Top 6 Things To Do in Xi’an with Kids

The Terracotta Army brings most people to Xi’an in China, but there is plenty more to explore in the city. Xi’an (pronounced she’an) has a huge amount of history. This legendary city, formally Chang’an, was once the terminus of the Silk Road and a melting pot of cultures and religions, as well as the capital and political centre of the country and home to many ancient dynasties. We spent two nights in this wonderful city. Here is our guide to exploring Xi’an with kids.

THE BEST OF XI’AN WITH KIDS

1. VISIT THE TERRACOTTA ARMY

The most famous site in Xi’an is the Army of Terracotta Warriors and this was our starting point. About an hour out of central Xi’an are the subterranean life size army of thousands that have silently stood guard over the soul of China’s first emperor for more than two millennia. Qin Shi Huang obviously expected his rule to continue in death as it had in life, hence such a large and impressive tomb.

The discovery of the army of warriors was extremely lucky, as in 1974 peasants digging a well uncovered an underground vault that eventually yielded thousands of terracotta soldiers and horses in battle formation. Unbelievably, all the life-size soldiers were based on real soldiers and thus no two faces are the same! The Army of Terracotta Warriors have been painstakingly restored as they were found in pieces. The work is still ongoing, with about 2000 of the warriors completed to date.

The site is divided into four areas. We started at the largest pit, Pit 1, which is the most impressive. It is believed to contain 6000 warriors (only 2000 are on display) and horses, all facing east and ready for battle. The vanguard of three rows of archers are followed by the main force of soldiers, who originally held weapons, including spears, swords and dagger axes. The infantry was accompanied by 35 chariots made from wood which have long since disintegrated. The warriors are the most astonishing sight.

EVERYONE OF THEM DIFFERENT!

Pit 3 was next, containing 72 warriors and horses, which is thought to be the army headquarters, due to the number of high ranking officers found here.

Pit 2, largely un-excavated, is thought to contain around 1300 warriors and soldiers. The last building contains two bronze chariots and horses unearthed just 20 metres west of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.

2. TAKE A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY LESSON

Chinese writing is very different to english. We booked ourselves in for a Chinese calligraphy lesson at the TangBo Art Museum in the city. Firstly, we received a tour of the museum seeing local artwork in a variety of styles. At the end of the tour we learned how to write Chinese characters using goat hair brushes, ink and rice paper. It was great fun and for a first attempt our efforts were pretty good.  We even walked away with a small souvenir of our time in Xi’an!

3. CYCLE THE CITY WALLS: MUCH MORE FUN THAN WALKING!

The Ancient City Walls in Xi’an provide an opportunity for a cycle.  The first wall of Chang’an was built in 194BC but the wall today dates from the Ming Dynasty and was constructed in 1370. It measures 12 metres in height, 15-18 metres in thickness and 13.7 kilometres in circumference, surrounding the inner city. There are four main gates – north, east, south and west, although more have been added for modern day traffic.

There are places to hire bikes at various points around the wall. Helmets are not provided. There are some suitable bikes for children. Tandem bikes are also available and may be more suitable for younger children. We managed to find suitably sized bikes for our three, aged 8, 10 and 12 at the time. We started our cycle around the top of the city wall at the east gate.

It is really impressive to cycle around such an ancient structure. It took us about two hours to cycle the whole way around stopping at various points for photographs and water.

4. TRY THE LOCAL FOOD IN THE MUSLIM QUARTER

The Muslim Quarter is an area of the city with cafes and stalls selling food, drinks and souvenirs. Muslim Street is a place to wander, taking in the sights, sounds and smells. It was full of people during the day and is apparently even busier at night time. Enjoy the atmosphere and sample some Chinese delicacies.

5. ENJOY THE TRANQUILITY IN THE GRAND MOSQUE

The Great Mosque is just behind Muslim Street, and is one of the largest mosques in China. A fascinating blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture. The present buildings are mostly Ming and Qing, although the mosque dates from the 8th Century. The Mosque is beautiful, a quiet space within the city, with traditional Chinese wooden buildings and stone walkways and gateways, all facing west towards Mecca.

6. VISIT THE SMALL WILD GOOSE PAGODA

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built during the Tang Dynasty under Emperor Zhangzong, is a square pagoda with fifteen levels. The top of the pagoda was shaken off during an earthquake in the 16th Century, but the rest of the pagoda remains intact.

For those families that need to let the kids run around, the Wild Goose Pagoda Park i is an excellent option. Located not far from the Shaanxi History Museum, this park is a favorite hangout for the locals. Aside from climbing up to the top of the pagoda, families can also have fun flying kites, or even watching a water show in the evening.

We loved Xi’an and would definitely recommend spending enough time here to do more than just the Army of Terracotta Warriors – they are truly awe-inspiring but there is a lot more worth exploring too.

WHERE WE STAYED

Holiday Inn Big Goose Pagoda. We spent three nights at this modern hotel in two connecting rooms. It is a large comfortable hotel. One downside however, it is located a fifteen minute drive from the ancient walled city, with few restaurants around it.

READ MORE ON CHINA:

Top Tips for Travelling to China

Five Days in Beijing with Kids

Hiking the Great Wall of China with Kids – Simatai West to Jinshanling

Have you been to Xi’an with kids? How did you send your time? Let us know in the comments below.

Updated Post September 2018