Xi'an City Tour: Private guide, customized itinerary

Build your own route through Xi'an with a private guide and vehicle

A private, half-day tour of Xi'an with hotel pickup and a professional English or Chinese-speaking guide who tailors the route to your interests. You choose between the suggested itinerary (the City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, and Xi'an TV Tower), or design your own. The guide meets you at your hotel in the morning, afternoon or evening and returns you there at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. South Gate1h
2. Big Wild Goose Pagoda1h

Private Xi’an City Tour Highlights

• Meet guide at hotel
• Discuss customized itinerary
• Visit City Wall and landmarks
• Explore Big Wild Goose Pagoda and North Square
• Tour Small Wild Goose Pagoda and museum
• Return to hotel

The experience

The City Wall is the anchor of the suggested route: you'll walk its length and look out over the city buildings below, though the wall closes at 6pm so timing matters if that's your priority. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda sits in the North Square, which holds Asia's largest musical fountain. You'll walk through the Daci'en Temple to reach the ancient pagoda itself, and the guide explains its significance in Buddhist tradition and its architectural style. A smaller Wild Goose Pagoda nearby holds a museum of ancient Chinese artifacts displayed with light and shadow effects.

What makes this tour flexible is the meeting itself: when your guide arrives at your hotel, you discuss what you want to see and either follow the sample itinerary or swap in your own stops. The vehicle is air-conditioned and private to your group, so there's no waiting for other travelers or adjusting to a fixed schedule. Your guide speaks English or Chinese and handles the navigation, so you move through the city without managing transport logistics yourself.

The tour runs five to six hours total. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with the guide and vehicle. Entrance fees to attractions are separate, and you'll want comfortable walking shoes since much of the day involves strolling the wall, the temple grounds and the square.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide speaking English or Chinese.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for your group only.
• customizable itinerary built with your guide at the start of the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (9 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Jeff Ning China Tour

Is this one for you?Five to six hours is enough for the suggested stops or a custom mix of landmarks, leaving the rest of your day free for meals or other activities. If you want to see the City Wall, book a morning or afternoon departure since it closes at 6pm.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3).

Can I customize the itinerary, or do I have to follow the suggested route?

You customize it entirely. When your guide meets you at your hotel, you discuss what you want to see and build the day around your interests, or you can follow the suggested stops: the City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower and Xi'an TV Tower. The guide adapts to what you choose.

What is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and why is it worth visiting?

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is an ancient Buddhist structure inside the Daci'en Temple, famous for its role in Buddhist tradition and its simple but distinctive architectural style. It sits in the North Square, which features Asia's largest musical fountain, and the guide explains the pagoda's history and significance as you walk through the temple grounds.

When does the City Wall close, and can I visit it in the evening?

The City Wall closes at 6pm, so if visiting it is important to you, plan your tour for the morning or early afternoon. You can walk the wall and look out over the city buildings, but you'll need to finish before closing time.

Is hotel pickup included, and what time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You choose the time (morning, afternoon or evening) when you book, and your guide meets you at your hotel at that time and returns you there when the tour ends.

Are entrance fees to the attractions included in the price?

Entrance fees to attractions like the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall are not included. You pay them separately at each site. The tour price covers the guide, the private vehicle, and hotel pickup and drop-off.