Follow "The Longest Day in Chang'an" to check in Xi'an for 24 hours, eat, drink and have fun in Xi'an
Preface
In recent times, the most popular hit is none other than "The Longest Day in Chang'an".
This TV series, adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name, has a Douban score of 8.7, ranking at the top of the hot search list, and has been praised by netizens as "the first conscientious drama in 2019."
The story tells the story of the third year of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's Tianbao reign. The city of Chang'an was immersed in the atmosphere of celebrating the festival. A group of Turkic wolf guards from the Western Regions took the opportunity to sneak in. Li Bi of Jing'an Division and Zhang Xiaojing, a death row prisoner, were ordered to save the city of Chang'an within twelve hours.
The grand spectacle of nations flocking to pay tribute, the bustling streets, the graceful Tang women strolling by candlelight at night... From the very beginning, the camera recreates the grandeur of Chang'an thousands of years ago. Climbing the city gates, the opening of the West Market, dancing in colorful costumes, and the bustling atmosphere of lights and decorations everywhere! If it were today, this would be a true Xi'an city vlog!
Today, the editor will give you a comprehensive analysis of the Xi'an travel guide hidden in "The Longest Day in Chang'an", and restore a "Chang'an City" that is worthy of your crazy support!
Chenshi
【Bell and Drum Tower】Who is not a city center?
[Check-in time] Chenshi, 7:00-9:00 am
【Check-in location】Xi'an Bell Tower and Drum Tower
【Play time】1 hour
In the heart of Xi'an, two iconic buildings, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, echo each other from afar, creating a truly spectacular scene.
The Xi'an Bell Tower, built in the 17th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, is a building with a strong sense of traditional Chinese architectural style. It was named "Bell Tower" because a large bell hung on the tower during the Ming Dynasty, which was mainly used for daily timekeeping.
The Drum Tower is located on West Street, facing the Bell Tower to the east. It once housed a large drum that was beaten daily to tell the time. Although it no longer serves as a timekeeper, this largest existing Drum Tower in China is still worth a visit.
Si hour
Xi'an City Wall: A unique perspective on the past and present
【Check-in time】Sishi, 9:00-11:00 am
[Check-in location] Xi'an Ming City Wall
【Play time】2 hours
On a sunny morning, take a walk up the city wall and carefully examine the old bricks that bear the traces of time. Or choose the most Xi'an-style travel method - cycling around the city wall and feeling the bumps of the uneven bricks on the bike. I believe this experience will be rare!
The Xi'an City Wall has urn-style city walls at each of its four gates, north, south, and east, offering eight entrances. We recommend ascending the wall from the South Gate (Yongning Gate). Also, there are Tang Dynasty warrior parades at 10:00 and 11:00 AM daily, making visiting the wall at 9:00 AM just perfect!
Tips:
【South Gate Tour Guide】
South Gate: 8:00-22:00 (April to October)
8:00-19:00 (November to March)
Hanguang Gate: 8:00-17:30 (all year round)
Noon
[Return to the Village for Food Hunting] Check out the same food featured in the drama
【Check-in time】Noon, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
[Check-in Locations] Beiyuanmen, Xiyangshi, Dapianyuan, Miaohou Street, Sajin Bridge
【Play time】2.5 hours
What to do at noon? Eat, eat, eat, eat, of course! In "The Longest Day in Chang'an," when the unruly Zhang Xiaojing, fresh out of jail and about to capture the Wolf Guards, first eats a bowl of mutton in a basin, slurping it up with such deliciousness!
It can be seen that during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the people of Chang'an City were still very happy. They had all kinds of delicious food, such as fine wine, fruits, mutton and so on. No wonder they couldn't lose weight!
At this point, many netizens are asking, what exactly is this mouth-watering "water basin lamb"? And where can you buy it? The editor answers: Xi'an Huifang!
