Xi’an is the capital province of Shaanxi, and at 13 million is the third-most populous city in Western China. Known as Chang’an throughout much of its history, one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals. Xi’an lies on a flood plain and borders the northern foot of the Qin Mountains and the banks of the Wei River. There are some lovely spots for running in Xi’an, with scenic Bahe river paths, a tour of the Ancient Wall, and some lovely parks. Our thanks to Joylin Nodwell for some of the route suggestions!
A memorable run and a great way to get oriented in Xi’an is to run the path atop the City Wall, which surrounds the Ancient City with the Bell Tower considered its historic center. Run all or part of the 14 km loop, with the adjacent Xingqinggong Park a nice add-on. One of the best places to run in Xi’an is the ~16 km of paths along the Bahe River, with additional paths in the Expo Park. Another favorite is the loop around Qujiangchi Pond, where you can also add with the roads & paths around Tang Paradise.
