Summer Fun: Trendy Family Activities in Ancient Xi'an
Summer vacation is the happiest time of the year for kids. Enjoy a summer of freedom—go travel now! Xi'an, an ancient capital of six dynasties, may be a thousand-year-old city, but it’s also a vibrant modern metropolis. Beyond historical relics and cultural heritage, this summer, BTG Homeinns takes you on a journey to discover trendy parent-child fun in ancient Xi'an!
When traveling with kids, beyond the sheer fun, it’s also about combining education with enjoyment—reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles, learning knowledge and enriching experiences along the way. In Xi'an, the one thing you absolutely can't miss with your children is witnessing the historical marks of each era.
[Xi'an Ming City Wall]
The city wall of Xi'an has become a calling card of the city. Whether young or old, domestic or foreign, a stop at the city wall is a must when visiting Xi'an. The Xi'an City Wall, specifically the Ming City Wall, is the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China.
Streams of visitors come to admire this millennia-old architectural masterpiece, or to gaze down from the wall upon the striking contrast between the old and new city areas. On one side, ancient houses with flying屋檐 and hundred-year histories; on the other, a modern Xi'an with ever-changing skylines, high-rises, and bustling traffic. Here, feel the magical charm of time and space meeting.
The Xi'an City Wall has four main gates: Changle Gate (East Gate), Yongning Gate (South Gate), Anding Gate (West Gate), and Anyuan Gate (North Gate), all original gates of the ancient wall. This time, we visited the most commonly used and beloved South Gate—Yongning Gate. Not only is it a primary entrance to the wall, but within walking distance from the South Gate you'll find Xi'an's landmark Bell and Drum Towers and the famous snack street—Muslim Quarter. So it's also a main entry for tourists climbing the wall.
The Ming City Wall stands 12 meters high, with a top width of 12–14 meters and a base width of 15–18 meters, forming a closed rectangle with a perimeter of 13.74 km. The area inside is known as the ancient city district. Stroll along the wall, glance down at the century-old houses below, and in a single glance, you see a thousand years. At that moment, Xi'an becomes Chang'an.
Most visitors experience the Ming City Wall by renting a bike and leisurely riding around, covering all four gates from east to west and north to south, taking in the charm of the old town below. After all, the whole loop is just over a dozen kilometers. Pick a fine day, and spending half a day cycling on the wall is a wonderful choice.
The old city has a fresh face with souvenir shops dotted along the wall that caught our eye. The variety of unique Xi'an-style travel gifts inside were so charming we couldn't put them down.
Parts of the wall are still being restored to present a better appearance. When tired, rest by the wall base, lean on the rampart, and gaze out at the world beyond the ancient city.
The Terracotta Warriors, also known as the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, are located in the pits 1.5 km east of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. They are among China's first batch of key national cultural relics protection units and a World Heritage site. In 1987, the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List and hailed as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World.' Over 200 foreign heads of state and government have visited, making them a golden calling card of ancient Chinese civilization and one of the world's ten greatest rare tomb treasures.
The Terracotta Warriors are a product of ancient burial customs. Social changes during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods transformed funerary practices, leading to the use of figurines—pottery or wooden figures—as substitutes for human sacrifices. The original meaning of 'yong' (figurine) was human sacrifice, but as that practice faded, it became a term for pottery sculptures, stone carvings, and human figures in tombs. The Qin Terracotta Warriors are the zenith of this practice. Their immense scale and lifelike realism are due not only to the artisans' ingenuity but also to the will of Qin Shi Huang, China's first feudal emperor. Determined to commemorate his glorious achievements, he built a magnificent underground palace, resulting in this vast underground army. After more than 2,000 years, it remains a rare treasure.
The burial pits of the Terracotta Army face east from the west, with three pits arranged in a triangle shape. The first discovered, Pit 1, is rectangular, with sloping entrances on all sides. Flanking Pit 1 are Pits 2 and 3.
