Yes, Xi'an has a surprisingly rich free tour scene: about eight regular tours that charge only a tip, from walking along the Old City Wall and the food stalls of the Muslim Quarter to the Terracotta Warriors, evening tours, cooking and calligraphy. There is no upfront payment - at the end of the tour, each participant leaves the guide an amount of their choice, depending on the experience they received. This model, which is well-known in Europe, works excellently in a city where Western tourists have difficulty managing on their own.

Xi'an is not just another stop in China - it is the ancient capital from which the Silk Road departed, and the city where the first emperor's clay warriors were buried. A tour with a local resident turns these historical layers into a living story, opening doors to stalls, alleys, and corners that are very difficult to find without the Hebrew of locals - that is, without Chinese.

The offerings here are more diverse than most cities in China: alongside the classic walking tours, there are food experiences, an evening of hidden bars, cooking with a local family, and even a calligraphy session with tea - all on the same principle of paying according to satisfaction.

Why go on a walking tour in Xi'an?

Xi'an is one of those cities where walking is not just a way to get around but a walking history lesson. Formerly called Chang'an, the city served as the capital of China under entire dynasties and was the starting point of the Silk Road - and almost every corner of the historic center carries a layer of that story.

A city built for walking

The historic center is surrounded by a Ming Dynasty-era city wall, one of the best preserved and most complete in China, and the area within it is built as an orderly network of streets around the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. The distances between the main sites are reasonable for walking, the streets are flat, and the route passes through markets, alleys, and courtyards that are easy to miss without local eyes.

This is precisely where the great value of a local guide lies: Most of the signage in the city is in Chinese only, very few sellers speak English, and the cultural gap is significant. Those who grew up in the city know how to explain exactly what is being cooked at a stall, why the Muslim community has lived here for more than a thousand years, and how to read the symbols on the gates of the wall. A free tour is often the first and most intelligent introduction to Xi'an - after that it is much easier and safer to walk around on your own.

Areas and starting points of the tours

Inside the Walls - The Bell Tower and the Muslim Quarter

The heart of the tours is the historic center: the Bell Tower and Drum Tower area, the calligraphy street of Shuyuanmen, and the Muslim Quarter - alleys of food stalls, spice shops, and bakeries that lead to the Great Mosque, one of the oldest in China. The food tours are concentrated here, and in the evenings the area fills with lights, steam, and the smells of street food.

The Old City Wall

The wall itself is a sightseeing spot in itself - a massive Ming-era structure that surrounds the inner city, with gates, guard towers, and a lookout over the meeting point between ancient and modern Xi'an.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

South of the walls stands the famous pagoda from the Tang Dynasty, surrounded by plazas, gardens, and evening light and fountain shows - a meeting point between the city's Buddhist story and the leisure life of its residents.

Terracotta Warriors - Outside the City

The site of the Qin Emperor's Clay Army is located east of Xi'an, outside the city center. The tours dedicated to it are structured as an orderly departure from the city, and the exact organizational details appear on the page for each tour.

Important tips before you go out

Registration is done in advance through GuruWalk - the groups at their peak are relatively small and places on the popular tours, especially the food and terracotta tours, are taken up quickly. It's worth checking the tour page for the language of instruction: most city tours are held in English, and some guides also offer additional languages.

• Arrive a few minutes before the start time - it's easy to miss the group on busy streets, and difficult to locate it once it's set off.
• Comfortable shoes are a must: the walking pace is relaxed but the distances add up, and in the hot and humid summer of Xi'an - a hat and water will make the difference. In the winter months it is cold, and warm layers are especially necessary on the windy wall.
• The tip is given in cash in local yuan, at the end of the tour, in an amount that reflects satisfaction. It is important to be prepared: China is almost cashless and most payments are made through local apps, so it is worth withdrawing bills in advance and saving some for tips.
• It is recommended to arrange for a connection that works in China before the flight - familiar Western services such as Google WhatsApp are blocked on local networks, and an international data package or a dedicated smart card solves the problem.
• Xi'an's subway is convenient, cheap, and also controlled in English - the easiest way to get to the tour meeting areas.
• Before traveling, it is worth checking the latest entry and visa requirements for Israeli citizens in China - the rules change from time to time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the free tours at Shiyan really free?

There is no upfront payment and no fixed price - at the end of the tour, each participant leaves the guide a tip of their choice, based on their satisfaction with the experience. The guides work this way for a living, so it is customary for anyone who enjoys the experience to leave a fair amount.

Do I need to register in advance for a free tour of Xi'an?

Yes. Registration is done through GuruWalk, and is important both to reserve a spot and so that the guide knows to wait for you. The most popular tours, especially the food tours and the Terracotta Warriors, fill up quickly during the tourist seasons.

In what language are the tours at Shiyan conducted?

Most tours are in English, led by local guides. There are currently no tours in Hebrew, so it's worth checking the page for each tour to see in which language it is guided before registering.

How much is it customary to leave a tip at the end of the tour?

There is no set amount - the logic is to give according to the value you received, similar to what you would pay for a good guided experience. The tip is given in cash in yuan, and because China is almost cashless it is important to stock up on bills in advance.

Are the tours suitable for children?

The walking and food tours are usually suitable for families, and the Terracotta Warriors site is particularly fascinating for children. For the evening and bar tours, it is worth checking the tour description, and if in doubt, you can send a question to the guide via GuruWalk.

How do you get to the Terracotta Warriors site?

The site is located east of Xi'an, outside the city center, so the tours dedicated to it are structured as an orderly departure from the city. The organization and arrival details appear on the page for each tour, and it is worth reading them carefully before registering.