Comparison · China
Nanjing vs Xi'an: Which Old Capital for a First Trip?
Nanjing for Ming tombs and its Ming city wall, Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, City Wall and pagoda. Who each suits, airports, days, costs, weather and food.
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The short answer
Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, is one of China's four great ancient capitals. Known as the 'Ancient Capital of the Six Dynasties' and the 'Capital of Ten Regimes', it served as a capital for about 450 years and has 2,500 years of history as a city. From Ming Xiaoling, the tomb of the Ming founder Zhu Yuanzhang (a UNESCO World Heritage site), to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Ming city wall and the Confucius Temple on the Qinhuai River, sites from Ming imperial tombs to the modern era run through the city.
Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, was known in ancient times as Chang'an. With more than 3,100 years of history as a city and 13 dynasties ruling from here, it is packed with sites such as the Terracotta Army at the First Emperor's mausoleum, the 13.74 km City Wall and the Tang-era Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Best for: Nanjing suits travelers who want forest walks in the Purple Mountain scenic area around Ming Xiaoling and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, modern-history museums, Qinhuai River night views and duck dishes. Xi'an suits travelers who want to take their time over the Terracotta Army, Tang-era sites and museums, and try Shaanxi's wheat-based food.
From the airport to the city
Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) is in Lukou Town, Jiangning District. Metro Line S1 (Airport Line) runs from Lukou Airport station to Nanjing South Railway Station, and since 29 September 2026 it continues onto Line 6, so you can stay on board at Nanjing South towards Qixiashan. For Line 1, Line 3 and other lines, change at Nanjing South. Check the airport's official website for current ways into the city, times and fares.
From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), check the airport's and Xi'an Metro's official information for metro and airport bus routes and timetables. The airport has Terminals 2 and 3 plus Terminal 5 (T5), which opened on February 20, 2025, so check the terminal on your ticket first.
If you take a taxi in either city, have your hotel address in Chinese. Around the Nanjing airport car parks, the city runs crackdowns on illegal drivers touting for passengers at night and early morning; don't go with drivers who approach you, and use a regular taxi or a car booked through a proper platform.
- Nanjing Airport–Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum tourist shuttle bus: trial service from 1 January 2026, leaving the airport at 11:40 and 13:40 (provisional); about 40 min and CNY 25 to Nanjing South, 80 min and CNY 35 to the Mausoleum
- Nanjing metro and buses: use the Jinlingtong transport card or a QR code in a payment app
- Xi'an taxi and ride-hailing: pick-up points moved in summer 2026; at T3 the taxi stand is about 30 m away and the ride-hailing point about 140 m
- Xi'an metro: pay with the Chang'an Tong transit card or a payment app
How many days, and what it costs
Both cities suit 3 to 4 days. The suggested Nanjing plan covers the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling and the Linggu area on day one, with a Confucius Temple visit and Qinhuai River cruise in the evening; day two takes in the Nanjing Massacre memorial hall (book ahead; closed Mondays) and the Presidential Palace, then a walk on the city wall near Jiming Temple. The suggested Xi'an plan spends one day on the City Wall, the Shaanxi History Museum, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Grand Tang Mall, and one day in Lintong for the Terracotta Army, Lishan Garden and Huaqing Palace, with dinner at Beiyuanmen.
Daily budgets depend on how you travel. In Nanjing, getting around mainly by metro and bus keeps costs down, and accommodation is most of the budget. In Xi'an, over 95% of the city's 163 museums are free.
- Xi'an Terracotta Army entry CNY 120 (year-round); electric carts inside CNY 5-15
- Xi'an Shaanxi History Museum main building: free with a real-name booking; the Tang Dynasty Mural gallery needs a separate ticket
- Nanjing Massacre memorial hall: booking required; large luggage must be checked (CNY 3 per item)
- Nanjing sight admission and Qinhuai River cruise fares: check official information
- Accommodation and food: in Nanjing they vary a lot by date, so check booking sites; in Xi'an, check prices with providers for upscale hotels, banquet-style meals and a car with driver
Weather by month, side by side
Spring and autumn suit both cities. In Nanjing, spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November) are best for walking; in Xi'an, April to May and September to October are the months with average highs of about 18–27°C. Figures below for both cities come from WMO World Weather Information Service — China Meteorological Administration: Nanjing (WMO city data) and Xi'an (WMO city data), 1961–1990 normals. The period is the same, so the numbers can be compared side by side.
In April and May, average highs are similar, 20–25°C in Nanjing and 20–26°C in Xi'an, while rainfall is 87 and 96 mm in Nanjing against 50 and 65 mm in Xi'an. Nanjing's wettest month of the year is July (188 mm); Xi'an's is September (108 mm). In Nanjing, October-November get less rain than summer. In July and August, Nanjing is hot, with average highs of about 32°C.
In Xi'an, holidays such as National Day and Spring Festival can bring over 300,000 visitors a day to the Grand Tang Mall, and the Terracotta Army museum's peak season, with longer hours, runs March 16 to November 15. In Nanjing, a lantern show and fairs are held along the Qinhuai River every year during the Spring Festival.
