★★★★
Mid-Range
Huanyu Metropark Hotel, Xi'an High-speed Railway North Station
From $37 / night
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Things to Do in Xi'an in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
November Weather in Xi'an
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
55°F (13°C)
High Temp
32°F (0°C)
Low Temp
1.1 inches (28 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Heating season air pollution reduces visibility and can trigger respiratory issues. Sensitive travelers should monitor AQI levels. Check daily.
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + November is the sweet spot between autumn color and winter chill - the gingko trees along the City Wall turn gold while daytime temps stay comfortable for walking the 14 km (8.7 mile) loop
- + Hotel rates drop 25-30% from October's peak foliage crowds - you'll find same-week availability at courtyard hotels inside the Muslim Quarter without booking three months ahead
- + The Terracotta Warriors site finally thins out - tour buses that queue for 40 minutes in summer now park immediately, and you can hear the guide explain why Pit 3 has no soldiers
- + Street food vendors switch to winter mode - lamb soup with hand-torn bread appears at 6 AM along Beiyuanmen Street, and the persimmon cakes are fresh from the oil instead of reheated
Considerations
- − Air quality turns hazy as central heating systems fire up across Shaanxi - the mountains disappear behind a gray veil for days at a time, and that perfect photo of Big Wild Goose Pagoda needs morning timing
- − Early sunsets at 5:30 PM compress your sightseeing - you'll need to start the City Wall bike ride by 3 PM to finish before they lock the gates, and night markets feel rushed
- − November 11 (Singles Day) creates a bizarre retail frenzy - local malls blast pop music while delivery scooters clog every sidewalk, making the Muslim Quarter nearly impassable for two days
Best Activities in November
Top things to do during your visit
Xi'an in November is cold and clear. The last ginkgo leaves turn gold and fall. They carpet temple courtyards. Mornings have a sharp bite, your breath visible in still air. Afternoons offer pale, weak sunlight. Locals wear sweaters and jackets. They move with a deliberate pace. This is not the crowded peak season. It is a time for crisp walks atop the old city walls. You can savor steaming bowls of food that ward off the chill. The key event is the brief Xi'an Gingko Festival in mid-November. It centers on a single 1,400-year-old tree at Guanyin Temple. For about ten days, crowds gather at dawn. They hold umbrellas upside down to catch falling golden leaves. Each leaf is believed to carry a whisper of luck. Weather is variable. Temperatures swing from just above freezing at night to cool afternoons. You will see your breath in the early morning. You will hear the crunch of dried leaves on quiet lanes. The smell of roasting chestnuts and sweet potatoes from street vendors is a constant comfort. This climate is good for exploring Xi'an's monumental history. You avoid the oppressive heat and dense crowds of summer. Clear, dry days often provide excellent visibility. Distant views from the city walls look sharp.
Xi'an Morning Food & Market Tour by TukTuk
foodThe Xi'an Morning Food & Market Tour by TukTuk weaves through waking backstreets. First charcoal fires are lit. It delivers you to steaming baskets of soup bao and sizzling griddles for cumin-spiced lamb flatbreads. The three-wheeled vehicle rattles past crates of persimmons. It stops at family-run stalls where the air smells of vinegar and chili oil.
It puts you in the daily ritual of Xi'an breakfast. You move from hushed wholesale markets to clattering, steam-filled eateries.
Insider tip: Wear shoes you do not mind getting damp. The early morning hosing of market alleyways leaves stone floors slick.
This month: Persimmons sold in the markets are at peak sweetness. They are often dried on racks, filling the air with a sugary scent.
Private Terracotta Warriors Tour with 2 Free Optional Attractions
guided_experienceThe Private Terracotta Warriors Tour with 2 Free Optional Attractions offers direct, scholarly engagement. You can linger over the individual facial expressions and hairstyles of the silent clay army. After the main pits, optional extensions might lead to a quieter tomb site or a workshop demonstrating ancient replication techniques.
It provides curated, unhurried access to a great archaeological discovery. You can tailor the depth of your historical exploration.
Insider tip: Ask your guide to start at Pit 2 after the main entrance rush. Its display of unexcavated mounds and isolated figures has a more contemplative atmosphere.
