Sandbox

From ChinaTravelGuide

• Qingdao Map (青岛地图)

I use proxy Click here to open Shanghai map.

Northwest China (西北) » Shaanxi (陕西) » Xi'an (西安)

Contents 1 Xi'an Today 2 Getting in & Getting out 2.1 By Air 2.2 By Train 2.3 By Bus 3 Getting Around 3.1 By Public Bus 3.2 By Tour Bus 3.3 By Taxi & Rental Car 4 Attractions 4.1 Attractions inside the city 4.2 Attractions around Xian 5 Hotels 5.1 Budget 5.2 Mid Range 5.3 Luxury 6 Restaurants 7 Shopping 7.1 Souvenirs 7.2 Shu Yuan Men (The Arts Street) 7.3 Xian Antique Market 7.4 Wenbaozhai Tour Shopping Center 7.5 Peasant Painting Gallery 8 Night Life & Entertainment 9 Sports & Recreation 10 Excursions & Day Trips 10.1 Mount Huashan (华山) 10.2 Tomb of the Yellow Emperor Xuan Yuan (黄帝轩辕) 10.3 Yan'an (延安) 10.4 Hukou Waterfall (壶口瀑布) 11 Tips & Practical Info 11.1 ATMs, Banks & Currency Exchange 11.2 Post Office 11.3 Visa Extensions 11.4 Emergency Numbers 11.5 Hospital 11.6 Useful Numbers 11.7 Bookstores 11.8 Famous Universities

[edit] Xi'an Today

Xi'an today is best known for its tourism and large state-owned aircraft manufacturing industry. It is also a textile, medicine, and educational center. It has about 40 colleges, universities and research institutes. Among them, Xi'an Jiaotong (Communications) University, and Northwestern Polytechnic University (NWPU) are the best known with strong financial support from the Chinese government.

Today's Xi'an also benefits greatly from China's 'Develop the West' campaign (西部大开发), whose goal is to develop the western and interior regions of China, and to bridge the growing economic disparity between eastern and western China.

The recent China's surging economy and home ownership has prompted a boom in construction activity in Xi'an.

[edit] Getting in & Getting out

[edit] By Air

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (IATA: XIY) is located 50 km (31 miles) northwest of the Xi'an's Bell Tower (zh:钟楼), the well-known city center. Flights are available to all other major Chinese cities including Beijing (zh:北京), Chengdu (zh:成都), Chongqing (zh:重庆), Dunhuang (zh:敦煌), Fuzhou (zh:福州), Guangzhou (zh:广州), Hangzhou (zh:杭州), Hohhot (zh:呼和浩特), Hong Kong (zh:香港), Kunming (zh:昆明), Lhasa (zh:拉萨), Lanzhou (zh:兰州), Macau (zh:澳门), Nanjing (zh:南京), Shanghai (zh:上海), Urumqi (zh:乌鲁木齐), etc. Newly opened domestic routes include those from Jiuzhaigou (zh:九寨沟), Ningbo (zh:宁波), Zhengzhou (zh:郑州) and Lianyungang (zh:连云港). There are direct international flights between Xi'an and Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Travelers from Europe, America and other countries can get to Xi'an through stops in Beijing (zh:北京), Shanghai (zh:上海), Hong Kong (zh:香港) or Macau (zh:澳门).

Taxi cabs and the airport bus are the two major transportation tools between downtown and the airport. The one-way bus ticket is 25 yuan per person, and the taxi costs about 100 - 120 yuan. It's not unusual that you encounter people asking for money at the final bus stop, as it's a good place to find wealthy domestic and international visitors.

[edit] By Train

Xian Railway Station is the major link for trains going west and east. The station is at the north side of the town. Buses to the station can be found on all the main streets, and the cost is only 1 or 2 Yuan. For taxi, the fare should not be more than 10 Yuan if you are not too far away from the city wall.

There are direct trains from Xi'an to Beijing (北京) (16 hours), Shanghai (上海) (17 hours), Guangzhou (广州) (27 hours), Chengdu (成都) (17 hours), Zhengzhou (7 hours), Hefei, Qingdao (青岛) and Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) (45 hours), etc. Potential train riders from foreign countries are advised to compare with traveling by air, as it takes many hours by train to get to other major tourist attractions in China (such as Beijing, Shanghai, Yunnan), and air ticket (especially with discount) sometime costs less than the train ticket.

