In their vibrancy and in their variety,night marketsare popular with locals and visitors both for an evening meal and for socializing. There's much to be learned about a city, and about China in general, from an evening spent selectingdifferent dishes and snacksfrom a wide range of tempting and intriguing options.
Withdifferent kinds of food from different localities,你可以环游中国菜walking a few dozen meters down one of these streets. Here are the most popular night markets in Xi'an.
Barley Market Street 大麦市街回民风味小吃街
Locateddowntownin an area that plays host to a large population of China's indigenousMuslim Hui people, this market specializes inhalalfoods. Not only the food, but also the architecture and activities of the area and the dress of its inhabitants pay tribute to their Islamic origins, making a visit to this particular night marketa cultural feast. With many of the emporia here open24/7, Barley Street Market is immensely popular.
Hui food tends to bestrongly flavoredcompared with traditional Chinese dishes, andmeatis to the fore. Amongst the specialties are Laoma-cured and Laotong-cured mutton and beef, marinated bean jelly, tamale and clysters buns, fried peanuts, fried melon, and ox-marrow stir-fried noodles.
- Address:South Barley Street, North of Shizi, Qiaozikou, Xida Street, Lianhu District, Xi'an. 西安莲湖区西大街桥梓口什字北侧，大麦市街南段。
- Getting there:Buses 4, 31, 43, 45, 201, 631, 407, 611, 604, and 222 to Qiaozikou.
North Guangji Hui-style Snack Street 北广济街回民风味小吃街
Particularly famed for itsZenggao snacks, many people come to North Guangji Street specifically to visitLaoma Zenggao Kingemporium. However, there are other emporia here dedicated to a wide range of Hui cuisine. Wander around and select from such dishes as Liu roast chicken, five-styles cured beef-mutton, meaty steamed buns and tamale.
Unlike Barley Street Market, North Guangji Street is not open 24/7, but open fromdusk to dawnit's the perfect place for night owls.
- Address:North Guangji Street, Lianhu District, Xi 'an西安市莲湖区北广济街
- Getting there:Buses 4, 31, 43, 45, 201, 631, 407, 611, 604, and 222. Get off at the Guangji Street stop.
North Gate Night Market 北院门夜市
Brightly lit and vibrant, North Gate night market is situated indowntown Xi'an, close toBell-Drum Tower Square. Not exclusive to one particular style or region, this is the place to explore a variety of different cuisines. Particularly recommended are the barbecues, spicy hot pot, many varieties of steamed buns and traditional Chinese cakes. The lamb basin is another dish to be found here which is worth seeking out
这是另一个dusk to dawnnight market for those who want a long and lively night out.
- Address:Bell-Drum Tower Square, Lianhu District, Xi'an. (The entrance is near the Bell-Drum Tower itself). 西安市莲湖区钟鼓楼广场。
- Getting there:公交502、706、和707年北门外;或公共汽车4,206, 611, 201, 43, 45, and 631 to the Bell Tower or Guangji Street from where it is a short walk.
Dapiyuan Night Market 大皮院夜市
In Dapiyuan,Huicuisine vies withtraditional Xi'anfood for your attention and delectation. Laoqi-style barbecue, steamed buns in many varieties, tamale, enticing lamb and beef dishes all ensure that you're in for a good night out and will leave with an overfilled stomach.
Dapiyuan is another dusk-to-dawn venue.
- Address:To find Dapiyuan Street, head out to the City Hall on Xihuamen Street. Dapiyuan Street is next to it. 西华门大街市政府旁边大皮院街
- Getting there:Buses 702, 502, and 707 to City Hall Station.
Eastern Street Night Market 东新街夜市
Catering to a wide variety of tastes, the Eastern Street Night Market is large, withover 50 outlets. The particular specialty of Eastern Street isShangxi-stylefood. Look out too for a wide variety of snacks, casserole dishes, vermicelli, dumplings, grilled fish, steamed shrimp, tripe and other forms and styles. If you want more familiar items, the usual barbecues, steamed buns and noodle dishes are also available.
Opening hours are relatively short; so don't put it off until too late to get there. The outlets are open from6:00pm to midnight.
- Address:Look for Eastern Street in the middle of Jiefang Road, New City. 西安市新城区解放路中段
- Getting there:Buses 32, 610, 502, and 702 to New City Station.
Nanshaomen Night Market 南稍门夜市
One of the largestof the night markets in Xi'an, Nanshaomen is a particularly lively, bright and crowded destination given its popularity. Less focused on any particular style, this night market is one of the better places to sample food fromall around China. To list the dishes available would be pointless. Rest assured, if there's something you want you may well find it here and, if you don't, you're very likely to find something even better.
As with Eastern Street, opening times are relatively limited. Aim to get there between 6.00pm and midnight.
- Address:Nanshaomen is located outside the South Gate in Yanta District. 西安市雁塔区南门外南稍门。
- Getting there:Buses 21, 46, 203, and 25 to Nanshaomen Station.
Boshulin Night Market 柏树林夜市
Another night market with its eye to awide variety的菜Chinese nation, theYaxin foodstalls are particularly highly recommended, as is Wangji barbecue, casseroles and grilled fish dishes, all reasonably priced.
Once more, open from 6.00 until midnight, don't leave this one too late.
- Address:Boshulin is located next to the Forest of Steles Museum, Duanlvmen, New City. 西安市新城区端履门内，碑林博物馆旁
- Getting there:Buses 710 and 309 to Duanlvmen Station.
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Xi'an Jiaotong University Ercun Night Market 西安交大二村夜市
Expect a bigstudentturnout here from 6.00pm until midnight when the Ercun night market closes, given that it's handily located for the Xi'an Jiaotong University. Ayouthfulplace to have dinner and, reflecting the wide variety of locales from which the students come, it has a wide variety of food from all around China so everyone gets a chance for a taste of home while you're given the chance forculinary explorationwithout leaving the area.
- Address:Opposite the South gate of Xi'an Jiaotong University of Technology, Xianning Road, New City . 西安市新城区咸宁路理工大南门对面。
- Getting there:Buses 7, 402, 228, and 602 to Big Mall Station.
Further Reading:
Before you head out, prepare yourself for the night markets by studying up onXi'an's popular farein advance. Heading to a night market with a broader range? Check out our article onChina's Top Food Citiesand see what else you can find from other parts of the country. Spice up the evening still more by checking out some of Xi'an'snightlifebefore or after you settle down for your meal.
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