Practical Services in Xi'an
Payments, SIM, English-speaking clinics, and the numbers to save before the Terracotta Army.
Payments
Cashless city — Alipay and WeChat Pay everywhere. Link a foreign card before you fly; carry cash for the Muslim Quarter snack stalls.
Internet & SIM
Good 4G/5G. A foreign eSIM works on arrival; for a local SIM, China Mobile stores need your passport.
Medical
Xi'an has several hospitals that see tourists; the international clinic at the high-end hotels can refer you. Travel insurance is recommended.
Emergency numbers
- Police: 110
- Ambulance: 120
- Tourist hotline: 12301
To the Terracotta Army
Take official tourist bus 5 (306) from the east square of the train station — not a taxi. Ignore the 'guides' who board your bus; the site is signed in English.
Locals' Tip
Save 12301 — they mediate disputes with hotels, shops and tour operators in English, and the Terracotta touts are persistent.