4-Day Xian Private Tour: Terracotta Warriors & City Wall

Walk through thousands of terracotta soldiers, then climb the Ming Dynasty city wall that still rings the ancient capital.

A 4-day private tour of Xian with an English-speaking guide covers the Terracotta Warriors Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an Museum, the ancient City Wall, and Hanyangling Mausoleum. You visit the world-famous terracotta pits, explore two pagodas and their museums, walk or bike the preserved city wall, taste local street food in the Muslim Quarter, and watch a Tang Dynasty cultural performance. Hotel pickup and daily mineral water are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and free time

• Meet driver at airport
• Transfer to hotel
• Rest day free

Day 2: Terracotta Warriors and city exploration

• Meet guide at hotel
• Visit Terracotta Warriors Museum
• Lunch break
• Visit Xian Ancient City Wall
• Walk along Muslim Street

Day 3: Museums and pagodas tour

• Meet guide at hotel
• Visit Xi'an Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda
• Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Visit Grand Tang All Day Hall
• Return to hotel

Day 4: Mausoleum visit and departure

• Meet guide at hotel
• Visit Hanyangling Mausoleum
• Transfer to airport

The experience

The Terracotta Warriors Museum anchors day two. You meet your guide at 8:30 in the hotel lobby and transfer to the site, where three underground pits hold thousands of life-sized clay soldiers arranged as they were buried over 2,000 years ago. The museum also displays bronze chariots and horses. After lunch, you walk the ancient City Wall (the most completely preserved in China, built during the Ming Dynasty about 650 years ago), and can optionally ride a bike along its length. The day ends on Muslim Street, where you taste local snacks like kebabs, steamed buns, spicy lamb trotters, and cold rice noodles, guided by your local expert on what to try.

Day three focuses on the pagodas and museums. The Xi'an Museum holds tri-colored glazed pottery from the Tang Dynasty, Buddhist statues, ancient paintings, calligraphy, and jade. Inside the same complex stands the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, quieter than its larger counterpart. You then visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in the Tang Dynasty to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India. The afternoon includes Grand Tang All Day Hall, a recreation of Tang Dynasty architecture and design that shows the era's aesthetic. You return to your hotel by evening.

Day one is your arrival: the driver meets you at the airport with a welcome board and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. On day four, you meet your guide in the lobby for the final transfer to the airport. On the way, you stop at Hanyangling Mausoleum, the burial site of Emperor Liu Qi from the Han Dynasty. The operator suggests booking a flight departing after 14:00 to allow time for this visit. An English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout; an air-conditioned car handles all transfers mentioned in the itinerary; one bottle of mineral water is provided each day.

What’s included

• Daily mineral water.
• all transfers as outlined in the itinerary.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• air-conditioned car for transportation.

Options for this experience

2 options

Four-day tour, hotel not includedGuide in English · 09:00Includes pickup

Four-day tour that comes with a hotelGuide in English · 09:00Four-star accommodation: Mercure Hotel (Xi'an Bell Tower) or a hotel of similar standard, with two guests sharing one room and daily breakfast served at the hotel; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (7 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by China Travel Service

Is this one for you?Choose the 4-day length if you want to see both the Terracotta Warriors and the major pagodas, museums, and City Wall without rushing: a 2-day tour covers only the warriors and wall. The private format means your guide adjusts the pace to your interests and your hotel pickup starts each day from your accommodation within the 2nd ring road of Xian city.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is inside the Terracotta Warriors Museum?

The Terracotta Warriors Museum contains three underground pits filled with thousands of life-sized clay soldiers arranged in military formation, plus an exhibition hall displaying bronze chariots and horses from the same era.

Can I ride a bike on the ancient City Wall, or is it just walking?

The City Wall allows both walking and optional bike riding along its length, so you choose how to explore it.

What kind of food will I eat in the Muslim Quarter?

Muslim Street offers local Xi'an snacks including kebabs, steamed buns, spicy lamb trotters, Mutton and Bread Pieces in Soup, lamb in basin, and cold rice noodles. Your guide can recommend what to try.

How does the Small Wild Goose Pagoda differ from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda?

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is smaller and located in a much quieter area within the Xi'an Museum complex, while the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in the Tang Dynasty to house Buddhist scriptures, sits in a busier setting.

What happens on my arrival day?

Your driver meets you at the airport with a welcome board and transfers you to your hotel in the downtown area. The rest of day one is free for you to rest or explore on your own.

Is Hanyangling Mausoleum included on the way to the airport?

Yes, on your departure day you visit Hanyangling Mausoleum, the burial site of Emperor Liu Qi from the Han Dynasty, before transferring to the airport.