Day 1: Xi'an Bell Tower → Beiyuanmen → Dapianyuan → Beiguangji Street → Hongbu Street → Guangming Alley → Huajue Alley
All day
Morning Session: Meet at the Zhonglou subway station at 8:30 AM to begin your Fangshang food-foraging adventure (come with an empty stomach!)
Afternoon Session: Meet at the Bell Tower subway station at 1:30 PM to begin your Fangshang food-foraging adventure (come with an empty stomach!)
[Beiyuanmen] The well-known "Beiyuanmen Style Street" - Muslim Street
This might be the end of most tourists' food and beverage journeys in Muslim Street, but it's where the locals begin. From here, we'll officially begin our culinary journey through the streets. This is a living fossil of old Xi'an life. Since the Tang Dynasty, large numbers of Muslims have settled in Chang'an, living near temples and conducting business in the streets, a lifestyle that continues to this day.
[Da Pi Yuan] One of the must-visit streets in the area, home to a variety of delicious and time-honored shops
Whether it's staples, snacks, stir-fries, or late-night snacks, this street boasts a wealth of renowned restaurants specializing in all categories. For example, Dingjia Crispy Pork, Xiaojia Eight Treasure Porridge, Musa Clay Pot, Shijia Steamed Buns, Hua Nainai Sour Plum Soup, and Erbu Restaurant's stir-fried dishes are all located here. Dapian is to the Hui Quarter what Fifth Avenue is to Manhattan; it's Xi'an's authentic Hui Muslim food street.
Beiguangji Street: "The rain on Tianjie Street is as soft as butter," authentic local food is a must
Bei Guangji Street is a well-known old street in Xi'an. It was located on the north-south axis of the Chang'an Imperial City during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the city of Xi'an during the Five Dynasties, Song, and Yuan Dynasties. Today, it's renowned for its various local snacks, especially Shengjia Niangpi (stir-fried rice noodle soup). They've been around for nearly a century, dating back to the 1980s. They're said to be the first business on the street, and Lao Shaanxi Taotie will be showcasing some of it!
Guangming Lane: Preserving the remains of the Japanese bombing of Xi'an, a century-old pastry shop is here
After a quick tea break, we wandered down an old alley. To the east, a battered, potholed brick wall stood, a sign in the middle proclaiming: "1938.11.23 Japanese Aircraft Bombing Xi'an Ruins." Further on, Quanshengzhai, a time-honored pastry shop, has become a hidden gem for foodies. We've curated a few must-try pastries for everyone to sample.
Huajue Alley: The world's only remaining Chinese garden-style mosque, the DNA of the Hui people
Muslims have a habit of living near a mosque, and the locals call the Huifang area "Seven Mosques and Thirteen Blocks." This small area surprisingly houses seven mosques. The Huajue Lane Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Xi'an, hence its nickname, the Grand Mosque or the East Grand Mosque. It is one of the most distinctive, well-preserved, and typical Chinese mosques.
Morning session: End time 12:30
Afternoon session: End time 17:30
With this, our food-foraging adventure for today is almost over! After you've had your fill, take some delicious souvenirs home, or explore the surrounding Bell and Drum Towers on your own!
