Shaanxi Province:
Ankang
Baoji
Hanzhong
Shangluo
Weinan
Xianyang
Xi'an
Yan'an
Yulin
Other Provinces:
Anhui
Beijing Municipality
Chongqing Municipality
Fujian
Gansu
Guangdong
Guangxi Zhuang AR
Guizhou
Hainan
Hebei
Heilongjian
Henan
Hong Kong SAR
Hubei
Hunan
Inner Mongolia AR
Jiangsu
Jiangxi
Jilin
Liaoning
Macau SAR
Ningxia Hui AR
Qinghai
Shaanxi
Shandong
Shanghai Municipality
Shanxi
Sichuan
Tianjin Municipality
Tibet AR
Xinjiang AR
Yunnan
Zhejiang
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Shaanxi 's provincial capital Xi'an lies between the Qinling Mountains and the Wei River Banks on the Guanzhong Plain in the central part of China.
Xi'an cannot be ignored in history because it has always been, and still is, a city of great importance.
It has been the capital during 13 feudal dynasties, starting from Western Zhou to the Tang Dynasty. But even long before there was an united China, primitives choose to settle down in this area, e.g. in Lantian and Banpo Village.
With the founding of the Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century BC, Xi'an became the cultural and industrial center of China. It was actually Xianyang (40 km northwest of present Xi'an) which became the first capital. China 's first emperor had his mausoleum built some 15 km east of present Xi'an.
Liu Bang (founder of the Han Dynasty) established Chang'an (later known as Xi'an) as the capital. 202 BC is widely seen as the founding date of Chang'an. In 194 BC they started building a city wall, which is estimated to have been nearly 26 km in length, longer than the present one. During the Han Dynasty the Silk Road also came to existence (114 BC).
The Silk Road was a series of routes and went from Xi'an to the Middle East. This road was very important, not only because of trade but also for religious purposes. It helped to lay the foundations of the modern world.
During the Sui Dynasty, the capital was moved a bit southeast and was called Daxing. The Tang Dynasty restored the old capital and many buildings dating from this period can still be visited today. One of the major highlights of the Tang Dynasty was Buddhism. Buddhist monk Xuan Zong (Tang Sanzang) returned from his pilgrimage from India and opened a translation center for Sanskrit scriptures. Therefore they started building the Da Yanta (Big Goose Pagoda) as a storage place for all the obtained sutras.
A lot of Japanese students fled to Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty to watch and learn from the masters. Those who went back home, carrying a wide knowledge of Chinese characters, technology and religion, would influence the history of Japan.
With the fall of the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an was largely destroyed in 904. The new capital became Luoyang.
In 1370 (Ming Dynasty) began the restoration of the city wall. The city wall we know today, dates back from this period and is considered to be the most intact city wall in the world. Within these city walls took the 'Xi'an Incident' place in December 1936. Details still remain vague, but it occurred when Chang Kai-Shek was arrested and kidnapped by his opponents, Marshals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng. The outcome of this event was a temporarily cooperation between nationalists and communists in the war against the Japanese invasion.
During the Second World War, Xi'an was overrun by refugees coming from eastern provinces. Many parts of China were under Japanese occupation, except for Xi'an. Because of its far inland location, the Japanese could not easily reach it.
Nowadays, Xi'an is still one of the most visited cities by foreign tourists in whole China. Thanks to the Terracotta Warriors and many other spots of interest, more and more foreigners each year are spending some time there. It's absolutely a 'must-see' when you travel through China.
