Travel postcard: 48 hours in Xian

FRIDAY

7:00 p.m. — Dive into Xian’s Muslim quarter, where the city’s Hui minority have lived for centuries. Wander around the small back streets passing local vendors and shops that sell everything from raisins and meat sticks to DVDs. Sneak a peek inside the area’s mosque, one of China’s oldest.

8:30 p.m — Muslim food is probably the most overlooked cuisine in China. Cast aside your preconceptions and head to one of the restaurants that line the quarter’s streets. Heletiao, a brown noodle derived from sorghum and buckwheat, is a popular local specialty. And the yangrou paomo — vermicelli soup flavored with lamb stock and mixed with tiny pieces of torn up bread, pickled garlic and chili — is divine in Xian.

10:00 p.m. — Dance your dinner off at 1+1 Nightclub at Dong Dajie, where Xian’s “it” crowd go. Those who prefer a more subdued atmosphere can visit Gate West Restaurant and Bar located at the Sheraton Hotel.

SATURDAY

7:00 a.m.— Grab a quick breakfast at your hotel before setting out to one of China’s premier attractions, the Terracotta Warriors. Situated about one hour’s drive from Xian, the most painless way to get there is to hire a car or minivan from your hotel, which should cost a few hundred yuan for a whole day, depending on your bargaining skills. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid the aggressive souvenir sellers who hover outside.

11:00 a.m.— Visit the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor and the man whom the Terracotta Warriors were designed to guard. Climb to the top of the mound and pretend you too are ruler of all you survey.

12:00 p.m.— After a quick lunch travel to Hua Shan, a 2,160 meter (7,087 ft) high granite peak about 1.5 hours east of the Terracotta Warriors. It’s a 10 minute ride to the top in a cable car, or for those who want a great work out try the 2-4 hour hike to the top. Due to limited time it is advisable to take the cable car at least one way.

5:00 p.m. — Stop off at the therapeutic Huaqing Pools on the way back to Xian. Once the preserve of the emperor and his concubines, nowadays anyone can bathe in the hot springs. If you don’t feel like a broiling, you can always just boil eggs in the sulfuric waters.

8:00 p.m. — Return to Xian and eat at the Tang Dynasty. Enjoy traditional dance, music and singing while tucking into some great Chinese food.

11:00 p.m.— If you still have energy you can head to one of the many bars on Nan Dajie. Alternatively, a more sedate and laid back bar or cafe atmosphere can be found close to the south gate of the old city wall, on Defu Xiang.

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