📔 Xi’an in 3 days · Terracotta Warriors & the Silk Road · Cuaderno

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ASIA · ABR 11 May 2026

Three days in Xi'an: 8,000 Terracotta Warriors, the only intact Ming wall in China, and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road.

↳ Xi'an in 30 seconds

Xi’an in 3

Asia

11 May 2026

Asia: Xi’an in 3 days ·...

Asia: Xi’an in 3...

Xi'an in 30 seconds

Country: China, Shaanxi Province, north-west centre
Metro population: 13 million
13 imperial dynasties based their capital here
Silk Road km zero heading west to the

The Terracotta Army —

Pit 1 — the big one. 6,000 warriors
Pit 2 — smaller, with archers and cavalry.
Pit 3 — the command post. Only 68

Packing list

Country: China, Shaanxi Province, north-west
Metro population: 13 million
13 imperial dynasties based their
Silk Road km zero heading
Climate: continental — 35°C in
Flights: no direct from Europe,
Pit 1 — the big

Capítulo 01 · de 06

Xi'an in 30 seconds

Country: China, Shaanxi Province, north-west centre
Metro population: 13 million
13 imperial dynasties based their capital here
Silk Road km zero heading west to the Mediterranean
Climate: continental — 35°C in summer, −5°C in winter
Flights: no direct from Europe, transit Beijing or Shanghai

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The Terracotta Army — how to visit without the crowds

The Terracotta Army —

The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang sits 40 km east of the city. Most coach tours arrive between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. My advice: leave at 7:30 a.m. by taxi or subway plus shuttle. You'll be at the gate when it opens (8:30) and have 90 minutes nearly alone before the avalanche.

There are three pits:

Pit 1 — the big one. 6,000 warriors in battle formation. Spectacular.
Pit 2 — smaller, with archers and cavalry. Some warriors still half-buried, which is photographically more interesting.
Pit 3 — the command post. Only 68 senior officers.

Entry: 120 CNY (~€16). Cameras allowed, no tripods, no flash.

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The wall — the best bike ride in China

The wall — the

Xi'an's Ming wall is the only one left intact. 14 km perimeter, 12 m tall, 14 m wide on top. You can rent a two-seater bike (45 CNY for 100 minutes) and ride the full loop. The best plan for sunset in the entire country.

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The Muslim Quarter — the Silk Road you can eat

The Muslim Quarter —

Xi'an was the Chinese terminus of the Silk Road. That left a community of 60,000 Hui (Chinese Muslims), and their quarter (Huimin Jie) is the most intense food district in the city. What to try:

Roujiamo — the 2,000-year-old Chinese hamburger. Full recipe here.
Biangbiang noodles — hand-pulled, belt-wide, in chilli-vinegar broth
Yangrou paomo — lamb soup with torn bread, the recipe is yours to assemble
Lacquered pigeon — exactly as it sounds, in red sauce, on a stick

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The 3-day route that works

The 3-day route that

Day 1: arrive, settle near the Bell Tower, evening walk in the Muslim Quarter, biangbiang noodles for dinner.

Day 2: early start to the Terracotta Army. Back to the city for lunch. Afternoon on the wall with a bike. Sunset from the south gate. Roujiamo dinner.

Day 3: Great Mosque (10th century, Tang dynasty), Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Buddhist, 7th century, brought scriptures from India). Fly out in the evening.

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Practical notes

Visa: required for most. 15-day transit visa exemption if flying onward.
Currency: Chinese yuan (CNY); ~€1 = 7.8 CNY
VPN: install before arrival. Google, Instagram, WhatsApp all blocked.
Payments: Alipay or WeChat Pay. Cash is rarely accepted, foreign cards almost never.

Original in Spanish: guía de Xi'an. Follow more on @vidaiatzen.

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VISITED AS ASIA 2026

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