Shanghai to Xi'an - Travel Method and Things to Do in Xi'an?
May 10th, 2012, 08:55 AM
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Shanghai to Xi'an - Travel Method and Things to Do in Xi'an?
Hello Everyone!
I will be traveling to China later this year. I will be in Shanghai for a business trip, but a couple of us have decided to extend our stay for a short excursion to Xi'an.
I’ll be free to start the excursion beginning Saturday afternoon, and then flying back home the following Wednesday morning out of Shanghai. I am considering flying from Shanghai to Xi'an, and then back to Shanghai, but the current cost is around $500 round trip. I am also considering taking the train or overnight train. Is the cost significantly less then flying, and is it a scenic trip during the day? What do you recommend?
I definitely would like to see the Terracotta Warriors while in Xi'an. What else is there to do and see in Xi'an and the surrounding area?
Thank you in advance for your recommendations!
I will be traveling to China later this year. I will be in Shanghai for a business trip, but a couple of us have decided to extend our stay for a short excursion to Xi'an.
I’ll be free to start the excursion beginning Saturday afternoon, and then flying back home the following Wednesday morning out of Shanghai. I am considering flying from Shanghai to Xi'an, and then back to Shanghai, but the current cost is around $500 round trip. I am also considering taking the train or overnight train. Is the cost significantly less then flying, and is it a scenic trip during the day? What do you recommend?
I definitely would like to see the Terracotta Warriors while in Xi'an. What else is there to do and see in Xi'an and the surrounding area?
Thank you in advance for your recommendations!
May 11th, 2012, 12:33 AM
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Grat choice. X'ian is a great city, with a lot more to see than the Terracotta Warriors.
The train will probably cost less but given that you are on a schedule I would fly if you can afford it. The train will be 20 hours+ each way I would guess, which is 2 days gone straight away.
If you like hostels you should stay at the Hang Tang Inn. $3-4 for a spanking dorm room, great staff and very central.
Activities:
- Bike around the old city walls;
- Vist the Drum and Bell Tower;
- Shop and eat in the Muslim Quarter at night;
- Soak it up, it's a great city with so much culture and history.
Good luck.
The train will probably cost less but given that you are on a schedule I would fly if you can afford it. The train will be 20 hours+ each way I would guess, which is 2 days gone straight away.
If you like hostels you should stay at the Hang Tang Inn. $3-4 for a spanking dorm room, great staff and very central.
Activities:
- Bike around the old city walls;
- Vist the Drum and Bell Tower;
- Shop and eat in the Muslim Quarter at night;
- Soak it up, it's a great city with so much culture and history.
Good luck.
May 11th, 2012, 09:07 AM
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Thanks for the advice.
We will most likely be flying. In that case, we should have 3 full days in X'ian. Would you recommend staying X'ian all 3 days or venturing out to a nearby area? Are there any foods that are unique to that region that you recommend trying?
Thanks again for the recommendations!
We will most likely be flying. In that case, we should have 3 full days in X'ian. Would you recommend staying X'ian all 3 days or venturing out to a nearby area? Are there any foods that are unique to that region that you recommend trying?
Thanks again for the recommendations!
May 11th, 2012, 01:55 PM
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I took the overnight train from Xi'an to Shanghai in December 2010. It left in the evening and arrived first thing in the morning (sorry, I don't remember the exact times). I think it was fairly cheap... $70 ish? But that is entirely off top of my head so don't count on that price being accurate! 
The 4 berth sleeper cabin was fine, but I wouldn't expect to feel awake and refreshed the next morning. There is no shower and the train attendants are in and out a few times throughout the night. Also, I'm a 5'3" girl and fold up fairly well. A taller man... not going to be the most comfortable place to sleep!
A round trip flight really might be well worth the expense.
There is a bus to the Terra Cotta Warriors from the Xi'an train station that's really cheap and direct (for info, wade through the Xi'an section of my China trip report). A taxi works easily too, especially as it sounds like you'll have a couple people to split the cost.
A walk or bike ride around the city wall is kind of a neat way to see the city.
Longmen Caves/Grottoes are nearby (a quick train ride and then a short hop by taxi).
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Just wandering around the city is actually kind of fun.
For everything, please write down the Mandarin characters (or ask at the front desk of your hotel) for where you want to go along with the English translation. That way you can just show the taxi driver (or anyone around you when you're lost somewhere) the paper and they know where to take/point you. When you get off the plane, make sure you have the address of your hotel in Mandarin to show the taxi driver. It makes life MUCH easier!
Have fun! I loved China and can't wait to go back someday.
The 4 berth sleeper cabin was fine, but I wouldn't expect to feel awake and refreshed the next morning. There is no shower and the train attendants are in and out a few times throughout the night. Also, I'm a 5'3" girl and fold up fairly well. A taller man... not going to be the most comfortable place to sleep!
A round trip flight really might be well worth the expense.There is a bus to the Terra Cotta Warriors from the Xi'an train station that's really cheap and direct (for info, wade through the Xi'an section of my China trip report). A taxi works easily too, especially as it sounds like you'll have a couple people to split the cost.
A walk or bike ride around the city wall is kind of a neat way to see the city.
Longmen Caves/Grottoes are nearby (a quick train ride and then a short hop by taxi).
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Just wandering around the city is actually kind of fun.
For everything, please write down the Mandarin characters (or ask at the front desk of your hotel) for where you want to go along with the English translation. That way you can just show the taxi driver (or anyone around you when you're lost somewhere) the paper and they know where to take/point you. When you get off the plane, make sure you have the address of your hotel in Mandarin to show the taxi driver. It makes life MUCH easier!
Have fun! I loved China and can't wait to go back someday.
