Attractions Nearby Xian, Day Trips and Excursions

(Xian, Shaanxi, China)



Beijing's Forbidden CityThe Shaanxi province of China is quite literally surrounded by exceptional attractions, with the city of Xian being well connected to the sights and sounds of leading destinations, such as both Lanzhou and Zhengzhou. Many of the attractions around Xian are too far away for day trips, although perfect for longer excursions and short breaks.

As the capital of China, Beijing is a truly spectacular city and although it lies to the far north-east of Xian, is within reach and well worth making the effort to visit. Other leading attractions relatively nearby include the Hua Shan National Park, the Hukou Falls, Qingdao, Taiyuan, Yanan and Yulin, each of which have something rather special to offer.


Further image of the Forbidden City in Beijing

Beijing

Beijing is home to some of the most exceptional attractions and temples in the whole of China, particularly around the famous Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square area. The World Heritage Site of Beijing's Summer Palace is one not to miss, as is the Temple of Heaven and the famous Marco Polo Bridge (Luguoqiao), which is flanked by almost 500 individually carved stone lions. The neighbouring stretch of the Great Wall of China is yet another must-see in the Beijing area.

Chen Lu (Chen Lu Pottery)

The mountain top Chen Lu Pottery, in the Northern Sung region, is around a 90-minute drive from Xian and lies directly to the north. Home to a small community of traditional Chinese potters, the Chen Lu Pottery has produced porcelain, ceramics and carved celadon wares for many centuries and dates back to the Tang dynasty. Today, the kilns are still fired using coal and traditional methods, which remain virtually unchanged

Hua Shan National Park image

Hua Shan National Park

The spectacular granite peaks of Hua Shan stand just two hours away by train and some 120 km / 75 miles to the east of Xian. This area is considered to be amongst China's most sacred Taoist regions and cable car rides to the top of the North Peak (Bei Feng) are extremely popular, with this breathtaking journey lasting around ten minutes. Other scenic attractions within the Hua Shan National Park include the East Peak (Dong Feng), the West Peak (Xi Feng), the South Peak (Nan Feng) and the Green Dragon Ridge (Canglong Feng). Numerous hiking trails are available of varying degrees of difficulty.

Picture of the neighbouring Hukou Waterfalls

Hukou Waterfalls

The Hukou Falls are situated approximately 150 km / 93 miles to the north of Xian and best reached by car. Literally translated as 'Mouth of a Pot', the Hukou Falls serves as the second-biggest in China and borders both the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi, being around 50 metres / 164 feet high and some 30 metres / 98 feet wide.

Lanzhou photograph

Lanzhou

Lanzhou is a busy, industrial Chinese city and home to a population of around three million. Located to the far north-west of Xian and reached by train in under nine hours, Lanzhou may be too far for a practicable day trip, although may be of interest to those planning a short break. With many attractions lining the banks of the Yellow River, highlights in Lanzhou include the Gansu Provincial Museum, Lanshan Park, the White Cloud Temple and the White Pagoda Hill.

Photo of Qingdao's Wu-Si Square

Qingdao

Located to the far north-east of Xian, Qingdao is a beautiful city and leading tourist destination in China. Famed for its coastal setting and beachfront attractions, Qingdao offers something quite different, with the main beaches residing on the southerly shoreline. There is a huge amount of sightseeing available in Qingdao, with the Tsingtao Brewery, the Zhangqiao Pier and the Zhanshan Temple standing out. For families, the Ocean Park is a popular theme park and brimming with fast rides, while close by, the beachfront offers boat hire and beautiful views.

Taiyuan

Capital of Shanxi Province and sited to the north-east of Xian, Taiyuan is around 11 hours away by train and a rather industrial and spreading city. The earliest settlements of Taiyuan date as far back as 2,500 years and the oldest remaining attractions of today include the 6th-century Buddhist temple known as the Chongshan Temple, and the Ming-dynasty Twin Pagoda Temple, the latter of which is surprisingly best reached by bicycle. The Shanxi Provincial Museum is also recommended and is housed within a series of Ming buildings.

Yanan

Lying around 350 km / 217 miles from Xian and within northern Shaanxi, Yanan is a relatively small city and was formerly named Yanzhou. Yanan is known for being the birthplace of the Chinese communist revolution and in 1936, marked the ending point of the Long March from Jiangxi. Therefore, many of the attractions within the city do relate to its revolutionary past and include the Yangjialing Revolution Headquarters Site and the Yanan Revolution Museum. The city's hillside park of Qingliang Shan is especially pleasant and home to the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, which has been literally dug out of the sandstone cliffs.

Yulin

The town of Yulin is sited in the Shaanxi province and is historically a garrison town in close proximity to the Great Wall of China and the Zhenbeitai Guard Tower. Attractions within the Old Town area of Yulin include a number of well-preserved buildings and courtyards, as well as the Bell Tower (Zhong Lou), and both the Bring Gladness Temple and the Fragrant Cloud Temple. The Hongshixia (Red Stone Gorge) is nearby and home to in excess of 40 cave dwellings and cliffside pagodas.

Photograph taken at Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou serves as the provincial capital of Henan and is a rather appealing mini-metropolis. The Shang Dynasty Ruins of Zhengzhou stand on the easterly outskirts and are quite hard to miss, with further remains being located within the Zijingshan Park. On the northern side of the city, the Henan Provincial Museum is housed in a rather eye-catching building shaped as a pyramid and contains an array of artefacts relating to the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Further north, hydrofoil boats offer cruises along the Yellow River (Huang He).