Tang West Market in Xian

Tang West Market in Xian

Tang West Market Facts

Xian’s Tang West Market is located not too far from Xian Bell Tower and built on the site of the original West Market of the Tang Dyansty. Today, the Tang West Market consists of an international shopping centre, Silk Road Shopping Street and Tang West Market Museum. During the Silk Road period the West Market witnessed the golden era of trade and is said to be the most prosperous time of the Tang Dynasty.

Chinese Name: 大唐西市

Type: Culture & Markets

Address: No.1 Laodong South Road, Xian

Best Seasons: All year around

Recommended Visiting Hours: about 3 hours

Opening Hours:  Whole Day

Ticket:The Tang West Market is open free all day long to visitors.

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Why is Tang West Market so Special?

  1. The Tang West Market project is the national sole international business and tourism culture industry project with the subject of Great Tang Culture and Silk Road Culture rebuilt in the former place of west market of Tang Chang’an City, which is the National Cultural Industry Demonstration Base, National AAAA Tourism Attraction and Productive Protection Demonstration Base of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
  2.  It integrates the functions like tourism, shopping, relics and museology, relaxation, entertainment, catering, business, hotel, exhibition, performance & art into one body. 
  3. Also, as the starting point of the Silk Road, the West Market witnessed the glorious business trade between China and other countries in its heyday.

Brief Introduction of Tang West Market

3 km (1.9 miles) to the west of Bell Tower in Xi’an, Tang West Market was built at the original site of the west market in Chang’an city of Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is a modern international shopping zone representing the splendor of Tang Dynasty and the Silk Road culture. There were two main markets in the city in the Tang Dynasty, the East Market and the West Market. The East Market was for domestic trade among the upper classes, while the West was an international trade center gathering goods from the west as far as Rome to the east as far as Korea. Both markets show the prosperous economy in the Tang Dynasty.

The starting point of the Silk Road was the business soul of a great dynasty. The Tang West Market is burdened with dual mandate of inheriting historic culture and developing regional economy. It is a vivid activity of putting Scientific Outlook on Development into practice, a highlight of the city cultural revitalization, and the urban complex with the subject of historic culture and modern service. 

Main Attractions

Silk Road Shopping Street

There is a Silk Road Shopping Street in the Tang West Market. All kinds of buildings, goods, foods, and performing arts of the 22 countries along the Silk Road are shown here, including Sui & Tang cultural square of China, a five-storied pagoda of Japan, a grand bazaar of Turkey, the Red Fort of India and Roman Forum. From here visitors can feel the development of the land, desert and marine silk roads.

If you are an antique collector, it’s a good choice to shop here. The replicas of Qin terracotta warriors are popular among visitors. Tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty, which is made of yellow, green and blue glazes, is a famous representation of Tang culture. Tri-colored figures, horses and camels with different poses and sizes are for your choice.

International Shopping Center

Opened in 2012, the International Shopping Center in the Tang West Market attracted a number of world-famous brands, like Harry Winston, Davidoff, Just Cavalli, CA, H&M and CAVA. The third floor is the children’s paradise with a parent-child recreation area and a simulated ice rink.

Here you can also taste a variety of Eastern and Western cuisines. Restaurants and cafes of different classes from upscale ones to stalls can all be found. McDonald, Starbucks and Taixijia Korean Restaurant provide you with delights for the tongue.

Tang West Market Museum

In the north of the market, there is the Tang West Market Museum, focusing on the Silk Road culture. With an area of 3.5 hectares (9 acres), the museum stores more than 20,000 relics from Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) to Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Exquisite bronzes, colorful ceramics, various terra figures, bright gold and silver wares and gorgeous silks are shown in the museum.

In the first floor you can see a glass floor, under which stands the original West Market Site. The ancient well mouth and sewer are still intact. Even the track left by horses and carriages can also be seen today. From all of these, we are able to see a little bit of the West Market’s prosperity.

How to get to Tang West Market

Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)

If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to the Tang West Market in Xi’an in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.

Independent Traveler

1. Take bus 10, 24, 43, 106, 107, 184, 201, 322, 402, 503, or 916 and get off at Datang Xishi (Tang West Market) Station.
2. Take bus 40, 207, 212, 216, Ring Line 1, Ring Line 2, or Tour Bus 7 and get off at Gaoxinerlu Station.

Useful Travel Tips

  1. Avoid visiting during school holidays and Golden Week in October as there will be large numbers of local tourists.

  2. Temple Fair

    Every year from 1st to 15th in lunar January, a Temple Fair is held in Tang West Market. There is no admission fee for it. You would only pay for all you are interested in enjoying, such as all kinds of local food, antiques plus paintings, and folklore products. The free New Year couplets would be provided, too.

  3. Admission Fee: Free
    Opening Hours: Open all day 
    Best Time to Visit: The Tang West Makret is suitable to visit all year round.

Nearby Attractions

Edited by Bella Ren/任新月