Xi'an travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Xi'an is China's ancient capital and Shaanxi people take great pride in being the cradle of Chinese civilization — showing genuine interest in the Qin, Han, and Tang dynasty history is warmly received
English is spoken less consistently than in Shanghai or Beijing, especially outside hotels and major attractions — a translation app helps with taxi drivers, Muslim Quarter vendors, and smaller restaurants
Cash use has declined sharply; WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate everyday transactions, and some small vendors no longer accept cash at all — a foreign-linked digital wallet or UnionPay-enabled card is worth setting up before arrival
Respect Buddhist and Taoist temple etiquette at sites like the Big Wild Goose Pagoda — dress modestly, remove hats indoors, and avoid loud behavior near prayer halls and altars
The Muslim Quarter is home to Xi'an's Hui Muslim community — dress modestly when visiting the Great Mosque (Huajue Mosque) and avoid pork-related comments or bringing outside pork products into the area
The Shaanxi dialect is distinct from standard Mandarin, especially in rural areas; younger people and those in central Xi'an generally speak standard Mandarin fluently
Bargaining is appropriate at market stalls and souvenir vendors in the Muslim Quarter and near the Terracotta Army but not at fixed-price restaurants or official ticket counters
Security checks with bag scanners and ID checks are routine at subway stations and major sites such as the Terracotta Army and Shaanxi History Museum — carrying a passport is necessary, not optional
Queuing is expected and enforced at ticketed entrances like the Terracotta Army and City Wall gates, even when it feels informal elsewhere
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Accept tea when offered — refusing tea is considered impolite in Shaanxi hospitality customs
- Use both hands when presenting or receiving business cards, gifts, or money
- Try the local food enthusiastically — locals take great pride in Shaanxi cuisine and are pleased to see visitors enjoying biang biang noodles or yangrou paomo
- Dress modestly when visiting temples, mosques, and religious sites — cover shoulders and knees
- Learn a few Mandarin phrases such as 'xièxiè' (thank you) and 'nǐ hǎo' (hello) — locals appreciate the effort
- Download WeChat and Alipay before visiting — daily transactions and social interaction depend on them
- Break your own bread into the bowl when eating yangrou paomo — it is customary and part of the dining ritual, not something a server does for you
- Carry a passport at all times, since ID checks at major sites and subway stations are routine
Don't
- Don't point chopsticks at people — it is considered very rude; place them on the chopstick rest when not eating
- Don't stick chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice or noodles — this resembles incense at a funeral and is highly inauspicious
- Don't take photos inside the Great Mosque's prayer hall or of worshippers without explicit permission
- Don't discuss sensitive political topics including Taiwan, Tibet, or Tiananmen Square
- Don't skip the queue at the Terracotta Army or City Wall entrances — orderly queuing is expected and enforced
- Don't refuse food when dining with local hosts — take a small portion of everything offered even if you don't plan to eat it all
- Don't lose your temper in public — maintaining composure, and the other party's face, is crucial in Chinese social culture
- Don't assume all foreign apps and websites will work — many are blocked without a VPN, so plan connectivity ahead of arrival
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- A nod or brief handshake is the standard greeting; use 'Nǐ hǎo' (hello) or 'Nín hǎo' (formal hello for elders or superiors). Addressing people by their title plus surname is respectful.
- Dining
- Wait for the host to start eating and to indicate where to sit. The most senior guest sits furthest from the door. Dishes are shared communally — serve others before yourself. Toasting with baijiu or beer is a key part of formal dining, and lightly clinking a glass lower than a senior host's is a sign of respect.
- Dress
- Casual Western dress is acceptable throughout Xi'an. Temples, mosques, and religious sites require covered shoulders and knees. High-end restaurants have no strict dress code, though smart-casual is appreciated.
- Gifts
- When visiting Chinese homes, bring fruit, quality tea, or imported sweets. Avoid clocks (symbolize death), pears (symbolize separation), or anything given in sets of four (the word for 'four' sounds like 'death'). Gifts are often not opened immediately in front of the giver.
- Business
- Exchange business cards with both hands and a slight bow; study the card briefly before putting it away respectfully. Relationships (guanxi) are central to business in Shaanxi — build personal rapport before discussing deals.
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in mainland China and may be politely refused by staff at local restaurants and taxis. High-end international hotels sometimes include a service charge already. Tipping private tour guides and drivers ¥35-70 (~$5-10) for good service is appreciated but not expected.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
你好
Hello
谢谢
Thank you
不客气
You're welcome
多少钱？
How much is this?
...在哪里？
Where is...?
兵马俑
Terracotta Army
城墙
City Wall
好吃！
Delicious!
买单
The bill, please
我不明白
I don't understand
你会说英语吗？
Do you speak English?
我是游客
I am a tourist
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Xi'an.
Overview: China is officially an atheist state, but Xi'an's imperial-era temples, mosques, and pagodas reflect over a thousand years of coexistence among Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and Confucian tradition. Most residents describe themselves as non-religious or blend folk belief with Buddhist and Taoist customs around festivals and ancestor veneration.
Items:
- Religion
- Buddhism
- Info
- The most visibly practiced organized religion in Xi'an. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda, both Tang-dynasty structures, remain active Buddhist sites tied to the monk Xuanzang's scripture-translation work after his pilgrimage to India.
- Religion
- Islam
- Info
- Xi'an's Hui Muslim community is centered on the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque (Huajue Mosque), founded during the Tang dynasty and still one of the largest and best-preserved early mosques in China, blending Chinese temple architecture with Islamic function.
- Religion
- Taoism
- Info
- Taoist temples are more concentrated outside the city center, notably on Mount Hua (Huashan), a sacred Taoist mountain roughly two hours from Xi'an by high-speed rail, historically associated with Taoist hermits and monasteries.
- Religion
- Confucianism
- Info
- Less a religion than an ethical and social framework, Confucian values around family duty, education, and hierarchy still shape everyday etiquette. The Forest of Stone Steles Museum, housed in a former Confucian temple, preserves the Kaicheng Stone Classics, carved copies of the Confucian canon.
- Religion
- State atheism and folk tradition
- Info
- The Communist Party formally promotes atheism, and religious activity is regulated and monitored by the state. Alongside this, folk practices such as burning incense for good fortune and ancestor veneration during the Qingming Festival remain widespread and are treated as cultural rather than strictly religious.