(D.De Hon)
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Attractions 旅游景点 |
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Xi'an City Attraction List
Baxian Monastery
Beifang Park
Beilin Museum
Bell Tower
Big Ci'en Temple
Big Goose Pagoda
Big World Amusement Park
Botanical and Zoological Garden
Century Park
Changle Park
Chenchuang Temple
City Wall
Daxingshan Temple
Drum Tower
Great Mosque
Guangren Temple
Halal Great Temple
Han Yingshanlou Ruins
Jianfu Temple
Lianhu Park
Ocean World
Qin Xiangwang Mausoleum
Qinglong Temple
Roman Catholic Church
Shaanxi History Museum
Small Goose Pagoda
Statue of Silk Road's Starting Point
Tang Dynasty Arts Museum
Tang Kaiyuanmen Ruins
Tang Paradise
Wanshou Pagoda
Wulong Temple
Xi'an Museum
Xiangzi Temple
Xingqing Palace Park
Weiyang District Attraction List
Han Chang'an City Ruins
Han Weiyang Palace Ruins
Qin Afang Palace Ruins
Tang Daming Palace Ruins (Northern Part)
Baqiao District Attraction List
Ba Mausoleum
Banpo Neolithic Village
Douhuanghou Mausoleum
Laoniubo Ruins
Putaihou Mausoleum
Xin Temple Ruins
Gaoling County Attraction List
Tang Zhaohui Pagoda
Yanliang District Attraction List
Guanshan Ruins
Liyang Ruins
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Lintong District Attraction List
Hongmenban Ruins
Huaqing Palace and Hot Spring
Li Mountain
Lintong Museum
Qin Shihuang Mausoleum
Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit
Lantian County Attraction List
Caiwenji Grave
Lantian Man Excavation Site
Shuilu Monastery
Wangshun Mountain National Forest Park
Chang'an District Attraction List
Cuihua Mountain
Dugong Temple
Fengjing Ruins
Gaojing Ruins
Guifeng Forest Park
Huayan Temple
Nanwutai Mountain Forest Park
Qinghua Mountain Grotto
Qinling Wildlife Zoo
Shenshou Pagoda
Taixing Mountain Forest Park
Western Zhou Chariot Burial Pit
Xiangji Temple
Xingjiao Pagoda
Xingguo Temple
Zhongnan Mountain Forest Park
Zhou Mu Mausoleum
Hu County Attraction List
Caotang Temple
Chenping Grave
Chongyang Palace
Jingde Pagoda
Hu County Peasants Art Exhibition
Kongcui Court
Taiping Forest Park
Zhouzhi County Attraction List
Golden Monkey Natural Reserve
Laozi Grave
Louguan Observatory Temple
Qinling National Botanical and Zoological Park
Taibai Mountain Natural Reserve
Xianlv Temple Fawang Pagoda
Zhouzhi Old Pagoda
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Xi'an Culinair 西安美食 |
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This section is dedicated to the wonders of eating in Xi'an. Based on our own experience in dining out we provide you some places you can try out or maybe some places you'd better stay away from. There are a lot of small shops where you can eat, I strongly suggest you give them a try too. Mostly the food is good, but be aware of the possible stomach and belly problems you might have afterwards.
Note that only restaurants in Xi'an City are commented below.
If you feel my comment is not correct or you want to add something, feel free to contact me at debodh@alienriddler.com.
(D. De Hon)
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火锅 - 麻辣烫 Hot Pot, Malatang or Chinese fondue
Eating hot pot is always a lot of fun. You put everything you like in a big bowl of bouillon and when it's ready you fish it all out again.
In China there are several kinds of hot pot: Mongolian, Chengdu, Beijing, seafood, etc. But the concept is always the same. It is not something you can finish in 20 minutes. Mostly it takes more than 1 hour, up to two before you leave the table.
As you have several kinds of taste you also have several kinds of places.
You can eat 'hot pot' on the street, a vendor with a big bowl and you chose a stick and put inside the soup until it's ready. You eat while waiting for the next stick to be boiled well (malatang).
There are some small shops where you can chose vegetables or meat on a stick and take them back to your table. These small shops come also in restaurants, which are more hygiene than the smaller versions.
Then you have the stylish big restaurants, where you order plates. Sometimes you can even chose to have your personal pot. So, everybody has his own one. These places are mostly a bit more expensive than the smaller restaurants.
And some restaurants have a mixture of barbecue and hot pot. Around the pot is a plate where you can bake food that you don't want to eat boiled.
Here are some of the most famous hot pot restaurants in Xi'an:
Zhu Yuancun 竹园村火锅, Little Fat Sheep 小肥羊火锅, Jiulong Malatang 九龙麻辣烫, Haidilao (seafood) 海底捞火锅城, Xishi Mizhi Kaoyu (Tibetan style) 藏式秘汁烤鱼, Yuantai Zu 元太祖 etc. |
北京烤鸭 Beijing Duck We can truly say that Beijing Duck is China's national dish. It takes too long to prepare it yourself and the restaurants only employ big chefs who have had special training in preparing this delicacy.
