Xi’an Food & Craft Walk 市井长安
8 immersed hrs inside the old city: breakfast in the old lanes, taichi with the local, the back lanes of the Muslim Quarter, a local lunch, the calligraphy street, and a paper-cut or brush piece you make yourself, end with best sunset place in Xi'an.
The Route
Your pace. Your own group. Stress free
08:00
Hotel Pick-Up
to 08:30
Enjoy hassle-free hotel pickup, included for hotels within a 30-minute drive of Xi’an city center. Tour guide Robbie will wait for you at the hotel lobby.
08:30
Breakfast at Sajinqiao 洒金桥
to 09:30
A breakfast crawl through the market where locals actually eat. We'll taste min. 3–4 snacks, from steamed rice cake and dumplings to spicy soup.
09:30
to 10:30
Taichi at the Wall 城墙根晨练
Not on the wall — under it, in the park that wraps the city. Tai chi, diabolo, morning choirs: locals treat the wall as their living room. Then up at Hanguang Gate to watch the city wake.
Transit
Tuktuk
Hop aboard a tuk-tuk to travel between stops and enjoy a fun, local way to explore Xi’an.
10:30
to 11:30
Dapiyuan & Huajue Lane 大皮院 · 化觉巷
A slow walk through the back streets of the Muslim Quarter, past forty-odd old shops and everyday neighborhood life. The Great Mosque hides in the lane.
11:30
to 13:00
Local lunch at Zhemali 哲麻利
Zhemali is the down-to-earth and lively street-side eatery Halal restaurant. Will give you the most unique experience. Must try their Toothpick Meat and Old Bowl Fish, and salt & pepper mushroom. (Can change based on your own preference.)
13:00
to 13:30
Shuyuanmen calligraphy street 书院门
We head over to the old scholars' street and browse its painting and calligraphy shops, brushes, ink and paper.
13:30
to 15:30
Paper-cut or calligraphy workshop
Fold, cut and open a paper-cut flower, or write your name with a traditional Chinese brush. You take your piece home.
15:30
to 16:00
Old Veggie Market Rooftop 老菜场天台
A 1952 factory turned into apartments — they still sell vegetables downstairs. Light is best after 4pm. The rooftop murals, the yellow staircase, the "pod" — the photo spots young Xi'an loves.
Price
$129 per person
All Inclusive
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8 hrs private tour guide
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Hotel Pick-up
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All transit expense
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All food expense
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English-speaking guide
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Paper-cut or brush workshop
Meet your tour guide
Robbie
Hi, I’m Robbie! I am Maggie's business partner. I'm born and raised in Xi’an, a fluent English speaker with over 10 years of experience as a tour guide. I love my hometown and can’t wait to share its local flavors, hidden lanes and everyday life with you.
WHO IS THIS TOUR FOR?
You'll love this day if…
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You travel to eat. You'd rather queue with locals at a breakfast stall than sit in a hotel buffet.
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You've done the big sights. You've seen the Terracotta Army and the wall, and now you want the everyday city.
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You like to make things. You want to leave with something you made, not just photos.
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You like an easy pace. You want private tour and 1-on-1 interaction with the tour guide.
