Xi'an with Kids: An Honest Family Guide (2026)
Everything we learned travelling to Xi'an twice with kids: when to visit, what to do and where to stay to get the most from your family trip
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Last updated: May 2026
Xi'an is one of the easiest major Chinese cities to visit with kids, and one of the most popular choices for a first time family trip. The historic core sits inside walkable Ming-era walls, the metro is simple, and the Muslim Quarter street food has something even for the most picky young eaters.
Plan 2–3 days and stay inside the walls near the Bell Tower or Drum Tower so you can walk to most sights. With older children (roughly 5–12), the Terracotta Warriors and cycling the city wall are the top-of-the-list experiences.
With toddlers, we found it better to skip the big-ticket sights altogether (as we often did so far at other major tourist cities) and lean into the food, the parks, and an evening cultural show — and we'd rather tell you that honestly than pretend we marched two under-fours around a warrior pit in 38°C heat.
🗺️ Where: Shaanxi province, central China — the start of the Silk Road
👶 Best for ages: All ages, but easiest with kids 5+ (toddlers: skip the big sights, lean into food + parks)
⏱️ How long: 2–3 days
🌡️ Best time: April–May or September–October (avoid the summer heat) 🏨 Where to stay: Inside the city walls, near the Bell Tower or Drum Tower
🍜 Don't miss: Muslim Quarter street food, Tang Paradise, a cultural show
🚇 Getting around: Metro + DiDi, both easy with little ones
My top recommendation for Xi'an is to stay within city walls, somewhere near the Drum Tower or Bell Tower, within the walking distance from the Muslim quarter.If you are traveling with kids, I highly recommend staying in Xi'an Zhonglou Orange Crystal Hotel - great location with kids friendly amenities and themed family rooms.
Table of Contents
Xi'an is best known for its famous Terracotta Warriors, and they are at the top of most tourist lists. I am here to tell you there is more to Xi'an than that — and that despite being there twice, we still haven't done the warriors with our then-still-small kids (read on to understand why).
So is Xi'an worth visiting with small kids? Yes, no doubt. There is plenty to eat and see in the city itself, and many attractions are conveniently located not far from the historical centre.
Why Xi'an is absolutely worth visiting with kids
Xi'an isn't just about the Terracotta Warriors (though they are supposed to be pretty amazing). This city, once the starting point of the Silk Road, offers a unique glimpse into China's rich past while being surprisingly kid-friendly.
From cycling the ancient city walls to savouring food in bustling markets, Xi'an has something for every little explorer.
For us personally the best part of Xi'an is, unsurprisingly, the food. We simply couldn't get enough of the famous Biang Biang noodles and amazing Xi'an burgers — if not for any other reason, you should go to Xi'an just to sample its delicious cuisine.
But it's not the only thing — we also enjoy visiting Xi'an's big parks and watching an amazing show.
What we did not enjoy was the temperature, so I highly recommend visiting outside of the summer months when the heat inside the city is brutal.
Xi'an with Kids by age
If there's one thing I learned from visiting Xi'an twice with our daughters (first time: 5 months and 2.5 years old, second 1.5 and 3.5), it's that the city you experience changes completely depending on how old your kids are. Here's an honest breakdown.
Visiting Xi'an with toddlers (0–3)
Forget the must-do list. With under-fours, Xi'an is a city of food, parks, and one big spectacle — and that's already a lot.
We skipped the Terracotta Warriors twice because half a day at distant pits in 38°C heat with a 1.5-year-old made no sense, and we don't regret it.
What works at this age: walking around the Muslim Quarter, an afternoon at Xingqinggong Park (the new playground is excellent), a walk through Tang Paradise in the evening, and the TuoLing Legend show — even our 1.5-year-old sat through the whole thing, mesmerised. Stay inside the city walls so you can walk back to the hotel for naps. Take small walk on the city walk, forget cycling it.
