Xi'an Muslim Quarter Travel Guide: Street Food, Culture & Nightlife

Brief Introduction 

The Muslim Quarter is conveniently located just 100 meters west of the iconic Bell Tower, making it one of the most visited areas in Xi’an. The main street stretches about 500 meters in length and is roughly 5 meters wide, bustling with activity and lined with shops of various shapes and sizes. Visitors can browse a fascinating array of traditional Shaanxi handicrafts, including delicate paper cuts, colorful farmer paintings, silk scarves, and custom name chops—perfect souvenirs to take home. Surrounding streets such as Xiyangshi Street, Beiyuanmen Street, and Dongxingjie Street further enrich the area, offering even more shopping and cultural experiences. The quarter is also a paradise for food lovers: every restaurant follows halal practices, and local specialties abound. From roasted beef and roasted fish to freshly made pancakes and other traditional snacks, the options are endless. Affordable prices and authentic flavors make the Muslim Quarter not only a feast for your eyes but also a culinary delight for your taste buds.

History & Cultural Significance

The Xi’an Muslim Quarter, or Huimin Street, has a history of over 1,000 years, originating from Xi’an’s role as the starting point of the Silk Road. Merchants, scholars, and diplomats from Central Asia, Persia, and the Middle East brought Islamic culture, cuisine, and traditions, forming the Hui community that still thrives today. The Silk Road made the area a melting pot of cultures, religions, and culinary traditions. Walking through its narrow streets, you can feel the historical significance where ancient commerce, religion, and daily life converge. Key landmarks include the Xi’an Great Mosque, showcasing a blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture with wooden pagodas, courtyards, and intricate carvings. Beyond the mosque, traditional streets lined with historic buildings and food stalls reveal the community’s rich heritage. A stroll through the Muslim Quarter is more than sightseeing; it offers a glimpse into the deep cultural roots, religious practices, and historic life of one of Xi’an’s most fascinating communities.

Must-Visit Attractions

Xi'an Grand Mosque: Located in the heart of Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, the Xi’an Great Mosque is one of the oldest and most renowned mosques in China, blending traditional Chinese architecture with Islamic design. Unlike mosques in the Middle East, this mosque features classic Chinese-style courtyards, wooden pavilions, and sweeping tiled roofs adorned with intricate carvings. Its layout is harmonious and serene, with five main courtyards leading to prayer halls, offering visitors a sense of tranquility amid the bustling streets outside. Built during the Tang Dynasty and expanded over successive dynasties, the mosque reflects over 1,300 years of history. It served as a spiritual and cultural center for Xi’an’s Hui Muslim community, hosting daily prayers, religious festivals, and educational activities. Your guide can share fascinating stories about the mosque’s origins, the lives of the local Hui people, and the architectural elements that combine Chinese and Islamic aesthetics.

Visiting Tips:

Men and women are not allowed to wear shorts; non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the temple.
Photography is allowed in the courtyards, but respect the prayer halls during worship times.
Visiting in the morning is ideal to enjoy a quieter atmosphere before the streets become crowded.
Combine your visit with a stroll through the surrounding Muslim Quarter, sampling street food and exploring traditional markets.

Gao Family Courtyard A Showcase of Shaanxi’s Intangible Cultural Heritage: Step into the Gao Family Courtyard, where Shaanxi’s rich traditions come alive through music, puppetry, and storytelling. This historic courtyard is a vibrant stage for performances passed down for generations, offering visitors an unforgettable cultural experience.
Huayin Lao Qiang (10:30 AM) – Known as the “rock music of the Loess Plateau,” this national-level folk art features veteran performers using stools as xylophones and wooden clappers as drums. Epic tales like The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and The Generals of the Yang Family are delivered with hauntingly powerful vocals, leaving audiences amazed.
Huaxian Shadow Puppetry (hourly) – Delicate donkey-hide puppets, including a blinking Sun Wukong, bring classic stories such as The Peddler and Sun Wukong Battles the White Bone Demon to life. Performances are in Shaanxi dialect with subtitles, combining intricate craftsmanship, lively narration, and music.
String Marionette Show – Enjoy the playful antics of Zhu Bajie Carries His Bride, a humorous and charming performance loved by children and adults alike.
A visit to Gao Family Courtyard offers a vivid glimpse into Shaanxi’s cultural heritage, making it a must-see destination for anyone interested in authentic local arts and history.

Traditional Shops & Markets:Wandering through Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, you’ll find a vibrant tapestry of traditional shops and bustling markets that showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage. The streets are lined with stalls and boutiques selling everything from hand-carved name chops and delicate paper cuts to colorful silk scarves, intricate embroidery, and folk paintings. Each item tells a story of Shaanxi’s craftsmanship, making shopping here as much about culture as it is about souvenirs. In addition to souvenirs, the markets offer a glimpse into local daily life, with vendors selling herbs, spices, teas, and specialty ingredients used in traditional Xi’an cuisine. The lively atmosphere, combined with the historic Ming-style architecture and cobblestone streets, creates a sensory experience that immerses visitors in the city’s centuries-old traditions.

Street Food Guide

Roujiamo (Chinese Burger)
Often referred to as the “Chinese hamburger,” Roujiamo is a beloved street food icon of Xi’an and a must-try for any visitor to the Muslim Quarter. This savory delight features tender, slow-cooked meat, traditionally pork, lamb, or beef, marinated with a fragrant blend of Chinese spices, garlic, and herbs, then shredded or finely chopped to perfection. The juicy meat is carefully stuffed inside a crispy, freshly baked flatbread that is slightly chewy on the inside, creating a perfect contrast of textures. Every bite bursts with rich, savory flavors, from the subtle warmth of cumin to the hint of chili and aromatic herbs, reflecting centuries of culinary tradition. Roujiamo is not just a snack; it is a culinary symbol of Xi’an’s history, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, and continues to delight locals and travelers alike. Enjoy it fresh from a street vendor, paired with a warm cup of tea or a cold beverage, as you explore the bustling alleys of the Muslim Quarter.

