosque is Xi'an's culinary soul: For over 1,000 years, Hui Chinese Muslims have lived here, preserving the flavors of the Silk Road in their cuisine. Beiyuanmen Street is a riot of aromas and tastes — Roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers), Yangrou Paomo (lamb bread soup), Biangbiang noodles as wide as belts, and pomegranate juice pressed before the customers' eyes.