Xi'an Mini Group Full Day Tour, No Shopping

In the morning, your tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at the appointed time. The guide will contact you the day before to confirm the exact departure time. We will have your back 24 hours through telephone and WeChat!

● Note: If your travel date meets the summer vacation (July & August) or Chinese holidays, please be aware that we may need to advance your pick-up time to 7:30 or even 7:00 to allow sufficient time for sightseeing. Thank you for your understanding.

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 the 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, 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 Qin Shi Huang had already replaced living people with pottery figures for burial, which was quite an advanced way of thinking in his time. Perhaps he was not as cruel as many historical anecdotes say.

Lunch is on your own. There are some fast food chains nearby, like Chinese Weijia Cold Noodles or Western McDonald's, for you to enjoy an adequate and hygienic meal for around USD 7 per person. Your guide will be glad to assist you in selecting a restaurant.

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

The tour continues with a visit to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a major participant along the Silk Road in translating and introducing Indian Buddhism during the 7th century. Built with bricks and imitating the traditional Chinese wooden structure, this 7-story pagoda is not only aesthetically appealing but also effective in withstanding sandstorms and earthquakes.

Look closely, and you’ll be surprised to find that the pagoda is actually slanting. 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 tilt when it was built because of its soft foundation, the Pagoda gradually became unable to ‘stand upright’ several centuries after its completion as the ground nearby subsided. Rest assured, there’s no risk of collapse. Various measures, like injecting water underground, 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, your guide will lead you up the 600-plus-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 the historic heritage protection, preserving the largest and most intact city wall in China. When taking a leisurely walk along the wall, notice the stark contrast: inside, low and old erections, restricted to less than 36 meters (118 feet), maintain the original appearance of this ancient capital; while on the outside are high-rises that represent the city’s modern development. You can also explore the City Wall by renting a bicycle or taking a sightseeing car. A complete circuit by bike needs 1.5 to 2 hours, as the road atop is quite bumpy. If you’re interested in just a taste, a short ride near the South Gate is recommended. Your guide could assist you with bike rentals (at your own expense), and you’re welcome to decide on the spot.

Our last stop today is the Muslim Quarter, the most thriving food district in the city center. When our vehicle passes by, guests wishing to delve into the lively bazaar on their own are welcome to disembark here, enjoy dinner and night views, and finally return to the hotel by themselves. The guide will sure offer transportation advice. The guide and the driver will then escort other guests back to their hotels. This concludes your fulfilling Xi’an group day tour. Thank you for traveling with us!

● Looking for more Xi’an highlights? Check out our other mini group itineraries, like the One Day Mt. Huashan Hiking Tour, 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 Chinese Hamburger, Cold Noodles, and Biang Biang Noodles. A true highlight is trying Crumbled Bread in Mutton Stew 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 for 5 to 10 minutes. 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 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.