The pits are underground timber-and-earth structures: a large pit about 5 meters deep was dug, with parallel earthen walls built inside. Wooden pillars lined the walls, supporting horizontal beams. Over these beams and earth walls, wooden boards were densely laid, covered with a layer of reed mats and then earth, forming the ceiling about 2 meters above the original ground. The pit floor was paved with blue bricks. The interior height from floor to ceiling is 3.2 meters. After placing the pottery warriors and horses, the entrances were blocked with vertical timbers and filled with rammed earth, creating a sealed underground space.
Pit 1 is the most completely displayed, containing over 8,000 Terracotta Warriors, each with distinct postures and vivid expressions, lined up in battle formation. Even though many are now broken, you can still glimpse the spectacular scene of the past.
This truly feels like a dream—the vast pit almost empty of people, just us quietly facing the warriors, stirring a deep emotion for that ancient time.
Beyond the warriors displayed in the front rows, excavation and preservation work continues to this day. Engineers and archaeologists are diligently recovering and restoring relics piece by piece, giving them a chance to be seen by the world, not letting this fate go to waste.
In the southeast corner of Pit 1 is the site where the Terracotta Warriors were first discovered—a historic moment.
Pits 2 and 3 are mostly ruins of broken walls, with fewer warriors on display. Yet the clear underground channels and trenches still convey the immense scale of the burial army, majestic and imposing.
In Pit 2, well-preserved warriors are individually showcased, including kneeling archers and infantry soldiers. If they were alive, could they ever imagine that 2,000 years later, they would be revered as national treasures?
Let's take a close-up: look at the strands of hair, the beard, and the armor's texture—every detail is exquisitely carved. And if you carefully observe each warrior in the pit, you'll notice slight differences in facial expressions and body postures, making us marvel at the incredible skill of those ancient craftsmen.
Besides the Terracotta Warriors exhibition hall, there are various artifacts from the Qin Dynasty on display. The bronze chariots and horses are also important burial objects from the First Emperor's mausoleum, the earliest, largest, and best-preserved bronze chariots and horses discovered so far.
Bringing my kid to such an ancient site for the first time, I thought he might be too young to be interested. To my surprise, he was fascinated, pulling me along to seriously study the various components of the bronze chariots and horses. Perhaps future trips can tilt toward historical and cultural destinations.
After the visit, there's one more exhibition hall we shouldn't miss. Here, through photos and texts, the entire process of the Terracotta Warriors' discovery, excavation, and preservation is presented, very meaningful.
Shuyuanmen (Academy Gate) is located on the east side inside the South Gate, extending to Anju Lane and connecting with Sanxue Street. In the 20th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1592), scholar Feng Congwu, having failed in the struggle against eunuch factions, resigned and returned to his hometown, teaching at Baoqing Temple. Later, a new site was chosen, and Guanzhong Academy was built on the north side of the street, attracting up to a thousand students and becoming a renowned institution. Today's Shuyuanmen refers to a pedestrian street from the Forest of Steles to the entrance of Guanzhong Academy, and its name originates from the academy.
Today's Shuyuanmen was restored in 1991, with Ming and Qing architectural styles preserved on both sides. It's a street dedicated to antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and the Four Treasures of the Study. Little Dingdang, fresh from a journey through the glorious Tang Dynasty, was probably influenced by the cultural atmosphere, carefully picking out a favorite writing brush. Could it be that the doors to the world of calligraphy are opening for him? As his mom, I'm already beaming in my dreams.
Shuyuanmen is inside the South Gate. A short walk from here takes you to the ultimate Xi'an snack destination—Muslim Quarter.
Xi'an's Muslim Quarter is a famous food and cultural street, the most concentrated area of Xi'an specialty snacks. The street isn't long, running north-south for about 500 meters, with bluestone paving, shaded by trees, and lined with Ming-Qing style buildings. Restaurants and shops are all run by the Hui people, giving it a strong Islamic flavor.
Muslim Quarter is known nationwide; almost every visitor to Xi'an wants to stroll and explore here. So the lively lanes and bustling crowds are also a big draw.
Persimmon cakes, boiled tripe, lamb skewers, eight-treasure tea—all kinds of authentic Shaanxi snacks can be found here. Many locals might scoff, saying it's commercialized and the truly good food is elsewhere. But so what? It can't dampen our enthusiasm to check this place off our list.