Yangrou Paomo (Pita Bread & Lamb Soup)
Yangrou Paomo is one of Xi’an’s most iconic and beloved dishes, a true symbol of the city’s culinary heritage. This hearty specialty features soft, thin flatbread torn into small pieces and soaked in a rich, aromatic lamb broth that has been simmered for hours with traditional spices, herbs, and sometimes medicinal ingredients for depth of flavor. The dish is completed with generous portions of tender, slow-cooked lamb, creating a warm and satisfying meal perfect for a chilly day or a bustling street-side lunch. Eating Yangrou Paomo is an experience in itself. Visitors are often encouraged to tear the flatbread by hand, immersing themselves in an age-old tradition that has been passed down for generations. Served with pickled garlic, chili paste, fresh herbs, or local condiments, each bite offers a balance of savory richness, gentle spice, and comforting textures. The dish reflects the multicultural influences of Xi’an, which was once the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, where flavors from the Middle East and Central Asia blended seamlessly with Chinese cuisine. Sampling Yangrou Paomo in the vibrant streets of the Muslim Quarter is more than just a meal—it’s a cultural journey through history, flavor, and local life.

Biangbiang Noodles
Biangbiang Noodles are one of Xi’an’s most famous street foods, celebrated for their extra-wide, hand-pulled noodles that are delightfully chewy and satisfyingly thick. Each noodle is crafted with care by skilled chefs who stretch and slap the dough until it achieves its signature texture, creating a tactile and visually impressive culinary experience. Served with a bold, spicy chili oil, aromatic garlic, fresh vegetables, and sometimes tender slices of beef or lamb, these noodles deliver a perfect balance of heat, flavor, and texture in every bite. The dish is not just about taste, it is also a cultural icon, reflecting the rich culinary traditions of Shaanxi Province and the centuries-old influence of the Silk Road. Enjoying Biangbiang Noodles in the bustling alleys of Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter offers a sensory feast, where the sounds of sizzling woks, fragrant spices, and the lively atmosphere combine to create an unforgettable street food adventure.

Steamed Liangpi (Cold Skin Noodles)
Steamed Liangpi, also known as cold skin noodles, is a refreshing and flavorful specialty of Xi’an that offers a perfect counterbalance to the city’s richer, meat-heavy dishes. Made from wheat or rice flour, the noodles are expertly steamed until soft yet chewy, then chilled for a cool, satisfying bite. Tossed with spicy chili oil, aromatic garlic, crisp cucumber, and sometimes crunchy bean sprouts, each forkful bursts with a lively mix of textures and flavors. The dish is light, zesty, and invigorating, making it a popular choice for a quick snack while wandering the bustling alleys of the Muslim Quarter. Liangpi is not only a treat for the taste buds, it is also a visual delight, with vibrant reds and greens that invite you to dive in. Eating Liangpi here gives a true sense of Xi’an’s street food culture, where freshness, spice, and fun come together in every bite.

How to get to Muslim Quarter

By Metro (fastest & cheapest)
Take Metro Line 2 or Line 6   get off at Bell Tower Station.
Exit B or C  walk 300-400 m west along Beiyuanmen Street; you’ll see the Drum Tower archway and the food street starts right behind it .

By Bus
Lines 15, 32, 43, 45, 201, 205, 215, 218, 221, 251, 286, 300, 604, 611, 618 all stop at Bell Tower West or Bell Tower North; from either stop the quarter is a 3–5 min walk south .

On Foot (if you’re nearby)
Already at Bell Tower, Drum Tower or City Wall South Gate Simply walk 3–10 minutes northwest; signs point to Beiyuanmen Street

Travel Guide

Admission: Free – strolling through the vibrant streets costs nothing, making it easy for visitors to explore at their own pace.

Suggested Visit Duration: 1–2 hours – enough time to wander through the bustling lanes, browse traditional shops, and sample a variety of local snacks.

Opening Hours: The quarter is lively throughout the day, with most shops and food stalls operating from 08:00 to 23:00. Evening visits are particularly enjoyable, as the streets light up with colorful lanterns and the aroma of sizzling street food fills the air.

Tour Muslim Quarter with Xian Priavte Tour
All the following tours are recommended by 98% of our clients. They are private tours with an English-seapking local guide, a private vehicle and experienced local driver. Usually the tour service starts from Xian hotel/Xian train station/Xian aiport and finishes at the moment you say goodbye to your guide at the Xian hotel/Xian train station/Xian airport.

Tours in Xian: Xi'an Private Night Gourmet Tour with Muslim Quarter

Day Trips From Xian: One Day Xian Muslim Tour with Great Mosque Exploration 

Xian Day Tour Packages: Fully Guided Xian Highlights Tour 

Xian Travel: Cultural Experience with Food Tasting 

If the above tours are not on your list, creat your own Xian tour including Muslim Quarter following our suggestions. Based in Xi'an and focused on Xi'an, we are a local team to show you the historic Xi'an, we can customize private tours, tour itinerary and tour packages to cater to the needs of individual tourists as well as small group tours including families, friends and business colleagues. Please refer to Xian tours for more Xian tour packages or send us your inquiry by email.