Xi'an Things to Do Tips by albaaust Top 5 Page for this destination

Shaanxi History Museum. Museums Review

The building itself is modelled on Tang Dynasty style pavilions and covers two floors and contains exhibits of artefacts from tombs related to pre-history, Tang and Qing Dynasty. Most of the artefacts are cultural, archaeological, some pottery, mirrors and some weapons. Unfortunately, we found the displays a little disappointing as few of the exhibits were put into their historical context with only a vague reference to burial mounds.

You cannot take baggage into the museum (there is a storage facility), photography OK but no flash allowed.

I have included a scanned copy of the card with the Chinese characters for the museum given to us by the hotel.

Cost of entry 35 Yuan each.

Open every day. Summer 8.00am to 17.30pm. Winter 9.00am -16.30pm.

Address: 91 Xiaozhai Lu, East, Xi’an,710061, Shaanxi

Directions: The museum did seem a little out of the way for us to walk. We took a taxi Cost: 15 Yuan

Buses 5,26,24,701,710,27,30,34,400,401,521

Phone: Tel: 0086-29-8525-3806

Website: http://www.sxhm.com

Private Guide and Driver

We organised a private guide and driver through our hotel because we did not want to be herded around with a lot of people and we wanted to take our time at each place we visited.

We paid 440 Yuan for a driver and 190 for our guide Sarah Zheng. Sarah was actually very nice and informative. In fact, she talked far too much initially when all we wanted to do was take in the outside surroundings. We organised to visit the terracotta warriors, Qin Mausoleum, lunch, Banpo Village and Wild Goose Pagoda. We also managed to fit in a visit to the theatre/dance show at the end of the day.

Interesting shopping-HistoricPrecinct

The Historical Precinct near Wolong Temple area along Wenchangmen from the south gate is an interesting place to wander through with its dark alleyways, authentic shops and overhanging adjoining corridors.

Directions: If you visit the City Wall near the Southern Gate from the gate you walk eastward along the wall.

Cheap way of seeing musical performance

Watch a performance of traditional music performers in the Bell Tower.
Try and time your visit to the Bell Tower when there is a "free" traditional musical performance. (I have included a photo of the performance times)The performance lasts about half an hour and you get a "feel" for the music at the time especially the use of bells.

The Bell Tower closes at 5.30pm during the low season.

Directions: To get to the tower you need to go via one of the subway entrances and follow the signs.

Why not organise a Seat In Coach Panda CTS Tour ?

Although we did not do this – we had our own private tour this tour could have been Ok. The one day east line tour includes the Terra Cotta Army Museum, Banpo Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda with lunch (probably at same one we went to!) and pick up/drop at own hotel in a mini-bus was quoted as costing 45 Yuan. Bus tours leave from the Melody Hotel.

Tomb of Quin Shi Huang

This is the burial mound of the first Emperor and is on the way to the Terracotta Warriors.The site itself is just that – a mound. Lots of steps and displays of Emperors and artefacts on the way up and then just a misty view.
Forget it unless you are bored for things to do!!

Cost of entry 20 Yuan

An interesting place-The Big Wild Goose Pagoda or Wild Goose Pagodas Review

It was built by Master Xuan Zang around 652 AD during the Tang Dynastyafter he had travelled to India via the Silk Road. It was at this temple that he translated the Buddhist scriptures he had obtained in India into Chinese.

The temple itself contains a Tang Dynasty buildings chart and traces the monk’s journey through India and Burma. The pagoda has been reconstructed many times over the centuries. Today it is a 7 storeyed, 64 metre structure with four arched doors in each direction of every storey.
There are stairs leading up to the top floor and visitors can have a bird’s eye view of the whole city.

Tickets are 20 Yuan with another 20 Yuan to climb up the pagoda.

Directions: This is situated south of Yanta Road.

Intriguing Drum and Bell Tower Review

This wood and brick structure was built in 1384 AD during the Ming Dynasty and is located in the middle of Xi’an city at the intersection of North, South, West and East Street. It was moved to this location in the 10th century AD The building was given the name Bell Tower because of the huge bell that hung in the tower. The building covers an area of 1370 m and is 36 m high.

Inside the tower itself are various examples of musical instruments and pottery and other artefacts.Taking photographs within the tower is not permitted. Around the tower are very attractive illustrated red coloured wood carvings of old Chinese stories (see photo)The view from the tower is excellent.

To get to the tower you need to go via one of the subway entrances and follow the signs. Try to time when you go to hear a small group perform traditional music. There is a separate tip on this.
The Bell Tower closes at 5.30pm during the low season.

Ok for a fleeting visit-Banpo Neolithic Village. Banpo Neolithic Village Review

This is located on the east bank of the Chanbe River of Xi’an. This is a museum on the site of village remains of a matriarchal clan community of Neolithic age that existed 6,000 years ago in the Yellow river Valley. It covers an area of 50,000 m and is divided into residential, pottery making and burial sections. We found this museum a bit touristy but the video demonstration which showed the building of various houses excellent (English as well as Chinese footage).

Directions: Bus #105 stops near the museum

8th wonder of the world-Emperor Qin’s Terracotta W Terracotta Army Review

There are three pits, the largest being pit one which contains the 6,000 warriors and horses, pit 2 is a composite formation of cavalry, chariot and infantry soldiers and pit 3 contains 68 Guardians. The building housing Pit 3 also has series of glassed in displays of some of the terracotta statues so that you can see them up close.

The first thing you need to know is that it is a long walk from car/bus park to the site. Along the way there will eventually be row upon row of souvenir shops. At the moment the whole area is under a large rebuilding and renovation progam ready for the onslaught of tourists expected in 2008. Be aware there will be a lot of touts selling cheap imitations of sets of the warriors. If you do buy check it is the set you bought as often they will swap for a set that is damaged.

Also worthwhile is the circular surround movie theatre which plays a 30 minute documentary that charts the life and death of Emperor Qin and life at that time. This was behind the souvenir shop area.

Cost: 90 Yuan each