The Canaan International Hotel key card included the following traveler tips: "1. Terra-cotta warrior museum -- It makes Xian famous. 2. Hair salon with prostitutes in it -- They will rip you off." My two boys thought this was great advice for the average Xian tourist.

A remarkable city historically .... a major point on the Silk Road in China and the starting point westwards ... just being there makes you feel you are on the Silk Road adventure ...of course, Xi'an is now otherwise small and dusty and, from a tourist viewpoint, synonymous with the Terracotta Army - a bewildering archaelogical find... hundreds of human-sized terracotta warriors discovered accidentally by a local man who, incidentally, is still there (at least was there when I went in 1998) and is a bit of an institution himself ... he is a simple person, you can click a photo with him, look at him, and talk to him if you know Chinese ... Xi'an is on the train route from Beijing to the South and a changing point for heading west to Urumchi or Lhasa, southeast to Hunan or Canton, or southwest to Szechwan or Yunnan ... the train ride itself is fascinating in this region, co-passengers chat away over swig after swig of vodka or mug after mug of green tea, and bite after bite of assorted foods brought with them or bought along the way... food and drink are often shared and, depending on the folks in your compartment, you may discover unique slices of Chinese life ... from folks headed on long tough journeys to Central Asia, to genteel Chengdu elders, to Cantonese couples or singles...

IMPERDIBILE..I MITICI "GUERRIERI DI TERRACOTTA"!!! un vero esercito di terracotta sepolto a guardia della tomba degli imperatori!

A voir : L'incontournable Armée enterrée de l'empereur Qin (Bingmayong) La grande Mosquée (Hua re Xiang) La forêt des Stèles (Beilin Bowuguan) A éviter : L'auberge de jeunesse "7 Sages"

Two days are enough: one for the Terracotta army (you have to catch a bus to get there, about 1 hour), one for wandering around the city, see the Bell and the Drum tower, cycling on the city walls. If you want you can do a day trip to climb the Hua Shan (very hard).

When at the drum tower, head north, then take a left into a small street with bazars. After a short walk you will find the great Mosque on your left hand. Entrance fee isnt much, and it's used to maintain the site.

Also be sure to get atop of the citywall, and rent a bike (if there's no rain).

Well... From Xi-an there is a direct bus to Terracotta Warriors. It does not cost much . Warriors unfortunately did not impressed me much. Totally different thing is with Xi'an itself. The city is gorgeous - especially at night.

Take a plane from Beijing if you are short of time and go to see the terracotta army, its worth it

Watch out for pick pockets, they are everywhere after dark!

Xi An is usually insert in travel trip to china, famous for its terraccotta soldiers.
In my opinion the city is dirty, traffic is crazy, and there are teens better place to see in China.
Airport is far away: consider 1 hour. So if you ar enot drilled by the "soldiers" just avoid Xi An for your first trip to China. From other side ther are, if you have to go there, you'll appreciate frinadly people and a bit of anciety that in China is disappearing.