When you eat Beijing Duck, nothing of the duck is left over. The slices skin you roll in Mandarin pancakes together with some spring onions and hoisin sauce. The rest of the duck is used to make a nice duck soup, which is also served.
It is said the best Beijing Duck you can eat in Beijing, from where this dish originates. Nonetheless, you can have real good duck outside of Beijing.
Here is a list of some famous restaurants in Xi'an:
Beijng Laopu Beijing Duck 北京老铺烤鸭, Xi'an Beijing Duck Restaurant 西安烤鸭店 and Old Beijing Qianmen Beijing Duck 老北京前门烤鸭 |  |
川菜 Sichuan Cuisine According to most Chinese people, Sichuan cuisine is THE best of whole China. The bitter spicy Sichuan pepper flavor (花椒味儿) is used in almost every dish and is what makes this cuisine so special. All gradations of spiciness can be found here as well, going from medium spicy to way-too-spicy. Keep in mind that this cuisine is not the most spiciest one of them all!!
Everywhere you go in China, even in the smallest town you can find, there will always be an Sichuan restaurant nearby. The flavor mostly depends on the price rates. Though 'the more expensive, the better' is not always true.
The most famous ones in Xi'an:
Guoren Chuancai / 国人川菜 (medium)
Beilin District, 1 Taiyi Lu South Part / 碑林区太乙路南段甲字1号
Beilin District, 23 Yanta Lu / 碑林区雁塔北路23号
Guoli Renhe Chuancai / 国力仁和川菜 (expensive)
Beilin District, 1 Chang An Bei Lu, 3th floor / 碑林区长安北路1号三楼
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 "Welcome to Beiyuanmen Islamic Street!", sign above the entrance of the Muslim quarter in Xi'an. This area is located behind the Drum Tower and is well known not only for food, but for the long souvenir alley as well. Let us talk about food for now.
In this area you can find the best Muslim restaurants in whole Xi'an. On the street you can buy special sweets and other Muslim goodies. In the evening you can have some barbecued mutton or beef satays. It's hard to recommend one restaurant, since they are all more or less the same. The scenery in this area differs from the rest of the city and is absolutely worthwhile visiting.
When you are standing in front of the Drum Tower, just go right, first you'll see a dried-fruits market left from this market is the beginning of the Muslim Street. |
Xinjiang Cuisine
Xinjiang Autonomous Region covers a great part of western China. Nang bread, stewed mutton, noodles and roasted dumplings are some of the most famous Xinjiang dishes. You can find Xinjiang restaurants throughout whole Xi'an. The small restaurant shops offer mostly noodles, roasted meat and roasted nang bread. In the big restaurants stews (chicken/mutton/beef) are more common. Instead of eating rice, they prefer to eat nang bread.
新疆风味餐厅 Xinjiang Fengwei Restaurant
6, Biaoxin Jie (on the corner with Andong Jie) / 标新街6号(近安东街)
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日本料理-惠里 Huili Japanese Restaurant
Definitely the best Japanese restaurant in whole Xi'an. Besides serving quality food at payable prices, they really know decorate the dishes accordingly. They don't have a wide variety of sushi, but then again it's a restaurant, not a sushi bar.
For starters you get a small dish of seaweed for free and if you are lucky you'll get a desert for free as well.
The tempura, sushi, noodles, fish plates and miso soup are all exquisite of taste! Finger licking good!!!
1, Chang'an Beilu 3th floor / 长安北路1号3楼
029-85261888
Open daily: 10h00 - 22h00
元山日本料理 Yuanshan Sushi Bar
This sushi bar is good if you want to have a quick bite. You can sit around the transport band, in a private room or just on a table. Here they do have a wide variety of sushi. You can order some other Japanese dishes as well, but the taste of the dishes are too concentrated. But still it is a trendy place and while eating you can enjoin the view of the Drum Tower.
48, Xi Dajie Zhonghuan Shopping Center, 3th floor / 西大街48号中环广场三层
029-87212155 / 029-87212260
久兵卫日本料理 Jiubing Wei Japanese Restaurant
This restaurants location is quite nice, just inside the city wall at Heping Men. The environment is also nice and quiet. But I didn't like the taste of the sushi very much.