- January: Nanjing high 7°C, low -2°C, rain 29 mm / Xi'an high 5°C, low -4°C, rain 6 mm
- April: Nanjing high 20°C, low 10°C, rain 87 mm / Xi'an high 20°C, low 9°C, rain 50 mm
- May: Nanjing high 25°C, low 16°C, rain 96 mm / Xi'an high 26°C, low 14°C, rain 65 mm
- July: Nanjing high 32°C, low 25°C, rain 188 mm / Xi'an high 32°C, low 22°C, rain 93 mm
- September: Nanjing high 27°C, low 19°C, rain 95 mm / Xi'an high 25°C, low 16°C, rain 108 mm
- October: Nanjing high 22°C, low 13°C, rain 60 mm / Xi'an high 19°C, low 10°C, rain 66 mm
- November: Nanjing high 16°C, low 6°C, rain 56 mm / Xi'an high 12°C, low 3°C, rain 26 mm
History and sights: city walls in both
You can walk on the city wall in both cities. The Xi'an City Wall, with over 1,400 years of history, is China's largest and best-preserved ancient city wall, with a 13.74 km circuit. The Nanjing City Wall is the longest city wall in China and one of the largest brick city walls in the world; from the wall by Xuanwu Lake Park you can look over Jiming Temple and Xuanwu Lake.
In Xi'an, the Terracotta Army comes first. Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum combines the warrior pits, found by villagers digging a well in March 1974, with the mausoleum archaeological park (Lishan Garden), and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1987. Foreign visitors must also book in advance with their passport. Huaqing Palace, next to the Terracotta Army, is famous for the story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei and as the site of the Xi'an Incident. In the city, see the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652, the 2,100 m Grand Tang Mall below it, and the Shaanxi History Museum.
In Nanjing, the heart of a visit is the Zhongshan Mountain (Purple Mountain) scenic area on the eastern edge of the city. Ming Xiaoling, the tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, was begun in 1376, has an approach of about 3,000 m lined with stone statues, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2003. At the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, begun in 1926, 392 stone steps climb the central axis. In the city are the Presidential Palace (Museum of Modern Chinese History), showing the changes from the Qing dynasty to the Republic of China, the Nanjing Museum, one of China's three major museums, and the Confucius Temple with its Qinhuai River cruise.
- Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders: a memorial museum built on the Jiangdongmen mass-killing site of the Nanjing Massacre, opened on 15 August 1985. Real-name booking through the official channel 1-7 days ahead (passports accepted); open 08:30-17:30 (last entry 16:30); closed on Mondays except public holidays
- Nanjing Zhongshan Mountain scenic area: during control hours (weekdays 09:00-17:00, weekends and public holidays 08:30-17:30) taxis may not enter the controlled roads; use Metro Line 2 and the scenic-area shuttles (measures run from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2028)
- Nanjing Qinhuai River cruise: from Banchi pier, about 4.8 km in about 50 minutes
- Xi'an Shaanxi History Museum main building: tickets are released 5 days ahead at 17:00
- Xi'an Terracotta Army ticket checks: 8:30-17:00 in peak season (Mar 16-Nov 15), 8:30-16:30 otherwise
What to eat
People in Nanjing love duck so much that it is nicknamed China's most duck-obsessed city. Try the signature salted duck (yanshui ya), duck blood and vermicelli soup, crab-roe soup buns, and the Qinhuai snacks around the Confucius Temple. Around the Qingming Festival, 8 kinds of spring wild vegetables often appear on Nanjing tables, and around the Mid-Autumn Festival, 8 kinds of aquatic vegetables.
Xi'an food centers on wheat. Biangbiang noodles, yangrou paomo (you tear the flatbread into small pieces by hand), roujiamo, known as the Chinese hamburger, and jiangshui mian in a sour broth are the classics, and the Beiyuanmen historical and cultural district is great for grazing on street food as you stroll.
You can try guotie (pan-fried dumplings) in both cities: in Nanjing they are fried until crisp on the bottom, in Xi'an they are open-ended with crisp golden bottoms.
How to choose, and what to check before you go
Choose Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, Tang-era sites and museums; choose Nanjing for Ming imperial tombs, modern-history sites, Purple Mountain forest walks and Qinhuai River night views. Both cities let you walk on their city walls.
Many sights need real-name bookings: the Terracotta Army and the Shaanxi History Museum's main building in Xi'an, and the Nanjing Massacre memorial hall in Nanjing, so plan your days around your time slots. If you want both on one trip, split your days using the suggested length for each city (3 to 4 days each).
Some foreign apps and services may be restricted in China. Sort out your connection (roaming, eSIM, etc.) and a Chinese map app before you go, sign up for and verify a payment app, and carry a little cash too. Visa rules, including visa-free entry, change often, so check the latest official information before you travel.
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FAQ
Which is better for a first trip to China?
Xi'an if the Terracotta Army, Tang-era sites and museums are your goal; Nanjing if you want Ming Xiaoling, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, modern-history sites and Qinhuai River night views. Both cities suit 3 to 4 days.
How do the two city walls differ?
The Xi'an City Wall, with a 13.74 km circuit, is China's largest and best-preserved ancient city wall, while the Nanjing City Wall is the longest city wall in China. In Nanjing, the wall by Xuanwu Lake Park looks over Jiming Temple and Xuanwu Lake.
Do I need to book anything ahead?
Yes. The Terracotta Army, the Shaanxi History Museum's main building and the Nanjing Massacre memorial hall need real-name bookings, and passports are accepted. Book the Nanjing memorial hall 1-7 days ahead; it is closed on Mondays except public holidays.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn suit both cities. Normal average highs in April to May are 20–25°C in Nanjing and 20–26°C in Xi'an. For autumn, pick October-November in Nanjing and September to October in Xi'an.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- Spirit Way of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum · Kimon Berlin / CC BY-SA 2.0
- Linggu Pagoda, Linggu Scenic Area · 西安兵马俑 / CC BY-SA 4.0