Xi'an City Wall & Big Wild Goose Pagoda: 4-hour tour

The City Wall lets you see modern Xi'an outside and old Xi'an inside from the same vantage point.

A 4-hour guided tour of Xi'an covers the ancient City Wall, the most complete in China, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at Da Ci'en Temple, where Buddhist relics once rested. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets and bottled water. You choose either an 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. start time when you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. South Gate2h · entry included
2. Big Wild Goose Pagoda2h · entry included

Visit City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda

• Pick up from Xi’an hotel
• Visit ancient City Wall
• Walk or bike on City Wall
• Transfer to Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Explore Da Ci'en Temple complex
• Watch musical fountain show (optional)
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour opens at the South Gate of Xi'an's City Wall, where you walk the restored ramparts that have survived since ancient times. The wall itself is the vantage: standing on it, you see the modern city spreading beyond the perimeter and the older neighborhoods contained within. If you want to cover more ground, a bicycle ride on the wall is available at your own cost. The surface is uneven, so it's not a casual pedal.

After the wall, your guide transfers you to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 7-story structure built inside the Da Ci'en Temple complex. The pagoda originally held Buddhist scriptures and relics brought back from India by the monk Xuanzang. The north square often hosts a musical fountain show, though it is not guaranteed. The temple grounds have shops, restaurants and quiet spaces to rest, so you can spend as much or as little time there as the schedule allows before your driver takes you back to your hotel.

What’s included

• The tour includes private transportation with a professional driver.
• an English-speaking guide.
• entrance tickets to the City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
• bottled water.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• and fuel surcharge and tax.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 13:30

AgesUp to age 90

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by TravofChina

Is this one for you?Choose the 8:30 a.m. departure if you want to see the City Wall and pagoda before the midday crowds, or pick 1:30 p.m. if your morning is already booked. The 4-hour window fits a half-day itinerary, so it works whether you have just arrived in Xi'an or are leaving later the same day.

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Top questions

What is the Xi'an City Wall and why is it worth visiting?

The City Wall is the most complete ancient city wall still standing in China. Walking on it gives you a view of both modern Xi'an outside the wall and the older districts inside, so you see how the city has grown beyond its original boundaries. The wall itself is the attraction. You are standing on centuries of history while watching the city change around you.

Can I ride a bicycle on the City Wall during the tour?

Yes, a bicycle ride on the wall is optional and available at your own expense. The surface is bumpy, so it is not a smooth ride, but it covers more of the wall than walking alone would.

What is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and what will I see there?

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a 7-story structure inside the Da Ci'en Temple complex that once held Buddhist relics and scriptures brought from India. The north square of the temple often features a musical fountain show. The temple grounds also have shops, restaurants and gardens where you can spend time between the main sights.

What time does the tour start and can I choose?

You pick either 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. when you book. Your hotel pickup happens at your chosen time, and the tour lasts 4 hours total before you are dropped back at your hotel.

Is hotel pickup included and what else comes with the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to both sites, bottled water, and all transportation between stops. Your guide is a licensed professional who knows how to fit the main sights into the half-day window.