On the first floor you have a buffet, during lunch you can pay 40 RMB and eat as much as you can. In the evening you pay 50 RMB. The second floor has private rooms where you pay according to what to you order and is mostly quite expensive.
55, Heping Lu / 和平路55号
029-87435795 / 029-87452368
味千拉面 Ajisen Ramen
Where there is a Walmart Supermarket, big chance there is an Ajisen Ramen close by. As noodle soups are their trademark, they taste heavenly. This restaurant has a modern lounge style atmosphere and the music playing in the background is always the same. Nevertheless, the food is delicious but a bit expensive.
Jinhua Nanlu Baisheng Shopping Mall / 金华南路百盛
8, Yanta Road, Wanda Square 1st floor / 雁塔路8号万达广场1楼
Dong Guanzheng Street (close to Ren Ren Le Supermarket) / 东关正街 (近东门人人乐)
Weiyang District, 126 Weiyang Boulevard, International Saigao 2nd floor / 未央区未央大道126号赛高国际2期2楼
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韩国紫菜饭馆 Korean Zicai Restaurant
The owners of this restaurant are so nice and do remind you of your home. The friendly atmosphere makes you enjoy the food fully. Especially Gimbab (rice wrapped in seaweed) and fresh made bibimbab (sizzling hot of dish rice, seaweeds, mushrooms and other vegetables) are delicious. For starters kimchi is served and you get free bouillon soup to drink. If you don't like soup, you can order some nice Korean fruit juices. Beer is not served. I guess it's a pretty good restaurant, since the Koreans are eating here too.
39, Dong Guan Zheng Jie / 东关正街39号
029-82403918
土大力Tudari
Tudari reminds me more of a Korean fast food chain, since this restaurants pops up in every big city.
The dishes are quite nice, only a bit sweet sometimes. Again for starters you are served free kimchi. Instead of soup they serve lovely Korean grain thee. Some Koreans like to eat her as well, so it must be real Korean food they serve.
48, Xi Dajie Zhonghuan Square 2nd floor / 西大街48号中环广场2楼
韩舍韩国正统烧烤 Korean Style Barbecue
This is a nice place to have an old fashioned Korean Barbecue. The food is really good, the restaurant is clean and last but not least, it's not expensive. They do serve beer here because a lot of Chinese are coming here. It's definitely nicer when you go eating Korean barbecue with several people, it's just more fun and you can eat more different kinds of things.
102, Xianning Zhonglu / 咸宁中路102号
029-88966599
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印度菜菜 Cai Cai Indian Restaurant
Same owner as Highfly Pizza. This place is not bad at all, although all the curries taste the same and you get a little for the price you pay. But if you like spicy food, is this the place to be.
Again this place is mostly filled with foreigners. Sometimes the waitresses are dressed in Indian clothes. They can serve you in English and are always pleased if they can practice their English with you.
The location of this restaurant is perfect, next to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
46, Yanta Xilu / 雁塔西路46号
029-85252536
高飞比萨 Highfly Pizza
As they say themselves, it is the best pizza in town. Xi'an has many places where you can eat pizza, but none of them have real authentic thin Italian pizza's. I strongly recommend this place for pizza, the other dishes they serve are so-so.
For an extra fee they deliver at home. They also serve breakfast.
The only bad thing, like in most Chinese restaurants, when you order some liquor, you barely see what's in the glass.
2, Huancheng Nanlu (just outside Heping Gate) / 环城南路中段2号,(和平门外)
029-87855333
小世界西餐厅 Small World Cafe
The owner of this small restaurant is Dutch. Most Chinese don't come here because of the price. A lot of foreigners used to come here, but because of recently the prices increased by 100%, so this place now is abandoned. Besides some pizza's, hamburger, salads or soup there is not much left too chose from. Before you could still agree with the price choice, but now it is too expensive, and the food is not worth this high price. If they should decrease the prices again, then you should at least give it a try.
90, Huancheng Nanlu East Part / 环城南路东段90号
塞纳河法国餐厅 La Seine French Restaurant
Everybody knows that French Cuisine is one of the most expensive ones in the world. So it's not surprising that this brand new restaurant is pretty expensive too. A soup or salad is around 30 RMB, main dishes start at a price above 100 RMB. The menu looks really appealing and they do serve authentic French wine. I find the deserts are not that expensive, in comparison with for example Starbucks.
