Heritage trail · Xi'an
Xi'an: in the footsteps of Yang Guifei
As Chang'an, Xi'an was the Tang dynasty capital and one of the greatest cities in the world. Follow the court's most famous woman from the hot springs where she bathed to the streets where young women wear Tang style dress again.
Heritage restaurants
Tables to book ahead
Heritage cooking worth planning for, with what each restaurant asks for when you book. Rules change, so check the restaurant's page before you go.
De Fa Chang (德发长)
Shaanxi dumpling banquet (jiaozi yan)
Bell and Drum Tower Square · 3 West Street, Bell & Drum Tower Square, Lianhu District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Reservations
- Booking recommended
- Book ahead
- Book the dumpling-feast set and group tables ahead
- Good to know
- Walk-ins generally fine for a la carte; no group size or cancellation terms published; opened 1936, China Time-honored Brand; some listings show a 2-5pm break
- How to book
- Phone · +86 29 8721 8187
Xi'an Restaurant (西安饭庄)
Classic Shaanxi banquet cuisine
East Street, near Bell Tower · 298 East Street, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Reservations
- Booking recommended
- Good to know
- Walk-ins accepted; booking recommended for dinner and groups; founded 1929, rebuilt 2021 as a nine-storey building with a Shaanxi cuisine museum
- How to book
- Phone or WeChat · +86 29 8768 0618
Chang'an Hui (长安荟·原味陕菜)
Modern Shaanxi, in a former Xi'an Film Studio workshop
Yanta District, Xi'an Film Studio · Xi'an Film Studio, 508 Xiying Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Reservations
- Booking required
- Book ahead
- At least a day ahead, more on weekends
- Good to know
- Real-name reservation listed; not halal; no pets; daily 11:30-22:00; Black Pearl one-diamond
- How to book
- Phone · +86 29 8535 9988
Lao Sun Jia (老孙家饭庄)
Halal Shaanxi paomo (bread-in-soup)
East Street, near Bell Tower · 292 East Street, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Reservations
- Walk-in only
- Book ahead
- Private rooms can be booked by phone
- Good to know
- Halal, no alcohol; paomo is walk-in; founded 1898, China Time-honoured Brand 1993; Mon-Fri 11-14 and 17-21, Sat-Sun 10:30-14:30 and 17-21:30
- How to book
- Phone for private rooms · +86 29 8721 2614
Booking details from each restaurant's official website or booking page, checked 4 Nov 2026.
What to eat
What to eat in Xi'an
Roujiamo
Braised meat in a crisp flatbread, often called China's burger.
Biangbiang noodles
Wide hand pulled noodles under chilli oil.
Yangrou paomo
Lamb soup over flatbread you break yourself.
Liangpi
Cold chewy noodles with vinegar, garlic and chilli.
Where to eat
Recommended restaurants
Tang banquet dinners
Dinner shows inspired by the Tang court, with booking links.
Book a table link coming