Discover Xian’s Ancient Flavors on a Dynamic Evening Tuk-Tuk Food Tour

The Essentials

For 16 centuries, Xian stood at the crossroads of the world in trade and taste. Today, this leaves behind an amazing food culture to explore on this tuk-tuk serviced tour to try at least 10 dishes. Enjoy unlimited food, beer, and soft drinks zipping through millennia-old alleyways, hidden sections of the Muslim quarter, and ancient city gates to get a true taste of the Silk Road on TripAdvisor’s #1 Rated Food Experience in the World.

What you'll do

• This tour starts at Xi Hua Men Fire Station, near the Bell Tower. An email will be sent with detailed meeting location details immediately after booking. The tour ends at a local brewery just inside the South Gate of the city wall, approx. A 20-minute walk from the start location.
• Fly through hidden streets and alleys by tuktuk to try at least 10 dishes, many of which don’t exist anywhere else in China.
• Xian cuisine uses noodles more than most Chinese cuisines - start the tour with iconic Biang Biang noodles served with savory chili oil.
• Sit side-by-side with a local BBQ master in a hidden alley with over 1400 years of history in the Muslim quarter of Xian.
• You’ve heard of Shanghai soup dumplings, but have you tried Xian’s? Try perfectly spiced dumplings, served alongside eight treasure porridge and an immaculate savory soup.
• Eat gourd chicken - chicken that is boiled, steamed with spices, and then deep-fried whole to yield a very crispy and aromatic skin, and a desperately tender interior.
• End the night sampling several craft beers at a brewery nestled in Xian’s historic city walls, before choosing the pint of your choice.

About This Tour

In the 2nd Century BC, China was unified by the first emperor of China. He built his capital and Terracotta Army in Xian, piggybacking on old trade towns from Alexander the Great’s empire to create the Silk Road. This leaves a delicious legacy; the kaleidoscope of flavors found in Shaanxi cuisine is just as diverse and varied as the people who have walked its ancient roads.

As the prized end for travelers along the Silk Road, and deep within the heart of China, Xian is a city of intersection between North and South, East and West. Because of this, Xian and its Shaanxi cuisine is able to elaborate the use of ordinary materials, and is best known for its noodles and lamb/mutton dishes due to its Muslim population. It makes heavy use of strong and complex flavors with an emphasis on savory flavors such as salt, garlic, cumin and chili. Come and see this ancient cuisine that has been overlooked for far too long, and get a true taste of the past.