The scenery is romantic, the waiters are dressed in what's supposed to be French style (they look more like pirates to me), you have a nice view of the Bell Tower (with McDonald's in front of it) or Nan Dajie at the other side.
If you are living in Xi'an for a long time and you have the money, I would definitely give it a try. But for tourists, I wouldn't recommend it (except if you really dislike Chinese food).
59, Nan Dajie Fumeng Building 5th floor, next to the McDonald's of the Kaiyuan Shopping Center / 南大街59号富豪大厦5楼(近开元商城)
029-87266688
常春藤咖啡餐厅 Ivy Cafe
Personal I really like this place. Besides good coffee they also offer good food. Especially the Chinese flavored pizza's are good. Their English menu has some funny spelling mistakes, but that's a charm you will find anywhere in China. The price rate is between 20 and 88 RMB. A steak (whether it's beef or salmon) is about 48 RMB which also includes soup and a big fruit-vegetables salad. I must add that this place hasn't been always so good as it is now regarding food. They improved a lot over the last couple of years.
If you are looking for a warm, quiet, fancy place and yet still inexpensive, this is the right place. You can finish your lunch or dinner with a nice cup of coffee or thee.
Corner of Xi Dajie and Guangji Jie Parkson Shopping Mall 4th floor / 西大街与广济街十字西北角百盛4楼
Xianning Lu / 咸宁路
金汉斯南美烤肉 Golden Hanse South American Barbecue
This place is special. It's not only a restaurant, but a brewery of the black Hanse beer as well. This is the only place in Xi'an where you can drink this specially brewed beer.
As the waiters are coming with sticks of freshly roasted meat and fruits, you can also choose salads from the buffet. Here you can eat as much as you can for only 38 RMB (beer not included and there's a limit of meat per person). Although I find they serve too little meat, you will return home full and satisfied. Sometimes there are live performances.
Mostly this restaurant is full, so it's better to go a bit early to be sure you have a seat.
81, Heping Lu / 和平路81号
029-87415353 / 029-87416363
必胜客 Pizza Hut
Okay, for the Pizza Hut-lovers, don't ever go to Pizza Hut in China! If you want to remember the good taste of PH back home. The pizzas are oily and taste everything but good. Chinese like to go to Pizza Hut, but not for the Pizzas. They just eat something small, because it's so expensive. But they do so, because afterwards they can tell everybody they went to PH. All the foreigners who have been to Pizza Hut have the same opinion, once but not twice.
For those who want to give a try .... good luck!
8, Nan Da jie Haida Tiandi Shopping Center 1st floor / 南大街8号海大天地商厦1楼
38, Chang'an Zhonglu Parkson Shopping center 1st floor长安中路38号长安百盛百货公司1楼
33 Kezhi Lu, Gaoxin Shopping center 1st floor / 科技路33号高新购物广场1楼
1 Dong Dajie Luomashi 东大街骡马市1号兴正元百货
At the corner of Wenyi Lu and Youyi Lu, on the opposite of Aijia / 文艺路与友谊路间(爱家对面)
Xidajie Minsheng Baihuo Fang / 西大街民生百货旁
69, Yanta Beilu, Huarun Wanjia Shopping Center 1st floor / 雁塔北路69号华润万家购物中心1楼
肯德基 KFC
Since I ate KFC for the first time ever in China, I cannot compare with other countries. Nonetheless, I like it very much!!! What I like the most are the Chinese-style menus such as the Old Beijing Chicken Roll. But all the other menus are adapted to the Chinese taste as well. Mostly they offer a spicy version or you can choose whether you like spicy or not. Personnaly I prefer the KFC's Fish Burger instead of the McDonald's one.
KFC is more common than McDonald's, so you will find it everywhere throughout the city, almost in every street.
