Luomashi Pedestrian Street: Xi'an's budget shopping street

Luomashi (骡马市, 'mule and horse market') is a short pedestrian street running off East Street about 200 metres east of the Bell Tower. Under the Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties this was a livestock market; from 1983 it became Xi'an's first dedicated clothing market and the place where new fashion trends arrived first. Today it is a lively, unpolished strip of budget clothing, shoes, bags and phone accessories, much of it in underground shopping halls, plus snack stalls and chain restaurants. It takes about ten minutes to walk end to end. In July 2025 the street's big anchor, the former Minsheng department store, reopened as Xingyue Mall, an anime and 'goods' (谷子) themed mall with a giant Luo Tianyi statue. Come for cheap basics, people-watching and a dose of everyday Xi'an youth culture, not for souvenirs or quality crafts.