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Xi'an, China

Top things to do in Xi'an

34 attractions, landmarks and museums worth your time, ranked by traveler reviews.

Fortifications of Xi'an
Landmark4.4

Fortifications of Xi'an

7,891 reviews

Xi'an's ancient city wall, one of the best-preserved in China, offers a scenic bike ride or stroll above the modern city.

Xi'an Muslim Quarter

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Good to know

What is the most visited attraction in Xi'an?

Fortifications of Xi'an draws the most traveler reviews of anywhere we track in Xi'an, with 7,891 of them, rated 4.4 out of 5. Review volume is the closest honest proxy we have for how many people actually turn up, so it is what this list is ranked by.

Which place in Xi'an do visitors rate highest?

Muslim Quarter holds the highest rating in Xi'an among places with a meaningful number of reviews, at 4.5 out of 5 from 4,137 reviews. It is less busy than Fortifications of Xi'an, which is often exactly why it scores better.

Browse Xi'an by type: museums, parks & nature. Planning your trip to Xi'an? See where to eat, build a Xi'an itinerary, or check visa requirements.
Neighborhood
4.3

Xi'an Muslim Quarter

4,164 reviews

Vibrant neighborhood famous for its food stalls, markets, and rich Islamic culture blending with Chinese traditions.

Tang Paradise
Park & nature4.3

Tang Paradise

4,164 reviews

Tang Paradise is a vast theme park that recreates the splendor of the Tang Dynasty with imperial gardens, lakes, and nightly performances.

Muslim Quarter
Landmark4.5

Muslim Quarter

4,137 reviews

Xi'an's Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) is the vibrant heart of the city's Hui Muslim community, a warren of lantern-lit lanes packed with food stalls, snack shops, and centuries of culture, just behind the Drum Tower in the old walled city.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)
Landmark4

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)

3,454 reviews

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta) is one of Xi'an's most important historic monuments, a towering, seven-storey Tang dynasty brick pagoda dating from the 7th century, built to house Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by the famous monk Xuanzang.

Bell Tower of Xi'an
Landmark4.1

Bell Tower of Xi'an

2,350 reviews

Historic centerpiece of Xi'an offering panoramic views of the old city and a symbol of ancient Chinese architecture.

Xingqinggong Park
Park & nature4.2

Xingqinggong Park

1,568 reviews

A historic imperial garden park with serene lakes, traditional pavilions, and cultural relics, offering a peaceful escape in Xi'an.

Qinglong Temple (Xi'an)
Religious site4.2

Qinglong Temple (Xi'an)

1,568 reviews

A historic Buddhist temple known for its peaceful gardens, traditional architecture, and spiritual ambiance in Xi'an.

Weiyang Palace
Historic site4.2

Weiyang Palace

1,568 reviews

The ruins of the Han Dynasty's main imperial palace, an expansive archaeological site with foundations and artifacts.

Great Mosque of Xi'an
Religious site4.2

Great Mosque of Xi'an

1,568 reviews

A historic mosque where Chinese pagoda forms meet Islamic worship, creating a serene courtyard complex in the heart of Xi'an.

Xi'an Mosque
Religious site4

Xi'an Mosque

1,557 reviews

The Great Mosque of Xi'an is one of the oldest and most remarkable mosques in China, and utterly unlike a mosque anywhere else, because it's built almost entirely in the style of a traditional Chinese temple.

Drum Tower of Xi'an
Landmark4.1

Drum Tower of Xi'an

1,058 reviews

Historic drum tower adjacent to the Muslim Quarter, famous for its giant drums and cultural exhibits.

Drum Tower (Gulou)
Landmark4

Drum Tower (Gulou)

1,039 reviews

Visit Xi'an's iconic Drum Tower, a Ming Dynasty landmark offering panoramic city views and daily drum performances.

