2 days in Xi'an: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 4 of 7 free; 3 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 17:45 each day
- Start and finish
- Terracotta Army → Datang Everbright City
- On foot
- ≈ 29 min in total
- Transport
- 2 rides, ≈ 2 h 17 min
- Lunch
- around 12:30
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Xi’an09:30–17:45 · 3 places · 8 h 20 min
Terracotta Army
· 3 h · ¥120, passport booking ahead
- Lunch · 1 h
- 116 min · transport or taxi
Great Mosque of Xi’an
· 45 min · ¥25, ¥15 in winter; Muslims free
- 4 min on foot
Muslim Quarter
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Day 2 · Xi’an09:30–17:16 · 4 places · 7 h 50 min
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
· 1 h · Free
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Shaanxi History Museum
· 2 h 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 17 min on foot
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
· 1 h · ≈ ¥10; pagoda climb ≈ ¥25 extra
- 8 min on foot
Datang Everbright City
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
4 of 7 are free; 3 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Terracotta Army | 51 | 3 h | ¥120, passport booking ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Great Mosque of Xi’an | 44 | 45 min | ¥25, ¥15 in winter; Muslims free |
| 3 | Muslim Quarter | 42 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| 4 | Small Wild Goose Pagoda | 41 | 1 h | Free |
| 5 | Shaanxi History Museum | 35 | 2 h 30 min | Free |
| 6 | Giant Wild Goose Pagoda | 41 | 1 h | ≈ ¥10; pagoda climb ≈ ¥25 extra |
| 7 | Datang Everbright City | 36 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| Total | 11 h 20 min | 4 of 7 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Terracotta Army. Pits of thousands of clay warriors by the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, ≈ 40 km from the centre. 120 yuan, passport booking only.
- 2
Great Mosque of Xi’an. A working mosque built like a Chinese temple: four courtyards and a pagoda for a minaret. 25 yuan, 15 in winter.
- 3
Muslim Quarter. Street-food lanes behind the Drum Tower. Free; best in the evening.
Day 2
- 4
Small Wild Goose Pagoda. A 13-tier early-8th-century pagoda in a temple garden. Free by booking; closed Tuesdays.
- 5
Shaanxi History Museum. Xi'an's great collection: Zhou bronzes, Qin and Han figures, Tang gold. Free by booking.
- 6
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. A seven-tier pagoda of 652 in Da Ci'en Temple. About 10 yuan, the climb another 25.
- 7
Datang Everbright City. A 2 km boulevard of Tang façades, lights and street shows. Free; go after dark.
Who this route is for
- Two or three days in Xi'an
- Chinese history
- Independent, by metro
- Mount Hua needs another day
- Tuesdays: the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is closed
Spring and autumn.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Xi'an itinerary. Day two is south of the centre: the museum, both pagodas and Datang lie on one line, so you reach the boulevard by evening.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
The Shaanxi History Museum
The main exhibition is free but only with a named passport booking; the Tang murals hall is paid. From 15 March to 14 November it opens 8:30–19:00, every day. Allow 2–2.5 hours.
Is 2 days in Xi'an enough?
Yes, for the essentials. Mount Hua, a sacred five-peaked mountain, is 30 minutes away by high-speed train; the City Wall makes a 13.7 km bike ride.
How to do it right
- Book the Shaanxi museum early: the free slots run out.
- Go to Datang after dark: the shows start in the evening.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is closed on Tuesdays.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Xi'an?
Day one: the Terracotta Army and the centre. Day two: the Shaanxi museum, both Wild Goose pagodas and Datang.
How much is the Shaanxi History Museum?
Free by booking; the murals hall is paid.
Can you climb the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda?
Yes, about 25 yuan on top of the temple entry.
When are the Datang shows?
In the evening, after dark.
Is 2 days in Xi'an enough?
Yes for the highlights. Mount Hua needs another day.
How much does it cost?
About 200 yuan on day one and 35–50 on day two.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; children love the evening boulevard.
Where to go after Xi'an?
Chengdu or Shanghai, by air or train.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn.
How do I pay in Xi'an?
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Shaanxi History Museum: booking
- Wikipedia: Xi'an
