3 Days Xi'an Private Culture Tour

Upon your arrival at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, your private guide will pick you up and then escort you to downtown Xi’an by a private car to open your exciting journey!

On the way, we’ll stop to visit the Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty, the burial place of Emperor Jing of Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) and his empress. Here, admire a vast number of doll-sized pottery objects behind glass. Come close up, and you’ll find that all the figures are smiling, suggesting that the country was enjoying a period of peace and prosperity. There are also spectacular animal groups, granaries, and chariots, from which you can gain an insight into people’s well-fed life at that time. Moreover, we have specially arranged a Mixed Reality experience for you, the fee of which is generously included in our price. Those immersive vivid displays realized by holographic imaging technology will take you to travel thousands of years into the past: stand right before “revived” terracotta eunuchs, officials and soldiers, and watch the emperor holding court! After that, enjoy a smooth car ride downtown and check in at our selected hotel. Have a good rest!

► Recommended Free-time Activities:
It’s only a 10-minute taxi ride from your hotel to the South Gate of Xi’an City Wall. Late in the afternoon, enjoy a city walk along the moat to experience the relaxation and romance of this ancient capital. From time to time, elderly people in traditional costumes can be seen practicing Tai Chi or singing local operas under the swaying willow branches. The orange sunlight falls on the emerald water where fish and ducks are frolicking, making the surface shimmer like flowing small diamonds. As the twilight fades, make you way to the Internet-popular photography spot, the Moon Bridge, where there is a free stunning 5-minute light show around 20:30. If you are interested, also step into one of the atmospheric bistros by the moat to enjoy a drink and live music.

After breakfast, embark on a 1-hour transfer to the Terracotta Army Museum, an astounding discovery found to be the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the founder of the Qin Empire (221 - 207 BC). Compared with what you saw in the Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty the day before, the unique funeral objects of terracotta warriors, bronze weapons, and chariots here are wondrous life-sized. It is interesting to know that the warriors were colorful at the moment they were unearthed in 1974! However, the colors were then irretrievably stripped off within minutes by exposure to light and oxygen. Looking at those glossy weapons, on which anti-rust coats were discovered, marvel at the state-of-the-art craftsmanship at that time. Up to now, how the weapons were plated without electricity more than 2,000 years ago remains an unsolved mystery! Beyond the three main pits, your guide will lead you to explore the New Exhibition Hall for over 200 crowning archaeological masterpieces, many of which are on public display for the very first time. Observe a unique green-faced warrior and be surprised by another with purple sleeves. Also, picture the imperial music banquet prepared for the emperor before the Acrobat Figures, sculpted to entertain him in his afterlife.

★ Special Treat 1: Meet the Discoverer

Let’s walk into the home of the discoverer who unearthed the first fragments of Terracotta Warriors in 1974. The remarkable find transformed this poor farmer into a government-sponsored celebrity overnight. See the hoe and cart he used at the time, and talk to him to learn some secrets about the discovery.

★ Special Treat 2: Craft Your Mini Warrior

Check out a workshop led by local artisans of the few who adhere to the traditional way of pottery making. Learn to mold your own mini warrior souvenir, with your name engraved. The red mud you’ll use comes from 7-9 meters underground, the same depths as the material used by the Qin artisans!

Next, we’ll return to downtown to visit the splendid Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in the Grand Ci’en Temple, which was specially built in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) to store the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back from India by monk Xuanzang. The Pogoda was first built with five stories in 652, then rebuilt to 10 stories after a collapse during the reign of Wu Zetian, the first and only female emperor in China’s history. Later, the top several stories collapsed again, turning it into a seven-story pagoda we see today. It has developed into a landmark of Xi’an, with its surrounding areas being a must-visit bustling hub, including Great Tang All Day Mall, our following destination, where the pseudo-classic buildings, visitors in traditional Tang costumes, and cultural performances encountered occasionally will give you a feeling of being in the real vibrant Tang Dynasty, the most prosperous period in Chinese history. Afterwards, we will transfer you to the hotel, or you can continue your stroll here, admire the captivating night views, and finally take a taxi back by yourself.

► Hanfu Experience for Your Reference (at your own expense):
Dressing up in the style of ancient people when traveling in some historical cities has become a new trend, and in Xi’an, tourists especially love to wear Hanfu suits of Tang Dynasty. If you prefer to stay longer in this historical bock, it is recommended to rent such clothes and apply corresponding makeup in one of the many studios in the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda area. Put on a short blouse with a front opening, layer it on a long chest-length dress and a thin veil, and then comb your hair into an exquisite bun, and finally you’ll become an elegant princess of the Tang Dynasty. Then go to some classic camera positions such as the place where you can be in the same frame as the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, to take instagrammable photos.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today, let’s leave our footprints on the City Wall, which is constructed as the military defense system in ancient times. It is generally believed to have been built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD). However, the discovery of the Hanguang Gate Site has pushed the history of the Wall back to the Tang Dynasty over 700 years earlier. First, follow your guide into the City Wall Remains Museum, or Tang Hanguang Gate Site Museum, where the cross-section of the wall divided into five layers by era and three large parallel doorways are on display. Look closely along with the guide’s explanation, and you’ll find that the central doorway for the emperor is as smooth as new, while the two sides for the passage of officials are covered with deep ruts. Then, let’s climb up to the City Wall, on which you can savor bird’s-eye views of Xi’an - historical buildings scattered here and there across the entire city. It’s also okay to sightsee by bike or electric cart at your own expense on the wall, and your guide will be glad to help if you need it.

Next, admire and photo the iconic Bell Tower and Drum Tower in the city center on our way to the next stop, the Great Mosque, a standout among all mosques due to its classical Chinese garden architecture. With glazed tiles, wooden pavilions, and a landscaped symmetrical layout, the mosque complex is a testimony to the integration of Islamic culture into China’s society. Walking out of the mosque, take a stroll in the surrounding Muslim Quarter, the most sought-after food street in Xi’an, where you’ll be overwhelmed by loud shouts of Muslim vendors and mouthwatering local specialties, including Chinese Hamburger, Biang Biang Noodles, Cold Noodles, and Bread in Beef Stew.

★ Get a Taste of Authentic Local Flavors

With us, you’ll enjoy a featured lunch at a well-regarded restaurant in the Muslim Quarter. It is especially recommended that you try the Biang Biang Noodles, almost a must-order for our previous guests. The name “Biang Biang” is said to come from the sound when the chef slaps noodles on a board during preparation. Interestingly, your guide will show you how complicated it is to write the Chinese character for “Biang”, which is so intricate and not available in any dictionaries. By the way, Xi’an is famously known as the ‘Capital of Carbohydrates’, with almost all delicacies being filling and high in calories, so the key to ordering food is to follow the principle of small amounts and a variety of dishes.

Your 3 days Xi'an tour will end here, and the guide and driver will send you to the airport for your departure flight. Hope you had a happy time with us!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Local flavor lunch

► If you are interested in other hot sights in Xi’an, such as the Shaanxi History Museum, Stele Forest, and Mt. Huashan, please feel free to contact us to tailor your itinerary. Or if you have more time, we can also help plan your trip to other popular destinations in China, like Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Chengdu, and Chongqing.