Current Time in Xi’an
About Xi’an
Xi’an is located in China, in the Northern Hemisphere, and is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of around 9,600,000. It runs on Asia/Shanghai time, currently UTC+8:00 relative to UTC. Xi’an does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so this offset stays fixed year-round.
- CountryChina
- Population9,600,000
- Latitude34.2583°
- Longitude108.9286°
- Time zoneAsia/Shanghai
- Current UTC offsetUTC+8:00
- Daylight Saving TimeNot observed
Sunrise & Sunset in Xi’an Today
For Sunday, October 11, 2026, calculated from Xi’an's own coordinates.
Sunrise
Sunset
Daylight
Seasons in Xi’an
Approximate dates — the exact moment a season begins shifts by about a day from year to year.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Top Places to Visit in Xi’an
Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army was discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974 and turned out to be part of the vast funerary complex of Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, who died in 210 BC. Nearly 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, along with horses and chariots, were buried to guard the emperor in the afterlife, each figure's face individually sculpted so that no two are exactly alike. Three excavation pits are open to visitors, with Pit 1 the largest and most visually overwhelming, its ranks of soldiers still standing in formation much as archaeologists found them. The emperor's actual tomb mound, nearby but not yet excavated, is believed to contain an entire miniature replica of his empire, including rivers of mercury, according to ancient historical accounts that modern soil testing has partially corroborated.
From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, take Metro Line 14 to a connecting interchange, transfer toward Line 9, and continue toward Lintong, transferring to a local tourist bus for the final stretch to the museum.
From Xi'an North Railway Station, take Metro Line 9 toward Lintong, then transfer to a local tourist bus (such as You 5 / Bus 306) for the final stretch to the museum; alternatively, tourist buses depart directly from the East Square of Xi'an Railway Station.
From Xi'an Fangzhicheng long-distance bus station, take the metro to a connecting interchange toward Line 9, or take a direct long-distance bus/tour bus bound for Lintong and the Terracotta Army.
Xi'an City Wall
Xi'an's City Wall, built in the 14th century during the early Ming dynasty on the foundations of earlier Tang-dynasty fortifications, is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China, forming a rectangular circuit nearly 14 kilometers around the old city center. Wide enough along the top to comfortably fit tour groups, cyclists and golf carts side by side, the wall can be walked, biked or toured by cart, with bike rental available at several of the main gates. Watchtowers and gate towers punctuate the circuit at regular intervals, and the wall is especially popular around sunset, when the surrounding modern city and the old town within the walls both catch the changing light. Renting a bike for a full lap, roughly two to three hours at an easy pace, is a popular way to see the wall's full scale rather than walking just one section.
From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, take Metro Line 14 to Xi'an North Railway Station, transfer to Line 2, and ride to Yongningmen station, at the wall's South Gate.
Xi'an North Railway Station sits on Line 2; ride it directly to Yongningmen station at the South Gate, or to another gate along the wall's circuit.
From Xi'an Fangzhicheng bus station, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer to Line 2 toward Yongningmen station.
Bell Tower
Xi'an's Bell Tower, built in 1384 during the Ming dynasty, sits at the exact geographic center of the old walled city, historically used to sound the time each morning, with the nearby Drum Tower sounding the evening hours. Its three-tiered wooden structure, resting on a brick base large enough to have once served as a roundabout for city traffic, houses a collection of ancient bells along with a large modern replica that's rung on special occasions. Climbing to the upper level gives a 360-degree view down Xi'an's four main streets, which still run in the cardinal directions laid out by the Ming-dynasty city plan. A combined ticket with the nearby Drum Tower is available and covers both, and the two towers together are lit up at night, forming a bright, easily walkable landmark cluster at the city's heart.
From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, take Metro Line 14 to Xi'an North Railway Station, transfer to Line 2, and ride directly to Bell Tower station (Zhonglou).
Xi'an North Railway Station sits on Line 2; ride it directly to Bell Tower station.
From Xi'an Fangzhicheng bus station, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer to Line 2 to Bell Tower station.