As one of the representatives of Xi'an's charm, Muslim Quarter is actually a collective term for several streets, including Beiguangji Street, Beiyuanmen, Xiyangshi, Dapiyuan, Huajue Lane, and Sajinqiao. Locals say that in Xiyangshi, there are many century-old shops where you'll find even more authentic flavors.
In Xi'an, how can you resist the temptation of cold noodles and meat buns? On these local streets, find a century-old shop and savor a Shaanxi meal. But note: Muslim Quarter serves only halal food, and many Hui families have lived here for generations, so the meat buns are made with beef or lamb. Also, be mindful of taboos—avoid mentioning pork or pigs.
Boiled tripe is also an authentic Xi'an delicacy. Ice Peak soda, like our Arctic Ocean, is a memory for Xi'an people of our generation, passed down through the years, and a classic companion to cold noodles and meat buns.
Besides snacks, Muslim Quarter has plenty of trinkets. Kids' attention is always easily drawn to these little things—looking, touching, and unwilling to move on.
[Forest of Steles Museum]
The Forest of Steles Museum, located at No. 15 Sanxue Street, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, is the earliest established museum in Shaanxi. Specializing in collecting, displaying, and studying steles, tombstones, and stone carvings from various dynasties, it is a unique art museum in China.
Built in 1944, the museum is based on the over 900-year-old 'Xi'an Stele Forest' and expanded using the ancient Confucius Temple complex. It houses more than 11,000 cultural relics, including 19 national treasure items (totaling 134 pieces) and 535 first-grade relics. Four of the famous 'Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum' are stored here.
The above info is from Baidu, just to highlight its significance in Xi'an's tourism culture. Despite having visited Xi'an many times before, we had never set foot here. As our kid grows older and more capable of understanding and remembering, museum-focused family trips are becoming a thing.
Entering the Forest of Steles Museum area, before the ticketed zone, there are two sizable ponds. Not historical sights, but a nice spot to relax for a little while.
Once inside, the museum is quite large, with 7 stele halls, 8 stele corridors, 8 stele pavilions, plus a stone carving art gallery and 4 artifact display rooms, covering 4,900 square meters of exhibition space.
Small stele pavilions hold precious stone tablet relics. When we visited, they were closed for maintenance, so we could only peek through door cracks to get a glimpse.
In the museum, there are many other precious relics. The one above is the Daxia Stone Horse, over 2,000 years old. Below is the Jingyun Bell, an authentic work by Emperor Ruizong of Tang, Li Dan, extolling the mysteries of Taoism and praising the bell.
Apart from the treasured steles and stone carvings on display, the architectural artistry of the museum is also a masterpiece. Bluestone tiles, flying eaves, red window frames, and corridor pillars—all classic features of ancient Chinese architecture. No wonder, since the stele forest was first built in 1087, over a thousand years ago. What our ancestors left us are all priceless treasures.
This is the central stele pavilion, with blue sky and white clouds overhead. It was rare to have so few visitors, so we could squeeze forward and get a close look at the museum's greatest treasure.
This stele is the museum's treasure, the Stone Terrace Classic of Filial Piety Stele. Why is it the most prized, called the 'top stele' of the Xi'an Forest of Steles? Because it combines three emperors: the text is the 'Classic of Filial Piety' authored by Confucius (considered a sage-king); the calligraphy in clerical script is by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang; and the stele's title was inscribed by Emperor Suzong of Tang. With the devotion of three emperors, it's no wonder it's the crown jewel!
Here's a little-known secret about the stele forest: Look closely, and you'll notice the right half of the character '碑' (stele) is missing a stroke. Actually, these characters were written by the famous patriotic general Lin Zexu of the Qing Dynasty. After the Opium War, he was dismissed and exiled to Yili in Xinjiang. Passing through Xi'an, he wrote these words. Some say the missing stroke symbolizes his loss of official position. But that's not true. You'll find that every '碑' character in the stele forest lacks that stroke. That's because ancient Chinese characters emphasized symmetry, and omitting it was simply for aesthetic balance.
After the treasury stele, you can go left or right. To the left is the stone carving art gallery, but what interested us more were the hitching posts outside. These hitching posts are also gems of ancient Chinese folk carving art. Standing about two meters tall, they feature various patterns and rich designs. Beyond their important military function of tethering horses, their exquisite carvings—stone figures or lions, finely crafted with vivid expressions—are truly admirable from a modern perspective.
