Xi’an was the capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties and holds an important place in Chinese history. It was the easternmost point of the Silk Road, a Eurasian trade route active from the 2nd century BCE until the mid-15th century. The city, previously known as Chang’An, has existed since the 11th century BCE. It peaked as the Tang Dynasty’s capital (618~907) but declined after its fall. Though certainly not one of China’s largest cities, it remains a popular tourist destination due to its many impressive historical monuments and ancient sites.
1. A Tomb Fit for an Emperor
The most important historical site in Xi’an is undoubtedly the Terracotta Army (known formally as the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is exactly what it sounds like — an army of terracotta soldier statues. The story behind this site is fascinating, from its construction to its discovery. The army is part of the vast necropolis of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who was buried around 210-209 BCE. It is believed to cover around 38 square miles, and its construction involved an estimated 700,000 conscripted workers. The location is said to have been chosen due to its gold and jade reserves.
An ancient account by historian Sima Qian described the mausoleum as containing “rivers of mercury.” Mercury was believed to be an elixir for immortality, which Emperor Qin was fixated on. High levels of mercury detected in the soil appear to verify Qian’s account.
The army was constructed around the late 200s BCE, with an estimated 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. These were all intended to protect the emperor in the afterlife. Remarkably, every single figure differs in height, uniform, and hairstyle, all of which depend on their rank. Their faces are also unique, and they were placed in military formation by rank.
The site remained undiscovered until 1974 when pottery fragments were uncovered by farmers who were digging a well. Archeologists descended on the area, where up to 16 ft of soil had accumulated over the site. Site excavations uncovered several pits, with pit one alone containing over 3,000 soldiers. Other pits have been found containing carriages, acrobats, strongmen, officials, and rare animals in what appears to be an underground park.
Work continues on the site today, making it great for those interested in archeology. The tomb itself remains unopened for two possible reasons: either to prevent damage to the artifacts inside or due to concerns about the concentration of mercury. Unfortunately, when unearthing the warriors, archeologists discovered that the lacquer covering them flakes off within four minutes of being exposed to Xi’an’s dry air.
2. Xi’an’s Ancient Buddhist Pagoda
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda built in 652 CE, during the Tang Dynasty. It is located in the southern suburbs of Xi’an around 2.5 miles from the city’s downtown.
The pagoda initially had five stories and was made of rammed earth with a stone exterior. It collapsed after five decades and was rebuilt in 704 during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian with an additional five stories added on. The purpose of the structure was to hold Buddhist sutras (texts) and figures brought to China from India by Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk, scholar, and translator.
Xuanzang started from Chang’an (ancient Xi’an) and traveled along the Silk Road before eventually arriving in India, the home of Buddhism. After returning to Xi’an, he oversaw the construction of the pagoda.
The structure is considered an architectural wonder, as it was built using layers of brick without any cement. Today, the building leans noticeably to the west. The interior features engraved statues of the Buddha by famed 7th-century artist Yan Liben.
A severe earthquake in 1556 damaged the pagoda, bringing it down by three stories to its current height. It was repaired extensively during the Ming Dynasty and renovated in 1964. Despite these restorations, most work was done during the Tang Dynasty, so the current building is essentially a Tang structure. It is currently 211 feet tall and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
The pagoda is inside the Daci’en Temple complex, which was built in 648 for Empress Zhangsun. The grounds of the temple are vast, covering 12.5 acres, one-seventh of the original area. The temple complex welcomes millions of tourists each year and even has its own metro station.
Visitors to the pagoda can climb the twisting staircase for panoramic views of the city. Another impressive feature is in the north square, where you can find the largest musical fountain in Asia.
3. China’s Most Complete City Wall
Another significant historical site in Xi’an is the impressive city wall, which is the most complete city wall in China. It is also one of the largest ancient defensive systems that still exists.
The wall, built around 1370, stretches for 8.5 miles around Xi’an’s city center. It has four main gates — the East, West, South, and North gate. It stands 40 feet tall and is surrounded by a moat. Every 400 feet or so, there is a rampart that extends out from the main wall, with 98 ramparts in total. Each rampart had a sentry building, where soldiers could guard against enemies while remaining hidden. As ancient weapons could not break through the wall, the only way enemies could enter the city was by attacking the gates.
The construction of the wall can be traced back to an encounter that the first Ming emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, had with a hermit called Zhu Sheng. Before Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, Zhu Sheng told him to build high city walls, store food, and work to build his empire. After the Ming Dynasty was established, Zhu Yuanzhang followed that advice, enlarging the existing Tang Dynasty wall to the size it is today.
The wall was originally built using layers of dirt, with the base also comprised of lime and glutinous rice extract. Over time, there were three restorations of the wall. In 1568, the wall was rebuilt with bricks. In 1781, the wall and towers were refitted, and in 1983, it was restored by the provincial government.
The most beautifully decorated gate today is the south gate, which was restored and opened to the public in 2014. The South Gate Square is often used as the site for government ceremonies, and the structure itself contains two museums that are free for those with tickets to the gate. Visitors wishing to explore the ancient wall can do so in several ways. You can walk, ride a bike, or take a sightseeing car.
4. An Ancient Time Piece: The Bell Tower
When visiting Xi’an, it is impossible to miss the imposing Bell Tower, which stands at 118 feet. Constructed in 1384, the Ming Dynasty tower was built in a traditional style and marks the geographical center of the city. Roads going north, south, east, and west all extend from the Bell Tower, leading to the four main gates of the city wall.