The Huifang in Xi'an is also known as the "Hui Muslim settlement area". It is well known that the Hui Muslims mainly eat beef and mutton as their main meat, and Shuipen mutton is another kind of delicious delicacy that is different from beef and mutton soup with steamed buns!
The highlight of Shui Pen Lamb is the mutton soup. A delicious broth is paramount, and the lamb is cooked to perfection. Pairing the hot broth with Xi'an's signature crescent-shaped sesame seed cakes is incredibly satisfying, with a crispy and delicate texture. Everything is just right. Those with smaller appetites, don't worry; this Shui Pen Lamb meal will keep you full for the entire day!
Tips:
Recommended shop [Chuncheng Shuipen Lamb]
Address: Intersection of Yannan 5th Road and Furong West Road, Xi'an Price: 34 yuan per person
Besides the water basin lamb, another highlight of the show is the Fire Crystal Persimmon. I was clearly here to watch the show seriously, but I was inadvertently attracted by Zhang Xiaojing sucking the crystal persimmon through a straw... So, what kind of magical persimmon is this?
Fire crystal persimmons are a specialty of Lintong District, Xi'an. The red persimmons are sweet and juicy, soft and sticky and melt in your mouth. Every autumn, I buy a small box and take it home. I eat persimmons while watching TV series. It's like a fairy tale life!
It's clear from the way Zhang Xiaojing ordered his dishes that he's a real foodie. While waiting for his water basin lamb, he kept his mouth full and ordered two fire crystal persimmons. Amazing! I have to mention one more thing here! Fire crystal persimmons aren't limited to being eaten directly; their derivative, the Huanggui persimmon cake, is a real treat!
Huanggui Persimmon Cake, you can treat it as a dessert. The raw materials are taken from the fragrant fire crystal persimmons that Zhang Xiaojing eats, and are mixed with flour to make small cakes. The color is golden, and it is soft, glutinous and fragrant when you put it in your mouth. It is so sweet to the heart!
If you travel to Xi'an, I recommend trying the [Yiguzhai Huanggui Persimmon Cake] at No. 119 Huimin Street. The rose filling is simply delicious!
Noon
[In-depth Study of Small Wild Goose Pagoda] Decoding the Integration of Pagoda and Temple
【Check-in time】Wei Shi (13:00-15:00)
[Check-in Location] Jianfu Temple, Small Wild Goose Pagoda
【Play time】2 hours
Unlike the crowded Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is like a beautiful Jiangnan-style garden, with shady thousand-year-old locust trees and forest paths full of flowers hidden in it. As soon as you come here, you will feel refreshed and your heart will be much calmer.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built to preserve Buddhist scriptures retrieved by the eminent monk Jingyi. It was also the place where candidates for the ancient military imperial examinations were nominated.
The most amazing thing is that the Small Wild Goose Pagoda has withstood more than 70 earthquakes over the past 1,300 years, causing damage and cracks, only to reunite again 34 years later in an earthquake! If you visit Xi'an, you must see this legendary place with your own eyes.
Tips:
【Small Wild Goose Pagoda Visit Guide】
Opening Hours:
Summer: 9:00-17:30; Winter: 9:00-17:00
Price: Free admission, 30 yuan for tower climbing
3:00 PM
【Anrenfang】Explore Chang'an 108fang
【Check-in time】Shenshi, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
[Check-in Location] Anrenfang, Xi'an Museum
【Play time】2 hours
The Xi'an Museum, located southwest of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, is another must-see attraction in Xi'an. Avoiding the Shaanxi History Museum's peak season and taking an off-the-beaten-path approach to the Xi'an Museum is a good option.
If this is your first time visiting the ancient capital of Xi'an and you don't know where to start in this "Museum City", you might as well make the Xi'an Museum the first stop of your journey. I believe it will help you understand the history of this ancient city most intuitively.