May 11th, 2012, 01:57 PM
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Oh yeah, for the business thing, I *think* the custom is to give and receive business cards with both hands and don't ever put them in a pants pocket (even in your wallet). It's a representation of the person and shouldn't be sat on.
If you're going on business you probably have a business contact you can ask, but I remember reading that a few times in prep for my trip a few years ago.
If you're going on business you probably have a business contact you can ask, but I remember reading that a few times in prep for my trip a few years ago.
May 11th, 2012, 02:08 PM
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3 days - with the exception of the Terracotta Warriors I would stay in the city for all of your time. It is a very nice place. You should have a nice feel for it after this. I spent 4 days here and did not feel like it was too much whatsoever.
Re food - the street food is excellent, skewers, noodles etc. Because this is a melting pot of cultures given that it was at the start and end of the Silk Road, the food reflects a mix of many types (Muslim, Chinese etc).
Re food - the street food is excellent, skewers, noodles etc. Because this is a melting pot of cultures given that it was at the start and end of the Silk Road, the food reflects a mix of many types (Muslim, Chinese etc).
May 13th, 2012, 03:26 PM
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I did not make it to Xi'an on my last trip as I had planned, but have a couple of thoughts for you.
I am spoiled by the Chinese high speed trains and would not ride a slow one.
I had looked at a tour that combined a flight, hotel and all; I don't remember the company, but it was about $600 for the weekend.
Also, I associate "VeeDub" with air-cooled. Are you into those?
I am spoiled by the Chinese high speed trains and would not ride a slow one.
I had looked at a tour that combined a flight, hotel and all; I don't remember the company, but it was about $600 for the weekend.
Also, I associate "VeeDub" with air-cooled. Are you into those?
May 15th, 2012, 02:43 PM
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Chinese domestic flights generaly get cheaper the closer you get to your flight date.
Try http://flight.elong.net/index_en.html or
ctrip.com a little closer to your actual flight dates if you can't wait till you get there.
Aloha!
Try http://flight.elong.net/index_en.html or
ctrip.com a little closer to your actual flight dates if you can't wait till you get there.
Aloha!
May 15th, 2012, 03:05 PM
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veedubb....these pics may give you some ideas and especially some good close looks at the warriors. I couldn't believe the changes between my 1884 visit and my 2007 visit. In '84, cameras were prohibited but many people "shot" anyway..now there seems to be no ban..I "shot" as often as I wanted.
See pics on next post, please.
See pics on next post, please.
May 15th, 2012, 03:10 PM
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https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/ChinaXian2007#
I've been told that the Hyatt was sold and is some other chain now. We liked the location, close to the east wall of town...the warriors are in that direction. We took a taxi driven by a young woman...she waited two hours for us, charged $40 and included a trip to the sirport the next day. Concierge at the Hyatt made the deal.
I've been told that the Hyatt was sold and is some other chain now. We liked the location, close to the east wall of town...the warriors are in that direction. We took a taxi driven by a young woman...she waited two hours for us, charged $40 and included a trip to the sirport the next day. Concierge at the Hyatt made the deal.
May 16th, 2012, 10:06 AM
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The Muslim Quarter is fascinating, and the street food there is delicious. There's a nightly water and light show in front of the Big Goose Pagoda that you might enjoy. There's a mountain nearby that you can do day trip to - I think it's Mount Taishan? My favorite thing to eat in Xian were these persimmons, each the size of a quarter, that were so sweet; I just plob the a bunch of them into my mouth at once. I'm not sure they're in season in May though.
May 16th, 2012, 01:49 PM
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another huzzah for the Muslim Quarter...in 1984 you could only get in with a group..and we were invited to tea at the site of the new mosque under contruction. The Imam made sure we were stuffed with the local delicacies, and that they were. (No need for supper that night)We were impressed with that mosque as it stood in 2007 when we were there in our usual independent mode.
stu
stu
May 17th, 2012, 05:02 PM
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Flying should not be that expensive. I am looking at flights next week on ctrip.com and it is as low as 450RMB each way ($75).
For trains check here: http://www.chinatravelguide.com/ctgw...earch?method=1
The fastest overnight trains take a little over 14 hours.
For trains check here: http://www.chinatravelguide.com/ctgw...earch?method=1
The fastest overnight trains take a little over 14 hours.
Jun 6th, 2012, 10:08 PM
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Xi'an is such a famous cultural and historical city with so many popular tourist attractions, Terracotta Warriors, Great Mosque, Shanxi Provincial Historic Museum, Big Goose Pagoda and the City Wall to name just a few.
Also the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show as well as the Dumpling Banquet are not-to-miss items on your schedule. It will definitely be a memorable trip for you in China.
Also the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show as well as the Dumpling Banquet are not-to-miss items on your schedule. It will definitely be a memorable trip for you in China.
Aug 8th, 2012, 04:34 PM
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We are in Xi'an two nights. We have all the popular tourist attractions on our agenda. Am obsessesed with Warriors and 3 hours does not seem like enough time. Any thoughts on what to skip and how to get more out of the Terracotta Warrior experience. I don't want to be herded through like Ho Chi Minh's Tomb. I want to see as many and as much as possible of the Warriors more than anything. At least that is what I think. Anyone's thoughts?
Aug 8th, 2012, 05:04 PM
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Three hours is more than enough in my opinion. I don't know what more you can get aside from the visual thrill. The museum, the grounds, the hawkers...three hours will do it. You are not allowed to go down to the terra cotta level..no touchee! All "pic shooting" has to be from te encircling balcony. You're on your own.nobody will herd you through..go at your own pace. See my pics above and you'll get a good close feel for the terra cotta warriors.
stu
stu
