Xi'an has a history as old as China itself, but it is also a booming modern city with a big role in the economic development of western China, and a thriving tourist destination. This contrast between old and new is amply reflected in the city' s entertainment scene.

There is plenty of old China on show, and one experience that both Chinese and foreign visitors enjoy is the nightly performance at the Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Palace, when over 100 dancers and musicians recreate the performance arts of China's ''Golden Age''– the Tang dynasty, when Chang' an (the old name for Xi'an) was one of the greatest cities of its time. If you are lucky enough to get a ticket to this show, you will have a unique chance to see ancient Chinese instruments like the pipa, the rang, gu zheng, erhu, yangqin, dizi, sheng, pai xiao, bronze bell chimes, and suo na, all played with artistry and verve.

Xi'an is known for its rich Muslim culture. Most travelers that go into the ''Bell Tower'' area at night come to see the spectacle of lights and taste some of the delicious Muslim snacks that can be discovered on Muslim Snack Street near the Drum Tower.

There are four festivals which stand out on the Xi'an calendar and can add interest to the traveler's itinerary. As the weather warms up in April, Xi'an hosts the Chang'an Annual International Calligraphy Meeting. While it appeals to experts in this ancient art, it is also a wonderful opportunity for the uninitiated to see the very finest of modern and ancient Chinese calligraphy, and learn something about a subject that can become a lifelong passion. In September, there are no less than three festivals to add luster to the beautiful autumn weather. The Xi'an "Silk Road" International Tourism Festival celebrates one of the most important historical influences on Xi'an, and indeed on China and Europe. Xi'an was the terminus and starting point of the Silk road, a 4000 km (2500 mile) trade route that linked China with the Roman empire and later medieval Europe, and served as an artery of religious, cultural and artistic exchange for some 1500 years. The Xi'an Ancient Culture Festival celebrates Xi'an's central place in the earliest era of Chinese civilization, and has a range of activities both ancient and modern that will both educate and entertain the traveler. What few know is that the area near Xi'an is believed to be the birthplace of one of China's most beloved fruits – the pomegranate. The Xi'an Pomegranate Festival is a carefree celebration of this heritage, and is an opportunity for dancing, celebration, and, of course, pomegranate-eating.

Of course, the city also has more modern styles of entertainment. Aside from KTV bars, the city is the home to some good places for dancing, including One Plus One Disco Bar, which is near the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Other places include Xi'an Longdu Disco, or, if you are a little more cashed-up, the Xi'an Diwang Club or One Plus One Discocommerce.

Xi'an's restaurants are the best place to experience the hearty, salty cuisine of China's northwest: don't miss two of the local favorites - Yangrou Paomo, which is chopped noodles in a delicious lamb soup, and the Xi'an Dumpling Feast, a stream of tiny, bite-size dumplings (jiaozi) with various shapes and fillings.

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