Yongxingfang Food Street
永兴坊
A Shaanxi intangible-heritage food district inside Zhongshan Gate of the city wall, home to the 'smash-the-bowl' drinking ritual and snacks from across the province's counties and cities.
Yongxingfang lies just inside Zhongshan Gate (also called Little East Gate), at the northeastern corner of the Xi'an city wall. It was once one of the 108 wards of Tang-dynasty Chang'an, and today it is a reconstructed heritage food district. It brings together local specialties from Guanzhong, southern Shaanxi, and northern Shaanxi, including Zichang jianbing (savory pancakes), zajiang noodles, Qishan noodles, you po noodles, zeng cake, and jing cake. The 'smash-the-bowl' toast at the entrance, in which you drink and then smash your bowl, is a popular social-media experience. Entry is free, and eating and strolling take about 1 to 1.5 hours. It is somewhat quieter than the Muslim Quarter, with similar prices, and the lanterns make it most atmospheric at night. Take Metro Line 1 to Chaoyang Gate Station, or the bus to Zhongshan Gate Station. It pairs well with a bike ride along the eastern section of the city wall.
Opening hours
Approx. 9:00 AM–11:00 PM
Nearby sights
- Zhang Xueliang Mansion (Xi'an Incident Memorial)
- Baxian Temple
- Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army Xi'an Office
- Xingqing Palace Park
- Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Steles) & Shuyuanmen
- Xi'an Yisushe Qinqiang Theatre
- Daming Palace National Heritage Park
- Bell Tower and Drum Tower