Xi'an, the eastern starting point of the historic Silk Road and capital of thirteen Chinese imperial dynasties, is one of humanity's greatest historic crossroads. Formerly known as Chang'an ("Perpetual Peace"), the city preserves an astonishing archaeological legacy alongside a bustling culinary culture.
No trip to China is complete without standing before the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, located an hour northeast of the city center. Discover thousands of individually sculpted life-size warriors, archers, and battle horses guarding the tomb of China's unifier for over 2,200 years. Inside the city, rent a bicycle to ride the entire 14-kilometer perimeter of the colossal 600-year-old Ming Dynasty City Wall.
Xi'an's bustling Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) behind the Bell and Drum Towers is an intoxicating sensory experience of sizzling cumin lamb skewers, hand-stretched biangbiang noodles, warm roujiamo pork or beef sandwiches in toasted flatbread, and crushed walnut pastries.
