Seven-Day Trip to Ancient Capital Chang'an During the National Day Holiday

The 2020 New Year was a time of tension and fear. With the easing of the pandemic, people's moods have cleared up. Now, as the National Day holiday approaches, everyone is wondering where to go. Don't worry, let's explore one of China's top ten 'most' cities. Speaking of Xi'an, we must talk about its history, and speaking of history, we must mention its surviving historical relics and cultural sites. Since we're planning a trip to Xi'an, let's first look at the well-known tourist attractions. Xi'an has five 5A-level scenic spots: the Terracotta Army, Xi'an City Wall, Huaqing Palace, Tang Paradise, and the Xi'an Stele Forest Museum. There are also twelve 4A-level scenic spots: Shaanxi History Museum, Daming Palace National Heritage Park, White Deer Plain Film City, Xi'an Qinling Wildlife Park, Cuihua Mountain National Geological Park, Xi'an Museum, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Daming Palace Site Museum, Taiping National Forest Park, Qujiang Ocean World, Xi'an Banpo Museum, and Xi'an Expo Park. At a pace of visiting two to three attractions per day, you'd need at least a week in Xi'an to cover all seventeen of these sites. Time to plan carefully!

In fact, the list misses many super popular cultural spots, like the famous Huimin Street (Muslim Quarter), Yongxingfang – which became a TikTok sensation with its 'bowl-smashing wine' – and the Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, a must-visit for internet-famous guys and gals. Feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry, I'll help you sort out the best travel route for Xi'an. I've randomly chosen the Jinjiang Inn Style Xi'an Bell Tower North Street Metro Station Hotel, located right next to the Anyuan Gate of the Xi'an City Wall, as our base. The hotel has a parking lot, convenient for renting a car or driving yourself. Situated in the city center close to Anyuan Gate, it also offers unique view rooms, making it easy for us to visit the 5A-rated Xi'an City Wall. The hotel entrance offers excellent transport links; subway and bus lines can take you directly to all Xi'an tourist attractions. So, let's start from here!

Day 1, October 1st – City Tour (some attractions require advance ticket booking)

Recommended: One-day city tour

Morning options: Huimin Street – Bell and Drum Towers (30 yuan) – Stele Forest Museum (60 yuan)

Huimin Street: from the hotel entrance, walk south for about 15 minutes, or take bus 205/618 (just 2 stops) and get off at Bell Tower West.

Stele Forest Museum: from the bus stop opposite the hotel entrance, take bus 208 (just 4 stops), get off at Wenchang Gate, and walk 300 meters.

Afternoon options: Yongxingfang – Dayan Pagoda (Great Wild Goose Pagoda, 85 yuan) – Shaanxi History Museum (booking required)

Yongxingfang: from the bus stop opposite the hotel entrance, take bus 33 (just 6 stops), get off at Zhongshan Gate, and enter the city wall to reach it.

Dayan Pagoda / Tang Paradise: from the bus stop opposite the hotel entrance, take bus 601 or Metro Line 1 (to Wulukou), then transfer to Metro Line 4 (Dayan Pagoda).

Evening options: Tang Paradise (168 yuan) – Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City (93 yuan)

Estimated per-person ticket cost: 490 yuan (excluding transportation)

Day 2, October 2nd – East Route Day Trip (some attractions require advance ticket booking)

Recommended: One-day eastern route

Morning options: Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army, 120 yuan) – Bronze Chariot Exhibition Hall

Afternoon options: Huaqing Palace (120 yuan)

Evening options: Song of Everlasting Sorrow performance (298–338 yuan)

Terracotta Army: from the bus stop on the left outside the hotel gate, take bus 28 to Sanfuwan, then transfer to a special tourist bus. By car, about 1 hour.

Estimated per-person ticket cost: 538–578 yuan (excluding transportation)

Day 3, October 3rd – Mount Hua Day Trip

Recommended: One-day Mount Hua trip

Easy route: Entrance ticket 160 yuan, shuttle bus into the mountain (30 yuan in, 30 yuan out), cable car (180 yuan up + 180 yuan down)

Challenging route: walk from Yuquan Temple (160 yuan) – West Peak via the Heavenly Ladder – East Peak (Sparrow Hawk Turn) – South Peak (Plank Walk) – North Peak (Sword Contest) – cable car (180+30 yuan). Other spots: Canglong Ridge, Cloud Ladder, Rock of Saving Mother by Splitting the Mountain, Southern Heavenly Gate, etc.

Mount Hua scenic area: from about 600 meters to the left of the hotel gate, take Metro Line 2 to North Railway Station, then transfer to a high-speed train to Mount Hua.

Estimated per-person cost: 370–580 yuan (excluding high-speed train ticket)

Day 4, October 4th – Take a Break, Visit the City Wall

Recommended: City wall tour

Morning options: South Gate – Xi'an Ancient City Wall (54 yuan)

Afternoon options: White Deer Plain Film City – Bailucang Scenic Area

Evening: free time

Xi'an Ancient City Wall: from the bus stop opposite the hotel entrance, take bus 600 (just 3 stops) and get off at South Gate Inner.

Bailucang Scenic Area: exit the hotel, turn left and walk about 600 meters, take Metro Line 1 to Fangzhicheng, then transfer to bus 919.

Estimated per-person ticket cost: 315 yuan (excluding transportation)

Day 5–6, October 5th–6th – Optional Two-Day Yan'an and Hukou Waterfall Trip

Recommended: Two-day tour to Yan'an and Hukou Waterfall

October 5th (Day 4 of the holiday): Huangdi Mausoleum (70 yuan) – Xuanyuan Temple – Yan'an city area – Baota Mountain (booking required) – Zaoyuan (booking required) – Revolutionary Base Area (booking required)

October 6th (Day 5 of the holiday): Yan'an city area – Nanniwan – Hukou Waterfall (82 yuan) – return journey

Suggested self-drive or group tour (no shopping)

Estimated per-person ticket cost: 152 yuan (excluding transportation)

Day 7, October 7th – West Route Day Trip

Recommended: One-day western route

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

Afternoon options: Qianling Mausoleum (95 yuan) – Tomb of Prince Yide (booking required) – Maoling Mausoleum (68 yuan)

Suggested self-drive or group tour (no shopping)

Estimated per-person ticket cost: 259 yuan (excluding transportation)

Day 8, October 8th – Free City Leisure Day

Recommended: Free-and-easy city exploration

Note: All costs are for reference only.