Shaanxi

Home to the capital of thirteen dynasties, led by Xi'an's Terracotta Army and city wall, and combining Qinling mountain scenery with Loess Plateau culture.

Shaanxi lies in the eastern part of northwest China and, from north to south, consists of the northern Shaanxi Loess Plateau, the Guanzhong Plain and the Qinling–Daba mountains of southern Shaanxi, with the Qinling range forming the north–south geographic divide. Xi'an was the capital of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties, among others, and the Terracotta Army at the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the ancient city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter are must-sees. Mount Hua is known for its steepness; Yulin in northern Shaanxi has Great Wall remains and desert scenery; Hancheng preserves an old town and the shrine of Sima Qian; and in southern Shaanxi, the giant panda habitat at Foping, Niubeiliang in Zhashui, Yingху Lake in Ankang and Jinsi Gorge in Shangnan show off Qinling scenery. Spring and autumn are best. Xi'an Xianyang Airport and the Xi'an high-speed rail hub are the main gateways.

Destinations

Itineraries

Northern Shaanxi Yellow River & Loess Plateau 10-Day Grand Loop – Drive north along the Yellow River on the eastern route, head west at Yulin to see the Danxia landforms, and travel sou…
Xi'an Old City, Overnight on Mount Hua & Famen Temple in – Xi'an's classic sights, plus a night at the summit of Mount Hua for sunrise, then Famen Temple and the Qianling Mausole…
Four Treasures of Qinling & Liuba Ancient Road – Travel along the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains through Foping, Huayang, and Yangxian to see pandas and crest…
Xi'an Ancient Capital & Mount Hua Classic – Connect the Xi'an City Wall, Terracotta Army, and Shaanxi History Museum with a day trip to Mount Hua via high-speed ra…
Guanzhong West Imperial Tombs & Mount Taibai – Head west from Xi'an to see Han and Tang imperial tombs, Yuanjia Village, Famen Temple, and ancient bronzes, then ascen…
Three Kingdoms Shu Road: Xi'an to Chengdu – Take the high-speed rail across the Qinling Mountains to Hanzhong, then follow the Jinniu Road through Guangyuan and Ji…
Buddhist Ancestral Temples of Chang'an – Visit the ancestral temples of Daxingshan, Qinglong, Xingjiao, Xiangji, Caotang and Famen Temple.
Ancient Capitals High-Speed Rail Tour: Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Mount Hua & Xi'an – Starting in Zhengzhou and ending in Xi'an, this route connects Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Mount Hua, and the Ter…
Yellow River No. 1 Highway: Shanxi-Shaanxi Riverfront Route – Travel south along the Shanxi-Shaanxi Gorges from Laoniuwan and Qikou to Hukou, crossing the river to finish in Yan'an.
Shangluo Gorges & Ancient Towns 3-Day Self-Drive Loop – A loop from Xi'an covering the eastern section of the Qinling Mountains, featuring hiking in Jinsi Gorge, Diehua Ancien…
Xi'an First Visit Highlights – The city walls, the Terracotta Army and the Shaanxi History Museum, a short first-visit route arranged by area.
Xi'an Han and Tang Sites and Old City – A deeper route away from first-visit hotspots, covering Daming Palace, Han Yangling, Qianling and the old city lanes.