Xi'an | Day 4

After leaving the hotel this morning, we set out on foot to a small local breakfast spot about 15 minutes away. We ordered a classic spread of youtiao (fried dough sticks), congee, and xiaolongbao (steamed buns stuffed with meat), which made for a hearty start to the day.

From there, we walked over to Beilin (The Forest of Stone Steles Museum), an impressive museum dedicated to ancient Chinese stone carvings and calligraphy inscriptions. Though part of the site was under renovation, we were still able to admire many stone steles that feature intricate calligraphy, historical records, and cultural artifacts, some dating back to the Tang Dynasty. It was a fascinating peek into China’s ancient literary history despite not being able to see everything.

Afterwards, we strolled along Xi’an’s ancient city wall, taking in the views. We found lunch in a nearby shopping center before heading over to Beiyuanmen Food Street again on the way back to the hotel.

Back at the hotel, we took a well-deserved rest to recharge.

After nightfall, we took the metro to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a striking seven-story pagoda from the Tang Dynasty. Just in front of the pagoda was the musical fountain show - a spectacular display of synchronized water, lights, and music that added a festive energy to the area.

We continued walking down to Kaiyuan Square, where the cityscape and nighttime lights added a stunning backdrop.

To wrap up the day, we caught a taxi back to the hotel, content after another day of exploring Xi’an’s historic and modern highlights.