National Day Mini Break: Seven-Day Tour of the Ancient Capital Chang'an

The New Year of 2020 was a year of tension and fear. As the epidemic eased, everyone's mood cleared up like rain turning to sunshine. At the same time, the National Day holiday is approaching, and everyone is worrying about where to go. Don't worry, why not come to one of China's top ten 'most' cities? Speaking of Xi'an, we cannot avoid talking about historical matters, and when it comes to history, we cannot avoid the existing historical cultural relics and sites. Since we are talking about traveling to Xi'an today, let's first talk about Xi'an's well-known tourist attractions. Xi'an has five 5A-level scenic spots: Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army), Xi'an City Wall, Huaqing Palace, Tang Paradise, and Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles). There are twelve 4A-level scenic spots: Shaanxi History Museum, Daming Palace National Heritage Park, Bailuyuan Film and Television City, Xi'an Qinling Wildlife Park, Cuihua Mountain National Geopark of Shaanxi, Xi'an Museum, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Daming Palace Site Museum, Taiping National Forest Park, Qujiang Ocean Polar Park, Xi'an Banpo Museum, and Xi'an EXPO Park. At a pace of 2-3 attractions per day, to visit all seventeen of these attractions you would need at least a week in Xi'an - doesn't that require some careful planning?

In fact, a lot of super popular cultural landmarks are missing from the above list, such as the famous Muslim Quarter, Yongxing Fang (which became a hit on Douyin for its bowl-smashing wine), and the trendy Tang Paradise Night City where influencers check in.

After seeing all this, are you feeling a bit dizzy? Don't worry, I'll now sort out the best travel routes in Xi'an for you. I randomly selected the Jinjiang Inn (Selected) Xi'an Bell Tower North Street Metro Station Hotel, which is adjacent to Xi'an's Anyuan Gate City Wall, as the base. The hotel has a parking lot, convenient for car rental and self-driving. Also, being in the city center near Anyuan Gate, there are unique view rooms, convenient for visiting one of the 5A-level attractions - Xi'an City Wall. The hotel has excellent transportation connections, with subway and bus lines reaching all tourist attractions in Xi'an, so let's start from here.

October 1st - First Day of Holiday: City Tour (some attractions require advance booking)

Recommended itinerary: One-day city tour

Morning options: Muslim Quarter - Bell and Drum Tower (30 RMB) - Forest of Stone Steles Museum (60 RMB)

Muslim Quarter - Exit the hotel and walk south about 15 minutes, take bus 205 or 618 (only 2 stops) and get off at Bell Tower West.

Forest of Stone Steles Museum - Opposite the hotel, take bus 208 (only 4 stops) and get off at Wenchangmen, then walk 300 meters.

Afternoon options: Yongxing Fang - Big Wild Goose Pagoda (85 RMB) - Shaanxi History Museum (reservation required)

Yongxing Fang - Opposite the hotel, take bus 33 (only 6 stops) and get off at Zhongshanmen, then enter the city wall.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda / Tang Paradise - Opposite the hotel, take bus 601 or subway Line 1 (to Wulukou) and transfer to subway Line 4 (to Dayanta).

Evening options: Tang Paradise (168 RMB) - Tang Paradise Night City (93 RMB)

Average ticket cost per person: 490 RMB (excluding transportation)

October 2nd - Second Day of Holiday: Suburban Tour (some attractions require advance booking)

Recommended itinerary: One-day Eastern Route tour

Morning options: Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army) (120 RMB) - Bronze Chariot Exhibition Hall

Afternoon options: Huaqing Pool (120 RMB)

Evening options: The Song of Everlasting Regret performance (298-338 RMB)

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum - Opposite the hotel, take bus 28 to Sanfowan, then transfer to a tourist shuttle.

Self-driving takes about 1 hour.

Average ticket cost per person: 538-578 RMB (excluding transportation)

October 3rd - Third Day of Holiday

Recommended itinerary: One-day Huashan Mountain tour

Leisure tour: Ticket 160 RMB, mountain shuttle (in 30 RMB / out 30 RMB), cable car (up 180 + down 180 RMB)

Challenging tour: Walk from Yuquan Temple (160 RMB) - West Peak (climbing the ladder) - East Peak (Falcon's Turnover) - South Peak (Long Empty Plank Walk) - North Peak (Sword Debate at Huashan) - Cable car (180 + 30 RMB)

Canglong Ridge, Cloud Ladder, Split Mountain to Save Mother Stone, South Heaven Gate, etc.

Huashan Scenic Area - Exit the hotel and walk about 600 meters left to the subway, take Line 2 to North Railway Station, then transfer to a bullet train to Huashan.

Average cost per person: 370-580 RMB (excluding high-speed rail fare)

October 4th - Fourth Day of Holiday: Rest

Recommended itinerary: City Wall

Morning options: South Gate - Xi'an Ancient City Wall (54 RMB)

Afternoon options: Bailuyuan Film and Television City - Bailuyuan Tourist Scenic Area

Evening options: Free time

Xi'an Ancient City Wall - Opposite the hotel, take bus 600 (only 3 stops) and get off at South Gate.

Bailuyuan Tourist Scenic Area - Exit hotel, turn left and walk about 600 meters to subway Line 1 (to Fangzhicheng), then transfer to bus 919.

Average ticket cost per person: 315 RMB (excluding transportation)

October 5th-6th - Fourth and Fifth Days of Holiday: Longer trip

Recommended itinerary: Yan'an - Hukou Waterfall two-day tour

Day 4 options: Yellow Emperor Mausoleum (70 RMB) - Xuanyuan Temple - Yan'an City - Baota Mountain (reservation) - Zaoyuan (reservation) - Revolutionary Base (reservation)

Day 5 options: Yan'an City - Nanniwan - Hukou Waterfall (82 RMB) - Return

Self-driving or group tour (no shopping) recommended.

Average ticket cost per person: 152 RMB (excluding transportation)

October 7th - Seventh Day of Holiday

Recommended itinerary: One-day Western Route tour

Morning options: Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area (96 RMB)

Afternoon options: Qianling Mausoleum (95 RMB) - Tomb of Prince Yide (reservation) - Maoling Mausoleum (68 RMB)

Self-driving or group tour (no shopping) recommended.

Average ticket cost per person: 259 RMB (excluding transportation)

October 8th - Eighth Day of Holiday

Recommended itinerary: Free city tour

Note: All costs are for reference only.