What to Do in Xi'an for a Weekend: 2-Day Plan

I've lost count of how many weekends I've spent inside Xi'an's ancient walls. If you're googling 'what to do in Xi'an for a weekend' right now, you've come to the right place. This guide is my no-nonsense 48-hour route — built from years of leading friends through the maze of terracotta pits, crazy-hot food stalls, and the eternal battle with Chinese mobile payments.

Lost your wallet in a sea of dumpling steam? Yeah, Xi'an has that effect. The good news is: this city is more doable than you think — if you know a few local tricks. And right now, you're probably stuck between two thoughts: how to see the famous warriors without hating life, and whether you actually need three days. You don't. Two days is enough, and I'll show you exactly how.

The catch? You need to prepare for digital payments, passport booking, and a GPS app that actually works in China. Ignore that and you'll waste your whole weekend at ticket booths. Read on — I'll give you every workaround I've learned the hard way.

How to Plan a Xi'an Weekend Before You Land

Sort Out Payments First: Alipay and WeChat Pay

International Visa cards work only in a handful of hotels and upscale restaurants. Every street stall, local noodle shop, and even the small museum gift shops expect phone-based payments. So before you fly, download Alipay or WeChat Pay and link your international card. It took me 10 minutes to set up Alipay in the app — no Chinese bank card needed. Once you're in, look for the orange QR code at every vendor. Cash is accepted in most places? Actually not always. Some small vendors hesitate to give change for large notes. Carry a small amount of cash (100 RMB in 10s and 20s) for emergencies, but plan to pay by phone.

Navigation: Ditch Google Maps, Use Apple Maps or AMap

Google Maps is useless in China — it'll show you as a dot floating in the wrong city. Apple Maps works okay because it uses Chinese map data. For a more local experience, download AMap (known as Gaode) and switch the language to English. The app's 'Global' version supports English search. I always tell my clients to type the Chinese name of the destination into Apple Maps, because English translations of street addresses are often inconsistent. For taxi drivers, show them the Chinese address written in the app. I'll include Chinese names for every stop in this guide.

Booking Attractions: Passport and Pre-Booking

Many attractions, including the Shaanxi History Museum, require a real-name booking with your passport number. The official WeChat mini-program process is painful even for me — it's all in Chinese. So I use Trip.com or Klook for weekend visits. They let you book with a passport scan and get instant vouchers. For Terra Cotta Warriors, you can just book on Trip.com up to a day in advance. Do it at least the night before. Also, bring the physical passport with you — they're strict.

What to Do in Xi'an in 48 Hours: The Weekend Itinerary

Day 1: Terra Cotta Warriors and the City Wall

This is the classic Saturday, but it works any day if you dodge the tour groups. Start early — no excuses.

1. 8:00 AM – Leave by Didi. Grab a Didi (China's Uber) from your hotel to the Qin Terracotta Warriors (秦始皇兵马俑). It costs around 120–150 RMB and takes 60–80 minutes. If you're near Bell Tower, you'll hop on the toll expressway. Don't take a taxi at the street — they'll quote 200+.
2. 9:15 AM – Hit the Terra Cotta Warriors. Book your ticket in advance on Trip.com. You need your passport. Once inside, go to Pit 1 first — it's the famous one with the massive army. Then Pit 3 (smaller but more detailed) and Pit 2. Budget about 2 hours.
3. 11:30 AM – Lunch. Skip the tourist restaurant inside the complex. Walk out to the nearby village street and find a noodle place. Look for a crowded shop — locals know. A bowl of oil-poured noodles or lamb paomo runs about 25 RMB. Ask the driver to recommend where he eats; that's how I found my go-to spot.
4. 1:00 PM – Back to the city. Didi again takes about an hour. If you're feeling brave, try the tourist bus from the warriors' main gate to the Tang Paradise area, but it's slower.
5. 3:00 PM – Cycle the City Wall. Go to the Yongningmen (South Gate) entrance. Rent a bike for 45 RMB (single bike) or 90 RMB (tandem). Pedal the full 13.7km loop — it takes 70–90 minutes with photo stops. The west section is less crowded and has the best light.
6. 6:30 PM – Muslim Quarter food crawl. After the wall, walk or take a 15-minute ride to Beiyuanmen Muslim Street (回民街). It turns into a chaotic, delicious mess at dusk. Try lamb skewers, pomegranate juice, and, if you have room, a bowl of liangpi.

Pro Tip: The City Wall is stunning at sunset. Aim to be on the western rampart around 5:30 PM. Most tourists cluster at the south gate — I always take my friends to the small corner near the Northwest corner watchtower. Fewer people, better photos, and the light stays warm.

Day 2: Shaanxi History Museum, Muslim Quarter, and Bell Tower

Consider this the cultural & food day. It's less intense physically, but mentally you'll be buzzing from all the history.

