Xi'an

Xi'an was the capital of thirteen Chinese dynasties and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, and it still feels like a city built on history. Its headline draw is the Terracotta Army — thousands of life-sized warriors guarding the tomb of the first emperor — but the intact Ming-era city wall, the Great Mosque and the bustling Muslim Quarter give the old capital real depth.

Ride a bicycle around the top of the city wall at sunset, wander the lantern-lit lanes of the Muslim Quarter for street food, and day-trip to the Shaanxi History Museum for context. Xi'an pairs naturally with Beijing and Shanghai on a first-timer's China route.

Getting there: Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) airport handles domestic and some international flights. High-speed rail is the smooth option — about 4.5 hours from Beijing and under 6 from Shanghai. The Terracotta Army is a 40-minute ride from the city centre.

Getting around: A compact metro plus buses cover the main sights. The walled old city is walkable, and taxis/Didi are cheap. To the Terracotta Army, take the tourist bus or a taxi — allow most of a day.

Xi'an's food is hearty, wheat-based and famously spicy. The must-tries are biangbiang noodles (wide, hand-pulled, chilli-slicked), roujiamo (the "Chinese hamburger" of shredded pork in flatbread) and yangrou paomo (crumbled bread in rich mutton broth). The Muslim Quarter is the place to graze everything at once.

Mar–May and Sep–Nov

Book Terracotta Army tickets online in advance, and arrive at opening time to beat the tour groups. The city wall bike ride is best at golden hour. Xi'an summers are hot and winters cold, so pack for extremes in shoulder seasons.