Xi’an Full-day City Tour

The treasures of Xi’an await when you are picked up from your hotel and start your tour. The day’s adventure commences with exploration of the nearly 14km Xi’an City Wall. Encircling the old city, and the best preserved of ancient fortifications in China, Xi’an’s City Wall takes you back in time. A stroll along the walkway reveals panoramic views of the surroundings and an understanding of the importance of this defensive system for the trade that started in Xi’an and then flourished along the ancient Silk Road. In the middle of the old block of Xi’an stands the Great Mosque, the oldest and largest Islamic mosque in the country, believed to have been built in the mid-7^th century. The Arabic and Chinese depictions on the walls are relics from the city’s important trading days at the start of the Silk Road, reflecting the diversity of cultures which traded and settled in Xi’an. Contemplation is natural as you wander through the beautiful traditional Chinese gardens. Within walking distance from the Great Mosque is bustling Muslim Quarter, one of the best food streets in Xi’an where you can find delicious local eats and trade for souvenirs. Enjoy free time to explore and savour tastes (or get advice from your guide). Following lunch make the most of a short stopover at the nearby Drum and Bell Tower Square. Relax as you capture memorable photos and ponder the change in communications from the drum of old to the smart phone of today. Move on to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the most significant Buddhist pagodas in Xi’an, where you can observe Xi’an’s 1,400 years of history. Mix with locals can going about their daily activities on a peaceful walk in the temple, and there may even be an opportunity to enter at the top of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda for a spectular view. Your guide and diver will escort to back to your hotel at which time your day tour will conclude.