The ticket office for foreigners is on the second level of the train station with hours from 8.30AM -11.30AM and 2.30PM -5.30PM. Make sure you bring your document (passport, visa, etc.). You can also buy hard seats at an office on Lianhua Road.

However, foreign visitors are not encouraged to purchase train tickets directly from the ticket office because of the language barrier and the usual crowd at those offices. Most major hotels will book train tickets for you for a nominal fee. Reserve about 30 minutes to get to the train station from city center. For peace of mind, buy train tickets one week in advance, especially during the peak travel seasons.

[edit] By Bus

Xi'an is a major highway hub second only to Beijing. There are nine national highways crossing Xi'an, and long-distance buses go to many other cities in China. Below are some important bus stations in Xi'an.

• Xi'an, Shaanxi Provincial Bus Station: at the northeast of the city opposite Xi'an Railway Station. There are buses from here to Mt. Huashan (2~3 hours) and other cities in Shaanxi and neighboring provinces, such as Zhengzhou (6 hrs), Taiyuan (7 hrs), Beijing (15 hrs), Yinchuan (13 hours), Yan'an (9 hrs).

• Xi'an West Passenger Station: No.17 Mid-Changle Road. There are regular buses to southern Shaanxi and also east side of Xi'an (such as Lintong County).

• Xi'an City Bus Station: No.19 Fengqing Road. There are buses to many neighboring cities and counties (such as Baoji, Zhouzhi and Louguan).

[edit] Getting Around

[edit] By Public Bus

The bus fare in city area for regular buses is 1 Yuan. Tour bus is 2 Yuan, and it stops at all the main scenic spots: Beixinjie(North New Street), Revolution Park (革命公园), Bell Tower, Drum Tower (鼓楼), Guangji Street, Zhuque Gate (Rose Finch Gate), Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Nanshao Gate, Daxingshan Temple, Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔), and the Qin Palace. The buses in suburban area are 1 Yuan each within 10km, and 0.5 Yuan for each additional 5km. Buses with AC equipped are 2 Yuan each.

Info line for taking City-bus: 9600138. The fee is 80 cents per minute. City-bus complaint hotline: 9600135 or 029-84629427. Remember the bus number when you file a complaint and explain what happened.

[edit] By Tour Bus

If you come to visit Xi'an as a group, the tour operator will usually arrange tour buses to visit the scheduled tourist attractions.

[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car

The rate is 6 yuan for the first two kilometers and then 1.5 yuan for each additional kilometer.

Occasionally you may find yourself being taken on a longer ride around town than necessary. Trips within the city walls should not be more than 10 Yuan.

Traffic is almost always heavy. The etiquette of observing right-of-way is still developing.

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Attractions inside the city

Click on the map at the right-hand side to see the full-sized map.

• Bell Tower (钟楼)
• Drum Tower (鼓楼)
• Great Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔)
• Xi'an City Wall (城墙)
• The Great Mosque (清真寺)
• Historical Museum of Shaanxi Province (陕西历史博物馆)
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda (小雁塔)

[edit] Attractions around Xian

Click on the map at the right-hand side to see the full-sized map.

• Terracotta Army Museum (秦兵马俑)
• Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池)
• Famen Temple (法门寺)
• Qianling Tomb (乾陵)
• Zhaoling Tomb (昭陵)
• Mount Huashan (华山)

[edit] Hotels

[edit] Budget

• Bob's Guesthouse, No.85 Huan Cheng Bei Lu Road, room rate 100 RMB/per night

[edit] Mid Range

• Jiefang Hotel, Xi'an Railway Station Square, No. 321 Jie Fang Road
• City Hotel, No.70 Nan Da Jie
• Haida Business Hotel, No. 8 South Street

[edit] Luxury

Hyatt Regency Xi'an Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza Jinshi International Hotel Paradise Resort

Shangri-La Golden Flower Sheraton Xi'an Hotel Sofitel on Renmin Square Wan Nian Grand Hotel

Refer to the detailed list of hotels in Xi'an.

