4 Days in Xi'an: Every Meal Was a Revelation

Arrival → Weijia Liangpi → Academy Gate + City Wall → Joy City + Big Wild Goose Pagoda → Huzi Shuipen Yangrou

Landed midday, dropped bags, had Weijia Liangpi — the corn juice is insanely rich but WARNING: scalding hot. Afternoon: walked Academy Gate (书院门) cultural street, then up to Yongning Gate city wall. Evening: subway to Joy City + Big Wild Goose Pagoda, grabbed Li Shanshan tea drink (SO GOOD 😭). Dinner at Huzi Shuipen Yangrou — lamb is melt-apart tender, zero gaminess. The salt-tendon skewers and stir-fried lamb tripe are also must-orders!

Sajinqiao Breakfast → Great Mosque → Muslim Quarter

Breakfast crawl at Sajinqiao: Mi Wenjun persimmon red bean cake, persimmon fried cake (柿子糊塌), Lao Mi Jia Paomo (you tear the bread yourself — the experience is half the fun!), Hua Nainai sour plum + fermented rice combo + zenggao.

Afternoon: Xi'an Great Mosque (西安清真大寺, highly recommend!) → Muslim Quarter, passing Gao Family Courtyard, Bell Tower, Drum Tower. Evening: ordered delivery, rested up for tomorrow's adventure.

Day Trip: Xi'an → Tianshui (Maijishan Grottoes)

12:30 PM bullet train to Tianshui South. Lunch at Pangzi Fish (call ahead to skip the queue). Afternoon: taxi to Maijishan Grottoes — shuttle buses up and down, there was snow on the mountain, stunningly beautiful. Evening: Fanji Malatang — loved the fried meatballs. Train back to Xi'an.

Terracotta Warriors + Lishan Garden + Yongxingfang + Da Chu Xiao Guan

10 AM start. Grabbed an INCREDIBLE la niurou roujiamo (spiced beef sandwich) from the shop below the hotel. Metro Line 9 to Qinling West Exit D → taxi to Terracotta Warriors North Gate. Hired a guide — totally worth it, without explanation it's just looking at a dirt pit.

Lishan Garden: Out of the Warriors, through the commercial street, shuttle to the entrance. The ¥15 sightseeing car is recommended.

4:30 PM: taxi to Yongxingfang for snacks + souvenirs (driver said it's more authentic and better-priced than Muslim Quarter).

DINNER HIGHLIGHT: Da Chu Xiao Guan! The sweet vinegar pork loin (老醋里脊) — I WILL COME BACK FOR THIS 😭. Also tried huixiang (fennel) pancake (local recommendation), and the gourd chicken (葫芦鸡) — eat it hot while it's crispy. Perfect last meal.