Xi’an shopping guide — 11+ what to buy, top Xian souvenirs, gifts & best things to buy in Xian

September 24, 2023

An ancient gathering place of cultures, religions, and commence, the city of Xian has a history of more than 3000 years. There are many diverse and unique crafts and local specialties here. Especially you can find some most unique and meaningful souvenirs and gifts to bring back. So, what to buy in Xian and where to buy in Xian? Let’s check out our Xian China shopping guide (Xian shopping guide, Xi’an shopping guide) with the suggested 7+ best Xian souvenirs (Xi’an souvenirs), Xian gifts, must-buy and best things to buy in Xian as well as best places to shop in Xian as follows!

Perhaps the most popular gifts and best things to buy in Xi’an are replicas of Terracotta Army statues. Visitors can find this product throughout the city at very reasonable prices. Shopping in Xi’an ranges from luxury malls to small craft markets, and you can easily find a unique souvenir. Coming to Xi’an antique market, visitors can find a variety of antiques from large decorative objects to ancient coins.

Glazed Pottery Tang Dynasty War Horse Statue | xian shopping

You can buy souvenir gifts for friends and relatives such as colorful three-color glazed ceramics, terracotta warriors and horseman statues, handicrafts, silk, and works of art. culture, and traditional paper-cut paintings. In addition, if you are a shopping lover, don’t miss the famous fashion shopping market at Century Ginwa with more than 60 famous brands around the world such as Bally, Burberry, Lancome,… to choose the right items.

Therefore, it is easy to find various exotic and unusual things to buy in Xian, which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home.

What to buy in Xian? (# xian shopping)

Among the handicraft products created here, there are typical products that are not only famous in China, but also extremely popular with tourists such as Lantian jade, puppets, paper cutting, clay sculpture, and prints replica of the terracotta soldier, and a replica of Sancai.

What to buy in Xian? Where do you buy it? Below are the relevant answers to these questions and I would like to offer some shopping tips for travelers and tourists that will surely satisfy you.

Xian Jade (# xian shopping guide)

Xian Lantian jade is one of the top four jade types in China, mainly produced in Lantian, Xian, and Shannxi, and got its name from the producing area. It is a good material for carving and is famous for its hardness, colorfulness, fine texture, and various jade items with superior quality and exquisite patterns carved from Lantian jade.

Chinese have used Lantian jade since the Stone Age, and popular in the upper class and the royal family since the Spring Period (770 BC-476 BC). One of the most famous items made from Lantian jade is the Imperial Seal of the first Emperor of Qin.

Terracotta Warriors Statues (# xian souvenirs)

The replica of terracotta soldiers is a replica of terracotta soldiers and chariots in the Terracotta Army, it is a clay sculpture and has only three kinds, soldier, chariot, and horse, which may be made in different combinations. Those handcrafted items are made in small sizes to reduce the cost of the product.

Chariots were an important part of the Qin army, evidenced by the presence of more than 130 models discovered in the Terracotta Army pits | xian china shopping

(c) theblondeabroad.com | xian souvenirs

In addition, after a tour of the Terracotta Army, tourists have a great interest in those handcrafts. They are often sold in shops at scenic spots. Second, you can buy some at the Shaanxi History Museum. And third, you can go to Shuyuan Men, where special shops specialize in selling local crafts and antiques.

Sancai Replica (# xi’an souvenirs)

Sancai replica is the replica sculpture of Tang Tri-colored Glazed Pottery. Tang Tri-colored Glazed Pottery refers to a kind of pottery made in the Tang Dynasty, which is colorful and lifelike. They tend to be made into small sizes for convenient transport by plane.

Chinese Ceramics Tri-Color, Glazed Pottery Tang Dynasty War-horse Statue Replica | xian souvenirs

A rare Sancai glazed pottery basin Tang dynasty | xian souvenirs

You can buy this item used as a souvenir for tourists in the Shaanxi History Museum. Second, you can go to the Muslim Quarter and buy one in a handicraft store. Third, you also come to Shuyuan.

Clay Sculpture (# xi’an shopping)

Shannxi clay sculpture enjoys good fame in China for its long history and superior craftsmanship. Clay sculpture in Shannxi has a long history, and some are unearthed from ancient tombs of the Spring Period (770 BC-476 BC). For local people, clay sculpture is a good fortune because it will bring them happiness and safety.

Master Hu, an inheritor of Fengxiang clay sculptures, has introduced this traditional craft to the world and helped villagers become richer | xian souvenirs

Part of one of Jia’s clay sculptures, Shehuo (a traditional folk show) in Qingxu County | xian souvenirs

1,500-year-old Terracotta figurines found in a tomb in Shaanxi | xi’an souvenirs

Those clay sculptures are usually made in animal appearance, such as rabbits, lions, and tigers, which are familiar animals in daily life as well as the spiritual life of the Chinese people.

