Overview

One-day Xi'an Terracotta Warriors and city discovery tour with private guide.

About This Tour

Uncover the amazing history and vivid stories behind the terracotta figures that were buried for over 2,000 years. Step onto the top of Xi'an Ancient City Wall - walk or cycle along it, feeling and touching the invisible soul of this ancient city. Act like a Xi'an local, tasting and experiencing the original local food and culture that you may never encounter as a typical tourist.

There are no fake luxuries and pomposity but true life and experiences. There are no boring, textbook-style history lessons but vivid stories that come to life. There is no tourist shopping, no time-wasting, and no queuing but a smartly-arranged itinerary. There is no spurious boasting and so-called "promises" but real enthusiasm and a detailed plan that we call our "services".

Itinerary

pickup

7:30am – 8amCollection from Your Hotel Your guide will be waiting for you in your hotel lobby at the appointed time holding a sign with the Trippest (a child brand of China Highlights) logo and your name on it. If, for any reason, you miss your tour guide, please ask the staff at the hotel's front desk to help you make a telephone call to your tour guide or to contact China Highlights' Xi'an office using the 24/7 emergency hotline at +86-13917643020(24 hours). We will help you solve the problem.

8am – 9amDrive to the Terracotta Warrior Museum The distance from downtown Xi'an to the Terracotta Warrior Museum is about 45 kilometers. Normally, it takes about 50 minutes to drive there.You will acquire rich background information about the city from your well-educated, expert guide. Being prepared with a little knowledge about the Terracotta Army beforehand is highly recommended for a perfect trip if you don't just want to see lots of similar-looking stone statues.

9am – 12pmVisit the Terracotta Warriors and the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang Your exploration of the Terracotta Army site begins. Please follow your guide to discover the amazing terracotta warriors that were buried for more than 2,000 years and to hear interesting stories about China's first emperor - Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BC).Next, around 8-minute driving, you'll be transferred from the museum to the best ViewPoint where you can view the whole area of the Maosoleunm of Qin Shi Huang. Considered that the tomb of Qin Shi Huang has little to see, we will visit the site by viewing at a distance instead of taking a close look at.

12pm – 1:30pmHave Lunch at a Local Restaurant (Not Included) We have selected a local restaurant near the Terracotta Warriors Museum. There, you can experience the most authentic Xi'an local food. Lunch fee is on your own expense. You'll have the chance to taste the local people's favorite food, such as Rou Jia Mo (肉夹馍, we also call it a Chinese hamburger), Yang Rou Pao Mo (羊肉泡馍, pita bread soaked in lamb soup; your guide will show you how to break the bread into small pieces), noodles, and dumplings. Please let us know your food preferences, such as a vegetarian diet, Muslim food, gluten-free food, etc. so that we can make preparations in advance.

1:30pm – 2:30pmDrive Back to Xi'an Ancient City Wall (East Gate) After lunch, you'll be driven back to Xi'an for the next destination, Xi'an Ancient City Wall. It will take about 50 minutes for the journey. A nap might be necessary for you to feel refreshed.

2:30pm – 5pmWalking, Biking, or Taking an Eco-Car to Visit Xi'an Ancient City Wall. Xi'an Ancient City Wall was first built in the Ming Dynasty (1370–1378 AD) and is the largest and the best-maintained ancient city wall in China. It is shaped like a rectangle with a total length of 13.74 kilometers. The downtown part of Xi'an City is centered within this ancient city wall. There are four major gates (the north gate, the east gate, the south gate, and the west gate) of this city wall. Your visit will start from East Gate (Chang Le Gate).

5pm – 6pmVisit Xi'an's Most Famous Food Street - Muslim Street After visiting the city wall, you will head to Xi'an's most famous food street, Muslim Street, where you'll see lots of featured foods and snacks. You can try some if you'd like to.

6pm – 6:30pmDrive Back to Your Hotel or Stay in Muslim Street and Explore the City by Yourself Please make sure to reserve at least 3 hours if you want to catch an onward flight or 2 hours if you want to catch an onward train. Please book the transfer with us in advance and tell us your flight (or train) number and departure time. Tip notes: Tip your guide and driver is not a compulsory requirement but would be a great affirmation of their services. Therefore, we suggest you to give your guide and driver 60 – 100 yuan per person as this would be a great encouragement for them.

Meeting & Pickup

Xi'An

📍 Xi'An, Shaanxi, CN

What's Included

✓ Included

Admission to Xi'an City Wall and Terra Cotta Warrior Museum.
Bike or e-bike rental on the City Wall.
Air-conditioned vehicle
Private English-speaking local guide.

✕ Not included

Lunch
Gratuities
Airport transfer

Know Before You Go

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
Infants must not sit on laps
Infant seats unavailable
Not recommended for people with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for people with heart conditions

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.

Traveler Reviews

5★★★★★Based on 95 reviews

Nina N.🇮🇳 India★★★★★2025-01

Looking back, a small thing I appreciated: the guide let the Terracotta Warriors speak for itself sometimes. Not every quiet moment needed another speech.

Lucas U.🇳🇱 Netherlands★★★★★2026-06

The unglamorous part: the practical side was solid: an easy pickup, sensible timing between stops, and no long sales detour disguised as sightseeing. With 11 hours to work with, the balance felt sensible.

Lucía H.🇯🇵 Japan★★★★★2025-07

One thing I learned: traffic added time to the day, so comfortable shoes and a little patience helped. The visit itself did not feel shortened. My only advice is not to shorten the time at the Terracotta Warriors.

Joanna M.🇧🇷 Brazil★★★★★2025-08

We booked because arranging Xi'an ourselves looked fiddly. We came away remembering the conversations as much as the places. For this itinerary, the number of stops was enough.

Greta B.🇵🇹 Portugal★★★★★2025-05

No grand claims from me: this was organised well, felt personal and showed us Xi'an at a sensible pace.

One-Day Xi’an Terracotta Warriors and City Discovery Tour