Xianyang: Calligraphy, River Landscapes and Historic Streets

Calligraphy, the history of an ancient ferry, riverbanks and regional cuisine give Xianyang its different facets. When planning a stay, visitors can set their own priorities, choosing among cultural discoveries, riverside activities and life in historic streets. The city therefore offers more than a single sightseeing theme: art and history sit alongside outdoor experiences and culinary impressions.

Calligraphy and the history of the ancient ferry

The Xianyang Museum is part of an official Shaanxi provincial cultural route focused on calligraphy and centred on the city of Xianyang. For visitors interested in the art of writing, the museum is a specific cultural point of interest. The site of the ancient Xianyang ferry offers another historical perspective. Its history dates back to the end of the Shang period and spans more than 3,000 years. The ferry is considered the first ferry on the ancient Silk Road and one of the Eight Famous Views of Guanzhong. At the same time, the historic site is an important historical and cultural relic of Xianyang and a cultural highlight of the Xianyang Lake scenic area.

Crafts, performances and regional cuisine

At Xianyang Ming-Qing Old Street on Zhongshan Street, visitors can browse street shops selling calligraphy and paintings. They can also commission personalised works such as fans or scrolls. This offers a different encounter with the art of writing than a museum visit: the focus is on the shops and the opportunity to have a personal work made. The Qingweilou Art Museum occasionally hosts calligraphy lectures or activities involving the tracing of calligraphy works. Visitors especially interested in these topics can include the street shops and museum offerings as different cultural interests in their travel plans.

Xianyang Old Street adds food and events to this experience. It offers 24 local specialities among more than 100 different regional dishes. This gives food lovers a choice centred on local specialities. Performances are regularly held there on public holidays and on Saturdays and Sundays. Cultural events held there include “This Spring Festival in Weicheng,” “全民健身约渭城” and “Through Time, an Encounter in the Old Street.” Those who want to combine culture, street life and food will find several facets of a historic neighbourhood here.

Riverside and outdoor activities

The Wei River also shapes the range of possible travel interests. Xianyang Lake scenic area lies along the urban section of the Weihe River and extends for 16.82 kilometres. A 2.36-kilometre riverside path also runs along the river and is used in the morning and evening for cooling off, exercise and relaxation. The two figures refer to different measurements: the extent of the scenic area and the length of the riverside path. When planning your day, you can therefore decide whether you are more interested in the scenic area or in exercising on the path.

Another distinctive structure is Gudulang Bridge. It is 748 metres long and 14 metres wide, and has two levels: the first is reserved for pedestrians, while the second serves as a viewing level for relaxation. There are also three pavilions. This layout makes the bridge itself an attraction for pedestrians and also offers a viewing level. If you are travelling with others, you can compare your interests: perhaps calligraphy and historical sites are the priority, while others would rather exercise and relax by the river.

Which priorities suit your stay?

The different themes may influence your choice of a holiday apartment in Xianyang. The historic neighbourhood of Xianyang Old Street brings together shopping, entertainment, dining and accommodation. Those more interested in discovering calligraphy, the history of the ancient ferry or the riverside attractions can weigh these interests when deciding which aspects of the trip to focus on. This lets you experience Xianyang as a cultural and riverside destination without limiting your stay to just one kind of experience.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Yuncheng, Datong, Taiyuan, Shuozhou, Jinzhong, Baoji, Yan'an and Lvliang.

For the main travel overview: Shaanxi.