麦当劳 McDonald's
McDonald's, probably the biggest fast food chain in the world has also found its way to China. Because the Chinese people are used to eat more chicken than other meat, there are less McDonald's then the chicken fast foods. It occurred to me that McDonald's tastes different in every other country. There is nothing wrong with the Chinese McDo. Although McDo also sells chicken menus, I think the ones of KFC are better. The menus here are adapted as well. One adaption you don't find outside of China is the egg-burger. As breakfast menu you can have an egg-meat-burger or egg-burger.
Most of the restaurants are located in the city center, more and more are appearing outside. Normally you won't encounter any difficulties finding one.
德克士 Dicos
Dicos, the Chinese answer to KFC, but there are a lot of differences though. In Dicos you can taste real Chinese hamburgers. For example they serve a hamburger of which the bread is replaced by rice. They also serve other things you will not see in the western fast food chains. There is one thing I wouldn't recommend you to try, the meat-burgers. We all now that the meat in the real hamburger is not 100% pure meat. The Dicos' meat doesn't taste like meat at all. The chicken is good though, so are the french fries. If you take a KFC styled menu, you won't regret it, especially because it's cheaper.
Dicos is as common as KFC, so you will encounter several when you take a walk.
百富烤霸 Best Food
This new Chinese fast food chain sells .... chicken! You can choose between chicken sate, chicken pizza, chicken burgers, chicken snacks or a whole roasted chicken. The chicken has a really good, nice juicy bbq-taste. If you are really hungry, than only a chicken pizza won't be enough to satisfy your needs. The taste is good, but too small.
Recently they added a meat burger version.
One thing I haven't figured out yet, is why is there a monkey in their logo when they sell chicken?
Best Food is not so common, so here is a list:
260, Taibai Beilu Tianrun Building 1st floor / 太白北路260号天润大厦1楼
580, Dong Dajie Tangcity Building floor b1 / 东大街589号唐城大厦B1楼(近钟楼)
378, Chang'an Nanlu Xin Shidai Shopping Center 1st floor / 长安南路378号新时代商城1楼
42, Xianning Zhonglu next to Aijia market / 咸宁中路42号爱家超市
Yanta Lu in front of the Big Goose Pagoda Northern Square / 雁塔路大雁塔北广场对面
334, Youyi Donglu Inside Aijia Market / 友谊东路334号爱家超市内
69, Yanta Beilu World Trade Center 1st floor / 雁塔北路69号家世界购物中心1楼
In the middle of Nan Dajie on the east side / 南大街中段路东
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Xi'an Nightlife 西安夜生活 |
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Nightlife in Xi'an is great. But still differs from what you are used to back home.
The disco's are really huge and several stories tall. Inside you will find a lot big sofa compartments where you have to spend a certain amount of money in order to be allowed to sit there. These places are specially created for groups. The dance floors are too small because they are used to sit as well. But the weirdest thing of all is, inside there are security guards with bullet free vests and big black army helmets. I guess they are there for a reason but you don't feel extra safe because you can see them everywhere you look.
And then there is a cultural aspect that is not well understood by some foreigners. There are a lot of beautiful young Chinese women who are just hanging around the bar, looking for company. Not for just any company, they are picky. They only look for rich, mostly older men. As most Chinese believe foreigners are all wealthy, some foreign men are also being tricked by these women. Not all the Chinese women are like that, but it's known they are well represented in disco's and clubs.
The Chinese men like to play drinking games and show off with their power and money. The younger ones like to show off on the dance floor. Foreign girls and women will be approached by males. It can be pretty annoying if every 5 seconds there is a guy asking where you're from or if you want to exchange numbers.
You are not allowed to take pictures inside a disco and you cannot drink while dancing on the dance floor. Closing time is usually 4 o' clock.
The bars and pubs are more less the same too. You have loud bars and rather quiet bars. In some bars the music is so loud you can barely understand each other. Since there is no dance floor, people just stand up and start dancing next to their chair. When they are tired or don't like the song they just sit down again.
Playing drinking games is one of the main things you are ought to do when you go out. Most Chinese won't stop drinking until they are totally waisted. Some even keep on playing after vomiting. One of the favorite drinks is whisky mixed with ice tea.
When you buy a lot of bottles of beer at once, you are provided with a girl to keep you company. But you can refuse. Besides keeping you company, she will also drink some of your beers (if you're unlucky).