The most worth-seeing of the three-story exhibition hall of the museum is the basic display of "Ancient Capital Xi'an" on the underground floor. The exhibition hall has a huge model of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty built at a scale of 1:1500, which is very eye-catching!
The Tang Dynasty's Chang'an City boasted a rigorous layout, symmetrical structure, and neatly arranged buildings. The outer city had three gates on each side, and six main streets connecting these twelve gates served as the city's main thoroughfares. Within the city, 11 main streets ran north-south and 14 ran east-west, dividing the living areas into 108 neatly arranged neighborhoods.
Just like the long shot at the beginning of the first episode of "The Longest Day in Chang'an", the prosperous Tang Dynasty was magnificent and spectacular, and the dazzling momentum of the 108 districts was on full display!
Tips:
Xi'an Museum Visiting Guide
Opening hours:
9:00-17:30 in summer, ticket sales stop at 17:00
Winter: 9:00-17:00, ticket sales stop at 16:30. Closed on Tuesdays and New Year's Eve
Price: Free, 3,000 invoices per day
Museum tour: 100 yuan/time, scan the QR code at the entrance to get a free audio guide
You hour
[Yongxingfang] Eat the internet-famous snacks, so delicious!
【Check-in time】Youshi, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
[Check-in Location] Yongxingfang Food Street, Zhongshan Gate
【Play time】1 hour
Yongxingfang, famous for its bowl-smashing wine, is actually a place steeped in history, having once been the residence of Wei Zheng during the Tang Dynasty. Today, Yongxingfang boasts a remarkable location, bounded to the west by East Second Road to the south, East Street to the north, and Huangcheng East Road to the east. Its reputation is further enhanced by its diverse selection of Shaanxi delicacies.
After a day of strolling, it’s almost sunset, so it’s time to eat and drink! I highly recommend trying the local snack – sesame sauce cold noodles.
Different from ordinary cold noodles, rolled noodles, hot noodles and stuffed noodles from the northwest, sesame sauce cold noodles are spicy with the rich aroma of sesame paste, sour and refreshing with a little sweetness. It is my favorite, no doubt about it!
Freshly steamed cold noodles are cut into thin strips and topped with soy sauce, chili oil, vinegar, and sesame sauce, creating a vibrant and delicious experience. With the recent average temperature in Xi'an at 35°C, a bowl of refreshing sesame cold noodles is the perfect way to enjoy a scorching summer day. It's both refreshing and appetizing, stimulating your appetite—it's simply perfect!
Tips:
[Yongxingfang Food Guide]
Yongxingfang has three main streets, each with its own unique snacks, each tailored to the region and local cuisine. We recommend the following dishes, featuring unique flavors and authentic ingredients.
If you can, please eat as much as you want (dei, Shaanxi dialect means "eat") because you will never be able to eat the authentic ones outside of Shaanxi Province!
Guanzhong Street: Qinzhen rice noodles, Shuipen mutton soup, Baoji rolled noodles, Qishan sauerkraut noodles, Laotongguan roujiamo, Hongliu barbecue, buckwheat noodles
Northern Shaanxi Street: Zichang pancakes, Zizhou stuffed buns, potato patties 3. Southern Shaanxi Street: Ankang steamed noodles, Hanyin kangkang steamed buns, Ziyang steamed buns, Zhashui potato glutinous rice cakes
Shu time
【Travel in the city that never sleeps】A dream that takes you back a thousand years!
【Check-in time】Shushi, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
[Check-in Locations] Tongjifang, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps
【Play time】3 hours
There is an old saying in Xi'an: "See the Ming and Qing dynasties from the Bell and Drum Tower, and the Tang Dynasty from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda." A thousand years ago, the area around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda had a close connection with the royal family.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the few intact relics left from the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The seven-story square brick tower with a loft style is simple yet exquisite in shape. It was the place where Master Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures and preached after returning from his journey to the West. It was also the iconic building of the royal temple at that time - Da Ci'en Temple.
