Xi’an, these two words are a boarding pass. You can already imagine the camel ring from the Qin Opera. In other words, Xi’an, is not just a Chinese city, it is a random door of Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties. Here is a printable guide for foreigners who plan to take a short distance study, work remotely, or just want to find “wow” moment.
Where Is Xi’an? Understand “China Origin” First
Xi’an crouches in the heart of the map rooster. From Xianyang airport to the ground, metro line 14 is directly inserted into the urban area, 30 minutes to the bell tower. If you take G-Series High-Speed Train, 4.5 in Beijing, 3H in Chengdu and 6h in Shanghai, it is almost the same as flying from London to Istanbul, but there is no visa for the whole journey.
Key points: there is a “transnational” G-Series High-Speed Train waiting area in XiAn North Railway Station, which will connect the Central Asian trains in the future. Xi’an , is upgrading to the reception hall of the Asia Europe corridor.
The Compressed Package of the Dynasty: A Metro Line Runs Through 13 Kings
Foreigners often ask: “How many dynasties?” answer: 13, but you don’t have to recite textbooks. Metro Line 4 connects the forest of Steles, Daming Palace and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda into a “time axis”.
- Beijing Museum: stone library, Yan Zhenqing’s Duobao tower clocked in place.
- The site of Daming Palace: it is equivalent to making an X ray film of the Imperial Palace directly, and the bare foundation is more shocking.
- Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: Tang Xuanzang’s “cloud hard disk”, continue to the north two stations is Xiaozhai, Saige 12 floor waterfall +Hermès, ,Herms, ancient and modern mutual brush existence.
In short, the subway in Xi’an , is a historical roller coaster, swiping cards in and out, one station one dynasty.
City Wall of Xi’an: Why Do Tourists All Over the World Rent Bicycles
The city wall is not a background plate, but a 15 kilometer live “circular runway”.
Official data: in 2023, a total of 2.47 million riding tourists were received, an increase of 73% over the previous year (Xi’an culture and Tourism Bureau, 2024).
The best time: 17:00-19:00, the sunset cuts the crenel into a golden comb.
Double car 100 minutes ￥40, deposit ￥200, support passport mortgage.
Key point: riding to the southeast turret, you can see the high-tech glass curtain wall and the Ming Dynasty brick seam with the same frame – the most magical ancient and modern shadow in Xi’an.
Cuisine Is Not Equal to “Just Spicy”: A Carbon and Water Universe Map
Roujiamo, Liangpi and Biangbiang noodles are called “Xi ‘an Trinity”. But what foreigners are most likely to ignore is the “breakfast dark network”:
- Rice-meat dumplings and soup with pepper: the Muslim community opened at 06:30, the pepper collided with the curry leaf, and the throat reverberated after drinking.
- Camellia Fried Dough Twists: the flour is fried into a wheat fragrant “soil”, and Fried Dough Twists is like an edible archaeological fossil, which is crisp and tough after being soaked.
- Persimmon cake: Huojing persimmon mashed, low oil and sugar, vegetarian runner friendly.
Data: in 2024, the catering income of Xi’an was 61.2 billion yuan, accounting for 11.4% of the total social zero, and the growth rate was higher than the national average for five consecutive years (Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of statistics, 2025).
In other words, the Xi’an . people made serious history into edible comedy.
Life in Xi’na: From Yongningmen to the Ancient City “Underground Jazz”
After dark, Xi’an . switches to the movie filter. The light show of Yongning gate opened at 20:30, and the UAV created “Changan twelve hours” clerical script, free of tickets throughout the whole process.
Then you can drill into Shuncheng Lane bar: the small front under the root of the city wall, but the inside is live house.
Observation of foreign musicians: drummers like to replace crash cymbal with Qin Opera gongs, which sounds like breaking the Silk Road into pieces.
Tip: most bars end their performances before 23:00, and the last subway bus is also at 23:30. The time is friendly, and the night cat can catch up with the last one.
Study Abroad and Scientific Research: “Invisible Rattan School” in Xi’an
Xi’an has 63 ordinary universities and 43 graduate training units, with more than 850,000 school-based college students, ranking among the top three in the country (Xi’an Statistics Bureau, 2024).
