Biang Biang Noodles Cooking Class in Xi'an: Make & Eat

You pull the noodles yourself, not watch someone else do it.

A 3-hour cooking class in Xi'an where you make Biang Biang noodles from scratch in a quiet courtyard near the City Wall. You start at a local morning market with your English-speaking guide, learning the spices and ingredients used in the dish, then move to the private courtyard to prepare the dough, pull it into long thin noodles by hand, make the sauce, and cook your meal. You eat what you've made, receive the recipe and a certificate, and finish with local snacks.

The experience

The class starts at Sa Jin Qiao Subway Station on Line 1, where your guide meets you and takes you into the local market first. You'll see vegetables stacked neatly, spices in old bags, fresh meats hung on walls, and other ingredients for sale. The setup is the real thing, not staged for visitors. This is where you learn what goes into Biang Biang noodles and why each ingredient matters.

From the market, you walk to a quiet private courtyard near the City Wall. After green tea and a moment to settle, the cooking begins. You mix water and flour in the right ratio, press the dough into a flat round, cut it into strips, then pull those strips into long thin noodles. This part takes strength and technique, and the guide walks you through it. Once the noodles are boiled, you cover them with the sauce you've prepared, pour hot oil over the top, and the dish is done. You sit down and eat what you made, which is the whole point. Fruit or local snacks come after.

At the end you get a printed recipe so you can make it at home, and a certificate from the operator. The class runs about three and a half hours total, including the market stop and the meal.

What’s included

• Your English-speaking guide for the full three and a half hours.
• entry to the local market and the private courtyard.
• lunch or dinner depending on which time slot you book.
• snacks and fruit after the meal.
• the printed recipe and certificate.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lily's Private Tours

Is this one for you?You do the cooking yourself, not watch a demonstration. The pulling and the sauce-making are yours to do, which is why the class takes the full morning or afternoon. Pick this if you want to leave Xi'an knowing how to make the dish, not just having tasted it.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 12 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I learn to make in this class?

Biang Biang noodles, a Xi'an specialty. You prepare the flour dough, pull it into long thin noodles by hand, make the sauce from scratch, and cook the finished dish yourself.

Do I visit a real market or a tourist version?

A real local morning market near the courtyard where you cook. You see how vendors display vegetables, spices, meats and other ingredients the way they do every day, and your guide explains what goes into the noodles and why.

Where does the cooking happen?

A private courtyard near the City Wall in Xi'an, away from the main tourist routes. It's quiet enough to focus on the cooking and to sit down and eat what you've made without noise around you.

Is this class private or do I cook with other people?

You cook with other travelers in the same group. The guide is English-speaking and leads the whole class through each step together.

What do I get to take home?

A printed recipe for Biang Biang noodles and a certificate from the operator, so you can make the dish again once you're home.