Terracotta Army & Huaqing Palace tour from Xian: Private guide

Two thousand years of emperors and armies in a single morning excavation

A private day tour from Xian visits the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace with a professional guide, hotel pickup and round-trip transfer. Start at 7:30 a.m. to reach the museum before crowds, then walk through Pit 1 and Pit 2 to see thousands of terracotta soldiers ranked by their roles in battle. In the afternoon, explore the Tang Dynasty palace where Emperor Longji and his concubine Lady Yang bathed in hot springs and planted trees together.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Terracotta Warriors Museum3h
2. Huaqing Palace1h

Visit Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace

• Start trip at 7:30 a.m.
• Arrive at Terracotta Army Museum
• Explore Pit 1 and Pit 2
• Learn about Qin Dynasty history
• Travel to Huaqing Palace
• Visit Tang era pavilions and gardens
• Hear Lady Yang love story
• Return to city and rest

The experience

The day starts early (7:30 a.m. pickup from your Xian hotel), so you arrive at the Terracotta Warriors Museum about an hour later when the site is still quiet. The museum sits directly on the original excavation, protecting what archaeologists found in the 1970s. You'll spend the morning in Pit 1 and Pit 2, where terracotta figures stand in formation according to their roles: soldiers, archers, chariots. The site holds roughly 8,000 soldiers in total, though many remain unexcavated. Your guide, a professional art historian, walks you through the Qin Dynasty history and the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unify China.

After the museum, you head to Huaqing Palace, the two sites sitting adjacent to each other on Xian's east side. The palace was built as a retreat for Emperor Longji of the Tang Dynasty, famous for its natural hot springs. You'll see the ancient bathtubs where his concubine Lady Yang bathed, and the trees they planted together, still standing. The palace grounds hold pavilions, lotus pools and gardens that frame the love story that made this place legendary among later generations.

Your driver and guide handle all transport. You return to your hotel in the late afternoon. Bring comfortable shoes for walking the museum pits and palace grounds. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• round-trip private transfer from your Xian hotel.
• professional art historian guide speaking English.
• experienced driver.
• fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (6 to 90 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 36

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessible

Operated by Stefanie's XiAn Private Tour

Is this one for you?The 7:30 a.m. start means you reach the Terracotta Army before the crowds arrive, giving you space to move through the pits and absorb the scale of the excavation. A private guide lets you set your own pace at each site and ask questions as they arise, rather than moving with a larger group on a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

How many terracotta soldiers can I actually see at the museum?

The Terracotta Warriors Museum displays figures from Pit 1 and Pit 2, which contain the majority of the 8,000 soldiers discovered on site. Many remain unexcavated, so you see a significant portion but not the complete army.

What is Huaqing Palace known for besides the love story?

Huaqing Palace is famous for its natural hot springs, which drew Emperor Longji there as a retreat from court life. The palace grounds feature Tang Dynasty pavilions, lotus pools and gardens built around the thermal waters.

Will I have time for lunch during the day?

Lunch is not included in this tour, so you'll need to arrange a meal break. Your guide can recommend options near the sites or in the area between the two locations.

What time does the tour end and I return to my hotel?

The tour runs for about eight hours total. After exploring Huaqing Palace in the afternoon, you're transferred back to your Xian hotel, typically arriving in the late afternoon.

Do I need to buy entrance tickets separately?

Yes, entrance fees for both the Terracotta Warriors Museum and Huaqing Palace are not included and must be purchased on the day. Your guide will help you with the process at each site.