Xi'an May Day 2021: A Value-Packed 5-Day Family Adventure

Why Xi'an? As the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, it's steeped in history. I'm someone who loves history, wandering through old alleys and neighborhoods, exploring museums – anything old and traditional, really!

Why Xi'an? Besides its fame as an "ancient capital," the cuisine here is simply outstanding. Recipes handed down through generations, blending traditional cooking techniques with modern twists, constantly tantalizing the taste buds. As a true foodie, every restaurant I haven't tried feels promising. Sweet, sour, bitter, spicy – I want to sample them all, nothing is off-limits. And so, this spontaneous trip to Xi'an came to life.

Li Hao Hotel (Xi'an Xiaozhai Dayan Pagoda Datang Everbright City Branch) is just 100 meters from the Xi'an Ring Expressway. From the Meilihao Hotel (Xi'an Xiaozhai Dayan Pagoda Datang Everbright City Branch), you can reach the Terracotta Warriors in just over 30 minutes via the expressway. It was the best option I could find that lets you enjoy both the city center and a quick journey to the Terracotta Warriors. As a brand under the Meihao Hotel Group, there's no need to worry about quality or service at Meilihao Hotel (Xi'an Qujiang Dayan Pagoda Xiaozhai Convention Center Branch) – in fact, it often surprises you. For instance, last time I stayed, I parked in their free parking lot, and when I left, they had even washed my car! On another business trip while staying there, the housekeeper dried and ironed my clothes while cleaning the room and informed me about their free laundry service. I've become a loyal customer of Meilihao Hotel, so here's a little plug for them.

【Address】Block A, Changfeng International Plaza, 86A Chang'an South Road, Xi'an

【Price】Around 300-400 RMB per night

【Highlights】Airport transfer, free parking, warm service, multiple complimentary services

D1: Pick-up → Check-in at hotel

D2: Huaqing Palace → Terracotta Warriors → Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch) Overnight in Xi'an

D3: Hanyangling Museum → Qianling Mausoleum → Famen Temple → Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch) Overnight in Xi'an

D4: Mount Hua → Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch) Overnight in Xi'an

D5: Hukou Waterfall → Yellow Emperor Mausoleum → Xuanyuan Temple → Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch) Overnight at Hukou

On the first day, the staff in Xi'an arranged a hotel for us, which is quite well-known locally. It turned out to be one of the best stays of this trip.

Foodie moment: fried yogurt! Pick your favorite flavor – it has an ice-cream-like texture, and the matcha powder was sprinkled just right by the staff, giving it a pleasant sweet-tart taste without any bitterness.

At the entrance screen wall hangs a plaque reading "Bangyan Jidi" (second place in the imperial examinations), bestowed by Emperor Tongzhi. Above the gate, large red lanterns bearing the character "Gao" hang high – this is the former residence of Gao Yuesong, the Gao Family Courtyard. Visitors come and go, but we opted just to pass by this time; after a full day of exploring, we were running out of steam.

Travel these days is no longer about "cursory sightseeing – been there, done that." It's about slowing down, savoring each scene, and enjoying every detail at leisure.

Huaqing Palace isn't large and can be explored in half a day. It's practically a hot spring resort set against the backdrop of Mount Li. The scenery is lovely, and we got lucky – it had rained a bit earlier, but the day of our visit turned sunny. Under clear skies, Huaqing Palace was stunning!

Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang

You absolutely must see the Terracotta Warriors when in Xi'an – spectacular!

Honestly, I was thrilled. It's incredible to think these historical artifacts were unearthed, as if transporting you back to the Qin Dynasty, letting you feel the ambition of Qin Shihuang as he unified China... So many emotions, hard to put into words...

Hanyangling Museum

Hanyangling, located in Xianyang, Shaanxi, is the tomb of Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi. The Qianling Mausoleum is the joint burial site of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu Zetian, but since the underground palace cannot be excavated, we couldn't see inside. Hanyangling, however, is a fully enclosed underground site museum, preserving the original appearance of the burial chambers. Inside, the atmosphere is eerie and chilling, sending shivers down your spine. I hadn't visited the Terracotta Warriors before coming here, so Hanyangling already felt massive to me. It really drives home how ancient emperors wanted to take everything from their lives into the afterlife, thus starting to build their tombs the moment they ascended the throne. Some tombs weren't even finished by the time they died – you can imagine the colossal scale of these projects.

Mount Hua, the premier of the Five Great Mountains. We were blessed with brilliant sunshine. My bestie and I both lack regular exercise, so we chose the easiest route to capture the whole mountain in photos. Up via the West Peak cable car – down via the North Peak cable car, covering West Peak → South Peak → East Peak → Middle Peak → Jinsuoguan (Golden Lock Pass) → Canglong Ridge (Azure Dragon Ridge) → North Peak.

A friendly warning: the UV rays on Mount Hua are intense. I, I, I actually got sunburned – and I deeply regret it. The remorse is real. My face was nearly disfigured enough for a hospital visit. My facial skin peeled several times, and later in Luoyang, even with an umbrella, my face burned and stung under the sun. The damage was real. Remember, remember, wear sunscreen on your face too!

Day 5: Hukou Waterfall

Hukou Waterfall borders Hukou Town in Ji County, Linfen, Shanxi to the east, and Hukou Township, Yichuan County, Yan'an, Shaanxi to the west – a scenic spot shared by two provinces. It's 387 kilometers north of Taiyuan, Shanxi; 449 kilometers south of Xi'an, Shaanxi.

And so, our full five-day journey came to an end. Travel isn't just about ticking off sights; more importantly, every destination leaves you with a different feeling and mood. On this trip, we encountered so many fun and humorous moments... Looking forward to wandering through an ancient city again sometime.