Ahh Xi’an. The home of China’s some of most loved and exciting attractions.
The Terracotta Warriors, Huashan, cycling on the City Walls, great food in the Mulsim Quarter. We’ve barely scratched the surface.
Think of Xi’an as a mini Beijing. All the culture of the capital, just on a small, calmer scale.
Get yourself prepared with our quick guide to the former capital.
APPS
VPNs || You’ve probably heard of the Great Firewall! In China, you’ll need a VPN (virtual private network) to access certain sites, including Google, YouTube, Whatsapp and social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, Threads, etc. Make sure you download this BEFORE you go to China (save yourself the nightmare of trying to do this on the other side!).
Big hitters like Express VPN and Astrill are popular choices, but here’s our top VPN for 2024
WeChat || China’s answer to Whatsapp, but it does so much more. Rather than repeat it here, check out this article.
Alipay || You can pay for things on WeChat but it’s good to have a backup. Alipay will help you not only pay for things, but order taxis, book trains etc. Check out our guide on how to use Alipay if you’re unsure!
Baidu Maps or Amap || Both great apps for navigating cities in China and finding the best route from A to B (Google Maps won’t work!)
Meituan || Ordering takeaway food in China is more convenient than you could ever imagine. If you want to order food or drinks delivered to your home in a flash, download this and get our team to help you in China.
Pleco || The foreigners’ live saver. Pleco is a Chinese dictionary in your pocket. Can’t think of that all-important word to complete your sentence? Pleco has your back.
Google/Baidu Translate || Bear in mind with Google Translate you’ll need a VPN for it to work, but either of these apps are super useful as mentioned with Pleco.
For a list of blocked websites and apps in China, check this out.
WEATHER
Summer time is hot! June, July and August all enjoy temperatures of above 30°C
Because of the distance Xi’an is from the sea, the summer heat is intense and uncomfortable, while in winter, cold air often stagnates on the ground.
December, January and February can see temperatures drop below freezing.
The best times to visit Xi’an would likely be March, April, September, and October.
SAFETY
Locals in Xi’an (and China in general) are super friendly, so if you’re lost, confused or just want to practice a little bit of 中文, they’ll be happy to help!
Xi’an is a very safe city. You’ll even see people leaving their laptops/phones/wallets unattended in cafes while they go for a bathroom break! Whilst it’s always best to exercise caution, crime and scams aren’t generally things you need to worry about
TOP TIPS
– Whilst cash isn’t widely used, you can still find places that use it. Come to China with some cash in hand for emergencies.
– If you want to ask for something and don’t know what it’s called, your friend is 这个 (Zhège, meaning this one). Don’t be scared to use it!
– You can link your foreign bank card to your WeChat and Alipay allowing you to buy things in China with your foreign card. You can follow our guides to learn how to do this. Do this before coming to China if you can.
– For cheap, quick, and convenient coffee, Luckin’ Coffee is about as popular as it gets. You can use the app to order ahead of time and pick it up on your way to class 
MORE USEFUL RESOURCES
– Check out our guide to the Terracotta Warriors.
– Learn more about the Silk Road.
– Find out how to get your motorcycle license in China.
– Discover what the weather is like in China with out month-by-month breakdown.