Private Full-Day Xi'an Highlights Tour with Pickup and Lunch
day_tripThe Private Full-Day Xi'an Highlights Tour with Pickup and Lunch is a complete sweep. It covers the vast necropolis of the Terracotta Army and the solemn grandeur of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. A midday pause includes a multi-dish lunch with signature hand-pulled noodles.
It efficiently connects the monumental dots of Xi'an's history. The tour offers context between sites spanning thousands of years.
Insider tip: Ask your driver to take the route past the Hanyang Ling necropolis on the return. The low November afternoon sun casts long, dramatic shadows across the excavated burial pits.
Terracotta Warriors, City Wall and Muslim Food Street
otherThe Terracotta Warriors, City Wall and Muslim Food Street tour juxtaposes imperial power, military architecture, and living culinary tradition. You move from the profound silence of the underground pits to the rhythmic clatter of bicycles on the ramparts. It ends in the dense, aromatic hive of the Muslim Quarter at dusk.
It captures three essential layers of Xi'an. These are ancient imperial might, its lasting physical fortress, and its surviving street culture.
Insider tip: Time your City Wall walk for late afternoon. See the sun set behind the crenellations, then head directly to the food street as the lanterns are lit.
This month: The cool, dry November evening air makes the steam rising from soup cauldrons and kebabs visible.
Xi'an Xianyang Airport to Hotels:Private transfer with Meet & Great service
transportThe Xi'an Xianyang Airport to Hotels: Private transfer with Meet & Greet service eliminates arrival friction. A driver waits behind the glass doors holding a nameplate. You are led to a warm car for the drive past bare poplar trees into the historic heart of the city.
It provides an easy, reassuring transition into Xi'an. This is valuable after a long flight or with luggage in cool November weather.
Insider tip: Confirm your flight number with the operator. They track arrivals and adjust for delays, so you will not wait if your plane is late.
2-Day Xi'an Private Tour with Must-see Attractions and Unique Experiences
private_tourThe 2-Day Xi'an Private Tour with Must-see Attractions and Unique Experiences allows for deeper exploration. The first day covers the overwhelming scale of the Terracotta Army. A second day is for intimate discoveries like the calligraphy at the Forest of Stone Tablets Museum or cycling the ancient walls.
It creates space for both awe and absorption. This moves beyond checklist tourism to a more connected understanding.
Insider tip: Use the evening between tours to revisit the Muslim Quarter on your own. You can follow the scent of fried shallot cakes at a more leisurely pace.
Where to Stay in Xi'an in November
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for November travellers.
★★★★
Mid-Range
Hampton by Hilton Xi'an Bell Tower North Street
From $64 / night
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November Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid November
Xi'an Gingko Festival
The 1,400-year-old gingko at Guanyin Temple drops its golden leaves for exactly 10 days in mid-November - locals believe catching a leaf brings luck, so hundreds gather at dawn with umbrellas turned upward. The temple opens at 6 AM but serious photographers arrive by 5:30 AM to claim tripod spots.
Packing Checklist
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View Xi'an Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best persimmon cakes appear at 7 AM when vendors on Beiyuanmen Street drop fresh fruit into hot oil - after 9 AM they're reheated and lose the crispy edge
Local hack: enter the Forest of Steles Museum through the side gate on Shuyuanmen Street - you'll skip the tour bus crowds and save 20 minutes
November 11 is when restaurants switch to winter menus. Order the lamb spine soup at Lao Sun Jia after the 11th. Before that date they're still serving lighter autumn dishes
The City Wall's South Gate light show gets cancelled without notice when PM2.5 exceeds 150. Check the air quality app before planning evening photos. One glance saves disappointment.
Avoid These Mistakes
Wearing summer clothes because 'Xi'an is in China' is a rookie error. November's 32°F (0°C) mornings will send you back to the hotel for jackets while locals break out down coats. Pack layers.
Booking Terracotta Warriors tours that include lunch is a wallet trap. The on-site restaurant serves overpriced cold noodles. Eat at the Muslim Quarter instead where your hotel probably sits.
Assuming the Muslim Quarter closes early is dead wrong. Food vendors peak between 8-10 PM in November when locals finish work and temperatures hit the sweet spot for hot soup. Stay late.
Skipping indoor backup plans is foolish. When heating season pollution hits, you'll want the Shaanxi History Museum's air filters instead of squinting through haze at Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Breathe easy.
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