In the artifact display room, even kids can look on with deep interest.
To the right of the treasury pavilion is the stone carving art exhibition, themed 'Chang'an Buddhist Charm.' It displays about 150 stone sculptures from the Northern Wei to Song dynasties, representing the pinnacle of Buddhist art in ancient Chang'an. Due to time constraints, we didn't go in. Even so, we spent half a day here. So I suggest that if you want to study and savor everything carefully, set aside a full day.
Even the outer wall of the exhibition hall displays steles. Here, treasures are everywhere.
The Forest of Steles Museum has seven stele halls, each displaying steles from different periods and with different content. I forget which hall number this is, so to avoid misleading anyone, I'll skip the introduction. More wonders await your own exploration.
Today's Xi'an is a city of high-rises and busy traffic. Without the old city walls and ancient buildings, you'd hardly equate it with the term 'ancient city.' The other face of this ten-dynasty capital is a modern international metropolis. Fads like 'bowl-breaking wine' and 'brush-shaped pastry'—internet sensations—have injected youthful energy into this millennia-old city. Family trips to Xi'an can also be cool and trendy.
[Minleyuan Pedestrian Street]
Minleyuan Pedestrian Street is a hub of internet-famous shops. I once saw a travel tip online shouting, 'Forget Muslim Quarter—Minleyuan is the true favorite of Xi'an girls!' Haha, that one line alone devastated this Miss Guoguo. To experience Xi'an as an international metropolis and keep up with the post-90s and post-00s, this 80s kid in a midlife crisis brought along a naive 2010s kid to check it out!
It's a street of trendy shops, each flaunting its own personality—the storefronts alone are scenery enough.
The first shop we visited on Minleyuan Street was a dessert shop, our base for brunch. Honestly, we were probably just drawn by its looks. The shop has three floors, each decked out in pink and pastel tones—a heaven for aesthetics.
We arrived early, so there were hardly any people. We snapped away to our hearts' content, every corner producing countless Instagram-worthy shots.
Of course, as an internet-famous spot, the food presentation has to match the decor. The red velvet cake was both beautiful and absolutely delicious.
The second stop on our trendy shop tour on Minleyuan Pedestrian Street was the 'Instant Noodle Canteen,' a sensation that has swept the nation and now landed in Xi'an.
A whole wall of tasty instant noodles from around the world—doesn't that make it hard for indecisive people to choose?
After picking your noodles, you can choose toppings from this cart, each modeled as a cute miniature replica.
The finished bowl—warm and inviting—doesn't it instantly whet your appetite?
Ball pits seem to be a must-have element in trendy shops. Waiting for your noodles isn't boring at all—take a dip in this white ball pit. Noodles, you can come a bit later, no problem, hahaha.
[Chang'an Food Court]
The hugely popular Chang'an Food Court is Xi'an's most sought-after restaurant. Last April on a business trip, I went at 6 PM and couldn't even get a table—that slight grudge lingered. So this time, we came early to finally see this internet-famous eatery.
The Chang'an Gourd Chicken is crispy outside and tender inside, utterly delicious with its dipping sauce. Little Dingdang polished off two chicken legs without a problem.
The 'Brush Pastry' is a must-order at every table—egg yolk puffs tucked into brush holders, incredibly realistic. Even the dipping 'sauce' comes in an ink box, looking just like ink. A whole set of scholar's four treasures arrives, only to realize it's all edible. No wonder it's a hit.
All kinds of Shaanxi specialty snacks—basically, Chang'an Food Court is a concentration camp of snacks. Compared to Muslim Quarter, it's all under one roof with a nicer environment, which is why it's favored by tourists from out of town and so popular throughout the ancient capital.
[Yanjiyou Bookstore]
Yanjiyou Bookstore has opened many branches nationwide in recent years. The three characters combine to form the traditional Chinese character '設' (design), a clever name for a design-conscious bookstore. I've been to Yanjiyou in Shanghai and Chengdu, but this flagship store in Xi'an's Maike Center is the largest in China. Since its soft opening on October 30, 2018, it has become a genuine internet sensation, capturing the hearts of life lovers like us with both its looks and substance.
