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.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Terracotta Warrior Replicas
Hand-finished clay replicas of the Terracotta Army soldiers, produced in workshops near the Lintong excavation site in sizes from palm-sized figurines to near-life-scale statues.
Price: ¥30-800 (~$4-112) depending on size
Where: Terracotta Warrior Replica Workshop, Lintong District, or the official museum gift shop at the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
Shaanxi Peasant Paintings (Huxian Farmer Paintings)
Brightly colored folk paintings from Huxian County depicting rural harvest scenes and village life, a regional art form recognized as intangible cultural heritage.
Price: ¥80-600 (~$11-84)
Where: Shuyuanmen Ancient Culture Street galleries and the Huxian Peasant Painting Village outside Xi'an
Xi'an City Wall Rubbings and Calligraphy Scrolls
Ink rubbings and brush-calligraphy scrolls of Tang poetry, made to order by shop artisans on Shuyuanmen Street using traditional rice paper and ink stones.
Price: ¥50-500 (~$7-70)
Where: Shuyuanmen Calligraphy and Brush Shop, Beilin District
Shaanxi Shadow Puppets (Piying)
Hand-cut leather shadow puppets painted in traditional opera character designs, a craft native to Shaanxi and used in local shadow-puppet theater performances.
Price: ¥40-300 (~$5.50-42)
Where: Muslim Quarter Bazaar (Huajue Xiang) stalls and Shuyuanmen Street craft shops
Qinqiang Opera Masks and Handicrafts
Painted masks and small figurines representing characters from Qinqiang (Shaanxi opera), sold as decorative wall pieces alongside embroidered pouches and cloth tiger toys.
Price: ¥25-200 (~$3.50-28)
Where: Muslim Quarter Bazaar (Huajue Xiang) and Xi'an Baxian'an Curio and Antique Market
Xi'an Jade Carvings
Carved jade pendants and bangles, ranging from mass-produced tourist pieces to certified higher-grade jadeite, sold by weight and carving complexity.
Price: ¥50-2,000+ (~$7-280+) depending on jade grade
Where: Xi'an Jade and Silk Market, Muslim Quarter
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Muslim Quarter Bazaar (Huajue Xiang)
Dense lane of stalls selling jade, silk scarves, embroidery, spices, and Terracotta Warrior souvenirs alongside street food
Where: Xi'an
Hours: 9:00 AM–10:00 PM
Shuyuanmen Ancient Culture Street
Ming- and Qing-style pedestrian street lined with calligraphy shops, ink-stone and brush makers, art galleries, and antique dealers
Where: Xi'an
Hours: 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
Xi'an Jade and Silk Market
Small shops and stalls specializing in carved jade pendants, silk scarves, and embroidered textiles; bargaining expected
Where: Xi'an
Hours: 9:30 AM–8:30 PM
Xi'an Baxian'an Curio and Antique Market
Sprawling weekend antiques and curio market with old coins, ceramics, Mao-era memorabilia, and reproduction artifacts
Where: Xi'an
Hours: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM (busiest on weekends)
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
SKP Xi'an
Hours: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Kaiyuan Mall
Hours: 10:00 AM–9:30 PM
Da Tang Everbright City (Great Tang All Day Mall)
Hours: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM