Local Besties' 3-Day Xi'an Guide! Lazy travelers just follow along

**🚩Itinerary**
**Day 1: Traverse the Ancient City Wall → Shuyuanmen for Treasure Hunting → Bell and Drum Tower Night View**
- **City Wall**: Climb the wall before 8 AM⏰, rent a bike🚲 (45 RMB/3 hours), ride from **Yongning Gate** to **Anding Gate** chasing the sunset🌇. The bricks stamped "Made in Changwu County" add a historic vibe~
- **Shuyuanmen**: Hunt for handwritten folding fans and shadow puppets🎭, experience the refined literati charm like in "The Longest Day in Chang'an"!
- **Bell and Drum Tower**: Night shoot the brilliantly lit Bell Tower📸, climb up before 9 PM for panoramic views! Just a 5-minute walk to Muslim Quarter for late-night snacks!

**Day 2: Shaanxi History Museum Treasure Hunt → Big Wild Goose Pagoda Fountain → Nightless City Time Travel**
- **Shaanxi History Museum**: ⚠️ Book free tickets 3 days in advance! Must-see gilded dancing horse cup, secret color porcelain✨, rent an AR guide (30 RMB) to unlock artifact stories~
- **Big Wild Goose Pagoda**: Secure front-row spots at the 7 PM music fountain show⛲️ on the north square! Wear Hanfu and climb the pagoda (25 RMB) to overlook Qujiang, the 4th-floor viewing platform at Joy City offers stunning full views of the pagoda!
- **Tang Paradise Nightless City**: At 8 PM, catch the "Unstoppable Miss" dance💃, enjoy mirror cakes and flower float parades, the lights make it feel like the flourishing Tang Dynasty!

**Day 3: Terracotta Warriors Awe → Huaqing Palace Hot Springs → Longing Song Tearjerker**
- **Terracotta Warriors**: Arrive early at 8:30 AM! Join official guided tours (20 RMB/person)👂, focus on Pit 1’s military formation and Pit 3’s colorful warrior fragments, avoid the gimmicky "VR Underground Palace" at the entrance!
- **Huaqing Palace**: Check in at Yang Guifei’s Begonia Hot Spring♨️, climb Lishan Mountain at dusk to see the beacon tower, find Tang-style courtyards for perfect shots~
- **Longing Song**: Nighttime live performance🔥, choose seats in Zone A! Water screens and fire effects portray the emperor’s passionate love story, bring a jacket for the evening chill❄️

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**🏨 Accommodation Suggestions**
- **Around Bell Tower**: Central location! Hostels from 50 RMB/bed, guesthouses 150 RMB+/night, walking distance to Muslim Quarter and city wall
- **Near South Gate**: Locals’ secret pick! Quiet and close to subway, perfect for night rides on the city wall~
- **Avoid**: Guesthouses inside Muslim Quarter can be noisy, hotels in Tang Paradise Nightless City overpriced❌

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**🍜 Food Hits! Locally Approved List**
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1️⃣ **Run Shaanxi Cuisine**: Crispy outside, tender inside gourd chicken! Oil-splashed spicy fish with numbing flavor🌶️, Guifei cold jelly to refresh your palate~
2️⃣ **Old Brand Roujiamo (Meat Sandwich)**:
- Meat Roujiamo → **Fanji Braised Meat** (Muslim Quarter) juicy with balanced fat and lean!
- Egg and Vegetable Roujiamo → **Sajin Bridge Old Jin’s** (10 RMB stuffing piled high)
3️⃣ **Pao Mo (Bread Soaked in Soup)**:
- Lamb Pao Mo → **Tongshengxiang** (tear your own bread for authenticity! Served with sugar garlic + Ice Peak soda)
- Stir-fried Pao Mo → **Mahong’s** (sour and spicy, more appetizing)
4️⃣ **Street Snacks**:
- Cold Noodles → **Weijia Sesame Sauce Style** (sour, spicy, smooth)
- Biangbiang Noodles → **Nanyuanmen Shop** (belt noodles + oil-splashed chili, insanely fragrant)
- Persimmon Pancake → **Liu Ming’s** (Sajin Bridge, 3 RMB each, molten filling explosion💥)
```

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**💡 Local Besties’ Tips**
- **Transport**: Use the "Xi'an Metro" app🚇, take **Tour Bus Line 5** to Terracotta Warriors (look for the gray Yellow Sea bus! Avoid unlicensed taxis)
- **Avoid Traps**: Be cautious with Muslim Quarter trendy shops! Buy steamed cakes at **Fatty’s** (5 RMB small portion, rich jujube flavor), choose freshly squeezed pomegranate juice
- **Weather**: July-August 30°C+🔥! Bring sunscreen + small fan, wear sneakers for 20,000 steps without foot pain~
- **Bonus**: Next to Shaanxi History Museum is **SEG Mall** with Asia’s longest escalator, 6th floor "Meet Chang'an" restaurant serves Shaanxi cuisine with great AC!

> 🌟 **Chasing Life Tips**:
> 1️⃣ Listen to Qin opera under the city wall, try rubbing ink rubbings at Shuyuanmen, that’s the slow soul of old Xi'an~
> 2️⃣ Early birds hit **Xiaonanmen Morning Market** (6:00-9:00), oil tea, fried dough twists + sour fish soup, 5 RMB for authentic local flavor!
> 3️⃣ Buy souvenirs at **China Resources Vanguard Supermarket**, Qiong pot sugar and pomegranate cakes cost half the price of tourist spots💰!

This guide packs 10 years of local bestie experience❤️ From the awe of Terracotta Warriors to the lively alleys, it takes you to the most authentic Chang'an in daily life! Save it🌟 and just share the link next time you go~

Post by Joseph#Reed51 | Jun 18, 2025

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