Original source
First time in China's OLDEST City 🇨🇳 (New Favourite City?)
Exploring China's Oldest City: Xi'an's Wall, Warriors & Food
Xi'an blew our minds. 1,300 years ago this was the biggest city on earth — and somehow nobody talks about it. We cycled a 650-year-old city wall, found the Terracotta Warriors on a budget, got absolutely destroyed by a street masseuse, and ate our way through China's most underrated food scene. This...
Xi'an blew our minds. 1,300 years ago this was the biggest city on earth — and somehow nobody talks about it. We cycled a 650-year-old city wall, found the Terracotta Warriors on a budget, got absolutely destroyed by a street masseuse, and ate our way through China's most underrated food scene. This is Xi'an, and it's completely different to anywhere else we've been in China.
From cycling a 650-year-old city wall to getting a brutal street massage in front of the Drum Tower, Fi and Nick dive headfirst into Xi'an – China's ancient capital. They taste the legendary roujiamo, explore the serene Great Mosque, and marvel at the Terracotta Warriors on a shoestring budget. Spoiler: Xi'an becomes their new favourite city. Watch them fall in love with the Silk Road's most underrated gem.
Xi'an blew our minds. 1,300 years ago this was the biggest city on earth — and somehow nobody talks about it. We cycled a 650-year-old city wall, found the Terracotta Warriors on a budget, got absolutely destroyed by a street masseuse, and ate our way through China's most underrated food scene. This is Xi'an, and it's completely different to anywhere else we've been in China.
Fi and Nick arrive in Xi’an and try roujiamo, which they call a Chinese hamburger, along with a local drink and cold noodles. They walk around the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter, then visit the Great Mosque; the narrator says entry cost 25 RMB each and included a small booklet. Near the Drum Tower they try a street massage, though no clear final price is stated. On the next day they visit the Xi’an City Wall and rent a tandem bicycle. The narrator says the rental cost 90 RMB plus a 100 RMB refundable deposit, allowed up to three hours, and could be returned at any station. They ride about 10 km in 71 minutes and take the metro and bus to the Terracotta Warriors for a stated total of 12 RMB per person. They visit pits three, two and one in that order. They say admission stopped at 5 p.m. during their visit and that the final pit was quieter later in the day. In the evening they see the Everbright City lights and eat biang biang noodles and jellied noodles. The creators’ historical and visitor-count statements are their narration and are not independently verified.
Fi and Nick spend several days in Xi’an, trying local food, visiting the Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque, receiving a street massage near the Drum Tower, cycling the city wall and touring the Terracotta Warriors. They describe the wall’s bicycle rental terms and use the metro and bus to reach the archaeological site. In the evening they visit the Everbright City area and eat biang biang noodles.
Xi’an food, the ancient city wall by tandem bike, the Terracotta Warriors and an evening noodle stop.
Xi’an City Wall by Bike and Terracotta Warriors Visit
6:03 Fi says entry to the Great Mosque cost 25 RMB per person and included a small booklet during their visit. Treat this as a past-visit price and check current entry arrangements before going.
15:24 The tandem bike rental allowed up to three hours, cost 90 RMB plus a 100 RMB deposit, and could be returned at any rental station, according to the couple. Confirm current terms and deposit rules before renting.
24:50 The couple reached the Terracotta Warriors by metro lines 1 and 9, then bus 613, reporting a total fare of 12 RMB per person. This was their route and price; verify current connections and fares before traveling.
25:26 A tip they received at the Terracotta Warriors was to start at pit three and work backward through pits two and one. They followed that order; check the current site layout and opening arrangements when planning.
32:25 The creators say entry stopped at 5 p.m. during their visit and that arriving shortly before closing left them little time. Check current last-entry hours and allow enough time to visit the pits before planning a late arrival.
6:03 Fi says entry to the Great Mosque cost 25 RMB per person and included a small booklet during their visit. Treat this as a past-visit price and check current entry arrangements before going.
15:24 The tandem bike rental allowed up to three hours, cost 90 RMB plus a 100 RMB deposit, and could be returned at any rental station, according to the couple. Confirm current terms and deposit rules before renting.
24:50 The couple reached the Terracotta Warriors by metro lines 1 and 9, then bus 613, reporting a total fare of 12 RMB per person. This was their route and price; verify current connections and fares before traveling.
25:26 A tip they received at the Terracotta Warriors was to start at pit three and work backward through pits two and one. They followed that order; check the current site layout and opening arrangements when planning.
32:25 The creators say entry stopped at 5 p.m. during their visit and that arriving shortly before closing left them little time. Check current last-entry hours and allow enough time to visit the pits before planning a late arrival.
0:00 Welcome to Xi’an
0:55 Trying roujiamo
3:19 Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter
5:56 Xi’an Great Mosque
7:09 Street massage near Drum Tower
12:11 Starting the second day
13:51 Cycling the city wall
24:51 Terracotta Warriors visit
33:11 Evening lights and biang biang noodles
00:00 Welcome to Xi'an — The Ancient Capital of the World
00:55 Trying the Chinese Hamburger (Roujiamo)
03:19 Xi'an Bell Tower & Muslim Quarter
05:56 Xi'an Great Mosque — A Hidden Oasis of Calm
07:09 £2 Street Massage in Front of the Drum Tower
12:11 Day 2 Begins
13:51 Cycling the Ancient City Wall on a Tandem Bike
24:51 Terracotta Warriors (Amazing)
33:11 Xi'an After Dark — Lights, Lanterns & Biang Biang Noodles 🌙
How much did the tandem bike cost on the Xi’an City Wall?
The creators say they paid 90 RMB plus a 100 RMB deposit. The rental allowed up to three hours, and they say the deposit was returned when the bike was handed back.
How did the couple get to the Terracotta Warriors?
They took metro lines 1 and 9 and then bus 613, reporting a total of 12 RMB per person during their visit.
Which pits did they visit at the Terracotta Warriors?
They followed a suggested route from pit three to pit two and finished at pit one.
How much was entry to the Great Mosque?
Fi says it was 25 RMB per person and included a booklet during their visit; current prices may differ.
What local foods did they try in Xi’an?
They try roujiamo, cold noodles, biang biang noodles and jellied noodles.
