Shaanxi
Xi'an
The old capital on the Wei River. The city wall is the center, and the Terracotta Army is a half day to the east.
Xi'an reads clearly from the wall. Inside it, the Bell Tower marks the middle, the Muslim Quarter is the dense street grid to the northwest, and the parks and pagodas sit further out.
The Terracotta Army is not in the city. It is an eastbound half day, and the pits are the whole visit. Huaqing Palace is on the same road and only worth a stop if the timing is already easy.
The wall is the best first hour: rent a bike and ride one long side rather than promising yourself the full circuit.
