Explore all three excavation pits, where over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 670 horses were hand-crafted by 700,000 workers. This vast underground army was created to protect China’s first emperor in the afterlife, then buried and forgotten for centuries. Even today, it is only partially uncovered.

Sit down to a spread of hearty dishes from rural Shaanxi you won’t find in the city. The menu includes Grandma’s Fried Pancake with smoky chili paste, steamed pork belly coated in toasted rice flour, buckwheat noodles once reserved for emperors, and Jiangshui Yuyu – a classic dish of chewy noodle bites in a tangy broth.

Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall is one of the oldest and most complete military defenses in the world, built wider than it is tall and strong enough to survive centuries of history. Spend time walking (or optionally biking) along the top, with views of moats, archer towers, and the city it was built to protect.

Taste Our Top-Rated Evening Food Tour by Tuktuk Hop into tuktuks and explore hidden corners of the Muslim Quarter for Xian’s most iconic eats: hand-pulled biangbiang noodles drenched in chili oil, BBQ skewers grilled to perfection, soup-filled dumplings with spices from the ancient Silk Road, and gourd chicken – a centuries-old specialty.

End the day with a craft beer at a local brewery tucked inside Xian’s city walls – the perfect end to a full day of history, culture, and good eats.