Shaanxi is a landlocked province in north-central China that served as the cradle of Chinese civilization and the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road. Home to the world-famous Terracotta Army, the Ming-dynasty Xi'an City Wall, and the sacred cliffs of Mount Hua, Shaanxi pairs 3,000 years of imperial history with the hearty noodle-and-lamb cuisine of the Loess Plateau.
Local currency: Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY/RMB).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Shaanxi.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $4–10/night (dormitory bed in Xi'an hostel)
- Budget
- $13–28/night (budget guesthouse or private room hostel)
- Midrange
- $35–80/night (3–4 star hotel)
- Luxury
- $130–450+/night (5-star hotel or heritage-style property)
Food
- Street
- ¥5–15 (~$1–2) (street food, noodle stall, roujiamo stand)
- Local
- ¥25–55 (~$4–8) (local Shaanxi restaurant meal)
- Midrange
- ¥80–170 (~$11–24) (sit-down restaurant with drinks)
- Fine
- ¥350–700+ (~$49–98) (fine dining with premium ingredients)
Transport
- Bus
- ¥2 (~$0.30) (city bus anywhere in Xi'an)
- Taxi
- ¥20–70 (~$3–10) (short Didi ride within Xi'an)
- Airport
- ¥150–190 (~$21–27) (Didi from Xianyang Airport to city center)
- Daytrip
- ¥55–115 (~$8–16) (train or bus to Mount Hua)
Activities
- Museum
- ¥0–65 (~$0–9) (Shaanxi History Museum is free with advance online reservation; special exhibitions charge extra)
- Sites
- ¥54–150 (~$8–21) (City Wall entry ¥54/$8; Terracotta Army ¥120–150/$17–21 depending on season)
- Tour
- ¥210–560 (~$30–80) (half-day guided tour from Xi'an)
- Excursion
- ¥350–1,050 (~$50–150) (full-day private day trip with driver)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Shaanxi costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$175 for 7 days (hostel, street food, public transport, free attractions)
Midrange traveller
$420 for 7 days (mid-range hotel, restaurant meals, some guided tours)
Luxury traveller
$1,120+ for 7 days (five-star hotels, fine dining, private driver, premium experiences)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Use the Xi'an Metro — at $0.40–0.85 per ride it is by far the cheapest and fastest way to reach the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Bell Tower area
Eat street food and visit small local noodle houses rather than tourist-oriented restaurants near the Terracotta Army entrance
Book Terracotta Army and Shaanxi History Museum tickets online in advance to avoid scalpers and guarantee same-day entry
Take the tourist bus (Line 5/306) to the Terracotta Army instead of a private tour — it is a fraction of the cost
Buy a local SIM card at the airport for $5–12 rather than relying on expensive international roaming
Travel in shoulder season (April–May or September–October) for lower hotel and transport prices
Use Ctrip/Trip.com instead of international booking platforms for better Chinese hotel and train prices
Reserve free same-day Shaanxi History Museum tickets online rather than paying for a bundled tour that includes it
Book bullet trains in advance for the best prices on the Xi'an to Huashan North route
Walk or cycle the Xi'an City Wall loop instead of joining a paid tour — a bike rental on top of the wall is inexpensive
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Xi'an City Wall South Gate Plaza
Free public square outside the South Gate with evening performances and city views (climbing the wall itself requires a ticket)
Muslim Quarter Street Walk
Free to walk through Beiyuanmen and the surrounding lanes — only pay for food, tea, and souvenirs
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square
Free to admire both landmarks from the surrounding plaza and pedestrian crossings at night when illuminated
Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Vast former Tang-dynasty imperial palace grounds, largely free to explore as parkland with some paid exhibition halls
Small Wild Goose Pagoda Park Grounds
The surrounding Xi'an Museum park and gardens are free to enter; climbing the pagoda itself requires a small fee
Great Tang All Day Mall (Datang Buyecheng)
Free pedestrian street near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda with public art, fountain shows, and Tang-dynasty-style architecture
Revolution Park
Central Xi'an park popular with locals for morning tai chi, dancing, and relaxing
Shaanxi History Museum (with advance reservation)
Free general admission with a same-day or advance online ticket reservation; only special temporary exhibitions charge a fee