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.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Terracotta Army & Huaqing Palace
Highlights: Pit 1's formation of over 6,000 life-sized terracotta warriors · Bronze chariots recovered from Qin Shi Huang's tomb complex · Huaqing Palace's Tang dynasty hot spring pools and gardens · Site of the 1936 Xi'an Incident at Huaqing Palace
Mount Hua (Huashan)
Highlights: Plank Walk in the Sky bolted to the South Peak cliff face · Sunrise views from East Peak · North and West Peak cable cars over granite ridgelines · Taoist temples along the ancient pilgrim stairways
Hukou Waterfall (Yellow River)
Highlights: Yellow River plunging through a narrow rock gorge · Rainbow mist effect visible in midday sunlight · Winter ice formations along the banks from December to February · Cross-border viewing platforms linking the Shaanxi and Shanxi sides
Hanzhong Old Town & Zhang Liang Temple
Highlights: Zhang Liang Temple's pavilions among centuries-old pine and cypress trees · Surviving sections of the Hanzhong Old City Wall · Han dynasty historical sites tied to the dynasty's founding · Qinling mountain scenery along the high-speed rail route
Famen Temple & Baoji Bronzeware Museum
Highlights: Famen Temple's underground palace and Tang dynasty relic collection · Buddha finger bone relic housed in the temple's relic hall · Baoji Bronzeware Museum's inscribed Western Zhou ritual bronzes · Modern pagoda complex built above the original underground crypt
Qianling Mausoleum & Han Yangling Mausoleum
Highlights: Wu Zetian's blank "wordless stele" at Qianling Mausoleum · Stone spirit way statues including sixty-one headless envoy figures · Han Yangling's glass-floored walkways over underground burial pits · Miniature Han dynasty terracotta figurines and animal models
Yan'an Revolutionary Sites
Highlights: Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall's wartime exhibits and artifacts · Wangjiaping's preserved cave dwellings and CCP headquarters halls · Baota Pagoda's hilltop views over the city · Loess-cave architecture used by revolutionary leaders
Foping National Nature Reserve (Giant Pandas)
Highlights: Wild giant panda habitat unique to the Qinling range · Golden snub-nosed monkey troops in the forest canopy · Marked hiking trails through bamboo groves and conifer forest · Guided wildlife spotting with reserve naturalists
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Under 50km
50 150km
Over 150km
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- High Speed Rail Hub
- Xi'an North Railway Station serves Huashan North, Hanzhong, Baoji South, and Yan'an
- Tourist Bus Lines
- Bus 306 (Terracotta Army/Huaqing Palace) and Bus 300 series cover the eastern Lintong sites
- Chartered Car Note
- Western Shaanxi natural sites (Hukou Waterfall, Foping) generally require a private driver or organized tour
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book high-speed train tickets a day or two ahead during holiday periods — Huashan North and Yan'an routes sell out fast
Start early for anything outside the immediate Xi'an area; several day trips involve 4+ hours of round-trip travel
Bus 306 is the cheapest way to combine the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace without a private driver
Confirm relic-viewing days in advance before planning a Famen Temple trip around seeing the Buddha's finger bone