Hostels (7.5 nights -dorms) : CNY40 X 2 (Xiangzimen International Youth Hostel) + CNY45 x 5.5 (Ancient City Youth Hostel) = CNY327.50
Food: CNY280
Airport shuttle bus (Xi'an) : CNY25 x 2
Taxi: CNY31
Bus: CNY24
Metro: CNY14Entrance fee: CNY28
This is my 3rd visit to Xian. After my retirement in May 2006, Xian was the first city I visited when I took on a backpacking trip to China with my first younger brother. In 2006, I visited Dun Huang, Turpan, Urumqi & Kanas Lake - it was a really hard earned trip, long & arduous ! In Sept 2002, I made a stopover in Xian on my way to Xining, Qinghai.
For this visit, I spent the first 2 nights in Xian upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur and on my return trip from Xinjiang, I spent another 4 nights in Xian.
In my two earliest visits to Xian, I had the opportunity to visit a number of historical sites ie the Terra Cotta Museum, City Wall Of Xian, Muslim Quarter, Shaanxi Historic Museum, The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, The Bell & Drum Tower, Hua Shan, Famen Temple, Lishan, Lintong Museum, Qing Ling, Qing Si Huang Ling, Huaqing Pool, Shuyuan Men etc.
As I stayed in two youth hostels in Xiangximen & Bei dai Jie, Xi'an, taking public buses & walking to popular tourist spots like Bell & Drum Tower, Xi'an City Wall & Muslim Quarter was easy. For well known places like Big & Little Wild Goose Pagoda, Qing E Pang Palace, Da Ming Palace, Xian Museum, Revolution Park, Great Tang All Day Mall etc, I used both Metro & public buses to visit these places.
The Xi'an train station has a number of tourist buses covering specific routes to places like Terra Cotta Museum, Hua Shan , Huaqing Hot Spring etc so just show up and hop on to the appropriate buses to get to your destinations.
The Muslim Quarter was my favorite eating place where I could savor some authentic local Muslim food with my hostel room mates for my dinners !
The local government is currently building a new high speed rail link from Xian to Lanzhou and in the near future, travelling to both these cities will be faster and easier.
1) Bell Tower, Xian - a 14th century building and rebuilt by the Qing in 1739
 |
| Bell Tower by day |
 |
| Bell Tower by night |
2) Drum Tower, Xian - near the Muslim Quarter
 |
| Drum Tower by day |
 |
| Drum Tower by night |
3) Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian - entrance fee CNY50; built by Emperor Gaozong in AD648, housed with Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by Monk Xuan Zang
4) Big Wild Goose Pagoda Underground Museum, Xian - entrance fee CNY20 (Seniors)
5) Little Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian - entrance fee free for Seniors; built from AD707-709 housed with Buddhist scriptures brought from India by a pilgrim
6) Ancient Style Folk House at No 144 (Bei Yuan Men), Xian a preserved property owned by Kao family in the Muslim Quarter - entrance fee CNY7.50 for Seniors. The Kao family was a top scholar & high ranking official during the Qing dynasty
7) The souvenir lane in Muslim Quarter, Xian - take your time and pick your favorite souvenirs for your family or loved ones
8) Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), Xian - favourite eating place serving authentic Muslim food - always full of people; this is the right place for a glutton ! Go there with an empty stomach ....
9) Yummy Xi'an street food I savored in Xi'an - I just eat & eat
 |
| Braised chicken with capsicum - CNY16 |
 |
| Flat noodle soup with tomato gravy & veg - CNY12 |
 |
| Halal xialongbao stuffed with beef - CNY16 |
 |
| Flat noodle with spicy gravy & beef - CNY18 |
10) Street food in Muslim Quarter, Xian - Just put your mouth in action at all time here !
11) After all the eating, take a puff and you are on top of the world ! Try the local bandit brand of cigarettes in Muslim Square ! You will puff up with pride !
12) Xian Museum - free admission; a must see & a great display of historical artefacts, relics & object of the various dynasties dating back to Tang, Shang, Zhou, Han, Wei, Qin etc
13) Shuyuan Men, Xian near the South Gate & Forest Steles Museum - calligraphy, paint brushes, Chinese paintings, art works etc
14) Forest of Steles Museum, Xian - entrance fee free for Seniors; a large collection of books & stone tablets from the Han, Tang, Ming dynasties etc
15) Old City Walls & Gates of Xi'an - built during the Ming dynasty; 14 km long, each gateway has 3 towers
16) Xi'an Train Station, Shaanxi
17) DaMing Palace & Park (UNESCO), Xian - huge park with greeneries, lakes, partially restored ancient palace gates & ruins & hosting public performances etc
18) Revolution Park, Xian - good for a morning or evening strolls & family outing
19) Lian Hu Garden, Xian
20) Dating & match making activity in Revolution Park, Xian - locals placing their personal CVs & phone numbers on the ground or lawns or branches with the intention of seeking a life marriage partner ! Parents seemed to be the busy bodies going through the CVs ..... but I am no longer qualified for this episode of life !
21) Qin E Pang Palace, Xian - free admission; location is far from the city and limited items on display
22) Great Tang All Day Mall, Xian - most beautiful at night when the water fountains are all lighted up - great place for mid-night cowboys
23) Yin Chi Si Temple, Xian
24) Kwang Zen Si, Xian - an old Taoist temple
25) Hostel accommodation - Xiangximen International Youth Hostel - 16, Xiangzimiao St, Xi'an
 |
| Bunk bed CNY40 |
 |
| A bar & restaurant to chill out |
 |
| 3 storey old traditional court house building |
26) Hostel accommodation - Ancient City Youth Hostel - 4, Lian Hu Road Bei Da Jie St, Xi'an
 |
| 20 mins walk to Bell Tower |
 |
| 50m from Bei Da Jie Metro, Exit B |
 |
| Hotel style dorm bed - CNY45 |
No comments:
Post a Comment