A PLACE IN THE PLAN
The Muslim Quarter
Let the food lanes be the main arrival-evening walk.
See where it fits →CHINA / XI’AN
Xi’an Itinerary: 3 days
An evening in the old trading lanes and a full day for the region’s major sights.
A three-day Xi’an itinerary with the Muslim Quarter, Terracotta Warriors and an optional Qinling panda visit from a two-night hotel base.
A trip from Alisha & MattPlanned with couples in mind.
Ancient clay figures.
YOUR TIME3 days · 2 nights
THE FOCUSTerracotta Warriors · Muslim Quarter
THE BASESThe Ritz-Carlton Xi’an
THE PACEArrival + exploring + departure
THE EXPERIENCES TO BUILD A TRIP AROUND
Give these places their time
Give the Terracotta Warriors their own day, with a food-lane evening on arrival.
A PLACE IN THE PLAN
Terracotta Warriors
Give the archaeological museum a full, guided visit window.
See where it fits →A PLACE IN THE PLAN
Qinling panda visit, optional
Choose the panda stop only when current access and the day’s transport allow.
See where it fits →GET TO KNOW THE PLACE
Ancient clay figures.
Lively evening lanes.
Begin with the Muslim Quarter’s evening lanes, then give the Terracotta Warriors the full middle day’s priority. The escorted trip also included a Qinling panda visit. Choose that combination only after checking the whole drive; the excavation halls deserve time beyond the transfer.
Arrive from Guilin, use the evening for a food walk, then give the full middle day to the Terracotta Warriors. The original escorted route also paired a Qinling panda visit with that day; confirm the long cross-region driving before including both.
See how the route fits together ↘A LITTLE ORIENTATION
Get your bearings before setting out.
Arrive from Guilin, use the evening for a food walk, then give the full middle day to the Terracotta Warriors. The original escorted route also paired a Qinling panda visit with that day; confirm the long cross-region driving before including both.
ROUTE DIAGRAM · NOT TO SCALEXi’anTwo-night base
Muslim QuarterEvening walk
Qinling areaOptional arranged visit
Terracotta museumMain sightseeing day
Xi’an airportOnward flight
3 DAYS · 2 NIGHTS · YOUR OWN ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PLAN
ON THE MAP
Put the places in perspective.
Get your bearings before setting out. The map shows how the outings relate to one another; use the day plan to decide which belong together.
Explore the places in the list below.
Place coordinates: Wikidata , Wikipedia and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Geography: Natural Earth. Select a place for its source.
Your Xi’an route and overnight stays
| Day | Route or focus | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GUILIN → XI’AN | The Ritz-Carlton Xi’an. |
| 2 | XI’AN REGION | The Ritz-Carlton Xi’an. |
| 3 | XI’AN → BEIJING | Beijing, if continuing. |
THE PLAN
Your Xi’an itinerary, day by day
Open a day for the stops and practical advice. Let the plan help you decide where to linger.
3 days · 2 nightsA ROUTE TO MAKE YOUR OWN
XI’AN · THE ROUTE
DAY1Arrive and explore the food lanes.
GUILIN → XI’ANArrival and settling in · use the time your journey leaves
Keep the afternoon dependent on flight arrival.
- The Ritz-Carlton Xi’anReach the hotel and settle in before an evening out.
- A craft session, if arrangedThe escorted trip included making a small terracotta warrior. Confirm a current workshop if you want to repeat the activity.
- Muslim Quarter food walkWalk the busy lanes with time to look at the stalls. Choose dishes that suit you and ask about ingredients rather than assuming vegetarian options.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
The Ritz-Carlton Xi’an.
DAY2Terracotta Warriors, with one optional addition.
XI’AN REGIONChoose the main outing · keep alternatives separate
This is a long day if both distant attractions are included.
- Qinling panda visit, optionalThe trip named a research-centre visit arranged by the tour. Verify the precise venue, visitor access and transfer times; research or behind-the-scenes access is not assumed.
- Terracotta Warriors museumMake this the main visit. Arrange your admission and guide, and allow time inside the excavation halls.
- Lunch and returnInclude a meal break and the road journey in the plan. Choose the museum alone if combining both sites leaves the day rushed.
- Dinner at your paceReturn to the hotel or choose another city meal according to the actual finish time.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
The Ritz-Carlton Xi’an.
DAY3Continue to Beijing.
XI’AN → BEIJINGMain visiting day · give the featured stops their time
Keep the airport journey clear of extra sightseeing.
- Checkout and transferConfirm your flight and baggage allowance with your airline.
- Beijing arrivalContinue with the Beijing guide, which includes a conditional Temple of Heaven stop on arrival.
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Beijing, if continuing.
