7 Days Xian Local Life Experience Taste and Live Like a Local

Day 1: Arrival in Xi’an: Welcome to the Ancient Capital

1. 2h · Admission ticket included
   Your private guide and driver will greet you at Xi‘an Xianyang International Airport and escort you to your downtown hotel. After check-in, you’ll receive a warm welcome and an orientation to help you settle in. The rest of the day is yours to rest and begin exploring at your own pace.

Day 2: Banpo Museum & Muslim Quarter: 6,000 Years of Xi‘an Life

1. Xi'an Banpo Museum
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Step back in time at Xi’an Banpo Museum, one of China‘s most significant Neolithic archaeological sites. Over 6,000 years ago, a thriving Yangshao culture village stood here. Walk through the excavated remains of houses, pottery kilns, and burial grounds. Your guide will bring this ancient community to life — showing you how these early people made tools, created art, and organized their daily lives.
2. The drum and bell Tower
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the iconic Bell Tower and Drum Tower, the historic heart of Xi’an. Climb up for panoramic views and learn how these towers once marked the rhythm of daily life. Then dive into the sensory explosion of the Muslim Quarter — a bustling maze of food stalls, spice shops, and handicraft vendors. Sample street food that has been perfected over generations: lamb skewers, pita bread soaked in soup, and hand-pulled noodles.
3. 1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Experience the raw power of Qin Opera, one of China‘s oldest and most dramatic opera forms, at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Theater. Known for its bold singing style, vivid storytelling, and colorful costumes, Qin Opera is the voice of Northwest China. Your guide will explain the stories behind the performances, helping you appreciate the cultural depth and emotional intensity of this ancient art form.

Day 3: Healing Arts & The Underground Army — Hands-On History Day

1. 2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the Bianque Memorial Hall, dedicated to China‘s legendary physician from the Warring States period. Explore the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine through ancient texts, medical tools, and philosophical teachings. Then get your hands on tradition — a hands-on sachet-making workshop using natural herbs and aromatic ingredients. You’ll learn about the healing properties of each herb and take home your own handcrafted sachet, a personalized wellness souvenir.
2. The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
   2h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Stand before the world-famous Terracotta Warriors — over 8,000 life-sized soldiers, each with unique facial features, standing guard for over 2,200 years. Your expert guide will reveal the story behind this underground army: the first emperor‘s obsession with immortality, the astonishing craftsmanship, and the dynasty that unified China. This is not just a museum visit — it’s an encounter with one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in human history.
3. The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on Terracotta Warrior figurine workshop. Using traditional clay molds and tools, you will sculpt, carve facial features, hairstyles, and armor — just as Qin Dynasty artisans did over two millennia ago. Each figurine takes on its own unique expression. Once complete, you can take your creation home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir from Xi‘an.

Day 4: Live Like a Local: Morning Market, Square Dance, TCM & Sunset Wall

1. 1h 30m
   Start your day like a true local at the South Gate Morning Market. This is where Xi‘an wakes up — vendors shout out their prices, fresh produce glistens, and steam rises from breakfast stalls. Wander through the aisles, taste street snacks, and soak in the authentic energy of everyday life. Your guide will explain what locals buy, how they cook, and why this market is the heartbeat of the neighborhood.
2. 1h 30m
   Join the locals at Xingqing Park, one of Xi’an‘s most popular public parks. Here you’ll witness the lively tradition of square dancing — a daily ritual where residents of all ages gather to dance, socialize, and exercise. Your guide will introduce you to the steps, and you‘re invited to join in! Experience the joy and community spirit of this uniquely Chinese cultural phenomenon.
3. 2h
   Experience the healing wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with a licensed TCM practitioner. This is not a tourist demo — it’s a genuine wellness session. Start with a pulse diagnosis to understand your body‘s unique balance. Then learn to blend your own herbal tea based on your constitution. Finally, experience cupping therapy, a traditional practice that promotes circulation and relieves tension. This is a rare opportunity to go beyond observation and actually experience TCM firsthand.
4. Xi'an City Wall
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Walk the ancient City Wall of Xi’an as the sun sets — one of the best-preserved city walls in China. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it offers sweeping views of the city‘s skyline and the surrounding streetscape. You can walk or cycle along the top of the wall, taking in the contrast between ancient fortifications and modern city life. It’s the perfect way to end a day of authentic Xi‘an experiences.

Day 5: Pandas, Costumes & A Night in Tang Dynasty

1. 2h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Discover the wildlife treasures of the Qinling Mountains at the Qinling Four Treasures Science Park. This is the only place in the world where you can see the rare brown giant panda, Qi Zai. Alongside this celebrity resident, you’ll observe golden monkeys, takins, and crested ibises — four iconic species that call these mountains home. Learn about conservation efforts and the rich biodiversity of this UNESCO-recognized region.
2. Han Chang'an Cheng
   2h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Step back in time at Chang‘an Twelve Hours, a Tang Dynasty cultural theme zone. First, dress in a beautiful Tang Dynasty costume — flowing robes, elegant accessories, and traditional hairstyles. Then immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavors of ancient Chang’an at its peak. Walk through bustling market streets, watch live performances, and explore artisan workshops. This is not just a visit — it‘s a time-travel experience.
3. The Tang Dynasty Xi'an
   2h
   After nightfall, stroll through the Grand Tang Mall — a spectacular pedestrian street that recreates the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. Illuminated by countless lanterns and lined with statues, fountains, and performance stages, this is Xi’an at its most magical. Watch street performers, sample festive snacks, and feel the energy of a dynasty that still lives on in the city‘s spirit.

Day 6: Village Life: Cave Dwellings, Folk Crafts & Local Bites

1. 3h
   Travel to Zhangjiashan Cave Dwellings, a traditional village carved into the yellow earth of the Loess Plateau. This is not a museum — it‘s a living community where families have lived in these earth-sheltered homes for generations. Today you’ll get your hands dirty with two authentic folk activities. First, try paper-cutting, a UNESCO-recognized folk art using simple scissors and paper to create intricate designs. Then experience the ancient craft of beating loess to build traditional walls — a skill that has shaped the architecture of this region for centuries. Your local hosts will guide you with warmth and humor.
2. YuanJiaCun Village
   2h 30m
   Visit Yuanjiacun Village, a restored farming village that has become a food lover‘s paradise. Unlike touristy food streets, Yuanjiacun offers genuine local flavors in a traditional setting. Sample iconic Shaanxi snacks — biangbiang noodles, sour yogurt, crispy pastries, and more. Wander through streets lined with old-style workshops, watch artisans at work, and taste the region’s culinary heritage one bite at a time. This is the perfect farewell to rural Shaanxi.

Day 7: Farewell to Xi’an — Take Home the Memories

1. 2h · Admission ticket included
   Enjoy a final breakfast before your private transfer to the airport. Your guide will assist with check-in and bid you farewell. You leave with more than just photographs — you take with you the rhythm of morning markets, the taste of handmade noodles, the feel of clay in your hands, and the warmth of a city that welcomed you as a traveler and sent you home as a friend.

Pickup details

Your driver and guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport and railway station. The driver will be holding a sign with "Chango " and the lead traveler's name. For hotel pickups, the guide will meet you at the hotel lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels