Xi'an works best when its imperial history and its ordinary streets share the same itinerary. Give the major sites their own time, then let a market, a courtyard meal, or an evening walk reset the scale.
How do you plan it beyond a checklist?
Do not squeeze every place into a route. Leaving space between arrival, movement, and staying makes a journey both more comfortable and more memorable.
Sample route
Xi'an: 3-4 nights
- Arrive and walk near the city wall
- Terracotta Army and a quiet evening
- Museums, temples, and neighbourhood food
- Leave one final half-day open