The space Department of Northwestern Polytechnical University and the energy power of West Jiaotong University. The laboratory language is English track.
Scholarship: the Shaanxi provincial government’s “Silk Road” special, Shuo / Bo 30,000 – 50,000 yuan per year, application window 3-5 months.
Key point: the price in the city is only 60% of that in Beijing and Shanghai, and the monthly dormitory rent is 500 yuan. In a word, Xi’an . made “low cost + hard core scientific research” into a package, and international students yet to boom.
Exhibition and Foreign Businessmen: How to Receive Global Orders in Xi’an
In 2024, Xi’an held 554 exhibitions, including 50 international exhibitions, an increase of 23.3% (Xi’an Statistics Bureau, 2025). Key exhibitions:
- Eurasian Economic Forum – energy, infrastructure, cross-border payments.
- International procurement negotiations in Western China auto parts and avionics.
Policy: Xi’an high tech Zone gives the first three years of foreign R&D rent free; The tax refund for imported equipment was 13% (Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, 2024).
In other words, take Xi’an .”, “inland , Qianhai”, G-Series High-Speed Train + Central Asia train, 15 days to Kazakhstan, and the transportation cost will be reduced by 30%.
Green and Suburb
Taibai Mountain, the main peak of the Qinling Mountains, is 1H away from the urban G-Series High-Speed Train, with an average temperature of 22°c in summer. In 2023, the national park system pilot passed, and the number of antelopes and Sichuan golden monkeys rose by 11% (national forestry and grass administration, 2024). Hiking route:
- Zhongnan mountain crossing from north to South – 2 days, the temple stays at ￥50/ night.
- Taipingyu drifting – Summer group build-up, with an average of 180 yuan per capita.
The conference group can stay in Zhuque Forest Park homestay, starry sky +BBQ, which is equivalent to moving the history lecture of Xi’an . directly to the natural classroom.
Common Pit & Quick Answer
Q：Is the air in Xi’an very bad?
A：In 2024, the average annual PM2.5 was 43 μg/m³, which was higher than the WHO standard but still lower than Delhi and Mexico City; In autumn and winter, N95 was enough, and in spring, pollen was more than haze.
Q：Can Hello survive?
A：The subway is bilingual, and the QR code voice guide of popular scenic spots includes English / French / West / Russia; Didi can choose English interface, and the driver’s pick up rate is 92%.
Q：Pork ban?
A：Pork products are forbidden in Huimin street, but there are no restrictions in other areas of the city. Some international hotels provide Bacon for breakfast, which can be confirmed in advance.
Pack the Souvenirs Into the Trunk
- The 3D printing model of the Terracotta Army — 60 yuan. There is an official franchise store in the airport T3, which can be boarded.
- Fengxiang clay tiger face – intangible cultural heritage, each hand painting is different, and the volume is light.
- Jingyang Fu Tea – post fermentation, can legally enter the European Union (≤2kg), unpacking vacuum compression province space.
In other words, the cultural and creative industry of Xi’an , has solved the “higher-weight” anxiety, the key is to keep the invoice, and the tax refund small program is done in the airport.
Next Business Trip, Gap Year, Or Just Want to Escape the “Boring” Weekend
Xi’an , folds the thirteen dynasties into a 48 hour playable sandbox: you can wake up in the morning by the bell of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, upload 4K rough cuts with 5G in the high tech Zone at noon, ride a ring of Ming Dynasty city wall in the evening, and be shocked by the rap of the Qin Opera at night to close your mouth the thickness of history.
References
- Smith, J., & Lee, L. (2023). ‘Urban Heritage Tourism in China Journal of Travel Research, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 712-730.
- Xi’an Statistics Bureau (2024). -Statistical Communique on National Economic and Social Development of Xi’an in 2024 http://tjj.xa.gov.cn
- Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Statistics (2025). ‘Shaanxi Consumer Market Report in 2024 http://tjj.shaanxi.gov.cn
- State Forestry and Grassland Bureau (2024). ‘Evaluation Report on the Pilot System of Qinling Mountains National Park http://www.forestry.gov.cn
- Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce (2024). -Policies of Shaanxi Province on Encouraging Foreign Investment in R & D Centers http://swt.shaanxi.gov.cn
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