Visitors can climb to the top of the tower and imagine the scene of the ancients looking out at Chang'an and the Qinling Mountains in the distance, which is a way to reminisce about the past and think about the present.
Tongjifang, located in the southeast corner of the city, was once a desolate place. In the "Research on the City Streets of the Two Capitals of the Tang Dynasty," there are only 70 words about it. Today, it has been transformed into the most dazzling pearl of Xi'an's nightscape—the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps.
The City That Never Sleeps lies at the foot of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, just a five-minute walk away. On sweltering summer nights, enjoy the spectacular musical festivities in the North Square, where the cool breeze and dripping water create a refreshing coolness. Then, stroll through the City That Never Sleeps and take in the sights. Don't miss the dazzling Tang Dynasty sculptures, the splendid replicas of ancient buildings lining the pedestrian street, the dazzling light show that streaks across the sky, and the stage performances featuring guqin instruments and the Pipa Opera. Don't miss the ancient city's most beautiful nightscape, a glimpse of a thousand years, a captivating experience.
Tips:
[Big Wild Goose Pagoda Visiting Guide]
Opening hours: 08:00-17:30
Ticket price: Peak season: 40 yuan/person; Off-season: 30 yuan/person
Hour of Hai
[Chang'an Night Never Ends] Music/Story with Wine
【Check-in time】Haishi, 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM
[Check-in Location] Xi'an South Gate (Yongning Gate), Shuncheng Lane
【Play time】2 hours
If you ask me what my favorite place is in Xi'an, I think I will definitely answer - the city wall.
The nearly 14-kilometer-long city wall encircles and protects the city, yet within its walls, the residents of Xi'an still enjoy a carefree, leisurely lifestyle. The customs and everyday life of Tang Chang'an are etched in every corner of the wall.
The entertainment map under the south city wall of Xi'an extends from Shuncheng South Road to Baishulin and Xiamaling. This treasure street retains the most rich and authentic living atmosphere of Xi'an.
Veteran artists at Shuyuanmen sit on the ground, their backs against the gates of the ancient house, painting with their brushes. An hour passes, and a stunning Chinese ink painting emerges. International visitors applaud, and passing children playfully play. Even the bright lights of a thousand houses pale in comparison to the tranquil streetscape at this moment.
While we're all used to talking about the ancient city of Xi'an, in recent years, it's been increasingly influenced and transformed by a growing number of young, trendy elements. A number of charming, hipster cafes, small bars, and highly engaging live music venues have opened within the ancient city walls. Furthermore, the "Qingqu Society," a Shaanxi-style crosstalk company led by the post-80s generation, has made a splash.
"Listen to Nanmen," a favorite among young people, kicked off promptly at 11:00 PM. The audience included men and women, passersby, elderly and children, and even cleaners. People held up their phones, filming and recording, flashing their cameras and swaying as they sang along with the band's "I pray for a transparent heart and eyes that can shed tears..." I imagine the singers singing about their own past experiences, and each of you in the audience, sharing your own story.
Xi'an's thousand-year history and the splendor of its time as the capital of 13 dynasties are its A-side, while its status as a city of music and rock after dark is its B-side. I love this B-side, its radiant, gentle, and beautiful beauty.
Conclusion
Chang'an, the Tang Dynasty, was not just about palaces and palaces; it also had a vibrant world. In "The Longest Day in Chang'an," Jackson Yee's character, Li Bi, once said, "There's no city greater than Chang'an." Ma Boyong, the author of the original novel, also said in an interview, "I think Chang'an is one of China's most captivating ancient cities."
Chang'an City is so beautiful that how can we describe it fully in just twelve hours!
Let’s go to Xi’an, let’s go to Xi’an together to capture Zhang Xiaojing’s Fire Crystal Persimmons, eat a bowl of delicious water basin mutton, check out the most authentic Chang’an cuisine, and explore the most beautiful scenery of the ancient city one by one!
