All-Inclusive Xi'an Day Tour: Mini Group or Private

Relax in our comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle as we drive you directly to the Terracotta Army Museum, in a one-hour highway journey, with no stops for shopping or other delays, ensuring you make the most of your time.

We prioritize an early morning visit to the museum, because the morning light is the best based on our professional experience. Unlike typical museums, the Terracotta Army site uses a transparent roof to illuminate exhibits with natural light, making the timing of your visit crucial. Besides, an early start helps you avoid the largest crowds. Despite this, you still need to be prepared for a significant increase in tourists, especially on weekends and holidays, so please book the itinerary as soon as possible to avoid missing out on tickets.

Upon arrival, follow your guide to bypass the long ticketing line and enjoy a fast entry into the Terracotta Army Museum, which was built on the burial pits of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC), the first emperor in Chinese history. Start your 2.5 to 3 hours’ eye-opening cultural experience, enriched by your guide’s detailed and engaging explanations.

Standing before the largest Pit No. 1, the main body of the army, marvel at over 6,000 life-sized terracotta soldiers and horses in battle formation. The most spectacular Pit No. 2 shows more complicated martial phalanxes and more arms of the services, including high-ranking officers, kneeling archers, and cavalrymen. It is worth mentioning that each warrior has a different appearance and expression, which will make you can't help but admire the superb skills of craftsmen from 2,200 years ago. Pit No. 3 is the commanding center of the military groups in the other two pits, which is also the only one that hasn’t been burned. Also, we won’t let you miss an amazingly new exhibition, which showcases 230 undisclosed collections from the mausoleum site during the 50 years of excavations, including the rare colorful terracotta figures, a full-scale majestic chariot, and gold and silver artifacts.

All of these undoubtedly demonstrate the powerful national strength, especially the military might, of the Qin Empire (221 - 207 BC). In addition, during the same period in world history, the Ptolemaic Dynasty of ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire of Europe, and the Mayan civilization of the Americas were still practicing human sacrifice, while Emperor Qin Shi Huang had already replaced living people with pottery figures for burial, which was quite an advanced way of thinking in his time. However, this cannot mask his reputation for brutality. After unifying China, he implemented the infamous ‘burning of books and burying of scholars’, a campaign aimed at silencing dissent. While these measures consolidated his power, they resulted in the irreparable loss of diverse cultural heritages.

Come and join your guide for a Chinese buffet lunch. Xian specialties such as Chinese Hamburger and Cold Noodles, as well as various home-style stir-fries like chicken pieces stewed with potatoes and pork stir-fried with cauliflower, are all great helpers to replenish your energy. Also, you can grab some seasonal fruits and soft drinks to quench your thirst.

After lunch, we’ll drive back to downtown Xi'an. You could take a nap to recover and get ready for the afternoon sightseeing.

This Xi’an day trip continues with a visit to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a major participant along the Silk Road in introducing Indian Buddhism by the renowned monk Xuanzang during the 7th century. Seeing Xuanzang’s statue in front of the pagoda today, with the guide’s explanation, you’ll be deeply impressed by this great man. With a devout pursuit of Buddhism, he repeatedly petitioned the emperor to travel west to the birthplace of Buddhism to seek the most authentic scriptures, and finally returned with 657 volumes of scriptures and 150 Buddhist relics after a 17-year arduous journey, causing a huge sensation throughout the country, and was eventually assigned to the pagoda to translate those precious materials and spread Buddhist teachings.

Look closer, and you’ll be surprised to find that the 7-story pagoda is actually slanting, although its brick structure effectively enabled it to survive through sandstorms and earthquakes to this day. It was officially measured to have deviated westward by a staggering 1,006 millimeters (40 inches). Unlike the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which began to lean during construction, the pagoda only started to slant centuries after its completion due to ground subsidence. Rest assured, there’s no risk of collapse. Various measures, like groundwater recharge, are helping the pagoda return to its original position by one millimeter each year. This means the Great Wild Goose Pagoda will be fully upright again in about 1,000 years!

Next, let’s climb up the 600-year-old City Wall, an ancient military fortification. Most of the city walls in other Chinese cities were demolished due to urban planning, but Xi’an has attached great importance to its historic heritage protection, preserving the largest and most intact city wall in China. You’ll notice a stark contrast: inside, low and old erections, restricted to less than 36 meters (118 feet), maintain the antique appearance, while on the outside are high-rises that represent the city’s modern development.

After a leisurely walk, your guide will accompany you to descend from the wall. However, you are welcome to make another choice if you are itching to try cycling on the wall at your own expense. Here you can bid your guide farewell and enjoy the ramparts at your own pace until sunset, returning to your hotel independently. A short ride near the South Gate is recommended, and you can watch the ancient gate tower glowing in the golden sunset. If you are seeking a challenge, you can cycle the full 14-km circuit. This 1.5 to 2-hour ride can be bumpy, but it offers a truly immersive experience, allowing you to stop whenever you like to discover the hidden gems of the City Wall.

Our last stop today is the Muslim Quarter, the most thriving food district in the city center. When our vehicle passes by, if you wish to delve into the lively bazaar on your own, you are welcome to disembark here, enjoy dinner and night views, and finally return to your hotel by yourself. Your guide will surely offer transportation advice. If not, your guide and the driver will then escort you back to your hotel. This concludes your fulfilling Xi’an day tour. Thank you for traveling with us!

● Looking for more Xian highlights? Check out our other Xian tour packages, or contact our travel consultants anytime for a customized private tour.

► FYI: What to Do in Muslim Quarter (at your own expense):
Composed of over 10 streets filled with the aroma of snacks and the shouts of enthusiastic vendors, it is far larger than you might imagine. You’ll be drawn to countless authentic local specialties, such as Biang Biang Noodles, as well as the Crumbled Bread in Mutton Stew, a true highlight to try at one of the characteristic restaurants like Old Sun’s or Old Mi’s. Do as the locals do: use your hands to break the round flatbreads into small, fingernail-sized pieces into a bowl. Wait for the chef to boil your prepared ingredients in mutton soup. What a delicacy! The local food is known for its high carbs and calories, so the best strategy is to order a variety of small portions, saving appetite for delicious snacks you may come across later. After dinner, take a leisurely walk to explore the nearby Bell and Drum Towers, boasting a splendid night view with their ancient architecture illuminated by lights. Tourists dressed in traditional Chinese costumes wander around, perfectly completing your journey back in time. The free observation deck on the 5th floor of the Kaiyuan Mall at the southeast corner of the Bell Tower offers an unrivaled panoramic view.