Begin your day with a convenient hotel pickup within Xi’an’s third ring road. Head to the Terracotta Warriors, one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries. Explore all three excavation pits, where over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 670 horses were hand-crafted by 700,000 workers. Learn how this vast underground army was created to protect China’s first emperor in the afterlife, then buried and forgotten for centuries.

Next, sit down to a spread of hearty dishes from rural Shaanxi you won’t find in the city. The menu includes Grandma’s Fried Pancake with smoky chili paste, steamed pork belly coated in toasted rice flour, buckwheat noodles once reserved for emperors, and Jiangshui Yuyu – a classic dish of chewy noodle bites in a tangy broth.

After lunch, head to Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest and most complete military defenses in the world. Spend time walking (or optionally biking) along the top, with views of moats, archer towers, and the city it was built to protect.

In the evening, hop into tuktuks and explore hidden corners of the Muslim Quarter for Xi’an’s most iconic eats: hand-pulled biangbiang noodles drenched in chili oil, BBQ skewers grilled to perfection, soup-filled dumplings with spices from the ancient Silk Road, and gourd chicken – a centuries-old specialty.

End your tour at a local brewery tucked inside Xi’an’s city walls – the perfect finish to a full day of history, culture, and good eats.