1. 8:30 AM – Shaanxi History Museum. This is a free museum but you must reserve a ticket using your passport. The English portal on Trip.com is your friend. Tickets are released days in advance. If you can't get a free one, there's a paid special exhibition for about 30 RMB that often has availability. Take Metro Line 2 to Xiaozhai station and walk 10 minutes.
2. 11:00 AM – Muslim Quarter Brunch. Take Didi (10 minutes, 15 RMB) to the south entrance of the Muslim Quarter. Find “Lao Sun Jia” (老孙家) for the most famous yangrou paomo. I always order it with extra pickled garlic. If the queue is insane, any of the smaller side alleys off Beiyuanmen have good liangpi (cold noodles) for 8–12 RMB.
3. 1:00 PM – Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Take a Didi over (about 20 minutes and 25 RMB). Climb the pagoda (50 RMB) for a view, but the real magic is the north fountain square that lights up in the evening. If it's your first time, certainly climb; if not, just roam around the park.
4. 3:00 PM – Rest at a teahouse. Near the pagoda is the Datang Furong Garden area. Find a traditional tea house for some downtime. I like using the 20 minutes to plan the evening.
5. 5:00 PM – Bell Tower & Drum Tower. Ride the metro to Bell Tower station. The two towers are side by side. Don't bother climbing both — just do the Bell Tower (35 RMB) and take the pedestrian street between them. The area is gorgeous at night when the lights come on.
6. 7:30 PM – Final dinner. Treat yourself to a proper dinner at a restaurant called “Chang'an Chinese Restaurant” (长安大排档) on Bell Tower West Street. It's a local's favorite for modern takes on traditional Shaanxi cuisine. Book ahead or wait in line.

If You Only Have 24 Hours in Xi'an

Feeling the squeeze? Hit the warriors first thing at 8 AM, cycle the City Wall for 45 minutes (just the south section), grab a quick biang-biang noodle lunch in the Muslim Quarter, and end with a Bell Tower night view. It's a mad dash, but you'll see the icons.

Top Xi'an Weekend Attractions: Worth the Hype?

Here's a quick comparison to help you decide what to cut if you're a slow traveler. I've ranked them by 'must-see' for first-timers.

Where to Eat on a Xi'an Weekend

Must-Try Dishes

• Roujiamo (肉夹馍): The Chinese burger. Slow-cooked pork in a crispy flatbread. Spicy and juicy.
• Biang-biang noodles (油泼扯面): Thick hand-pulled belt noodles with a bucket of chili oil and vinegar. Honestly, they're enough for two.
• Yangrou Paomo (羊肉泡馍): You tear your own flatbread into a bowl of lamb broth. It's a beautiful ritual that requires 20 minutes of patience before the staff adds the soup.
• Liangpi (凉皮): Cold rice noodles with vinegar and chili, often with bean sprouts.
• Suan Tang Yu (酸汤鱼): A sour and spicy fish soup common in Shaanxi Muslim cuisine.

My Favorite Restaurants

Note: Most small spots don't have English menus. Use Google Lens (download it before you go) or point at what the locals are eating. Payment is basically mobile-only; carry some cash for backup.

Where to Stay in Xi'an

You want to be on metro Line 2, ideally within a 15-minute walk to the Bell Tower. That's the heartbeat of the city. Here's a breakdown.

My pick: For a weekend, I'd book something near Bell Tower, like the Grand Mercure Xi'an on Renmin Square. The location is unbeatable — you can walk to the subway and the towers. The staff speaks enough English to help with tickets, and the Wi-Fi is stable. If you're on a budget, the City Window International Youth Hostel on Beitour Road has basic rooms and luggage storage, but you'll take a 20-min taxi to the center.

Insider Tips to Avoid Crowds and Save Money

• Start at the warriors at 9 AM sharp. I've been when it's 35°C and the pit is a sauna with a wall of selfie sticks. Go early and you'll have the front rail to yourselves.
• Skip the electric cart at the warriors. It's only a 10-minute walk from the entrance to Pit 1, and the cart line can be 20 minutes. Just walk.
• Use Didi instead of hailing a taxi. Taxi drivers at tourist spots might understand that you're a foreigner and quote 1.5x the price. Didi gives you a fixed fare. I once paid 130 RMB to the warriors; my tourist friend in a taxi paid 250 RMB.
• Pre-book Shaanxi History Museum 5 days ahead. The free tickets vanish in seconds. If it's already booked out, book the special exhibition ticket for ~30 RMB — same museum, no queue.
• Don't buy souvenirs inside the warriors complex. The shops outside the main gate sell the same mini warriors for half the price. Negotiate — they expect haggling.

FAQ: Xi'an Weekend Trip Questions

Verified and fact-checked by the editorial team.