Magda Sawyer
Visiting Xi'an with kids aged 4–12
This is Xi'an's sweet spot. Kids are old enough to be genuinely impressed by the Terracotta Warriors (and to handle the 1.5-hour journey there), young enough to love cycling the city wall, and at the perfect age for renting a hanfu costume and being photographed everywhere. The Shaanxi History Museum (free, but book ahead) is also worth a couple of hours at this age — labels are in English and the exhibits engage even reluctant young historians.
Plan around 3 days: one for the Terracotta Warriors (it's a full-day trip), one for the city wall + Muslim Quarter + Bell/Drum Tower area, and one slower day combining Tang Paradise, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the TuoLing Legend show in the evening.
Magda Sawyer
Visiting Xi'an with teenagers
Xi'an handles teens well if you lean into the food and the cultural side. The Muslim Quarter is selfie-and-snack heaven, the Shaanxi History Museum has the depth they're ready for, and the city is safe enough to let older teens explore on their own with offline maps and a translation app. Pair Xi'an with Beijing or Shanghai for the contrast — ancient capital versus modern megacity gives them more to react to than just dynasty after dynasty.
Planning Your Xi'an Adventure with Kids
When to Visit
Xi'an's climate can be a bit extreme, so timing is everything. Due to our own time constraints, we visited Xi'an twice in the peak of summer heat, which makes sightseeing quite difficult, but the best time to visit the city is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October), with pleasant temperatures perfect for outdoor exploration.
Winter in the north tends to be cold, but if you are not discouraged by low temperatures, there's no reason not to visit at that time as well — Xi'an is actually quietest and most affordable in winter.
Getting There and Around
Xi'an is well-connected by air and high-speed rail. It is very close to Beijing (4.5h by high-speed rail) and relatively accessible from Shanghai (6h by high-speed or with a convenient night connection), which is why many first-time visitors decide on doing a Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai loop.
It is also a great place to start your Silk Roads adventure, continuing towards the far west of Xinjiang province, or towards Qinghai and Tibet.
Once in the city, the metro system is efficient and easy to navigate, even with little ones. There are still parts of the city that are not easily accessible by metro, but we were not discouraged by it. For shorter trips, don't hesitate to use DiDi (China's equivalent of Uber) — or just call a taxi, which is reasonably priced. I recommend DiDi, as flagging down a taxi can be a challenge for foreigners (it was for us at the beginning).
Magda Sawyer
Magda Sawyer
Magda Sawyer
General tips for visiting with kids
A few things we learned across our two trips:
- Pace yourselves. Plan one major activity per day with plenty of downtime. Kids cherish the atmosphere — the food, the parks, watching street performers — far more than queuing for tourist attractions.
- Stay hydrated, especially in summer. Carry water bottles and refill at your hotel. The tap water isn't drinkable, but convenience stores are everywhere.
- Learn a few Chinese phrases. Even a simple xièxie (thank you) opens up a lot of warmth. Locals are extremely kind to foreign kids.
- Bring snacks for travel days. The journey to the Terracotta Warriors and back is long, and hungry kids on a Chinese metro is a stressful combination.
What to Do in Xi'an with Kids
Below is an at-a-glance overview of family activities in Xi'an. Detail and our experience for each follows below.
| Activity | Best for ages | Time needed | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Quarter | All ages | 1–2h (or all evening) | Best in early evening |
| TuoLing Legend show | All ages (toddlers too!) | ~1.5h | Book ahead |
| Tang Paradise | All ages | Half day | Best at sunset |
| Xingqinggong Park | Toddlers + young kids | 2–3h | Free; great playground |
| Big Wild Goose Pagoda | All ages | 1–2h | Free; fountain show 8pm |
| City wall (cycling) | 5+ to cycle, all ages to walk | 2–3h | Rent at South Gate |
| Terracotta Warriors | 5+ | Full day | 1.5h to get there, book online |
| Shaanxi History Museum | 5+ | 2–3h | Free; book online in advance |
Terracotta Warriors
As I already mentioned, we still haven't made it to the famous warriors. It feels almost embarrassing to think of us as experienced China travellers that have not done that, but here we are.
