Guanzhong
The "Eight-Hundred-Li Qin Plain" formed by Xi'an, Baoji, Xianyang, Weinan and Tongchuan, with the Terracotta Army, the ancient city wall, Mount Hua and a concentration of Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang remains.
Guanzhong is one of the three official regions of Shaanxi. It refers to the Guanzhong Plain north of the Qinling Mountains and along both banks of the Wei River, and includes five prefecture-level cities, Xi'an, Baoji, Xianyang, Weinan and Tongchuan, plus the Yangling Demonstration Zone; Hancheng and Huayin are administratively part of Weinan. Xi'an, capital of thirteen dynasties, has must-sees including the Terracotta Army at the Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum, the ancient city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Shaanxi History Museum, the Stele Forest and Huaqing Palace, while the Datang Everbright City and the Muslim Quarter showcase the ancient capital's nightlife and food. Mount Hua in Huayin, Weinan, is known for its perilous cliffs and is the Western Peak among China's Five Great Mountains; Hancheng Ancient City, Dangjia Village and the Sima Qian Shrine present Guanzhong's traditional architecture and dwellings. Xianyang has imperial tombs such as the Han Yangling Mausoleum and the Qianling Mausoleum, and Yuanjia Village in Liquan is a well-known folk-culture and food village of the region. Baoji has the Bronze Ware Museum, Famen Temple in Fufeng and Taibai Mountain, the highest peak of the Qinling Mountains. Yaozhou's Yaowangshan and Zhaojin in Tongchuan make good additions. A classic itinerary is three days in Xi'an city, plus one day for the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace and one day for Mount Hua; with more time, extend to Famen Temple and Taibai Mountain in Baoji or to Hancheng, for a total of five to seven days. For transport, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is the largest air hub in Northwest China, Xi'an North Station brings together the Zhengzhou–Xi'an, Xi'an–Baoji, Datong–Xi'an and Xi'an–Chengdu high-speed lines, and many sights in the region have dedicated shuttle buses. The Terracotta Army and Mount Hua are extremely crowded on public holidays, so be sure to book tickets in advance; travel light when climbing Mount Hua and watch the weather, and in summer avoid the midday heat.
Destinations
Itineraries
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- Xi'an Old City Food and Night Views – Two days of eating around Sajinqiao, Yongxing Lane and the alleys of the Muslim Quarter, with the city walls and Datang…
- 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 Family Museums and Zoo – City wall cycling, the Shaanxi History Museum, an aquarium and Qinling Wildlife Park, a Xi'an route paced for children.
- Silk Road High-Speed Rail: Xi'an to Dunhuang – Journey west along the Silk Road from Xi'an to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, passing through Maijishan, Lanzhou, Zhangye…