The Xi'an Yanjiyou Maike flagship store was designed by renowned Japanese designer Chibae Tomoko. It took two full years of design and preliminary communication, with the designer traveling to China 16 times to perfect her work. This dedication is what created such a perfect piece!
More than a bookstore, it's a dreamlike library, with two-story-high book walls, a wooden spiral staircase, and a collection of 130,000 books. Every little detail is stunning.
These towering book walls reaching the ceiling are absolutely breathtaking.
My favorite part is the wooden spiral staircase connecting the first and second floors. Retro yet chic, it's incredibly photogenic—just a few casual shots and you'll dominate your social media feed.
Now let me share some photo tips for this wooden spiral staircase. To capture beautiful, crowd-free shots, patience is key—wait, wait, wait! Try a low-angle upward shot to include the full panorama and the staircase's perfect curve. Sitting on the steps, leaning on the railing, or glancing back casually while walking up—all make great compositions.
If you can't wait for the constant stream of people, try another angle: photographer above, model below, framing a small section of the staircase. It still captures its texture and elegance.
The hanging book-page lights in the center of the staircase are another highlight, seemingly floating in the air, pages drifting loosely, with a crisp tinkling sound when they touch—simply magical.
These book-page lights are also great photographic props. A typical shot is from above, with the dangling pages stretching out behind you, dreamy and enchanting.
On the second floor, a front-facing shot—ordinary angle, everyday composition—but still quite pretty.
A more dreamy angle: on the second floor, model and photographer stand on opposite sides of the lights, using them as a foreground, creating beautiful and dreamy pictures.
Beyond books, there's a café area, a kids' play zone, and plenty of cultural and creative products. In short, it promotes a diverse, modern lifestyle. You could spend a whole day here and never get bored. Kids can also find their niche, curling up in the children's reading area for a comfy and pleasant day.
After finally waiting for the kids' summer vacation and enduring the toughest period of the pandemic, this summer, we must let the kids cut loose and have fun. Of course, to have a blast, thorough planning is necessary to ensure a smoother trip.
[About Accommodation]
Choosing a comfortable and reassuring hotel can greatly enhance your trip. Traveling with kids, especially in the post-pandemic era, what concerns us most is hotel hygiene.
For Xi'an, I'll naturally recommend my familiar and beloved Puyin Hotel - Xi'an Dayan Tower branch. Its location is superb, within walking distance to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City. Eating, drinking, entertainment, and shopping are all covered in one stop. For family trips, the last thing you want is transportation hassle. Staying here, you can walk directly to the sights, which absolutely wins over parents' hearts.
A comfortable and hygienic environment, elegant atmosphere—BTG Homeinns' 'Safe Hotels' are the main reason we chose it.
Address: No. 8 Hongzhuan South Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, within walking distance to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
[About Transportation]
As a junction between Southwest and North China, Xi'an is a major national transportation hub. Besides flights to major cities across the country, high-speed rail now connects it extensively. Choose the cost-effective travel mode that suits you; in short, getting close to it isn't hard.
Moreover, urban transportation is convenient: subway, bus, taxi, and shared bikes you can rent anytime. Whether you want a comfortable free-and-easy tour or to delve into the city's streets and alleys, you're covered. I recommend the Baidu Maps app—just input origin and destination, and you'll get multiple route options at a tap, very reliable.
[About Food]
Xi'an has always been a capital of cuisine. From the nationally popular cold noodles with meat buns to the ubiquitous lamb paomo, and even the dumpling banquet fit for an imperial feast, the variety of specialties is enough to keep you eating without repeating for a week. So bring your appetite and embark on a food journey where you won't return home without gaining at least three pounds.
BTG Homeinns takes you traveling. In this first post-pandemic summer, let's follow BTG Homeinns to Xi'an, enjoy the ancient capital's new look, and have a trendy summer!
Travelogue Index
1. Ancient City Depth: Family Educational Trip
2. Old Capital New Look: Family Trendy Fun
3. Things You Must Know for a Smooth Xi'an Tour
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