About
Xi An
Anciently named as Chang'an (Eternal Peace) and presently known as China's
city of the dead, Xi An provides a rich historical and cultural backdrop in
China, and was one of the Four Great China's Ancient Capitals.
The Western Peace, Xi An is presently the capital of Shaanxi Province, and
was home to the ruling houses of the Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties.
Today it is difficult for one to believe that Xi An once challenged such
cities as Rome for the title of the greatest city in the world and that for
thousands of years this booming metropolis was unrivalled in Asia.
Xi An is, however, the world renowned Terracotta Warriors that pushes Xi An
an essential part on the map to be unforgettably visited.
Area: 16,808 sq km
Population: 6.62
million
Urban Population: 3.73 million
Country: China
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +8
Telephone Area Code: 029
Entertainment & Events
Xi'an has an increasing lively nightlife scene. A number of small bars
featuring live music have opened up and are worth getting into in addition to
the usual karaoke and hostess clubs. You can also get late night drinks in
the back alley by the South Gate, opposite the ANA Grand Castle Hotel.
Shopping
Shopping is not widespread in Xi'an. However a few department stores
can be found by the Bell Tower and along the East and West Road. Visit the
East Road and you will find many retails shops for clothes and
shoes.
Lots of antique and curio shops as well as cheap tourist goods and souvenirs
can be also found behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter. Check all
goods and make a bargain if you've found what you look for! Get a receipt
just in case it might be an issue at Customs on departure.
Events
The Lantern Festival during the full course of the moon in February allows
Xi'an's city walls to be beautifully decorated with brightly lit lanterns.
The lanterns take on various shapes and sizes highlighting one of the
traditional crafts in China. As well, Chinese New Year is a big
celebration in Xi'an, coming around the end of January and the beginning of
February.
Food
Jiaozi
Xi'an is famous for its jiaozi, a sort of dumpling. Jiaozi is a
kind of newly created well-known feast of local flavor on the basis of the
traditional dumpling recipe. It's a beautiful version of Ravioli with
different ingredients like chicken, seafood, vegetables or various kind of
meats. It is indeed a mixed combination of good-looking, good smelling and
delicate good taste - sweet and rich in nutrition.
If you're hungry, go for it in the famous restaurant at Jiefang Road.
Also you could try the food stalls located at Dong Shi Er Dao Xiang, the 12th
Lane East.
Baked Bun Soaked in Mutton Soup
The most famous folk foodstuff of Xi'an is Baked Bun Soaked in Mutton
Soup. Particularly a restaurateur will first offer the kind of hard dried
pancake and you will break the pancake into small pieces, then give it back to
the restaurateur for cooking the shredded pancake with mutton in delicious
soup. The finished dish which is steaming hot will only motivate your
appetite with an unusual sweet smell.
Lao Tong's Cured Mutton
A well-known snack in Xi'an City, cured mutton is prepared with selected meat
stuff, the cooking artistic means and the subsidiary seasoning ingredients, so
the cured mutton is ready and delicious. The mutton stewed in soy sauce
looks bright and lustrous, tastes crisp and delicious.
The Chang'an Gourd Chicken
One of Xi'an's traditional local flavor, the Gourd Chicken's characteristics
lie in its golden rich color, crisp skin, tender meat, good smell and soft
through cooking. This dish is rich in protein and with saturated fatty
acid necessary for your body.
Xi'an Huis (Muslim) Food Street
Situated at the north of Middle Section of West Street at Da Mai Market
Street, Xi'an Huis (Muslim) Food Street is a place of the Huis (Muslim)
exquisite food and drink with a long history, a number of food of various
descriptions and strong national flavors in ancient Xi'an city.
Weather
Situated in the center of the Guanzhong Plains, surrounded by Mountains in
the south and the Wei River in the North, Xi'an is blessed with a pleasant
climate most of the year round, making it possible to be visited at almost any
time of the year.
The coldest month here is January. And make sure you have plenty of
drinking water when you go sightseeing during summer since it can be very dry.
Monthly Averages
| Xi An |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Max °F |
40 |
46 |
58 |
70 |
79 |
90 |
91 |
88 |
77 |
67 |
54 |
43 |
| Max °C |
5 |
8 |
14 |
21 |
26 |
32 |
33 |
31 |
25 |
20 |
12 |
6 |
| Min °F |
23 |
28 |
37 |
48 |
57 |
66 |
71 |
69 |
60 |
49 |
36 |
26 |
| Min °C |
-5 |
-2 |
3 |
9 |
14 |
19 |
22 |
21 |
15 |
9 |
3 |
-3 |
| Rainfall (in) |
0.2 |
0.4 |
1.0 |
1.7 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
3.6 |
3.2 |
4.0 |
2.2 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
| Rainfall (mm) |
7.5 |
12.5 |
27.5 |
47.5 |
62.5 |
52.5 |
92.5 |
82.5 |
102.5 |
57.5 |
27.5 |
7.5 |
This article is authored and copyrighted
by Royal Exclusive Travel
|