But, I can finally report some almost first hand experience from there — my mum recently travelled to China and confirmed that while interesting, it wasn't the top experience of her trip.
I do believe the warriors are worth seeing, and we intend to include them on our next trip to Xi'an, but there's a catch.
I would say that if you are travelling with small kids, and especially if you have limited time in Xi'an, it just takes quite a trip. They are located quite far from the city (1.5h by metro + bus, or 1h with a tourist bus), so it is pretty much a day trip.
We prioritise experiences in our trip, so if you only have 2–3 days and you are not a bucket-list chaser, I would recommend just thinking about what excites you more — exploring the city or sight-seeing.
Walk or cycle the Ancient City Wall
Our kids are too young to cycle on the walls, so we just took a small walk — but it is genuinely impressive.
If your kids are old enough, rent the bikes and take a ride atop the 14km-long wall. It's a fantastic way to see the city and burn off some energy. Make sure to consider the temperatures — in the summer it might be too much for the kids.
The highlight is also watching Chinese tourists dressed up in hanfu (traditional historical attire) — or even dressing up in one yourselves. It is a great memory for the whole family.
Explore the Muslim Quarter
Muslim Quarter, like most Chinese tourist destinations, has changed dramatically over the last few years. Renovated and sanitised, the main street is a busy and loud tourist hot spot. But take a wander to any quieter side street, and you will discover authentic small street food joints at local prices.
I recommend just seeing where locals are queuing and joining them.
Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Wild Goose Pagoda is another busy tourist spot, and for good reasons. While crowded, it is a lot of fun for kids. Beyond the pagoda itself, there is also a pedestrian street with performances and food at every turn, which is why it is such a draw for families travelling with kids.
The musical fountain show in the North Square is also a hit — it usually runs at 8pm in summer and is worth turning up 20 minutes early to bag a good spot. Definitely a must-go when in Xi'an.
Have a stroll at Tang Paradise theme park
Tang Paradise is a Tang Dynasty themed park with live outdoor performances, gardens, lakes and architecture replicating the style of imperial Chang'an. Hanna loved it, and so did we — it became our go-to evening activity in summer, when nothing else was bearable in the heat.
The park is at its best at sunset and into the evening, when the air cools, the buildings light up, and the performances begin. Plan for at least half a day. Combine it with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda nearby for a full evening out — they're just a short walk apart.
Spend an afternoon in XingQingGong Park
Located in the south part of the city, it is a big relaxing park with two playgrounds (one really big and brand new, with bubble bikes). There is also an amusement park and a small train that tours around the park.
Magda Sawyer
Watch the TuoLing Legend show
China is investing a lot in bringing high-end quality tourism and promoting its culture. Part of these efforts is the increasing number of cultural performances and shows. In Xi'an there are multiple shows you can go to, and one I highly recommend to see with kids is TuoLing Legend.
It is a story of travelling around the Silk Roads, with spectacular scenography and music. Our kids (aged 1.5 and 3.5) sat throughout the show in absolute silence, amazed by what they saw. There are even real camels and wolves on the stage!
Magda Sawyer
Family-Friendly Eats in Xi'an
Xi'an's cuisine is a highlight of any visit. Don't miss:
- Cold sour noodle soup
- Biang Biang noodles — wide, chewy noodles that are fun to slurp
- Roujiamo — often called "Chinese hamburgers," these are usually a hit with kids (definitely were with Hanna)
The best thing about visiting any place in China is the helpful locals — they will always advise you on what food you can give to your children, considering the level of spice.
Where to Stay in Xi'an with Kids
We found the area near the Drum Tower to be most convenient. It's central, walkable, and close to many attractions — and the great food of the Muslim Quarter.
