If you’re planning a trip to China, make sure to include Xian on your itinerary.

  With its wealth of history and breathtaking beauty you’ll agree it beckons to be discovered. 

You can plan your tour anytime of the year as Xian is blessed with fabulous weather.  You might, however, want to bring a heavier coat for winter when the temperatures drop. 

Xian, the capital of the province of Shaanxi, is nestled between mountains.  It’s here where artists have drawn inspiration from icons like Mount Huashan considered one of the most scenic in the country. 

Once you begin to explore the sites you’ll come to understand why they refer to Xian as a “living history museum.”  A good way to begin your tour is by viewing the impressive city wall.  It’s not only the biggest but the only well preserved Ming Dynasty landmark in the world.       

Continue on with a visit to the Museum of Terra Cotta, housing life size figures of warriors, chariots and weapons from 221 BC found during the archaeological dig of Qin.  Note that the spot where everything was found is recorded as one of the “wonders of the world.”  See the mausoleum of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang also of much importance and listed as World Heritage.  Stop in and see the Famen Temple holding the remains of the founder of Buddhism.  Or head out to the Green Dragon sanctuary built in 582 and called a “temple of inspiration.”    

If you’re wondering what the food is like, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that Xian lives up to its reputation as the “capital of table delicacies.”  Walk along the Muslim snack street and you’ll have the chance to sample all sorts of delectable treats.  You’ll encounter eateries serving local and regional specialties.  But for an unforgettable experience, indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner.  Aside from boasting sublime cuisine, it’s best known for hosting a rather amazing show.  It features 100 performers dressed in traditional costumes who dance to the tunes of music and instruments dating back to imperial China’s period of prosperity. 

And while in Xian, shop for hand-made pottery, crafts, antiques, couture or great folk works of art.   

In Xian, you can re-live the grandiosity of “the eternal city.”