GET TO KNOW THE PLACE
Things to See in Xi’an
Get to know the main sights before putting them into your day. Open a card for the visit details and its place in the route.
GUILIN → XI’AN
The Muslim Quarter
Let the food lanes be the main arrival-evening walk.
Plan your visit
XI’AN REGION
Terracotta Warriors
Give the archaeological museum a full, guided visit window.
Plan your visit
XI’AN REGION
Qinling panda visit, optional
Choose the panda stop only when current access and the day’s transport allow.
Plan your visit
MAKE ROOM FOR THISAncient clay figures.
Ancient clay figures.
Lively evening lanes.
The warriors are the centre of this short stay. A panda visit is a separate logistical decision, rather than a guaranteed extra on every museum day.
A GOOD PLACE TO LAND
Find a base
that suits your days.
Start with where you want to spend the evening, then consider the next morning’s journey.
A BASE TO EXPLORE.
XI’AN · TWO NIGHTS
The Ritz-Carlton Xi’an
A hotel base with road transfers to the main sights.
Find it on the mapThese stays give the route its overnight stops. Before booking, ask about the things that will shape your day: breakfast, arrival time and transfers. Check what your chosen room rate includes.
A little preparation makes a better day.
Use the links below for current visitor information, then check the details with the people arranging your visit.
KNOW THE PACE BEFORE YOU GO
Make the day fit the visit
Give the Terracotta Warriors their own day, with a food-lane evening on arrival.
GETTING THERE & AROUND
Count the whole journey
Arrange the airport transfers, hotel and museum transport before choosing the optional panda addition.
WALKING & CHOICES
Choose the version you will enjoy
The museum and panda visit can make a long touring day. Keep the pandas optional and leave the evening at your own pace.
BEFORE YOU SET THE DATES
What to arrange first
Book the museum visit and guide first. Confirm the actual panda facility and any craft session separately.
THE MAIN DECISION
Start with the parts that set the day
Arrange the airport transfers, hotel and museum transport before choosing the optional panda addition.
YOUR OWN BOOKINGS
Match the details to your visit
Use the linked visitor information for the sites and journeys you choose. Check arrival instructions, entry and any guide or transfer against your actual booking. Meals and optional outings depend on what you arrange.
PICK YOUR SEASON
Xi’an, month by month.
Compare average daytime highs and overnight lows to help choose a season and pack for the trip.
Xi’an
Reference station: Jinghe · 411 m elevation
Average daily highAverage daily low°F
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Warmest average daysJuly
Coolest average nightsJanuary
Plan for the actual outingUse these averages to compare seasons, then check a forecast before packing. They do not show rainfall or guarantee the weather for your dates.
1991–2020 station normals reported to the WMO, via NOAA. High-temperature data ↗ · Low-temperature data ↗ Coastal, city and mountain conditions can differ. These are averages, not a forecast or record extremes.
View the monthly figures
| Month | °F | °C |
|---|---|---|
| January | 41° / 26° | 4.9° / -3.1° |
| February | 49° / 33° | 9.2° / 0.3° |
| March | 62° / 43° | 16.6° / 6.1° |
| April | 73° / 53° | 23° / 11.6° |
| May | 82° / 62° | 27.6° / 16.4° |
| June | 90° / 70° | 32.1° / 21° |
| July | 91° / 74° | 32.8° / 23.4° |
| August | 88° / 72° | 30.9° / 22.2° |
| September | 78° / 63° | 25.4° / 17.3° |
| October | 67° / 53° | 19.7° / 11.5° |
| November | 55° / 41° | 12.9° / 4.8° |
| December | 44° / 29° | 6.8° / -1.5° |
A NOTE FROM ALISHA & MATT
Choose the visit
that suits you.
Book the visits that determine the day, then give the gaps a purpose: lunch, the journey and a chance to sit down.
Alisha & MattProtect the museum time.
Qinling and the Terracotta site are separate excursions. Check the entire drive before combining them.
Book your own guide and access.
An archaeologist or private research-centre tour from a hosted package is not a standard admission benefit.
Keep the city evening simple.
Arrival and departure take two of the three days. Add a night for more of Xi’an itself.
BEFORE YOU GOA few questions
A few questions
before you go.
Can I combine this with the other guides?
Yes. Join the guides at the travel days, then count the hotel nights. One guide’s departure can be the next guide’s arrival, so adding all the day counts would give you time you do not actually have. Match the connections before booking.
How do we keep a copy?
Use “Save this trip” to bookmark the guide in this browser. For a copy to take along, choose “Print this itinerary”: every day opens for printing, and your device’s PDF option lets you save the plan.
THERE’S MORE TO SEE, TOGETHER.Where shall
Find us on Instagram ↗Where shall
we go next?
Follow along for more places we have been and ideas to help plan your own visit.