Top Markets in Xian (Tips, Photos & Map)

Plan your Xi'an tour? If time allows, most likely you would like to buy gifts or souvenirs from Xian. Although malls and shopping centres are becoming more popular in Xian, many Xian local residents and foreign visitors as well are happy to go shopping in markets or commercial streets.

If you are wondering where to shop in Xi'an markets or open-air commercial areas, here is a list of some top or best free markets and shopping streets.

Huajue Alleyway Market 化觉巷

Huajue Alleyway is a narrow covered street beside Xi'an Great Mosque (also called Huajue Xiang Great Mosque). It is now an antique street for finding nice pieces of handicrafts, and at a cute price. Of course, shoppers need to exercise your oriental patience and bargain a lot on those articles.

You can buy engraved chopsticks, teapots, replication of Terracotta Warriors, chiming balls and Chinese paintings there. If you bargain with the shop owners and you will buy a souvenir at a good price.

Add: To the northwest of Drum Tower, Xian, Shaanxi

Beiyuanmen Hui Snack Market ( 北院门回民小吃一条街）

Beiyuanmen is a nice place to go for local snacks, dining and souvenirs. Enter the Beiyuanmen Gate (Just north of the Drum Tower); you will see rows of Qing–style buildings with lots of small stalls selling souvenirs and local specialties. you can put them together on a leisure trip.

On the west side, the narrow antique alleyway named Huajue Alleyway ( mentioned above ) branches off from Beiyuanmen Street – the Hui Snack Street. You can put them together on a leisure trip.

Both locals and visitors like to stroll in the street to find something interesting. Here are some of the local specialties in Beiyuan Men: Kiwi fruit, Dates, Peanut Cake, Nam, and Walnut. Like that of Chinese art street, stalls in Beiyuan Men selling souvenirs.

Add: Just north of Drum Tower

Shiyuanmen Old Culture Street 书院门古文化一条街

Many of the owners know a lot about Chinese calligraphy, painting and other cultural things. Some of them are real artists.

Add: East of South Gate of Xian City, Beilin District, Xian

Xian Antique City 西安古玩城

Xi 'an Antique City is the oldest and most famous antique market in Xi 'an. It mainly deals in literary works, antiques, porcelain, jade, bronzes, calligraphy and paintings, badges, books, ancient coins and other cultural works of art.

With the change of time, Xi 'an Antique City has become the epitome of the development of Xi 'an collection, witnessing the rise and fall of Xi 'an literary and artistic market after the reform and opening up.

Wu Ji Antique City 西安无极古玩城

Wu Ji Antique city with 7,000 square meters and more than 600 antique stores, it is a fantastic place for foreigners to enjoy Chinese culture and buy souvenirs.

This antique city provides all kinds of antique: jewels, jade articles, calligraphy, paintings, historical relics, antiques, model clay figures of warriors and horses, and bronze cars and horses.

Xian Xiangzi Temple Street 西安湘子庙街　　

The street is flanked with many exquisite tea houses of various sizes full of rich ancient culture atmosphere. There are many galleries on the streets which often display all kinds of exhibitions.

Luomashi Walking Street 骡马市步行街

Luomashi is the first market street in Xi’an. It is 612 meters long and 7 meters wide. The street is composed of five alleys. oday it still is one of busiest commercial area in Xian, just like Wangfujing Street in Beijing or Nanjing Road in Shanghai.

Add: West section of East Avenue in Xian.

Tip: Hassle-free Xian Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Xian guided tours:

Further Readings