We stayed at Xi'an Bell Tower Hotel, which has had its best days behind, and it definitely had this old school hotel feeling to it, but our room was a family friendly room with a panorama view on the Bell Tower, which was pretty spectacular.
Travelling with kids you rarely have the time to explore the night life, and this way we could at least look at it through our bedroom window. Booking breakfast is not worth it though — you are better off just heading out and grabbing some delicious street food in the city.
Magda Sawyer
FAQs
Is Xi'an worth visiting with kids?
Yes, especially as part of a first family trip to China. The historic centre is walkable, the metro is easy with little ones, and the Muslim Quarter food works even for picky eaters. With older kids (5+), the Terracotta Warriors and city wall cycling are worth the trip. With toddlers, skip the big sights and lean into the food and parks instead.
How many days do you need in Xi'an with kids?
Two to three days is the right amount for most families. Two days is enough if you're skipping the Terracotta Warriors (a half- to full-day trip on its own) and focusing on the historic centre and one cultural show. Three days gives you the warriors plus time to enjoy the city without rushing.
Is Xi'an good for toddlers or a 5-year-old?
Xi'an works well for both, but differently. Toddlers will struggle with the Terracotta Warriors and city wall cycling — focus on Tang Paradise, Xingqinggong Park, the Muslim Quarter, and the TuoLing Legend show. A 5-year-old can manage all of the above plus a half-day at the warriors with breaks and snacks, and will love renting a hanfu costume on the city wall.
When is the best time to visit Xi'an with kids?
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are by far the most comfortable. Summer (June–August) gets brutally hot — 35–40°C is normal — and outdoor sightseeing with small kids is very hard. Winter is cold but dry and quiet; perfectly visitable if your kids handle the cold.
How do you get from Beijing to Xi'an with kids?
The high-speed train takes 4.5 hours and is comfortable, child-friendly, and the easiest option. Bring snacks, books, and a small toy. Children under 1.2m travel free with an adult; kids 1.2–1.5m get a discounted child ticket. Tickets can be booked on Trip.com or through the official 12306 system. See our guide to train travel in China.
Is Xi'an safe for families?
Yes, very safe. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare, the metro is safe at all hours, and locals are friendly and helpful with children — be ready for many requests for selfies with your kids. The main everyday risks are traffic at busy intersections and summer heat, both manageable with normal caution.
Can you visit Xi'an without speaking Chinese?
Yes, although it's harder than in Beijing or Shanghai. English signage exists at major attractions and metro stations, but restaurants and shops outside tourist areas are Chinese-only. A translation app and offline maps make the trip easy. See our guide to translation apps for China.
Where to Go Next from Xi'an
Xi'an is one of the best places to base a longer China itinerary because it's well-connected by high-speed rail to almost everywhere worth going.
Beijing (4.5h by train) — The classic first-time pairing. If you're doing Xi'an, you should almost certainly do Beijing too. See also our Beijing travel guide.
Shanghai (6h by train, or overnight) — The Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai loop is the most popular first-trip route in China for a reason.
Chengdu (3.5h by train) — Pandas, food, and a much slower pace. A great contrast to Xi'an's intensity.
Zhangjiajie (8–10h by train) — Worth it if you have time and your kids are old enough to enjoy spectacular mountain scenery.
Westwards along the Silk Road — Xi'an is the natural starting point if you're heading toward Gansu, Qinghai, or Xinjiang. We came into Xi'an from Lanzhou on our route; the other direction is equally rewarding.
Plan Your Xi'an Trip
Ready to book? Here's everything you need.
- 🏨 Best family hotel — Xi'an Zhonglou Orange Crystal Hotel (our top family pick), or browse all options in our complete Xi'an hotel guide.
- 🎫 Don't miss the show — Book TuoLing Legend tickets — the highlight of our trip with kids.
- 🚆 Getting there — Read Train Travel in China for booking Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu trains.
- 📱 Set up before you go — WeChat for Tourists and AliPay for Tourists.
Magda Sawyer
Magda Sawyer
Magda Sawyer
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