In KTV you can sing hours with friends. Drinking and singing is also very popular in China. You rent a room, buy some beers and start singing. You don't need to be a good singer, it's just having fun that counts. People like to go to KTV to celebrate birthdays. Some KTV's also have a buffet that's included in the rent fee.
Whether you are the quit type, wild party animal or you love to sing, everybody finds something where he or she feels comfortable.
(D.De Hon)
德福巷 Defu Xiang Bar Street
Let porters drag you into one of the many bars in Defu Xiang. Whether you want to have coffee or tea, beer or wine, you can find it all in this street just inside the South Gate. The prices are a lot cheaper than in the big clubs.
During spring and summer, you can sit outside on the patios and enjoy the scenery around you. Here you will definitely meet lots of new people.
后院酒吧 Backyard Bar
This loud bar is popular among young Chinese people. Mostly you can only sit in this bar. In the middle there is small podium on which people can dance. You can feel free to dance where your seat is, just next to the table. But if you are a wild-dancer you might not have enough space. The techno music is quite good and the beverages are sold at a normal rate.
1, Huancheng Nanlu west part / 环城南路西段副1号
029-87808503
月亮钥匙酒吧 Moon Key Bar
If you like live performances, this is bar is excellent. Daily local artists perform here live. Sometimes bigger artists come here to try their best, especially punk concerts are held here. The atmosphere is a bit dark, but that makes is special. This place is good for alternative types.
Inside the South Gate on the left side of the Merchants Bank (you have to go down the stairs) / 南门里招商银行西侧
029-81068772
湘子门国际青年旅舍 Xiangzimen International Youth Hostel
This youth hostel I've added on the list of bars because this is a gathering place for all foreigners in Xi'an. The first floor of the hostel is a western pub with a pool table, Chinese chess table and a darts. If you are feeling alone, then you should check this place out, you will meet foreigners here. Besides foreigners, there are also some Chinese wandering around here, looking for a foreigner to practice their English with.
The beer is cheap, only 5 RMB for a big bottle. So, it might be a good starting place if you want to party all night long.
16, Xiangzi Miaojie / 湘子庙街16号
029-62867888 / 029-87267330
e-mail: yhaxzm@163.com
钟楼国际青年旅舍 Bell Tower International Youth Hostel
Another youth hostel, same reason for adding this one as the Xiangzimen one. The Bell Tower Youth Hostel is located in the city center, near the Bell Tower. On the second floor is the pub and restaurant. Again there is pool-table, a darts and a in really bad shape fooseball table. Here you can meet a lot of foreigners and Chinese too. The beer is about the same price as other hostels.
1, Bei Dajie (next to the China Post Office) / 北大街1号 （中国邮局旁边）
029-87233005 / 029-87231203
1＋1酒吧 One Plus One
This disco is one of the most famous ones in Xi'an. The music is quite doable, if you like Chinese house music. A lot of foreigners and Chinese youngsters like to come here. Middle aged people like to come here to show off.
The toilets aren't enjoyable if you are in a hurry or a bit drunk. It's a real maze in there and you can barely see where the doors are.
285, Dong Dajie / 东大街285号
029-87280008
029-87216265
莎莎俱乐部 Salsa Disco Club
Except for the interior, Salsa Club is more or less the same as 1+1. The people, the music, the price list are all the same. It's just what kind of scenery you prefer that really makes the difference.
6, Xi Dajie Parkson Shopping Center 7th floor / 西大街6号百盛购物中心7楼
029-87286666
西安芭芘 Babi Club
R&B and Hip Hop is what is on the play list in this club. This small club has a nice atmosphere, interior and dance floor. One of the deejays is foreign. The prices here are a bit expensive too.
Nan Dajie
星巴克 Starbucks
Who doesn't know Starbucks? If you want a decent cup of coffee for a Western price, than you must go to Starbucks. The coffee is better than what they sell in most Chinese coffee bars. The bars in the city center are often full.
All the bars offer free Wifi connection. Besides good coffee and expensive pastries they also have a nice hygiene western toilet.
