Under cover: museum mile
A rain plan that isn't a consolation prize
When the weather cancels the wall and the pagoda squares, this line hands you the densest indoor three hours in the city: the province's vault, a working temple two blocks away, and a museum-garden complex to finish. One honest note — the museum here is closed Tuesdays.
Stop 1 · Museum
Shaanxi History Museum first: free, but timed tickets vanish days ahead — reserve the moment your dates are fixed. Ninety minutes minimum; the Hejiacun gold hoard alone justifies the trip.
Stop 2 · Temple
Two blocks north, Daxingshan Temple is the palate cleanser — an incense-heavy working temple squeezed by the city. Twenty quiet minutes between museums.
Stop 3 · Temple
Finish at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda complex (Xi'an Museum + gardens, one gate): pagoda, galleries, and a park to dry out in. Closed Tuesdays — plan around it.