Mini Group: Half-Day Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Discovery Tour

7:30 am - 9:00 am, Hotel Pickup and Transfer to the Terracotta Warriors Museum.

Your guide and driver will be waiting for you in the morning at around 7:30 am – 8:00 am at your hotel lobby and you'll be picked up and driven to the start point of our journey - Terracotta Warriors Army. It is approx 50 minutes to drive from downtown Xi'an to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. You will acquire rich background information about the city from your well-educated, expert guide. 

9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum.

Three pits have been excavated and can be visited. 

The largest pit, Pit 1, is believed to contain 6,000 warriors (only 2,000 are on display) and horses. They are all life-sized, facing east, and are lined up in battle formation. What is particularly striking is the fact that no two of them are alike.

Equipped with earphone

Pit 2, which is smaller than Pit 1, contains around 1,300 warriors and horses, and it is still being excavated. It is worth mentioning that the figurines of general, the soldier on the horse, and the kneeling soldier were the first to be discovered in this pit. 

The smallest pit, Pit 3, contains 72 warriors and horses, and is believed to be the army headquarters due to the number of high-ranking officers unearthed there. The Bronze Chariot Pit exhibits two painted bronze chariots in a large scale in a small museum to the right of the main entrance. The bronze chariots are the earliest, largest, and best-preserved bronze artifacts in the world, crowned as "the King of Bronze Ware". 

The Bronze Chariot Pit

The last site you will visit is the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. According to historical records, the palace is filled with precious stones, and underground rivers of flowing mercury defend against intruders. Considered too dangerous to excavate, 95% of the mausoleum is still buried and its contents remain secret. The tomb has little to see, so we will visit the site by viewing at a distance instead of taking a close look at. You'll be transferred from the museum to the best view point where you can view the whole area of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. You'll be shocked by the large size of the mausoleum. Your tour guide will tell the story why the Qin Shi Huang choose this site to expect to continue his rule in death as it had in life, and some inference about the structure and distribution of the underground palace.

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, Lunch Break (not included in this pricing).

Stop at our well-selected local restaurant near Terracotta Warriors Army and grab a bite of some enjoyable local Xi'an food, such as: Rou Jia Mo (肉夹馍, we also call it Chinese hamburger), Yang Rou Pao Mo (羊肉泡馍, pita bread soaked in lamb soup), noodles or dumplings. Lunch fee is at your own expense.

Rou Jia Mo (肉夹馍)

Please advise us of any dietary requirements on the tour, such as a vegetarian diet, Muslim food, gluten-free food, etc. so that the tour guide can make preparations in advance.

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm, Return to Your Hotel or Your Onward Transport.

After lunch, return to Xi'an for the next destination, Xi'an Ancient City Wall. A nap might be necessary for you to feel refreshed during a 50-minute driving back.

This is for the half-day, your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel for about one hour. If you want to be dropped somewhere at downtown, just let the tour guide know. If you need to catch a flight or a train after the tour we are more than happy to help you arrange it, too. Please book the airport transfer in advance for your onward flight.