One Day in Xi’an – my Terracotta Warriors & noodles itinerary

One of the oldest cities in China – Xi’an might be famous for its Terracotta Warriors, but I’d argue that its noodles deserve some attention too. Preferably a whole bowl of it. Add ancient city walls, a few historic sights and a coffee stop, and you’ve got the perfect city to spend a day in.

I actually spent three days in Xi’an, but it rained for two of them, so I’m counting that as one. Still, between rainy outings and a much-needed dry day, I put together the route I’d follow if I really had just one day in Xi’an.

This itinerary is based on my own trip and combines the Terracotta Army with exploring Shuyuanmen, seeing the Bell Tower and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and catching sunset on the city walls. There’s also time for Xi’an’s famous biang biang noodles and, of course, coffee. You didn’t think I’d leave that out, did you?

Is one day in Xi’an enough?

Not really. Well, ok, for a first taste of the city, yes. You can visit the Terracotta Army, explore some of Xi’an’s historic streets, watch sunset from the city walls and eat very well along the way. Especially if you follow my itinerary. Wink wink.

But if you prefer a slower pace, want to spend more time at the Terracotta Army or explore more of Xi’an, you’ll need a few extra days. I’d allow two or three, depending on how much you want to see.

Is this your first trip to China? Check out my China for First Timers blog post for practical tips on everything from the must-have apps and paying for things to getting around without losing your mind.

Before we begin…

Keep in mind that:

• this itinerary works best with longer daylight hours – to follow the full route and reach the city walls before sunset, aim for a visit when the sun sets at 7 pm or later – roughly April to early September. Check the sunset time for your exact date;
• the last three stops can be adjusted to the season. The order below suits longer days. I’ll explain the small changes for earlier sunsets when we get there.
• start early – I’d aim to leave your accommodation around 7 am, depending on where you’re staying and the estimated journey time to the Terracotta Army – our first stop;
• have breakfast before you go – our first food stop is lunch back in the city. Bring water and a snack if you’re likely to get hungry before then;
• keep your Terracotta Army visit to the morning – this route allows around 1½–2 hours exploring the main pits, plus transport and entry time. If you want a longer visit, you’ll need to trim the afternoon;
• your legs won’t be doing all the work – we’ll do some walking, but DiDi (Chinese Uber) will be used for the longer journeys. You can order rides through Alipay and link your Wise card to Alipay for payments in China. Get everything sorted beforehand, and allow some extra time for traffic.

And last but not least:

• this itinerary involves spending the whole day in Xi’an, from the morning trip to the Terracotta Army to a sandwich after sunset. If you only have a few hours, pick your favourite stops rather than trying to follow it all.

So you’ll need to stay in Xi’an the night before or after. I recommend the night before, so you can start early without adding another journey to an already full day.

I stayed in Maiyue Hotel Xi’an which had a convenient location close to the city walls and a super comfy bed. It was pleasant enough, nothing particularly special, but the staff were friendly and helpful despite not speaking English.

Be aware, that even a non-smoking hotel room in China can come with a whiff of cigarette smoke. Read more in Things That Will Surprise You When Travelling to China.

Before we get to the actual sightseeing, here are a few things to help you plan your day in Xi’an.

Ok, we’ve covered the basics. I promise! Put on your comfiest shoes, charge your phone and let’s go find some warriors. And noodles.

One day in Xi’an – the best things to do

Below, you’ll find a map with all the stops from my one-day Xi’an itinerary, including the food and coffee stops. Priorities.

Let’s start with the obvious one. If there’s one sight you probably already have on your Xi’an list, it’s the Terracotta Army. And while I’m usually happy to question whether a “must-see” is actually a must-see, I wouldn’t leave this one out – especially on your first visit.

First stop: The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army was created more than 2,000 years ago to guard China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. It was discovered in (only) 1974 by local farmers digging a well. Excavations have continued ever since, and parts of the burial complex remain unexplored, with potentially more discoveries underground.

How to buy tickets for the Terracotta Army

I booked tickets through Trip.com, which is also what I’d recommend for a straightforward booking process. Search for Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, choose your date and admission option, and enter your passport details carefully.

To follow this itinerary, book the earliest entry slot, starting at 8:30 am. Getting the Warriors done early gives you more time to explore Xi’an afterwards. Check the available entry window when booking.

Book the Terracotta Army tickets on Trip.com ->

Ticket prices start from £13/$17/EUR15 (October 2026).

And…

Super important info!

Bring your original passport – the same one you used to book. Your reservation is linked to it, and it’s checked at the entrance. Think of your passport as your ticket; a photo of it isn’t a substitute.

