Visit the Terracotta Warriors

Xi’an’s famous Terracotta Warriors are probably on the list for every LTL student to visit. We organise regular visits so that students have the chance to visit with their classmates and really get a feel for this city’s Ancient history.

They’re one of the top attractions to visit in China, and we can see why. The Terracotta Warriors is a collection of sculptures depicting the soldiers in Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s army.

They were buried with the Emperor around the year 210 BC, in order to protect him in the afterlife. Though they were only re-discovered in 1974 by local farmers who were digging a well.

Come with us and visit the Terracotta Army to find out more about them and see for yourself!

Explore the Muslim Quarter

The Muslim Quarter is perhaps the highlight when it comes to trying out local Xi’an food. There are plenty of local delicacies to be tasted, so it’s another favourite to take our students to on a regular basis.

Eat some traditional ‘Biang Biang’ noodles… and try to learn how to write the characters for that (the most complicated character in Chinese!). Or grab a ‘Rou jia mo’, a pork meat bun, which is China’s answer to a burger.

As well as sampling traditional Xi’an snacks, the Muslim Quarter is a great place to do a spot of souvenir shopping.

There’s a big market that snakes around the food street, where you can find anything from Chinese paintings and calligraphy to an ‘Obamao’ T-shirt.

You’ll have to try your hand at bartering though, which is a great opportunity to get to grips with Chinese numbers and basic shopping vocabulary!

Huashan Weekend Trip

Mount Hua or Huashan is one of China’s Five Great Mountains, and it’s just a couple of hours away from Xi’an.

Which means that it’s great for a long day trip, or an overnight trip for our students.

Climbing up Hua Shan isn’t for the faint hearted, but luckily for those of us who aren’t great with steep climbing, there’s a cable car option too.

Either way, you’ll get some absolutely spectacular views from the top (and that’s at over 2000m)!

Local Museum Trip

Luckily for history and culture buffs, Xi’an has plenty of interesting museums and cultural sites. We often make a day of it and visit a spot together as a group.

There’s lots to choose from so here are some examples:

• Shaanxi History Museum – lots of historical bits and pieces
• Stele Forest – collection of interesting stone carvings
• Drum and Bell Towers
• Banpo Museum – bringing a neolithic settlement back to life
• Xi’an Museum – a museum, monument and park complex
• Big and Small Goose Pagodas
• And many more things to see!

Cycle the Ancient City Walls

The Xi’an city walls, which run right around the central area of the city, have a long history.

Although the wall itself has been restored so are not as authentically “ancient” as the name suggests, they make for a great afternoon out cycling.

We’ll often head out for a cycling tour around the length of wall just before dusk to get a great view of the city and some great snaps of the sunset. If you’re not a fan of cycling, it’s no problem as you can take an easy stroll along the wall. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous you can rent out a tandem bike with a classmate and cycle the walls as a pair.

Chinese Hot Pot

Hot pot is a must try dish while you’re in China, so it’s one of our favourites to introduce to our LTL students.

It’s a regular on our bucket list of dinner places in Xi’an, and one that students always enjoy together.

Different regions of China have different versions, but the most famous is the Chongqing/Sichuan hot pot. And traditionally it is exactly as the name suggest – hot, fiery that is. Luckily in most hot pot establishments you can tone down the spice and even choose a non-spicy pot.

You’ll be given a giant pot of steaming broth, flavoured to your choice, and you can then pick which vegetables, meats or tofu you’d like to cook. There’s usually a selection of tasty sauces for you to use as a dip after the cooking stage. Yummy!

LTL School KTV

KTV simply means karaoke and it’s one of China’s favourite night time activities.

No matter where you go in China, you’re going to need to try KTV at least once. It’s a great way to get to know everyone better, have a beer and some snacks, and just let off some steam.

Unlike karaoke in lots of Western countries, you don’t have to stand up and sing in front of everyone in the bar. Instead you’ll be in a booth with just you and the rest of the LTL group. You can even practise your singing skills in Chinese if you’re feeling adventurous.

Friday Night Beers

When you’re new to any city, it’s always good to know somewhere to go to grab a relaxing pint on a Friday night.

Luckily we know a few good spots to grab a cold local beer and wind down after the week’s studying.

Come and join us on the streets of Xi’an and discover the best spots to grab a drink, get socialising and let your hair down after a long day of studying Chinese!