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, centered on Huimin Street just north of the Bell and Drum Towers, is home to a community of Hui Chinese Muslims whose presence in the city traces back over a thousand years to Xi'an's role as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. The quarter's narrow lanes are Xi'an's premier street food destination, packed with vendors selling roujiamo (a spiced meat sandwich sometimes called the Chinese hamburger), biang biang noodles, and yangrou paomo, a mutton and flatbread soup particular to the region. The Great Mosque of Xi'an, one of China's oldest and largest, sits within the quarter but is built in a distinctly Chinese architectural style, with pagoda-like structures rather than the domes and minarets typical of mosques elsewhere, reflecting centuries of local architectural influence. Evenings are the liveliest time to visit, when the food stalls are in full swing and the streets are at their most crowded.
From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, take Metro Line 14 to Xi'an North Railway Station, transfer to Line 2, ride to Bell Tower station, then walk north, or transfer to Line 6 for a stop closer to the quarter.
Xi'an North Railway Station sits on Line 2; ride it to Bell Tower station and walk north into the Muslim Quarter, or transfer to Line 6.
From Xi'an Fangzhicheng bus station, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer to Line 2 or Line 6 toward the Bell Tower/Muslim Quarter area.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back from India by the monk Xuanzang, whose 17-year overland pilgrimage later inspired the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. The brick pagoda, originally five stories and later rebuilt taller, has survived numerous earthquakes over nearly 1,400 years, gradually developing a slight lean that's still visible today. It sits within Da Ci'en Temple, a working Buddhist temple complex, and the surrounding Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square hosts one of Asia's largest musical fountain shows most evenings, drawing large crowds unrelated to the pagoda's religious significance. The contrast between the temple's centuries-old solemnity and the modern square's light-and-music spectacle just outside its gates is very much part of the experience of visiting today.
From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, take Metro Line 14 to Xi'an North Railway Station, transfer to Line 4, and ride toward the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda area.
Xi'an North Railway Station sits on Line 4; ride it directly toward the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda station.
From Xi'an Fangzhicheng bus station, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer to Line 3 or Line 4 toward the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda area.
China National Holidays
2026
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Tue, Feb 17 |
| Qingming Festival | Sat, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Fri, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Fri, Jun 19 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Fri, Sep 25 |
| National Day | Thu, Oct 1 |
2027
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Sat, Feb 6 |
| Qingming Festival | Sun, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Sat, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Wed, Jun 9 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Wed, Sep 15 |
| National Day | Fri, Oct 1 |
2028
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Sat, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Wed, Jan 26 |
| Qingming Festival | Tue, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Mon, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Sun, May 28 |
| National Day | Sun, Oct 1 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Tue, Oct 3 |
2029
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Mon, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Tue, Feb 13 |
| Qingming Festival | Wed, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Tue, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Sat, Jun 16 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Sat, Sep 22 |
| National Day | Mon, Oct 1 |
2030
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Tue, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Sun, Feb 3 |
| Qingming Festival | Thu, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Wed, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Wed, Jun 5 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Thu, Sep 12 |
| National Day | Tue, Oct 1 |
Daylight Saving Time
Xi’an does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The UTC offset stays fixed at UTC+8:00 year-round.
Time Difference from Top 10 US Cities
Time Difference from Top 10 Cities Worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions About Time in Xi’an
What time zone is Xi’an in?
Xi’an, China uses the Asia/Shanghai time zone. It is currently on CST (UTC+8:00). The live local time is shown at the top of this page.
Does Xi’an observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Xi’an does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so it stays on UTC+8:00 all year round and never changes its clocks.
What time is sunrise and sunset in Xi’an today?
The sun rises at 6:45 AM and sets at 6:17 PM in Xi’an today, giving 11h 31m of daylight.
What is the time difference between Xi’an and New York City?
New York City is 12 hours behind Xi’an right now. The full comparison against other major cities is in the tables above.
What is the UTC offset for Xi’an?
Xi’an is currently UTC+8:00. This offset is fixed and does not change during the year.