33, Kezhi Lu Shiji Jinhua Shopping Center 1st floor / 科技路33号世纪金花购物中心1楼
1, Xi Dajie Bell Tower Square / 钟鼓楼广场西大街1号
1, Dong Dajie Luomashi Xingzheng Yuanbaihuo 1st floor / 东大街骡马市1号兴正元百货1楼
6, Jiefang Mart Kaiyuan Commerce City floor b1 / 解放市场6号开元商城B1楼
Bell Tower right under Mc Donald's
K咖啡 King Coffee
The Chinese version of Starbucks. With free Wifi connection as well.
52, Nan Dajie / 南大街52号
383, Dong Dajie Fanghui Mansion floor b1 / 东大街383号方汇大厦B1楼
25, Yanta Xilu 雁塔西路25号
2, Nanxing Jie Hushi Dabaihuo 1st floor / 南新街2号伊时达百货1楼
Xi Qiaomen KFC 2nd floor / 西稍门什字肯德基餐厅2楼
Xianning Lu middle part jiaoda yicun Residence 5, 1st floor / 咸宁路中段交大一村5舍1楼
常春藤咖啡餐厅 Ivy Cafe
Personal I really like this place. The coffee is of good taste and quality, and the food has been improved much in taste. They even serve some good Chinese style pizza's (especially the cumin beef).
If you are looking for a warm, quiet, fancy place and yet still inexpensive, this is the right place. But not only the coffee is great, the many different kinds of tea are worth a try too.
Corner of Xi Dajie and Guangji Jie Parkson Shopping Mall 4th floor / 西大街与广济街十字西北角百盛4楼
Xianning Lu / 咸宁路
上岛咖啡 Shangdao Coffee
This place is popular among business people. But foreigners and most Chinese really don't like this place. It is really expensive, the coffee is not good, the atmosphere is also not really good. The only thing worth might be the service. They also serve several dishes such as steak and seafood. I wouldn't recommend this place, at least not in Xi'an. The ones in Shanghai are ought to be much better.
79, Jianguo Lu / 建国路79号
Xingqing Lu Jiaoda Yicun Residence 3 1st floor / 兴庆路交大一村3舍1楼
127, Youyi / Xilu友谊西路127号
70, Dongguan Nanjie / 东关南街70号
钱柜 Party World
In every city in China there is a Party World KTV. So it is probably the most famous one and thereby expensive. Although the prices are still not that expensive. Anyway, this KTV is really really good. The best thing is before 22:00 h there's a buffet included in the price. The food is quite good, but you cannot order lots of one dish. They do serve a wide variety of Shaanxi and western influenced dishes.
The music is specially adapted for foreigners. Surprisingly there is metal and punk included in the song list. There is one tiny slightly irritating thing, when you are singing a song of let's say Metallica, the karaoke video will show you some gardens with happy couplets or Swarowsky duck-shaped cristals. Not the video you would expect to see. Anyway this place is great.
Bei Dajie, on the corner of Xi Huamen no 1, in the Kai Ai Building 1st-3rd floor / 北大街西华门十字1号凯爱大厦1-3楼
029-62676666
Besides snooker houses, there are also outside pool biljart places. Where there are some small alleys with markets, there are naturally some outside pool places. One might wonder how the pool tables can survive the mood swings of the weather, it's always fun playing late at night and eating some barbecue while awaiting your turn.
The indoor ones are a little bit more expensive and provide you a good service.
金狗桌球 Golden Dog Snooker house
This place is actually quite nice. Not too expensive, great service and pretty cheap drinks.
Beilin District, 283 Xianning Zhong Lu, in front of Aijia Supermarket / 碑林区咸宁中路283号 （爱家购物场对面）
格兰明珠保龄球 Gelan Mingqiu Bowling Center
Gelan Mingqiu Bowling Center is the closest one to Jiaotong University. It is no surprise that it is often crowded with foreigners. Often big competitions are being held here.
42 Xianning Zhonglu / 咸宁中路42号
029-82214318
永康盲人按摩中心 Yong Kang Blind People's Massage Center
Did you ever had a massage done by blind people? These are the real experts. If you have some health problems you should go to this place. The moment they touch you, they can tell you what the problem is and where the center of the problem is. Most people feel real difference after several massages.
On the corner of Jinhua Nan Road and Xianning Zhong Road (it's a bit east of the corner if you turn in Xianning Zhong Road, then it's on your left hand side) / 咸宁中路与金花南路路口东侧路北,沿咸宁中路方向
029-87761448
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