Xian Hotels

Xian Rundown

The presence of a peerless, household name cultural wonder is invaluable for a city’s international prestige. Such is the case with Xi’an, one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China and a contemporary model of economic revival in a century which, so far, looks to belong to the People’s Republic.

Xian, after all, is the venerable home of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. Most people, however, recognise the UNESCO World Heritage Site by two words: Terracotta Warriors. What has become the most dependable cash cow this side of Tutankhamun for museum curators the world over, with sold-out exhibits from Toronto to Sydney, was unknown prior to a chance discovery by some Lintong District farmers in 1974. Today of course, the epic funerary museum is why over 30 million domestic and 1 million international tourists converge on the Shaanxi province capital.

Xian is not all ancient dynastic monuments, however. Though visitors must inevitably cross the likes of the Bell and Drum towers, Goose Pagodas, mountain temples and old city walls of the holiday checklists, the Silk Road city of 9 million strong is thoroughly modern and hustles with the best of them.

Xian’s Top 10

Xian Events

To experience the full Terracotta Army invasion, book a comprehensive day tour of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and inherent attractions.

Xian is a busy, immersive city but it behooves intrepid visitors to travel to the likes of Mount Cuihua, Mount Li, Mount Wangshun, Mount Zhuque, Mount Zhongnan and other national parks and forests.

Every September the city throws a colourful Ancient Culture and Art Festival.

The annual International Marathon on Xian City Wall is a major event in Shaanxi Province.

When To Go

Weather is seldom not the prime topic of conversation in Xian and is, quite literally, all over the map. The city has a semi-arid, temperate climate that is subject to the East Asian monsoon season. The result is a considerable shift in conditions from summer to winter.

The bulk of annual precipitation in Xian falls from August to October. Winter temperatures flit between 25°F (-4°C) and 46°F (8°C) with very little snow in the process. The furnace-like humidity of summer - the city is in a bowl valley - ushers in occasional dust storms and temperatures between 68°F (20°C) and 90°F (32°C).

As a result, prospective visitors may want to plan trips to Xian in either spring or fall. April, May, September and October are the most clement months, on the whole.

Getting Around

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport handles well over 15 million passengers a year and is the chief transport hub of northwest China. Like other airports and key infrastructure points throughout the People’s Republic, Xianyang International is in hyper-expansion mode. Aside from various domestic destinations, the airport serves Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, Busan, Tokyo and Osaka.

Rail and bus access to Xian is a snap but as always, it pays to splurge on a first-class seat.

Xian’s inaugural subway line became operable in September 2011. Once complete, the metro system will span over 155 miles (250 km). Until that day, bus or taxi is the way to see the city. Go to the tourist office at the Bell Tower for a free map with useful public transport info.