The ancient city of Xian is a great place to visit because it has over 5,000 years of history. Xian has plenty of historical places to visit and sites to see. This city played an important role in introducing trade from the East to the West as the starting point of the Silk Route. With many tombs, relics and ancient artifacts, this city is like a giant museum waiting to be explored.

Also known as Mt. Taihuashan in ancient times, this mountain got its name from its five peaks that resemble five petals of a flower. This mountain has breathtaking views of the surrounding area and is listed as a national scenic location. Of the five peaks, the eastern, the western and southern peaks are the highest. Mt. Huashan also has many places of interest, such as Buddhist and Taoist temples on the way to the top. There are also a number of pavilions, buildings, sculptures and engravings on the mountain.

A night out on the town may be perfect for the less adventurous tourist. The Tang Dynasty Dinner Show is a performance of music and dance that has its origins in the Tang Dynasty which reigned over China about 1,000 years ago. Recreated by musicians and artists who have studied the ancient records of this period, the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show is performed by the Tang Dynasty Song and Dance Troupe, a branch of the Shaanxi Provincial Song and Dance Troupe. This performance a truly a sight to behold as it reflects the glory of the Tang Dynasty at its height and gives visitors an in depth insight into what Xian was like under the Tang rulers.

There are two performances presented by the dance troupe: one performance is known as the ‘Huaqing Palace’, the other is known as the ‘White Ramie Cloth Costume Dance’. The Huaqing Palace performance is a piece of Tang court music played with a variety of ancient Chinese musical instruments, while the White Ramie Cloth Costume Dance was a popular folk dance during the Tang Dynasty period. The Huaqing Palace performance gets its name from the Huaqing Palace, a Tang imperial palace where this dance was originally performed at royal banquets.

If you enjoy performing arts than ‘Piying’ is a must see when in Xian. Here leather puppets are dyed in bright, beautiful colors that date back to the Qing Dynasty, to tell tales of love, romance and legendary epics. A colorful entertainment the masses, there are over 600 different Piying plays. They are preformed at Dongfang Dajiudian. Xian has an increasingly popular nightlife. A number of bars, pubs and restaurants have opened up in the city to provide tourists with after-hours entertainment. There are many karaoke clubs in the city. The Railway Bar on Chang'an Bei Lu 1, is a great place to have a couple of drinks with friends, while the Goldfish Crazy Club on Xi Yi Lu 77, has the best music in town.

If you prefer to shop, Xian has some especially great shopping for tourists. Here lots of antiques and curios are for sale as well as souvenirs and handicrafts. The area behind Drum Tower in the Muslim quarter of the city has some great tourist bargains. Also on sale are imitations of cultural relics, Buddha statues, traditional arts and crafts and local folk handicrafts. Dongda Street, Jiefang Road and the wholesale market on the Kangfu Road are great places to shop for some unbelievable bargains. The more famous stores in the city include Minsheng Department Store, Tangcheng Department Store and Century Golden Flower Shopping Center on Nanxin Street.

The best time to visit this city is in late January or early February, during Chinese New Year celebrations. Also the Lantern Festival in February is great, as the entire city is decorated with brightly lit lanterns.