What's on in Xi'an (Xian), China through the year

Busy — Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in China, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Spring Festival

  15–23 FebLunar New YearCrowdedClosures

  The city wall is hung with lanterns and the Tang paradise park runs its big show, which makes this the one Chinese city worth the holiday crush. The Terracotta Army is not. Source ↗

Still on: Winter smog (15 Nov – 28 Feb)

Peak crowds — Spring Festival, Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in China

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Spring Festival (15–23 Feb), Winter smog (15 Nov – 28 Feb)

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in March.

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Nature

  Peonies and city-wall spring

  5–30 Apr · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The best few weeks here: dry, warm, the pagoda gardens in flower and the wall walkable without either the cold or the summer furnace.

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Summer heat

  15 Jun – 20 Aug · usuallyExtreme heat

  One of China's old furnace cities. The Terracotta pits are covered but not cooled, and the queue outside them is in full sun — go at opening or leave it to October. Source ↗

Busy — Summer break in China, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Summer heat (15 Jun – 20 Aug (usually))

Busy — Summer break in China, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Summer heat (15 Jun – 20 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Peak crowds — National Day Golden Week, National Day Golden Week in China

• Holiday

  National Day Golden Week

  1–7 OctCrowdedBook early

  The Terracotta Army takes tens of thousands a day in this week and the pits are managed as a one-way loop. The Muslim Quarter is impassable after dark. Source ↗

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season

• Hazard

  Winter smog

  15 Nov – 28 Feb

  The Guanzhong basin traps its air under the Qinling mountains all winter, and Xi'an posts some of the worst readings in the country. The city wall on a bad January day is a wall in fog. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Winter smog (15 Nov – 28 Feb)