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Cultural Activities in Xian

Museums and attractions of cultural interest abound in Xian. Archaeological excavations have unearthed a Neolithic village at the edge of the city and the famous Huaqing Hot Springs allow a glimpse of the elaborate palace and bathing houses of centuries past. Xian’s museums of calligraphy and Shaanxi history are both well worth visiting.

Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum
The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shaanxi province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China.

Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, had work begun on his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is speculated that many buried treasures and sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in his after life. A group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal tomb in 1974. It caught the attention of archeologists immediately. They came to Xian in droves to study and to extend the digs. They had established beyond doubt that these artifacts were associated with the Qin Dynasty (211 --206 BC).(More...)

Banpo Neolithic Village Museum
Located on the outskirts on the east side of the city, the Banpo Neolithic Village Museum was built at the base of the excavations at the Banpo site. Since it opened in 1958, two million people have visited the museum. Banpo was a typical Neolithic matriarchal community of the Yangshao people, dating back 6,000 years. The museum has two halls, exhibiting primarily domestic and production tools and in addition, there are displays of artwork and adornments that reflect the social life and culture of an aboriginal village of the period.(More...)

Chinese Peasant Painting, Huxian County
About 25 miles south-west of Xian, Huxian County is home to the art of Chinese peasant painting. The county borders Qinling Mountain on the south and the Wei River on the north and boasts splendid landscapes. Originally, most paintings focused on depicting daily work activities, but today the peasants portray various aspects of daily life, using bright colours and a bold style.(More...)

Huaqing Hot Springs
Located at the northern base of Mount Lishan, Hua Qing Hot Springs is known for its delicate spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Guifei during the Tang dynasty. The original palace was built here during the Western Zhou dynasty. Additions were made during subsequent dynasties, but it was Emperor Xuanzong who spent enormous amounts to make this a truly luxurious palace, celebrating the love for his concubine. The site is ranked as one of the top 100 gardens in China and also carries the protected status of a National Cultural Relic.(More....)

Shaanxi Province Museum
Shaanxi Province is the birthplace of the ancient Chinese civilization. Xian City was the capital city in thirteen dynasties which in total lasted over 1100 years. Consequently, the ancient history of Shaanxi is to some degree the ancient history of China. The Shaanxi History Museum considers it an obligation to be a showcase of ancient civilizations. It is situated in the southern suburb of Xian City, northwest of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.Since it was opened to the public in 1991, its architectural buildings, internal apparatus, and exhibits have made it famous as a first-class museum in China.(More...)

Forest of Stone Steles Museum
Once the site of the Temple of Confucius during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), the Forest of Stone Steles Museum is situated on Sanxue Street, near the south gate of Xian City Wall. It was initially established in AD 1087 when some precious stone steles were moved here for safe keeping, including the 'Classic on Filial Piety' written by Emperor Xuanzong in AD 745 and 'the Kaicheng Stone Steles' carved in AD 837. With an area of 31,000 square meters, the Forest of Stone Steles used to be the principal museum for Shaanxi Province since 1944. Then because of the large number of stone steles, it was officially named as the Forest of Stone Steles Museum in 1992.(More....)