[edit] Restaurants

Xi'an Chang'an Quan Ju De Roast Duck Restaurant Xi'an Restaurant An Bei Japanese Restaurant

De Fa Chang Hotel Restaurant Xi'an Hua Zheng Food Dining and Drinking Xi'an Huili Food and Drinks

[edit] Shopping

With its rapid economic development, Xian is regarded as one of the most important cities in northwestern China. There are many big shopping centers, supermarkets in and around the city, centered mainly along Dong Dajie, Nan Dajie and Jiefang Lu.

[edit] Souvenirs

There are many historical relic shops in Xian, such as Shu Yuanmen (an art street), which is laid out in the style of an ancient street; Xian Antique Market; and Wenbaozhai Tour Shopping Center. Tang tri-colored glazed pottery and replicas of clay figures of warriors and horses, as well as folk handicrafts of paper-cut and cloth art, can be found there.

[edit] Shu Yuan Men (The Arts Street)

Under the ancient city wall behind the Forest of Steles in Xian, there is a well-known street in the style of ancient towns - Shu Yuan Men. Both sides of the slab stone road are lined with buildings in the Ming and Qing styles. Various crafts and arts are sold on this crowded street all year long. Historical relics, calligraphy, paintings, antiques, jewels, and folk art fine works are all tourist favorites.

[edit] Xian Antique Market

Xian Antique Market is located at the intersection of Zhuque Lu and Nan Erhuan Lu (Southern 2nd Ring Road) near the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. From large furniture to small coins, the market contains every possible antique known to collectors - but you should be on guard against replicas.

[edit] Wenbaozhai Tour Shopping Center

Wenbaozhai Tour Shopping Center of Xian is one of the earliest fixed tour shops for foreign travelers in the Northwest. It is an important window opening Xian to the outside world, gaining the unanimous praise of Chinese and foreign guests. Dealers sell silk rugs, woolen blankets, silk clothing, jewels, jade articles, calligraphy, paintings, historical relics, antiques, model clay figures of warriors and horses, and bronze cars and horses - altogether 35 categories and more than 200 kinds of goods. The address is No.5 Yanta Lu Zhongduan.

[edit] Peasant Painting Gallery

Peasant Painting Gallery in the east outskirts of Xian City is one of the most renowned gallery of Shaanxi folk crafts. Having been visited by many tourists both from home and abroad, the gallery exhibits a great deal of Peasant Painting as well as other folk crafts such as paper-cutting and shadow puppet. Professional craftsman in the gallery even can teach visitors to paint or cut!

[edit] Night Life & Entertainment

• Shaaxi Grand Opera House (陕歌大剧院) (No 165 Wenyi Road. Phone: 029-87853295/87853304)

Daily show by Shaanxi Song & Dance Troupe, the largest performing group in western China. "Chang'an Dance with Musical Accompaniment of Tang Dynasty" (唐长安乐舞) is its most well-known.

Open Hour: Dinner (6:30pm-8: 30pm), Show (8:30pm-9: 40pm)

• House Disco (No.72, Nanyuanmen (南院门72号). Phone: 029-87253513/87285327)
• Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Palace

Add: Changan Rd., Xian

Tel:85261633

Description: It provides the best Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Show in Xian. Its a performance of Changan music and dance originated in Tang Dynasty over a thousand years ago. It has been recreated in accordance with various historical records as well as ancient art and relics discovered in Xian. It provides the tourists a good place to enjoy the traditional Chinese music and dinner together.

Open Hour: Dinner (6:30pm-8: 30pm), Show (8:30pm-9: 40pm)

• Yisu She

Add: Anban St., Xian

Tel: 87283640

Description: Its the oldest theater in Xian that provides local Qin Opera. Its always popular with the natives.

Open Hour: 8:00pm-10:00pm

[edit] Sports & Recreation

[edit] Excursions & Day Trips

[edit] Mount Huashan (华山)

One of the five sacred mountains, Huashan (华山) is 120 km east of Xi'an, and about three hours' drive from Xi'an. The highest peak is about 2100 meters, and it takes about nine hours to get to the top. However, it now has a 1550 meter long cable car to help you to reach the top.

It is said that Huashan was one of the birthplaces of the Chinese culture, and the name of China and Chinese (Hua, 华) are all from the name of Mount Huashan (华山).