How to get to the Terracotta Army

For this itinerary, I’d take a DiDi, which you can order through Alipay. Search for the museum, check the destination and pickup point, and off you go.

Allow around 60-70 minutes from central Xi’an, depending on your starting point and traffic. It’s a generous planning allowance rather than a guaranteed journey time, but this isn’t the morning to gamble on everything running perfectly.

The museum is a major attraction, so it’s a straightforward destination to book a car to. Just make sure you’ve selected the actual museum rather than another place with “Terracotta Warriors” in its name.

What to see: start with Pit 1

There are three main warrior pits to visit, but Pit 1 is the biggest and the main event. This is where you’ll see those famous rows of soldiers stretching into the distance.

Around 2,000 warriors and horses have been excavated here, with thousands more estimated to remain buried. Chariot remains have also been found, although don’t expect rows of beautifully preserved wooden chariots – the wood has largely decayed.

Explore the other pits too, but give yourself time to appreciate this one. It’s probably the view you came for.

Photos vs reality: my honest experience

Now, a little expectation management. I’m always here to spoil your fun. Haha

The warriors really are standing in a huge excavation pit beneath an enormous hangar-like roof. You view them from the walkways around the edges, rather than wander between the soldiers. Those close-up photos involve quite a lot of camera zoom. Mine certainly did.

And as you’d expect – the place is always busy. My entry slot was 9:30 am on a random Monday, and there were so many people there. In my experience, some visitors were absolutely ruthless about getting to the front. Pushing, elbows, squeezing into gaps that did not previously exist… apparently, all moves were allowed.

So yes, come ready to have your personal space challenged. But don’t give up if the first viewpoint is crowded. Be patient and keep walking around the pit. People move on, gaps appear, and you’ll have a better chance of finding somewhere to actually see the warriors and take your photos.

Was it impressive? Yes. Am I glad I went? Also yes. But after a while, they honestly started to blur together for me, especially when seeing them involved another round of competitive sightseeing.

How long should you spend here?

For this itinerary, allow around 2 hours exploring the main pits, plus time for entry, walking to and from the car pickup area, and the journeys. Aim to be back in central Xi’an around lunchtime.

Watch out for pushy souvenir sellers!

After my partner and I left the museum grounds, a seller followed us towards the taxis for at least five minutes. We said no repeatedly, but he wouldn’t give up, and we eventually felt pressured into buying a set of miniature warriors. Try a firm no and keep walking – hopefully you’ll have more luck than we did.

And don’t forget to book your tickets via Trip.com!

Second stop: Biang biang noodles for lunch – 尚寨嫽扎咧面馆(钟楼店)

Back in the city, it’s time for another Xi’an essential: biang biang noodles. These wide, chewy noodles were one of my favourite things to eat here, and trying them is just as much a must as seeing the warriors. Significantly tastier, too.

I recommend Shangzhai Liaozhalie Noodle Restaurant (Bell Tower Branch), where we ate. Alongside the different noodle dishes, they also had a vegetarian version – which is what brought us here in the first place. They were absolutely delicious and I’d happily go back to Xi’an just to have another bowl.

It’s also conveniently located for our next stop, which is around an eight-minute walk away. But first, noodles.

Third stop: Walk around Shuyuanmen – 书院门

After lunch, take a short walk to Shuyuanmen, a pretty area near the city’s South Gate, known for its traditional-style shopfronts and calligraphy shops. You’ll find brushes, ink, paintings, carved seals and plenty of souvenirs to browse.

Spend some time wandering along the main street and exploring the little lanes around it. It’s a lovely place to take photos and pick up something to bring home – preferably because you actually want it this time, rather than because a man followed you for five minutes. Haha

Fourth stop: A coffee break at Oops Coffee (Shuyuanmen)

You’ve had your noodles and a little wander, so naturally, it’s time for coffee.

Oops Coffee (Shuyuanmen) is a speciality coffee shop tucked into a traditional courtyard building, making it a lovely fit for this part of the itinerary.

The menu covers the classics: black and white coffees, pour-overs, cold brew and dirty coffee. There are also pastries if you need something sweet after lunch.

They sell their own merch too, in case your souvenir shopping priorities lean more towards coffee than calligraphy.

Running short on time?

Grab your coffee to go, or skip this stop altogether – although, in my opinion, that would be a mistake.

Fifth stop: See the Xi’an Bell Tower – 西安钟楼

From Oops Coffee, it’s around a 20-minute walk to the Bell Tower. If you’d rather save your legs, hop into a DiDi instead.

Built in 1384 during the Ming dynasty, the tower was used to announce the time and sound alarms. It was actually moved to its current location in 1582 – a rather ambitious relocation project.

