Xi'an Terracotta Army & City Highlights: Private Day Tour

Eight thousand terracotta soldiers, then the city on your terms.

A private day tour in Xi'an that starts at the Terracotta Warriors Museum (where you walk through Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 with a professional English-speaking guide), then branches into your choice of one or two attractions from seven popular sites, including the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an City Wall, Huaqing Palace and the Tang Dynasty Show. Hotel pickup at 7:30 a.m. (or your requested time) and return are included. Your guide arranges all tickets beforehand so you pay on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Terracotta Warriors Museum3h
2. Big Wild Goose Pagoda1h
3. South Gate1h
4. Tang Dynasty Show1h 30m
5. Huaqing Palace1h

Terracotta Army and City Highlights

• Pickup from hotel at 7:30 a.m.
• Drive one hour to Terracotta Warriors Museum
• Visit Pit 1, Pit 2, Pit 3 and exhibition museum
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit 1 or 2 chosen attractions from city highlights
• Drive back to hotel

The experience

The morning starts with pickup from your hotel lobby, then a one-hour drive to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Your guide walks you through all three excavation pits and the exhibition museum (no factory stops, no forced detours) sharing the history and scale of what Emperor Qin built as his underground army. After lunch at a local restaurant (your choice of venue), the afternoon is yours to shape. You pick one or two attractions from a list of seven: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 1,370-year-old Buddhist landmark inside Daci'en Temple; the Xi'an City Wall, 13.7 kilometers of preserved Ming Dynasty fortification where you can walk or cycle and see the moat and arrow towers; Huaqing Palace, an imperial garden at the foot of Lishan Mountain with hot spring pools and pavilions; the Muslim Quarter, a thousand-year-old neighborhood filled with street food and Hui culture; or one of two evening performances. The Tang Dynasty Show (7:30–8:30 p.m., with optional dumpling dinner beforehand) or the Legend of Camel Bells Show, a revolving-theater production about the ancient Silk Road.

Your guide handles the logistics. Before you arrive, they arrange tickets for whichever sites you choose and book show seats at travel-agency rates. You simply pay the admission fees when you meet them. If you pick an evening performance, they arrange your return transfer to the hotel afterward. The van is comfortable, the driver experienced, and bottled water is provided throughout the day. The whole tour runs seven to ten hours depending on which attractions you select and how long you spend at each one.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide and experienced private driver with comfortable business van.
• hotel pickup at 7:30 a.m. (or your requested time) and return transport.
• full access to all three pits and the exhibition museum at the Terracotta Warriors Museum.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• guide arranges all ticket bookings for your chosen afternoon attractions and any evening performances, so you pay admissions on arrival.

Before you book

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

Book up to1d before

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 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Stefanie's XiAn Private Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the Terracotta Army as your anchor and the freedom to shape the rest of the day around it. A private guide and driver mean you move at your own pace and skip the crowds. Choosing from seven attractions lets you build an afternoon that matches your interests, whether that's temples, city walls, imperial gardens or an evening show. Solo travelers, couples and small families all fit comfortably in one van.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

44 verified traveler reviews

5 ★44

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly will I see at the Terracotta Warriors Museum?

The Terracotta Warriors Museum holds three excavation pits containing thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, archers and horses built for Emperor Qin's tomb. Your guide takes you through Pit 1 (the largest, with the main army formation), Pit 2 (chariots and cavalry) and Pit 3 (command center), then the exhibition museum displaying individual warriors, weapons and artifacts. The whole museum visit is part of the tour.

How do I choose which afternoon attractions to visit?

You pick one or two from seven options before or when you book: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an City Wall, Huaqing Palace, the Muslim Quarter, the Tang Dynasty Show, the Legend of Camel Bells Show, or the Great Mosque. Your guide can suggest combinations that fit the time and your interests, and they arrange all tickets and transport to whichever sites you select.

Do I need to book tickets in advance, or do I pay on the day?

Your guide books all tickets beforehand using your full name and passport number (you send these when you confirm the tour). You pay the admission fees on the day when you meet your guide. There are no advance payments, and the guide handles all the arrangements so you just show up and enter.

What time does the tour start, and when will I be back at my hotel?

Pickup is at 7:30 a.m. from your hotel lobby, or at any time you request. The full tour runs seven to ten hours depending on which attractions you choose, so return time varies. If you pick an evening show, your guide arranges transport back to the hotel after it ends.

Is lunch included, and can I choose where to eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but your guide takes you to a carefully selected local restaurant where you can order and pay for your own meal. The guide chooses venues that serve authentic Xi'an food, not tourist traps, so you eat where locals do.

Can I add the Tang Dynasty Show or another evening performance to my tour?

Yes. Both the Tang Dynasty Show (7:30–8:30 p.m. nightly) and the Legend of Camel Bells Show are optional add-ons you can choose at checkout. If you pick one, your guide books the tickets at travel-agency rates and arranges your transport to and from the venue. You pay the show ticket fee on the day.