Like other clock towers in China, the structure was used to report the time and publish news. The tower was also used in many other ways — it saw battle during local wars and was home to Xi’an’s first cinema. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the tower also served as an alarm station, warning citizens of Japanese air raids.
Xi’an’s Bell Tower is the best-preserved and largest building of its kind in China. In 1582, because the city had grown and its center point had shifted, the Bell Tower was relocated 3,280 feet east of the original site. Though the tower was repaired in 1699, 1740, and 1840, all of the parts of the building are original aside from the base. The tower originally held the famous Tang Dynasty Jingyun Bell, which, according to legends, fell silent during the Ming Dynasty. It was then replaced by the current bell, a smaller version weighing 5 tons.
In 1939, the Bell Tower was bombed by Japanese planes and was seriously damaged. The government repaired the structure afterward. The tower was overhauled an additional five times after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. It was opened to the public in 1984 and has been adapted to modern life over time. For instance, there are 20-foot-high arched doors on each side of the base which cars could pass through. However, as the city grew and the traffic became too heavy, the road was replaced by a pedestrian walkway. Visitors can ascend the tower to view the art inside and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The Bell Tower faces the Drum Tower, which is next on this list.
5. Marking Nightfall: The Drum Tower
Northwest of the Bell Tower, across the Bell and Drum Tower Square, is Xi’an’s Drum Tower, the largest existing drum tower in China. It was built in 1380 and stands at just over 367 feet in height. The tower is unique, as it combines the architectural styles of the Tang and Qing dynasties. Additionally, no iron nails were used anywhere in the structure.
The tower holds a total of 24 drums along its sides. The drums in the tower were used to mark nightfall and were also used as an alarm in emergencies. The tower was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, both in 1699 and 1740.
Visitors to the tower will enter through one of the arched doorways and then climb the stairs to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding city. On the second floor, there is an exhibition of Chinese drum culture, where drums can be viewed that date back thousands of years. The largest drum in China is also inside the tower, and if your visit is timed well, you can enjoy a musical performance.
6. Xi’an’s Great Mosque: A Silk Road Relic
Northwest of the Drum Tower is the Great Mosque of Xi’an. Originally built in the year 742 CE, during the Tang Dynasty, the mosque was reconstructed at least four times. The version we see today was largely built in 1384 CE during the Ming Dynasty, with additions made by subsequent dynasties.
The structure is one of China’s largest, oldest, and best-preserved Islamic mosques. Its construction followed the introduction of Islam in Northwest China by Arab merchants. These merchants settled in China after traveling from Persia and Afghanistan in the mid-7th century, and their descendants still practice Islam today. This group of people is generally considered to be part of the Hui ethnic group. What makes Xi’an’s Great Mosque so interesting is that it combines traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural styles.
The mosque covers an area of nearly 130,000 square feet, has four courtyards, and houses over 20 buildings. It is meticulously landscaped and has a serene atmosphere. In the first courtyard, you will find an elaborate 30-foot-high wooden arch that is decorated with 17th-century glazed tiles. The second courtyard has a stone arch with two steles. One stele features script by Mi Fu, a famous Song Dynasty calligrapher. The other features script by Dong Qichang, a famed Ming Dynasty calligrapher.
The third courtyard has many ancient steles, in addition to the Xingxin Tower, where attendees of the mosque have prayer events. The principal pavilion, which contains the Prayer Hall, is in the fourth courtyard.
The Great Mosque was declared a Historical and Cultural Site protected by the Shaanxi government in 1956. However, as with nearly every other place of worship, it was shut down during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). During those years, it was converted to a steel factory. After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, religious activities resumed.
The mosque is still an active place of worship for the Hui Muslims of Xi’an. It holds prayer services five times a day — at dawn, noon, afternoon, dusk, and night.
7. Exploring China’s Muslim Heritage
After visiting the Great Mosque, be sure to check out Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, which is home to around 30,000 Muslims. This quarter is north of West Street in Xi’an’s city center and stretches for several blocks. In addition to the Great Mosque, there are around ten mosques in the area. The history of the area can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. At this time, Muslim merchants traveled to Xi’an via the Silk Road, and some settled there.
From the Five Dynasties to the Song Dynasty, the city’s Muslim population started to cluster in the area around the Great Mosque. Ming Dynasty rulers later built Xi’an’s town hall beside the Drum Tower, which is quite close to the quarter. Muslims continued to move into the area, particularly wealthy merchants attracted to the commercial lifestyle.
During the late Qing Dynasty, the Shan Gan Muslim Rebellion led to the destruction of many Muslim neighborhoods elsewhere in China. Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, however, remained unaffected due to its commercial status and location within the city walls.
Most Muslims in the area continue to do jobs related to their religion and their Hui ethnic culture. For instance, there are many businesses related to catering, butchery, and antiques. The Muslim Quarter has become a popular tourist destination in recent decades. In addition to visiting the mosques, tourists also enjoy shopping for souvenirs and trying local Muslim foods. These foods can be traced back to the origins of the quarter — the Tang Dynasty. Some popular traditional meals include beef or lamb stew with flatbread, soup dumplings, kebabs, and a cake interestingly named “wooden cages mirror cake,” flavored with nuts and rose.