Today, its tiered green roofs stand above a busy road junction, making quite a contrast with the traffic circling below. For this itinerary, we’re admiring it from outside, so take a look, grab a few photos and get ready for the next stop.

A quick note before the last three stops:

The last three stops are the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Three Brothers for a sandwich and the city walls. This order lets you pick up dinner before the shop closes at 8 pm, then enjoy sunset and the evening lights on the walls. If sunset is earlier, visit the walls before dinner instead. Short on daylight? Skip the pagoda!

Sixth stop: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – 大雁塔

Hop into a DiDi and head to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, also known as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Originally built in 652 during the Tang dynasty, it was created to house Buddhist scriptures and statues brought from India by the monk Xuanzang. Today, the seven-storey brick pagoda stands within the Daci’en Temple complex and is one of Xi’an’s most recognisable landmarks.

The area around the pagoda is also a popular spot for photos in hanfu – traditional Han Chinese clothing. And people take it seriously: beautiful outfits, elaborate hairstyles, full make up. You’ll see plenty of women – and men too – all dressed up and posing with the pagoda in the background.

Take a wander and admire the pagoda, but keep an eye on the time – we still have a sunset to catch.

Eighth stop: Dinner at Three Brothers Gaolu Clay Oven Rolls – 三兄弟高炉烧饼

Before we head to the city walls for sunset, there’s one more important stop: dinner!

So hop into a DiDi and head to Three Brothers Gaolu Clay Oven Rolls for one more Xi’an speciality: caijiamo. It’s a vegetable-stuffed flatbread popular across Shaanxi Province, especially in Xi’an, and this little shop serves only vegetarian versions, with fillings including tofu, peanuts and egg. If you’re vegan, ask to leave the egg out.

And when I say little, I mean it. There’s no seating, and in the evenings you’ll often find people queuing in the street. Join them, get your sandwich and either take it away or eat standing outside. That’s pretty much the dining experience here, but honestly, the food needs no fancy setting.

Mine was so delicious that I went back another day to get one for the train journey.

Unfortunately, my photo probably tells you very little about what you’re actually getting. Sorry about that – you’ll just have to trust me that whatever it looks like here, it tasted amazing.

The shop closes at 8 pm, which is why we’re stopping here before the city walls. I wouldn’t want you missing out after all this advertising.

Seventh stop: Sunset on Xi’an City Wall

Time for the last sightseeing stop of the day: Xi’an City Wall. Take a DiDi from Three Brothers and aim to arrive with enough time for a walk before sunset.

Built during the Ming dynasty in the 1370s on earlier foundations, the walls were designed to defend the city and still enclose its historic centre today. They’re among China’s best-preserved ancient city walls.

It’s lovely to be up here as the sun goes down…I mean probably – I didn’t have any sunset colour haha, but stay until after dark too. Once the lights come on, the gates and towers look even prettier. Give yourself time to wander, enjoy the views and take approximately another hundred photos.

Renting a bike and cycling along the walls is popular,but honestly? I’d stick to walking. Especially after my tandem-bike experience.

I had pictured cute photos and videos of my partner and me cycling along Xi’an’s ancient walls. Instead, we got miserable weather and a tandem that was hard to pedal, with an unadjustable back seat so low your knees practically touched your chin.

Then my long coat got pulled into the chain and brakes, stuck firmly and covered in grease. Yes, wearing it was my own brilliant idea. Long story short – no cute content, one ruined coat. Would not repeat.

We only tried the tandem, but the regular bikes didn’t look much more inviting. My recommendation? Just walk and enjoy the sunset.

Coat drama aside, watching the evening light change and the walls light up after dark is a lovely way to finish sightseeing during your one day in Xi’an.

How to buy tickets?

You can buy tickets at the entrance or check admission options on Trip.com. Bring your original passport either way, whether you’re booking online or buying at the ticket window. If you book online, foreign visitors currently need to exchange their booking for a paper entry voucher at the window.

Book your tickets for Xi’an City Wall here. ->

One day in Xi’an: FAQs

And that’s your one day in Xi’an!

From the Terracotta Army to the streets of Shuyuanmen, with noodles, coffee and sunset on the city walls along the way, you’ve fitted quite a lot into one day. Hopefully without sacrificing any clothing.

I hope this itinerary helps you enjoy your time in Xi’an! Adjust it to your pace, skip the pagoda if you’re short on daylight, but whatever you do, make time for the biang biang noodles. I’m still thinking about mine.

Don’t forget to check out my China for First Timers guide and Things That Will Surprise You When Travelling to China for more practical tips and honest observations from my trip.

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