Terracotta Army Tour from Beijing, No Shopping

Welcome to Xi’an, a city brimming with historical charm! Upon your arrival, your private guide and driver will pick you up from Xi’an’s airport or railway station.

► Flights and trains are frequent between Xi’an and many cities of China, especially Beijing and Shanghai, making it possible to take a one-day round trip to Xi’an. To ensure enough time for this day tour, you’re suggested to reach Xi'an before 9:00 in the morning and leave after 20:00.

Let’s first drive 1 hour to the Terracotta Army Museum, home to the burial objects of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC), the first emperor of ancient China. Stand by the guardrail of the viewing platform to overlook more than 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses in the three burial pits, and you’ll find that the hairstyles, expressions, and even beards of the figurines are all different, as if they were real portraits of soldiers from the Great Qin Empire of 2,000 years ago. Also, follow the guide to broaden your eyes on a new exhibition, showcasing 230 typical archaeological finds through its 50 years of excavation, including a third never-before-seen. Take your time to examine the vivid terracotta warriors in various poses and wonder about their specific roles. For instance, a figure with clasped hands was a government clerk, with a knife at his waist used to correct mistakes on the bamboo slips. In front of a row of bronze waterfowl sits another interesting statue of a musician to attract the birds to dance for the emperor's enjoyment. While more treasures are believed to lie hidden within the emperor’s super large tomb, archaeologists dare not to excavate it for fear of unknown consequences. Unexpected pitfalls everywhere, hundreds of tons of toxic volatile mercury, and landslides possibly caused by excavations would take lives of whoever step into the tomb, not to mention it would damage or even destroy the treasures.

Lunch is at your own expense. There are some Western and Chinese eateries outside the museum, or if you prefer to have a later lunch back in downtown, your guide will surely offer you suggestions and assistance.Later, we’ll drive back downtown to visit the Xi’an City Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), contemporary with Europe’s late Middle Ages. It is the best-preserved and largest ancient city wall in China, with a total length of about 14 kilometers (9 miles). Follow your guide to stroll along the inner side of the wall to admire the ancient structures and low residential buildings within the city complementing each other, and sometimes move to the outer side to overlook the closely arranged skyscrapers. For a different experience, you can also cycle or take an electric sightseeing car on this centuries-old wonder. If you’re interested, the guide could assist you with arranging them at your own expense.

When driving past the ancient Bell and Drum Towers, get a glimpse of these two famous landmarks standing in the city center. Finally, you’ll be guided to the lively Muslim Quarter, a food lover’s paradise. Its history can be traced back to the 8th century, when it was a venue where foreign merchants gathered. Since the mid-14th century, a large number of Muslim Hui people have moved here to do business, gradually forming a unique Muslim ‘food circle’. Pastries and barbecued beef, as well as Xi’an delicacies such as Chinese Hamburger, Cold Noodles, and Crumbled Bread in Mutton Stew, can be found in the restaurants or small stalls along the bustling streets here. Also, you’ll be dazzled by handicrafts with images of Xi’an specialties, inscription rubbing artworks, and Shaanxi opera masks. Before leaving, you can try the time-honored Junjun Mung Bean Cake at your own expense or have some to take away if you like. As one of the top 3 of its kind in Xi’an, Junjun has always adhered to passed-down handmade techniques without using any food additives. Apart from the signature mung bean cake, jujube paste and sweetened bean paste-filled pastries are also well worth trying. The average cost per person is about CNY 25 (USD 3.5), and free samples are provided for you to pick your favorite while queuing.

As your Terracotta Warriors tour from Beijing ends, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or the railway station. Have a good trip! There are still many unmissable sights in Xi’an, such as Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum, and Mt. Huashan, the most dangerous mountain in China. If you are interested, feel free to contact us to customize a tour to your preference.

► If you take a same-day trip from Beijing to Xi'an

• Recommended Flights:
Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) → Xi’an Airport (XIY): CZ8805 06:50/08:55 (2h5m);
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) → Xi’an Airport (XIY): HU7137 06:50/09:10 (2h20m), or CA1231 07:25/09:45 (2h20m). 
Xi’an Airport (XIY) → Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX): CZ6947 20:10/22:05 (1h55m);
Xi’an Airport (XIY) → Beijing Capital Airport (PEK): CA1236 20:30/22:55 (2h25m). 

Taxi between Downtown Beijing and Daxing Airport: 1.5 hours and CNY 200 for one way;
Taxi between Downtown Beijing and Capital Airport: 1 hour and CNY 150 for one way.

• Recommended Trains:
Beijing West Railway Station → Xi'an Railway Station: D43 20:30/08:23+1 (11h53m). 
Xi'an Railway Station → Beijing West Railway Station: T42 20:07/09:20+1 (13h13m), D44 20:35/08:22+1 (11h47m), or T56 20:30/10:46+1 (14h16m).

We highly recommend the overnight trains above, as you’ll arrive early in the morning, maximizing your time for a Xi’an day trip. High-speed trains are not recommended in this case, since even the earliest one won’t arrive until noon, reducing your sightseeing time. However, if you choose to travel to Xi'an one day in advance, consider the high speed train G59 19:00/23:11 (4h11m).

► If you take a same-day trip from Shanghai to Xi'an

• Recommended Flights:
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) → Xi’an Airport (XIY): CZ5791 06:45/09:25 (2h40m), or MU6863 06:45/09:10 (2h25m).
Xi’an Airport (XIY) → Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA): FM9204 20:00/22:10 (2h10m), or MU2169 21:00/23:40 (2h40m).

Taxi between Downtown Shanghai and Pudong Airport: 1 hours and CNY 230 for one way;
Taxi between Downtown Shanghai and Hongqiao Airport: 45 minutes and CNY 100 for one way.

• Recommended Trains:
Shanghai Railway Station → Xi'an Railway Station: Z40 16:48/08:17+1 (15h29m), Z304 17:46/08:43+1 (14h57m), D92 18:19/09:07+1 (14h48m), or Z164 18:33/09:19+1 (14h46m).
Xi'an Railway Station → Shanghai Railway Station: Z166 20:53/12:03+1 (15h10m), Z378 21:03/12:09 (15h6m), Z42 21:10/12:15+1 (15h5m), or D124 21:16/12:30+1 (15h14m).

► We Kindly Remind
• For this day trip, flights or trains arriving and departing from Xi’an are not included in our quotation, however, we are happy to book them for you if you need.
• Since it is a same-day trip, traveling light with necessities is important, which can help to save time.

Thank you for traveling with us!