2021 Xi'an Dragon Boat Festival: Affordable 3-Day Family Trip Guide

Like many others, I prefer calling it 'Chang'an,' feeling the name alone captures 3,000 years of history and the glory of 13 dynasties that once made it their capital, embodying the poignant love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang. Whether you have visited or not, it stands there—proud yet enduringly graceful. The Terracotta Warriors still recount history, Huaqing Palace still whispers of love, the Bell and Drum Towers still weather the years, and the ancient city walls still witness the passage of time. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda gains new life from the country's largest musical fountain, while the Small Wild Goose Pagoda quietly steals a moment of leisure. This is the 'Chang'an' I see, the 'Eternal Chang'an' in my eyes.

DAY 1 Z19 Beijing West–Xi'an 20:41–08:10

DAY 2 Huaqing Palace, Great Tang All Day Mall, Tang Paradise, Muslim Quarter, Bell and Drum Towers

Food: Muslim Quarter

DAY 3 Shaanxi History Museum, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an City Wall

Food: Lamb skewers

DAY 4 Small Wild Goose Pagoda (get ticket with ID)

G88 Xi'an North–Beijing West 13:18–16:55

Food: Wei's Liangpi

【About Accommodation】

Meilimao Hotel (Xi'an Xiaozhai Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Great Tang All Day Mall branch). It is only 100 meters from the Xi'an Ring Expressway. From the hotel, using the expressway, it takes just over 30 minutes to reach the Terracotta Warriors—this was the best option I could find: staying in the city center while still quickly reaching the Terracotta Warriors. As a brand under the Meilimao Hotel Group, Meilimao Hotel (Xi'an Qujiang Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Xiaozhai Convention Center branch) requires no worry about quality or service. In fact, it often gives delightful surprises. For example, last time I stayed, I parked in their free parking lot and when I left, I found they had washed my car. Another time on a business trip, I stayed there and the housekeeper dried and ironed my clothes while cleaning, mentioning they have a free laundry service. I’m now a loyal customer of Meilimao, so I’m happy to recommend them here.

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

【Price】Around 300–400 RMB per night

【Features】Airport pickup service, free parking, warm service, multiple complimentary services

【Huaqing Pool, also known as Huaqing Palace, lies at the foot of Mount Li to its south and borders the Wei River to its north. It is a famous ancient Chinese detached palace known for its hot springs. Rulers of the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties all regarded this treasured land as their pleasure palace, building stone structures to create the Mount Li hot springs or surrounding it with walls to expand the hot spring palace. The hot springs here were discovered around 3,000 years ago in the Western Zhou dynasty. During the Han dynasty, imperial villas for rulers and nobles were built here. In the Tang dynasty, the magnificent 'Huaqing Palace' was constructed, giving 'Huaqing Pool' its name.】

【Xi'an's Muslim Quarter is made up of streets like Beiyuanmen, Xiyangshi, Dapiyuan, Huajue Lane, and Sajinqiao, located behind the Bell and Drum Towers. Its deep cultural roots and numerous food stalls along the streets, offering nearly 300 kinds of specialty snacks, make it irresistibly captivating—a place you can't bear to leave.】

After eating and drinking your fill, it’s time for a stroll. The Muslim Quarter is right behind the Drum Tower, so walking along, you soon arrive there. At dusk, the interplay of light and clouds always rewards those of us who like to look up at the sky. Take a look—I feel my camera couldn't capture the beauty at all... If you see the Drum Tower, it also means you're not far from the Bell Tower. A hundred meters apart, they stand opposite each other—one holding many drums, the other hanging an old bell—simply repeating the days, repeating the cycle of morning bells and evening drums. Life is much the same; no matter how colorful, it eventually yields to time. And the hardest days, too, are followed by a fresh start with the deep toll of the bell. Each present moment is the most real.

If you see the Drum Tower, it also means you're not far from the Bell Tower. A hundred meters apart, they stand opposite each other—one holding many drums, the other hanging an old bell—simply repeating the days, repeating the cycle of morning bells and evening drums. Life is much the same; no matter how colorful, it eventually yields to time. And the hardest days, too, are followed by a fresh start with the deep toll of the bell. Each present moment is the most real.

【The Shaanxi History Museum is designed in the Tang style of 'central halls, corner towers,' with clear order among its main and secondary structures, elegant height variations, and a solemn, majestic presence that blends ethnic tradition, local features, and the spirit of the times. It houses over 370,000 artifacts, from simple stone tools used by early humans to items covering life before 1840, spanning more than one million years. The Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes are exquisite, terracotta figures from various periods show endless variety, Han and Tang gold and silver ware are unmatched anywhere in the country, and Tang tomb murals are peerless in the world.】

【In the third year of the Yonghui era (652 AD) of the Tang dynasty, Master Xuanzang, returning from his pilgrimage to India, built the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to preserve the sutras and Buddha statues he brought back from ancient India via the Silk Road to Chang'an. As the earliest and largest existing Tang dynasty square brick pagoda with pavilion-style architecture, it is a prime example of how the Buddhist pagoda, an architectural form originating in Indian Buddhist temples, spread to the Central Plains and blended into Han culture through the transmission of Buddhism.】

【Xi'an's city gates to the east, west, south, and north each consist of three fortified gate structures: the main tower, arrow tower, and sluice gate tower. The four corners of the city walls feature bastion platforms protruding outward, on which taller corner towers are built, marking their strategic importance in warfare. The Xi'an city wall holds great value for studying feudal urban construction, history, military affairs, and architectural art.】

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was the last stop on the final day, one I had originally planned to skip. I'm glad I went. It turned out to be my favorite spot of the three days. Though it’s free to visit and less famous, it’s uncrowded. Quiet and unassuming like a city park, it reveals its historical weight and traces at every turn, like stolen moments of leisure—rare and precious. Ancient trees, an ancient pagoda, an ancient bell—its reserved radiance cannot be hidden. And so I fell in love with this place, one that doesn't compete or fuss, neither wild nor noisy. Here, time stands still, serene and beautiful~

A perfect journey, perhaps, is one where you've seen beautiful sights, savored delicious food, met true love, and enjoyed life. Then you dream of returning, and as the high-speed train speeds closer to the starting point, the dream slowly fades. When you wake, everything is back where it was, but we are no longer quite the same. Life continues onward, and all that remains are memories—warm memories. This, perhaps, is the meaning of travel~ Dreaming back to the Tang, who promises you eternal Chang'an? Falling in love with a place can be just that simple~