For an eye-opening destination packed with ruins and museums tracing its rich history, visit the Xi’an City Center, located at the core of the former Silk Road endpoint. Imposing ramparts and a moat have surrounded the historic center since the 14th century. Get a glimpse into centuries past in this hub of history and culture.

Marking the geographical center of the city is the majestic Bell Tower. Pass through the arch in its large platform and enter the structure, before inspecting the exhibits on Xi’an’s history. Climb to the upper floor to appreciate stunning vistas of the surrounding cityscape. A little west is the 14th-century Drum Tower, which also provides wonderful views of the city center.

Visit the Muslim Quarter and browse the food stalls of the Beiyuanmen Muslim Market. The Great Mosque of Xi’an is an impressive complex with a minaret in the form of a pagoda.

Surrounding the central zone are the rectangular-shaped Xi’an City Walls, which run across 8.5 miles (14 kilometers). Walk along the side of the moat and check out some of the highlights, such as the Changle Gate (East Gate), the Anding Gate (West Gate), the Yongning Gate (South Gate) and the Anyuan Gate (North Gate).

Head south to the Shaanxi History Museum to learn about the region’s development. Find out about the cultures of the various people who inhabited the province over the past 1,000 years. Admire the adjacent Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and its Da Ci’en Temple complex.

To reach Xi’an City Center, travel by subway to the Bell Tower metro station or get a bus to one of the stops around this zone. Explore the nearby region for treasures such as Daming Palace National Heritage Park, Fengqing Park and Xingqinggong Park.