Xian Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Xian, Shaanxi, China)

A walk along the famous City Walls of Xian is a good way to begin your sightseeing, with a number of tourist attractions being located en route and hard to miss. However, Xian's City Walls really are an attraction in their own right and remains China's most complete surviving walls, and one of the biggest ancient military defensives in existence.

The Hui Muslim Quarter is another good part of the city to sightsee and sample the gastronomic delights of Xian. However, oriental-style tourist attractions in the city really don't come much more impressive than the Big Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta) and the Little Goose Pagoda (Xiaoyan Ta), both of which epitomize the very best aspects of ancient Chinese architecture.

City Walls

Address: Chengqiang, Xian, China, CN
The City Walls of Xian are unusual in China, since they are still standing and remain in surprisingly good condition, considering their age. Constructed directly on the actual foundations of the walls on the Tang Forbidden City, the City Walls date back to the period of Hongwu, the Ming dynasty's very first emperor.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 22:00
Admission: charge

Big Goose Pagoda / Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta)

Address: Yanta Lu, Xian, China, CN
Tel: +86 029 8521 5014
Located on the southerly side of Xian and standing within the former Temple of Great Maternal Grace, the Big Goose Pagoda was built during the Tang Dynasty, more than 1,300 years ago, to house over 13,000 Chinese volumes of Buddhist scriptures. However, the original pagoda has been renovated, extended and rebuilt a number of times over the years. The Big Goose Pagoda towers almost 65 metres / 213 feet and comprises five stories, being surrounded by a series of Ming-style attractions and buildings from the Qing dynasty. For some excellent city views, climb the stairs to the top of the pagoda and enjoy the panoramas.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 19:00, seasonal variations
Admission: charge, admission charge to climb the pagoda

Little Goose Pagoda (Xiaoyan Ta)

Address: Youyi Xilu, Xian, China, CN
The Little Goose Pagoda is to be found in the landscaped grounds of the Jianfu Temple, which is known locally in Xian as the 'Jianfu Si'. Towering just over 40 metres / 131 feet, the top of this attraction dramatically collapsed during the mid-16th century, following severe earthquake damage. The remaining structure is still very much intact and dates from the early part of the 8th century, being rather delicate in appearance and featuring a total of 15 tiers, which become progressively smaller in size.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Hui Muslim Quarter

Address: Muslim Quarter, Xian, China, CN
Take a stroll around the back streets on the northern and western side of the Great Mosque, where the Muslim Quarter and Hui community reside The Muslim Quarter of Xian is home to a number of interesting attractions, which are connected by narrow alleyways and including historic old mud-brick houses, an Islamic food market, and ornate mosques. Some of the most interesting streets in this part of the city include the Damaishi Jie, the Huajue Xiang, and the Nanyuan Men.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free