Tang Dynasty Show
Entertainment4

Tang Dynasty Show

1,002 reviews

Experience a vibrant dinner show featuring Tang Dynasty-era music, dance, and costumes in Xi'an.

Landmark
Landmark4.5

Dayan Pagoda Northern Square

981 reviews

Dayan Pagoda Northern Square is a vibrant public plaza in Xi'an featuring the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda, spectacular fountain shows, and a lively atmosphere day and night.

Shaanxi History Museum
Museum4.3

Shaanxi History Museum

598 reviews

A premier museum in Xi'an featuring over 370,000 artifacts that chronicle China's ancient history, with particular strength in Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties.

Xi'an Museum
Museum4.5

Xi'an Museum

592 reviews

Explore ancient Chinese artifacts and cultural treasures at this free museum in Xi'an, featuring a notable collection of bronze mirrors and Buddhist statues.

Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Landmark4.1

Small Wild Goose Pagoda

432 reviews

A graceful Tang-dynasty pagoda in a quiet temple garden, offering a climb with views and a nearby museum of ancient treasures.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Landmark4.1

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

432 reviews

A seven-story Tang dynasty pagoda offering sweeping views of Xi'an from its top, built to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India.

Stele Forest
Museum4.2

Stele Forest

431 reviews

Xi'an's Stele Forest houses thousands of ancient stone steles inscribed with classic texts, making it a premier treasury of Chinese calligraphy.

Landmark
Landmark4

Drum Tower Square

344 reviews

Drum Tower Square is a vibrant public space in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, known for its historic drum tower and bustling snack street.

Market
Market4.5

Muslim market

267 reviews

Vibrant market street in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, famous for street food, souvenirs, and cultural atmosphere.

Entertainment
Entertainment4

Shaanxi Grand Opera House Xi'an

177 reviews

Modern performance venue in Xi'an hosting opera, concerts, and cultural shows with stunning architecture.

Landmark
Landmark4

Bronze Statue of Master Xuanzang

124 reviews

Bronze statue of the famed Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang, located at the north square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an.

Park & nature
Park & nature4.5

Xi'an Qujiangchi Site Park

113 reviews

A historic Tang Dynasty imperial garden and lake park in Xi'an, perfect for a peaceful stroll and cultural immersion.

Religious site
Religious site3.5

Xi'an Town's God Temple

62 reviews

A historic Taoist temple in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, blending Chinese and Islamic influences with lively market surroundings.

Daci'en Temple
Religious site3.6

Daci'en Temple

62 reviews

A historic Buddhist temple complex founded in the Tang dynasty, housing the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and revered as a key pilgrimage site.

Religious site
Religious site4.5

Tianshuijing Catholic Church

51 reviews

Tianshuijing Catholic Church is a historic Gothic-style church in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, blending Western architecture with Chinese cultural elements.

Landmark
Landmark4.5

Yongxing Fang

44 reviews

Yongxing Fang is a lively food street in Xi'an's city center, known for its traditional architecture and local snacks.

Market
Market3.5

Tian yi Jade factory

38 reviews

A jade market in Xi'an's Banpo area offering a wide selection of jade jewelry, carvings, and souvenirs, with opportunities to see artisans at work.

Museum
Museum4.5

Xi'an Calligraphy Museum

35 reviews

Museum in Xi'an dedicated to calligraphy, housed in a historic building with a large collection of steles and rubbings.

Sight
Sight5

Xi'an City Wall Light Show

21 reviews

A spectacular nighttime illumination of the ancient Xi'an City Wall, featuring colorful lights and projections that bring the historic fortification to life.

Museum
Museum4.5

Xi'an Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts

16 reviews

A contemporary art museum located beneath the Westin Hotel near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, featuring rotating exhibitions of Chinese and international works.

Tang West Market Museum
Museum3.7

Tang West Market Museum

6 reviews

The Tang West Market Museum sits on the actual site of the Tang Dynasty's international market, revealing Xi'an's Silk Road history.