One Of The Best Destinations In China Is Full Of Tasty Street Food, Per Samantha Brown

Samantha Brown is a prolific traveler. She's been to over 250 cities in more than 62 countries, and while she embraces them all, some really seem to capture her heart. Early in an episode made for her long-running series "Places to Love," Brown delightedly exclaims "Wow! It is good to be back!" Where is she? Xi'an, China, a city most famous for its terracotta warriors, but a place that Brown loves for so many more reasons.

One of Brown's top reasons to visit Xi'an is for the street food. As night falls in Xi'an, Brown heads to Muslim Street, where crowds of people bustle under the glow of neon signs. The camera shows all kinds of delicious-looking street food being cooked and eaten, from meat skewers to hand-pulled noodles. When Brown asks which unique Xi'an dish she should try, her guide surprises her by replying: a burger. But it's not a burger as we know it. It's fragrant, shredded lamb in pocket bread that Brown declares "wonderful." But burgers are far from all that's on the menu in Xi'an.

Muslim Street offers a rare blend of Chinese-Muslim cuisine, making the street food scene in Xi'an a must-try. You might want to start with the hand-pulled noodles, which go by the name "biang biang noodles." The name is an imitation of the noise made when the noodles are being pulled into shape. These noodles originate in Xi'an, and Brown recommends trying them with lamb or beef, drizzled in a savory sauce.

One dish Xi'an is widely known for is bread soup. This dish, with its unassuming name, is made with small pieces of bread soaked in broth and mixed with tender lamb meat and vegetables. If you're still hungry, try liang pi, a cold noodle dish served with a complex sweet and savory sauce that's different at every stall.

Brown has a tip for finding the best street food vendors: "Look for the lines!" In her video from Xi'an, she heads to the back of a long line of people waiting to buy burgers. Avid foodie Anthony Bourdain had another tip for finding great places to eat: Go where the locals go. So join a long line of locals at a stall or restaurant, and you've probably found a winner!

Most tourists know Xi'an as the place to see the famous terracotta warriors. This life-size terracotta army consists of over 8,000 figures who have been guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb for more than 2,000 years. They're so realistic that in her episode in Xi'an, Samantha Brown remarks that they "look like at any moment they are going to come to life." A visit to this staggering mausoleum is a must while you're enjoying the street food in Xi'an, but be warned: You'll be rubbing shoulders, literally, with thousands of other visitors. The place gets crowded. (Expecting personal space in many places is something tourists shouldn't do when visiting China!)

Close to the terracotta warriors, you'll find Huaqing Palace and Pools. Brown watched a traditional live performance there during her visit to Xi'an and loved the atmosphere at night. You can also soak in the relaxing hot pools, which were built for former Chinese emperors. Back in the very center of the city, Brown highly recommends renting a bike and cycling around the incredibly well-preserved city walls, starting at the imposing South Gate. She calls this easy workout a good way to beat jet lag. Around 2.5 miles south of the gate, you'll find the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a symbol of Xi'an. You can climb to the top of the roughly 200-foot pagoda — incredible, considering it dates from around 650 A.D.