Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Private Tour: Skip-the-Line Access
Walk among 7,000 terracotta soldiers in their original battle formation, then explore Xi'an's landmarks at your own pace.
A private day tour of Xi'an centered on the Terracotta Warriors Museum, with skip-line entry guaranteed and a private English or Chinese-speaking guide who focuses only on your group. You pick two additional Xi'an sites (the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Palace, the city wall at South Gate, or evening cultural shows) based on your interests and hotel location. Hotel pickup and private transfer between all stops are included. Entrance fees are separate and booked through the tour operator at agent rates.
Step-by-step itinerary
- Terracotta Warriors Museum 2h
- South Gate 1h
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda 1h
- Tang Dynasty Show 1h
- Huaqing Palace 1h
Visit Terracotta Warriors and Xi'an highlights
- Meet guide at hotel lobby 8am
- Visit Terracotta Warriors Museum
- Explore Xi'an city wall
- Visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Tour Muslim Quarter
What’s included
- Private English or Chinese-speaking guide for the full day.
- private transfer from your hotel to all stops and back.
- skip-line entry to the Terracotta Warriors Museum.
- admission tickets booked at agent rates (entrance fees charged separately based on sites chosen).
- optional evening cultural shows (the Tang Dynasty Show or Silk Road Musical) bookable through your guide at agent prices with round-trip hotel transfer included.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Information
Prices and times updated 11 days ago
Operated by wendys xian tours
The experience
Your guide meets you at the hotel lobby at 8am and drives you directly to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, bypassing the queues that form at the gate. The museum holds three original pits: Pit 1 displays the main force of 7,000 life-size warriors arranged in real battle formation, buried over 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty; Pit 2 shows the flexible troupe; Pit 3 houses the command center. An exhibition hall rotates displays of artifacts. The flat walking inside the museum takes about 2.5 hours, and your guide explains the history and details as you move through each section.
After the warriors, you choose two more stops depending on what interests you. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda stands in the Da Ci'en Temple and dates back more than 1,300 years. It was where the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures and marks the beginning of Buddhism's spread across China. Xi'an's city wall at South Gate is the only intact defensive wall remaining in China, stretching 13.74 kilometers in a perfect rectangle. You can ascend it to see the moat, arrow towers, watchtowers and drainage system. Huaqing Palace served as the imperial winter residence for over 3,000 years because of its natural hot springs. Five Tang Dynasty bathing pools are still preserved, and you can see the architecture, bonsai gardens and bullet holes from the 1936 Double-Twelve Incident. The Muslim Quarter shows the legacy of traders who arrived along the Silk Road in the Tang Dynasty and settled in Xi'an. The area holds foreign spices, Muslim restaurants and souvenirs.
Evening cultural shows are optional add-ons your guide can book at agent rates. The Tang Dynasty Show (7:30pm to 8:30pm) recreates scenes from Tang tomb murals with live musicians playing ancient instruments, classical dance and colorful costumes. The Silk Road Musical uses 360-degree spinning seats, a seven-scene stage, 20 camels, wolf dogs and a two-meter waterfall to tell the story of the desert Silk Road and its impact on ancient China. Both shows include round-trip hotel transfer if you book them through your guide on the tour day.
Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you prefer a dedicated guide showing you the Terracotta Warriors alongside two other Xi'an sites in one day. Choose the evening cultural show add-on if you want live Tang Dynasty performance and instruments to complement what you see at the museums.
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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 (under 12).
What exactly will I see inside the Terracotta Warriors Museum?
The Terracotta Warriors Museum displays three original pits from the Qin Dynasty. Pit 1 holds the main force of 7,000 life-size warriors arranged in their original battle formation; Pit 2 shows the flexible troupe; Pit 3 is the command center. An exhibition hall features rotating displays of artifacts. Your guide walks you through each section and explains the history and significance of what you're seeing.
How does the skip-line entry work?
Skip-line entry is guaranteed once you book the tour: the operator secures admission tickets at agent rates and arranges skip-line service, so you don't need to book entrance tickets online or wait in queues at the gate. You simply arrive with your guide and enter directly.
Can I choose which two other Xi'an sites to visit?
Yes. Beyond the Terracotta Warriors Museum, you pick two additional stops from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Palace, the city wall at South Gate, or the Muslim Quarter, depending on your interests, hotel location and budget. Your guide will help you decide based on what matters most to you.
What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?
The tour includes the private guide (English or Chinese), private transfers between all stops, and skip-line access to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Entrance fees for the sites you choose cost USD 24 to USD 43 per person depending on which attractions you select. Your guide books these at agent rates. Lunch is not included. Tips are optional (suggested USD 10 per person or USD 30 per group for the guide, half that for the driver).
How long does the whole tour take?
The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total. The Terracotta Warriors Museum alone takes about 2.5 hours of flat walking. The remaining time covers travel between sites, your second and third stops, and any cultural show if you add one in the evening.
Is the museum accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?
Yes. The Terracotta Warriors Museum is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces are accessible. The tour operates in all weather and suits all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the museum's flat paths.
Xi'an Terracotta Warriors Private Tour: Skip-the-Line Access
7h–8h · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 109 per person