[edit] Tomb of the Yellow Emperor Xuan Yuan (黄帝轩辕)

The Yellow Emperor is the legendary ancestor of the Chinese people believed to have lived about 2,000 years B.C. The tomb was originally built in the Han dynasty, and then moved here in the Song dynasty. In ancient times, people passing here had to dismount from their horses and pay their respect to their first ancestor. People now observe his memorial day around the 5th day of the fourth lunar month (Qingming Festival).

[edit] Yan'an (延安)

Yan'an is in north Shaanxi province, is about 600km from Xi'an. Yan'an was the headquarters of the Red Army at the end of the Long March in 1936. The important attractions are Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall (延安革命纪念馆) (ticket: 16 Yuan), the four Residences of Chairman Mao (now museums). There are flights from Yan'an to both Xi'an and Beijing. You may also ask for the performances of the Waist Drummers and the Ankle and Wrist Drummers.

The main hotel is Yan'an Guest House (延安宾馆) at No. 56 Zhongxing Street, 716000. Tel: 0911-2886666; Fax：0911－2886534.

[edit] Hukou Waterfall (壶口瀑布)

Hukou Waterfall (壶口瀑布) is China's second largest waterfall, and is the only Yellow Waterfall on earth.

[edit] Tips & Practical Info

[edit] ATMs, Banks & Currency Exchange

• Bank of China (Xi'an city branch) is at 157 Jiefang Lu. It's about 1/4 mile south of the railway station, on the west side of Jiefang Lu, next to the Silk Road Hotel.

• Bank of China (Shaanxi Province branch) is close to the Bell Tower (center of Xi'an) at 306 Dong Dajie (corner of Juhua Yuan at Dong Dajie).

• Bank of China (Nan Dajie branch) is at 29 Nan Dajie, 200 yard south of the Bell Tower.

• Bank of China (Lianhu Lu branch) is at 95 Lianhu Lu.

[edit] Post Office

(Opening Hours: 8:30-18:00)

• City Center: Bell Tower Post Office, Northeast corner of Bell Tower Square
• South Suburb: Xiao Zhai Branch, No.3 Xiao Zhai Xi Lu
• North Suburb: Bei Guan Branch, No.18 Bei Guan Zheng Jie

[edit] Visa Extensions

You can apply for the visa extension at Xi'an Public Security Bureau, located at 138 Xi Dajie (2 blocks west of the Bell Tower on the south side of the road). The regular processing time is 3 days. The office hours are from 8am to noon and 2 to 6pm Monday through Friday.

[edit] Emergency Numbers

• Fire: 119
• Traffic: 122
• Ambulance: 120
• Police: 110

[edit] Hospital

• People's Hospital of Shaanxi Province (Shaanxi Sheng Renmin Yiyuan)

Address: 214, Youyi Lu, Xian

Tel: (029) 85251331

• No. 2 College Affiliated to Xian Medical Unviersity (Xian Yike Daxue Di'er Fushu Yiyuan)

Address: 36, Xi Wu Lu, Xian

Tel: (029) 87273634

• Xian First Aid Center

Address: 24, Jiefang Lu, Xian

Tel: (029) 87427504

[edit] Useful Numbers

• Zip code Inquiry: 184
• Taxi Complain: 88624509
• Mayor's Hotline: 87295170
• Xian Tourists Complain: 87630166
• Shaanxi Tourists Complain: 85261437
• Consumption Complain: 12315
• Telephone Number Inquiry: 114
• Public Buses Complain: 16801315
• China Mobile Customer Hotline: 1860
• China Unicom Customer Hotline: 1001
• China Telecom Customer Hotline: 10000

[edit] Bookstores

• Xin Hua Book Store

Address: 377, Dong Dajie (100 meters away from Bell Tower)

• Shaanxi Foreign Language Book Store

Address:.349, Dong Dajie (500 meters from Bell tower)

[edit] Famous Universities

• Xian Jiaotong University

Address: 28, Xianning Xi Lu, Xian

• Northwestern Polytechnical University

Address: 127, Youyi Xi Lu, Xian

• Northwest University

Address: 229, Taibai Bei Lu, Xian

• Xian International Studies University

Address: 437, Chang'an Nan Lu, Xian

Really good site!