Xi'an travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Xi'an has a continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons: cold, dry winters (December-February, often dropping near or below freezing, around -3 to 4°C/27-39°F daytime), hot, increasingly humid summers (June-August, typically 25-35°C/77-95°F with a concentrated rainy season peaking in July), and comfortable, popular spring and autumn shoulder seasons. Sitting in the Guanzhong Plain and ringed by mountains including Mount Hua to the east, Xi'an can trap haze and smog on still winter days, similar to (though generally somewhat less severe than) Beijing. The best months for sightseeing are April-May (spring) and September-October (autumn), when temperatures are comfortable for walking the City Wall and touring the Terracotta Army's largely open-air pits.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
Items
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Items
Spring (March-May), Summer (June-August), Autumn (September-November), Winter (December-February)
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- Items
- Period
- January-February
- Level
- Low, except Chinese New Year week
- Note
- Chinese New Year (late Jan/Feb, exact date varies) sees mass domestic travel; many small shops and restaurants close for up to a week
- Period
- May
- Level
- High
- Note
- Labour Day (1-3 May) draws a domestic travel surge, and pleasant weather brings international visitors too
- Period
- 1-7 October (Golden Week)
- Level
- Extreme
- Note
- The single busiest week of the year nationwide — expect packed trains, higher hotel rates, and hours-long queues at the Terracotta Army and City Wall
- Period
- December
- Level
- Low
- Note
- Quiet aside from holiday season shopping streets; good hotel availability and short lines at major sites
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
The most important holiday in China. Lantern displays around the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter, fireworks, and family gatherings; many businesses close for several days and domestic transport is heavily booked.
A popular race run partly along the top of the ancient City Wall, drawing domestic and international runners.
Public holiday marked by zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and cultural events across the city.
Mooncakes, lantern displays in parks, and family reunions; a public holiday often bridging into the National Day break.
China's national holiday, marked by celebrations at major landmarks and the country's single largest domestic travel surge, with the Terracotta Army and City Wall especially crowded.