Shaanxi Paper Cutting

Paper cutting in Shannxi is a traditional folk handcraft and is loved by local people who paste exquisitely made paper on windows or doors during the Spring Festival. Patterns of paper cutting usually have good meanings, representing people’s hope for life.

There are several kinds of techniques and methods to cut paper, simple or complicated. They have been created and learned through generations of experience. Looking at these papers gives us a great visual feast. For more information, please visit Folk Paper Cutting.

Mashao Facial Mask (# xian china shopping)

Also known as Mashao Lianpu is also a traditional handicraft, which is usually hung in a living room to guard the house and dispel evil spirits. Mashao Lianpu is carved from wooden materials, such as paulownia, willow, and peach wood. It is about people’s facial expressions and is painted with bright and distinct colors. On it are cast human face symbols, with different shades of expression in different bright colors based on arbitrary combinations.

Where to shop in Xian? (# xi’an shopping)

Souvenir shops and places to eat outside the Terracotta Warriors | xi’an souvenirs

Tourists can buy famous Xian local specialties, particularly handicrafts in Xian shopping streets, and Xian shopping centers, like Muslim Quarter, Shuyuan, and Terracotta Warrior Museum.

A souvenir shop in the Muslim Quarter | xi’an shopping

At shops in scenic spots, you can buy local traditional handicrafts, antiques, paintings, calligraphy works, and ancient books, such as Mashao Lianpu, paper cutting, clay sculpture, Sancai replicas, and replicas of terracotta soldiers. You can always find something you like. It is close to the Bell Tower, and you can walk from the Bell Tower to Shuyuanmen by using Google Maps or Baidu map to help you.

Located just to the east of the South Gate of the City Wall is the Shuyuanmen Ancient Cultural Street | xi’an shopping

Xian Muslim [email protected] | xi’an shopping

Clothing [email protected] | xi’an shopping

You can go to Huajue Xiang or Huajue Street which has lots of small stores especially selling handcrafts and tourism souvenirs. It is only 150 meters away from Muslim Street. The antique market is in the square south of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. There is an antique market that sells second-hand items on Saturdays, such as pottery. If you have a tour of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, you may go and have a look. There are many antique markets in Xian, for more information, please visit famous Antique Markets in Xian.

Xian Antique Market (# xi’an shopping)

Address: Middle Section of Zhuque Dajie, Beilin District, Xian, China

Due to its location, local people also call Xian Antique Market another name, Zhuque Antique Market. This market is located near Goose Pagoda, the market focuses on selling furniture, decorations, and crafts. It will be very suitable for you to walk around one afternoon here and hunt for the treasures that you feel most satisfied with.

Xian Antique [email protected] | xi’an shopping

It is a paradise for antique collectors with a wide range of antiques from large pieces of furniture to small coins at affordable prices. Hundreds of stores display thousands of genuine pieces, especially utensils, which are mostly ceramic or porcelain pots in various shapes. However, you should pay attention to the origin of antiques in this market to ensure your genuine gifts to bring back home.

The Westin Xian

Address: 66 Ci En Road, Qu Jiang New District, Xian, China
Phone: +86 29 6568 6568

This is part of the Westin Hotel, which has a great showroom and high-end shops right in the hotel lobby. You can buy a lot of classical Chinese jewelry jade Buddhas and hand-carved horse statues. The outside of the store is a beautiful lobby space where you can drink coffee and read books.

The original Westin with an on-site museum | xi’an shopping

Xian Night Market

This market is near the Drum and the Old Bell Towers, two extremely famous symbols of the Xian ancient city with a rich history. At night, the commercial district is open late, and the Drum and Bell towers are lit up, which is quite a stunning spot in your Xi’an tours for shopping and enjoying authentic and cheap food.

Century Ginwa City

You can combine walking and shopping for antiques and souvenirs with enjoying hygienic and safe street food. In addition, there are also familiar fashion brands for shopping such as Gap, H&M, and many other clothing stores.

Dayan Market

This is a great little market directly across the street from the Westin and south of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. It’s oriented towards visitors and tourists, so there are lots of cheap souvenirs. However, there are also plenty of cool, locally handmade things like fabrics by the hands of skilled craftsmen and carved statuettes.

Elderly Chinese woman selling brightly colored textiles and handicrafts at souvenir market | xi’an shopping

Two girls in traditional Chinese clothes walk on the street in a scenic spot

In addition souvenirs, gifts and best things to buy in Xian above, you can also buy some meaningful items to bring home such as: Silk, folding fans, scroll paintings, calligraphy paintings, handicrafts…

Elderly man painting traditional Chinese calligraphy

Xian is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. There are many exotic and unusual things to buy in Xian which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts for relatives and friends back home. The best things with local specialties in Xian of the famous native products to buy are mentioned for your best choices in this great city.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Xian you can refer to

Check out more China guide here. An Xian travel guide here.