Yan'an (延安; Yán'ān) is a city in Shaanxi Province.

Understand

It is hard to believe that a city, so in the middle of nowhere, is considered a major pilgrimage site. Not a religious pilgrimage, but a pilgrimage site for those who follow the Communist philosophy. This is considered to be the "Cradle of Chinese Revolution"; it is where the Communists established their main base after the Long March. After Chairman Mao's birthplace in Shaoshan, is the number two pilgrimage site for those who are interested in recent Chinese history.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Yan'an Nanniwan Airport (延安南泥湾机场), Shangjiagou, Baota District (宝塔区尚家沟) (a special bus service operates between the airport and the city; Routes 1 and 3 terminate at the Yikang Garden Hotel while Route 2 terminates at the Zaoyuan Hotel; the fare is ¥20 on all routes), ☏ +86 911 8812211, yajc@westaport.com. Flights are available from many other Chinese cities, including Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Hohot, Jinan, Jinggangshan, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wuhan, Urumqi, Xi'an, Xichang, Xingyi, Xining, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou, and Zunyi. (updated May 2021)

By train

• 2 Yan'an Railway Station (延安站), Liulin Road, Baota District (宝塔区柳林路) (there is a bus stop outside the station, which is served by bus nos. 10, K7, 22, K30, K206, K302, K303 and the Nanniwan Tourist Bus (南泥湾旅游公交); the railway station is just over 200 meters from the Yan'an South Bus Station). (updated May 2021)

Yan'an is on one of the railway routes between Beijing and Xi'an. Several regular-speed trains a day are available from Beijing West Railway Station (10-11 hrs), Taiyuan (6-7.5 hrs), Xi'an (3.5-7 hrs). There are also daily direct trains from Hohhot (9-10 hrs), Baotou (7-8.5 hrs), Chongqing (13 hrs), Chengdu (14 hrs), Shanghai (24.5 hrs). (Current schedule (in Chinese))

From Xi'an and Chengdu, you can also take a high-speed train to Yan'an. A high-speed train from Chengdu East station takes 7 hours while a high-speed train from Xi'an North Station takes just 2.5 hours.

By bus

• 3 Yan'an Bus Station (延安汽车站), 24 Dongguan Street, Baota District (宝塔区东关街24号) (the Dongguan Street (东关街) bus stop is about 100 meters west of the bus station; local buses that stop at the Dongguan Street bus stop include bus nos. 8, 23, 28, 29, 104, K1, K4, K6, K8, K16, K19, K21, K22， K26, K30, K204, K206 and K302 as well as Airport Bus Routes 1 and 3), ☏ +86 911 2121275. (updated May 2021)
• 4 Yan'an South Bus Station (延安汽车南站), Qilipu Street, Baota District (宝塔区七里铺大街) (about 300 meters north of Yan'an Railway Station; there is a bus stop outside the bus station, which is served by bus nos. 18, K1, K3, K7, K11, K12, K13, K22, K30 and K206, as well as Airport Bus Routes 1, 2 and 3), ☏ +86 911 2491167. (updated May 2021)

See

In and around Yan'an there are several spots related to the history of the Chinese Communist Party. The place where Mao and his comrades lived and worked, places where party conferences were held and many more.

• Phoenix Hill (凤凰山). Lantau Peak is located in Yanan city centre, Yanan is one of the four famous mountains. Lantau Peak's highest elevation 1132 meters, mountain range rover, overlooking the breathtaking views of the Yanan. 
• Yan'an Nursery. A communist play that is part of the 2-day tours from Xi'an. In Chinese: 延安保育院. Usually costs extra and a bit like an opera yet if you do not understand Chinese you can forget about enjoying it. ¥150. (updated Mar 2015)
• Zaoyuan 枣园. "Date Park" is a small public park that has the old housing of the Communist leaders. The part itself has not much to see but many souvenirs to buy. Free. (updated Mar 2015)
• 1 Yan'an Revolution Memorial (延安革命纪念馆), Wangjiaping Road, Baota District (宝塔区王家坪路) (bus nos. 3, 8, 23, 28, 104, K1, K6, K7, K12, K13, K16, K103, K202, K203, K208, subroute 23 (副23路) and the Education Bus (教育专线) all stop outside the museum), ☏ +86 911 8213694, +86 911 8213666. 08:00-16:00, no entry after 15:30. A large museum covering the history of the Communist Party's activities in Yan'an from 1935 to 1948. Free. (updated May 2021)

Buy

• Dog Head Dates. Called 狗头枣 as they are supposedly as big as a dog's head. These are healthy dates and one of the best places to buy them in China. You have to pay almost double in Beijing for example. People will let you try them from plates but be aware that this often means you are then led to a place to buy some. Better to just avoid the sellers unless you are prepared to buy from them. (updated Mar 2015)

Sleep

Yan'an is not a usual destination for foreign visitors, so some communication skills will be needed to find a place in a local budget hotel. One option is to take the local bus from the train station to the town center, and get off in the center, in the stop just beneath an obvious triple-pedestrian-bridge. A local guest house (40-70Y per night per room) can be found just in front of the bus stop, on the second floor.