6. Xi'an

If you go and visit big cities in China, you will only see tall buildings, traffic jams, some crowded overly-commercialized fake "ancient towns", and also dark skies due to heavy pollution. That's not the case with Xi'an. Compared to Beijing, Xi'an is much smaller. It was a capital city for about 13 dynasties, and Xi'an still retains most of its ancient glory. There are many historical sites around the city - ancient buildings, wonderful museums, tombs, pagodas, the Terracotta Warriors, delicious cuisine and – in my opinion – the best: the City Walls.

Visit:

Terracotta Warriors

Xi'an Historical Museum, in Small Goose Pagoda area

Muslim District, near the Bell Tower

Hanyangling Museum

City Walls

Note:

Eat: Yang Rou Pao Mo (Bread Crumb Soup with Goat Meat), Rou Jia Mo (Chinese burgers, found in Muslim District)

Do:

Ride a bike along the city walls

[Photo/IC]