Xi'an is an essential stop for first-time China travelers as it showcases China's history and civilization. But how long do you need for a trip to Xi'an? This article will provide you with some of the best itinerary ideas for planning your Xi'an trip.
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- How Long to Spend in Xi'an
- Xi'an in 4 Days
- Xi'an in 3 Days
- Xi'an in 2 Days
- Side Trip Itineraries from Xi'an
How Long to Spend in Xi'an
In general, spending 3 to 4 days is ideal for a trip in Xi'an with a comfortable pace without missing all the highlights.
If you only have two days, you could focus on the main highlights — the Terracotta Warriors and some city sightseeing.
We do not recommend a one-day trip, as it gives only a hurried and cursory glance at scenic spots.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Outstanding Tour of Xi’an with Crystal, The Best Guide!
We loved our tour of Xi’an with Crystal. She is a top-notch guide and we are so happy and grateful she was our guide. She speaks excellent English and she taught us to say phrases in Mandarin. She is so knowledgeable about the city of Xi’an and all its historic and cultural places. Crystal taught us all about the city of Xi’an, its history, and the important dynasties here. We loved seeing the Terracotta Army, it was incredible. We will always remember riding bikes on the city walls. Crystal brought us to the most delicious restaurants and we ate very delicious food! We are vegetarians and Crystal ordered for us and made sure all the dishes aligned with our dietary needs. The Dumpling Banquet was so tasty! She also bought us local fruit to taste as well as sweets and treats wherever we went. Crystal took great care of us and really taught us a lot about China. We loved our time with her. Crystal is a remarkable guide because she is friendly, warm, flexible and helpful. The best thing about her is she has a sense of humor and loves to make sure her guests are having fun. Thank you, Crystal! more
Mar 2025, TeamDufortio Connecticut
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2 great days in Xi’an
We spent two days in Xi’an with China Highlights. Our guide Lin was wonderful. She was extremely knowledgeable about her city and its history and very helpful and kind. Her dining suggestions were excellent and enabled us to try many delicious foods. We also enjoyed her company! more
Mar 2025, Sara M
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Xi’an with Jennie
Jennie was a terrific guide. Her knowledge of China is extensive and delivered with excellent English. We really liked how friendly she was and how she took such good care of us. We enjoyed the restaurants and especially liked the evening performance she recommended. We’ve traveled to 45 different countries and she is definitely one of the best guides we’ve experienced more
Mar 2025, susangendron60
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Xi'an in 4 Days (Rich Experience)
If you want a full and rich experience in Xi'an, spending four days is recommended.
Without missing the highlights, you'll have the opportunity to have some special experiences like making your own terracotta warrior, trying on Chinese traditional costumes, and a food tour.
You could also visit Mount Hua, Taoism's sacred mountain, and admire its breathtaking peaks. If you're more adventurous, you can also challenge its famous trestles. Here is the itinerary:
- Day 1: Arrival and free exploration
- Day 2: One day trip to the Terracotta Warriors with a hands-on experience of making clay warriors
- Day 3: A full day in Mount Hua
- Day 4: City highlight touring (museums, pagodas, Ancient City Wall, and a food tour) and departure
See 4-Day Xi'an and Huashan Mountain Tour
All our tours can be adjusted based on your interests and needs. Our private trips are hassle-free and flexible.
Xi'an in 3 Days (Essence of Xi'an)
With three days in Xi'an, you could still enjoy a full and rich experience. The difference with the four-day itinerary is that you won't visit Mount Hua. Here is the itinerary:
- Day 1: Arrival + museum visiting
- Day 2: A trip to Terracotta Warriors with a food tour
- Day 3: City sightseeing (Ancient City Wall, museums, pagodas, etc) with a hanfu experience and departure
The Terracotta Warrior is a big attraction. It is the mausoleum and burial pits of the first emperor of China and the largest one in China.
In order to get a good understanding of the history and stories behind it, we will arrange a hands-on experience of making your own clay warrior.
Thus, you're going to spend most of your second day there. If you are particularly interested in this attraction, it is worth spending a day on it.
Our schedule is flexible. Just contact us if you want to make some adjustments or have any needs.
Xi'an in 2 Days (Focus on the Terracotta Warriors)
If you have two days, you could focus on the Terracotta Warriors with some city sightseeing. Here is the itinerary:
- Day 1: Arrival + city sightseeing (Ancient City Wall, museums, and pagodas)
- Day 2: Visit Terracotta Warriors + departure
Two days' visiting is a little tight. If you want to have a better experience when visiting the Terracotta Warriors, we suggest a full day's visiting and leave in the third day's morning.
Our private transfer and local guide's accompany will make the most of your time and maximize your travel experience.
For travelers from Singapore, we also offer a one-week Xi'an itinerary.
Side Trip Itineraries from Xi'an
There are also some worthwhile destinations close to Xi'an that you might consider visiting:
1. Luoyang and Shaolin Temple
Luoyang, an ancient capital like Xi'an, and its nearby Shaolin Temple are the most popular choices, especially if you are interested in Chinese history and Chinese kung fu.
A trip to Luoyang and Shaolin Temple takes about one day. Luoyang is about a 1-hour bullet train travel from Xi'an.
In Luoyang, the main attraction is its spectacular Longmen Grottoes where you could marvel at the exquisite carvings and Buddha statues.
Then head to Shaolin Temple, which takes about 1½ hours by car. Walk around the temple and learn about Chinese Buddhism and martial arts. You could also enjoy a wonderful Kung Fu show. See One Day Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple Tour.
2. Pingyao Ancient Town
In Pingyao, you could get a glimpse of the ordinary life of a merchant in ancient times. Pingyao is about a 3-hour journey from Xi'an by the bullet train. Spending about two days touring the highlights of Pingyao Ancient Town is recommended.
There you could explore the original site of the first draft bank in China, visit an interesting museum — Armed Escort Company Museum, watch the sunset from the city wall, and pay a visit to Wang's Family Compound (the Forbidden City in Folk). Check out the 2-Day Pingyao Highlights Tour.
If you have more time, you could explore further north to Datong, which is famous for its Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple. See the 4-Day Datong and Pingyao Tour.
Tour China with Us
All our tours can be adjusted as much as you like. We aim to create an ideal itinerary based on your interests, group size, travel length, and other requirements. Feel free to contact us.