Xi'an vs Beijing: Which Ancient Capital Should You Visit?

The honest difference

Beijing was the capital of China's last two dynasties; Xi'an was the capital of many of its first — a starting point of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army. Beijing feels grand and imperial; Xi'an feels older, earthier and more tied to the trade routes that first connected China to the world.

The headline sights

• Beijing: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace.
• Xi'an: the Terracotta Army, the ancient city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Muslim Quarter.

If you can only see one 'ancient China', Beijing's landmarks are bigger and more famous. But Xi'an's Terracotta Army is arguably the single most astonishing sight in the country, and the intact city wall is the best of its kind in China.

Food

This is where Xi'an pulls ahead for many travellers. Shaanxi food — biangbiang noodles, roujiamo, yangrou paomo — is bolder, more distinctive and more affordable than Beijing's refined northern fare. The Muslim Quarter is a food destination in its own right. Beijing wins on variety and Peking duck, but Xi'an wins on sheer character.

Pace and logistics

Xi'an is more compact and cheaper; its sights are closer together and the city is easy on foot or by bike. Beijing is spread out and demands more planning. If you want a lower-effort, more walkable ancient capital, Xi'an is the easier trip.

How to choose

• Pick Beijing if you want the Great Wall and the Forbidden City — the iconic China.
• Pick Xi'an if you want the Terracotta Army, better-value food and a more walkable old city.
• Do both — they pair beautifully on a loop, connected by a ~4.5-hour high-speed train. See our 10-day itinerary.

Bottom line

Beijing is the grander statement; Xi'an is the older soul and the better food city. If you must pick one for a first trip, most choose Beijing — but no China trip feels complete without the Terracotta Army, so if you can, do both.