2-Day Xi'an Private Tour: Terracotta Warriors & City Wall
Xi'an in two days: from underground warriors to pagodas and street food
A 2-day private tour of Xi'an with a professional English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, covering the Terracotta Warriors Museum, City Wall, Emperor Jingdi's Tomb, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, and Muslim Quarter. Day one focuses on the warriors and the ancient wall. Day two moves through Han Dynasty burial goods and Tang Dynasty temples before ending with local snacks.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall Tour
- Hotel pick up at 9:00 a.m
- Visit Terracotta Warriors Museum
- Visit Traditional Cave Dwelling
- Rest during transfer to city
- Cycle or walk on City Wall
- Hotel drop off around 17:00
Day 2: Museums and City Highlights Tour
- Hotel pick up at 9:00 a.m
- Visit Hanyangling Museum (Jingdi’s Tomb)
- Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit Bell and Drum Tower Square
- Stroll in Muslim Quarter
- Return to hotel at 17:00
What’s included
- Professional English-speaking guide.
- private transfer from and to your centrally-located hotel.
- lunch in a local restaurant (depending on the option you select at checkout).
Times
- Every day 09:00
Options for this experience
2 optionsInformation
Prices and times updated 13 days ago
Operated by Lily's Private Tours
The experience
The Terracotta Warriors Museum anchors the first morning. Your guide walks you through the figures, horses and weapons discovered in the Qin-era burial site, each one with different facial expressions despite their number. You'll see how soldiers were equipped and what they looked like 2,000 years ago. After that, you visit a traditional cave dwelling where a local family still lives, learning why people chose to inhabit them (cool in summer, warm in winter), before heading back to the city.
The afternoon of day one takes you to the City Wall. You can walk, cycle, or ride a golf cart along the 13.7-kilometer circumference. The wall itself is about 12 meters high and among the best preserved in China. The second day starts at Hanyangling Museum, also called Jingdi's Tomb, an underground burial site for Emperor Jingdi and Empress Wangzhi from 2,100 years ago. You'll see pottery figurines, measurement stones and inscribed stelas from the Han Dynasty. After lunch at a local restaurant, you climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in the Tang Dynasty to house Buddhist sutras brought back from India, then visit the Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square, the symbols of Xi'an, before finishing in the Muslim Quarter, where you can wander the food stalls and restaurants that locals use for snacks and entertainment.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and your guide speaks English. Lunch is available depending on which option you choose at checkout. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and the itinerary involves moderate physical activity across both days.
Is this one for you?Book this two-day private tour if you want a guide who sets the pace around your interests: cycling the City Wall, exploring the Muslim Quarter's food scene, and visiting both famous sites like Terracotta Warriors and lesser-known spots like Jingdi's Tomb.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4).
What exactly is inside the Terracotta Warriors Museum?
The Terracotta Warriors Museum holds thousands of life-sized clay figures of soldiers, horses and weapons buried with China's first emperor around 2,000 years ago. Each figure has distinct facial features and different poses, showing how Qin soldiers were equipped and arranged for battle.
Can I cycle on the City Wall, or do I have to walk?
The City Wall offers three options: you can walk the entire 13.7-kilometer circumference, rent a bike to cycle it, or take a golf cart if you prefer not to walk the full distance.
What is Jingdi's Tomb and why is it underground?
Jingdi's Tomb, also called Hanyangling Museum, is a 2,100-year-old Han Dynasty burial site for Emperor Jingdi and his wife. It is China's only underground museum, located about 30 kilometers north of Xi'an, and contains pottery figurines, stone measurement tools and inscribed stelas from the imperial funeral goods.
What happens in the Muslim Quarter?
The Muslim Quarter is a neighborhood filled with restaurants, food stalls and shops selling local snacks. Though it draws tourists, locals also come here for entertainment and to eat. It reflects everyday Xi'an life and requires your own exploration to find the best spots.
How much time do I spend at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda?
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda visit runs from early afternoon into late afternoon, roughly two hours. The pagoda sits inside a large park-like temple complex where locals relax, and at night there are fountain shows and small food stalls.
2-Day Xi'an Private Tour: Terracotta Warriors & City Wall
2d · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 250.20 per person