North-West China Attractions

Welcome to North-West China
Top 5 Attractions

NO.1 Tomb of Qin Shihuang

Justifiably celebrated as one of the world's great cultural experiences, a visit to this stunning site will not disappoint. Building the underground tomb involved 700,000 workers and took 36 years, starting around 221 BC when Qin Shihuang came to the throne. There are three main vaults in the Museum: the first contains around 6,000 warriors, each with individual features, standing in their original pit and viewed from above. The second vault is still being excavated and in the third, there are 68 warriors and a chariot. There's also a pavilion with two miniature bronze chariots. The site itself is in a beautiful setting and there is a good restaurant. You'll easily spend most of a day here.

NO.2 Huashan

This magnificent peak is a few hours east by train from the city and it is worth spending a couple of days to visit. Hiking the mountain will take at least seven hours although there is a cable car most of the way for the leisurely visitor. Considered one of China's Five Sacred Mountains, the unforgettable views on a clear day are well worth the trip.

NO.3 Great Goose Pagoda (Da Yan Ta)

Like so much else in Xian, this was built, then rebuilt over the centuries. In this instance, the pagoda was originally constructed in the 7th century and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. It has also been recently restored. The beautiful 64 meters Buddhist pagoda was originally made to house a celebrated monk's collection of Buddhist scriptures. It was once connected to the Imperial palace and also houses the Tang Dynasty Arts Museum, where you can see why the Tang era is celebrated as China's greatest cultural epoch.

NO.4 Huaqing Hot Spring

Tang Emperor Xuanzong built a palace here for a concubine he was particularly fond of. Traditionally the hot springs heated private baths and pools although these days the water supply is only enough for a few fountains. Attractive gardens remain and it is a popular tourist attraction. In a famous incident, Chiang Kai-shek was briefly arrested here by a subordinate in 1936.

NO.5
South Gate (Nanmen)
Climb up the stairs onto the city walls and view the old city on one side and the new city on the other. It's an enjoyable way to spend a morning. Although the Tang Dynasty was the first to build walls here, these date back to the Ming Dynasty and were renovated in 1983.