X’ian
X’ian
After all the adventures that you embarked on in Shaanxi province, it is time to unwind and get an intense cultural and historical dose in its lively cultural capital…X’ian.
X’ian is a true multi-cultural city in China with the largest Moslem population in China calling it home since the early ages and, unlike Beijing, it still preserves the rural Chinese feeling. So I would recommend that you spend 2 full days in this magnificent city to be able to enjoy all it has to offer from ancient monuments, it has its own wall:), to a multitude of cultural experiences. The following itinerary will highlight the major attractions of the city and how to visit them, and as always, On Your Own using public buses from the central bus terminal (CBT). I know it might sound a bit daunting, but believe me, if you are ready with a good map (click to request map) it will be a cultural experience like no other!
The first attractions of this city that we are going to explore are the drum and bell towers. Being located in the center of the old town, there will be no need for any public transportation. These towers used to serve military purposes in the past, but now they are open for visit both from the outside and inside.
Next stop is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This Buddhist temple complex is slightly out of the old town, but there are a number of buses that will take you there from the CBT to a stop with the same name (click to request info). When you get off the bus, you will be greeted with an amazing view of the main temple/pagoda in the horizon which will be a great opportunity to take amazing pictures.
After enjoying the sight, it is time for a short walk to enter the temple complex itself. There, you’ll find monks praying and people making offerings, so be respectful and enjoy the serenity and peace of the place. Inside the complex there are a number of amazing temples which you can enter and inside you’ll find big and impressive gold Buddha statues.
These two attractions will take most of the first day, so its time to head back using the same bus and grab something to eat and there will be no better place than the Moslem street. This street is in the center of the old town behind the market. Its is a nice pedestrian street where you can stroll, sit at one of the various restaurants, grab a bite and drink, and enjoy people watching:) You’ll find the culture here different than any other Chinese city as both Moslems and non-Moslems live together in harmony and cohesion.
The next day you’ll explore X’ian’s own great wall. Although nowhere as grandeur as the famous Great Wall, this is a wall that is full of culture as you’ll find a lot happening on top of it! To explore the entire wall length, we’ll do it in a fun, different, and adventurous way…by Bike! You can rent a bike for a day from the city and go to the top of the wall from one of its 4 gates. When on top, you’ll find a well-paved path on which you can have an amazing bike ride around the old town. Not only that, but people of X’ian love their wall and tend to hang out on top. You’ll find people exercising, playing table-tennis, vendors, and much more.
Finally, after finishing your wall tour, it is time to head to the famous X’ian market, make sure to take a picture with the gate of the market as it is a landmark in its own.
Enter the covered market where you’ll find all types of merchandise and some amazing bargains, so take your time and get yourself a souvenir. When done with shopping, time to head to the food section of the market and believe me you’ll know you are there from the amazing aromatic smells:) To best enjoy all the delicious varieties at the food market, try different small dishes on the go while enjoying the rich traditions of this market.
As you saw from this itinerary, these are the main highlights of this amazing city, but if you have more time, there are some other landmarks worth visiting like the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and much more…so enjoy and keep exploring:)
