Xi'an Day Tour: Terracotta Army, City Wall & Pagoda

Walk among 8,000 terracotta warriors buried for 2,200 years, then stand on a 600-year-old city wall.

A full-day guided tour of Xi'an covers the Terracotta Army Museum, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and City Wall, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, all entry tickets and a buffet lunch included. The tour departs early to give you three hours at the Terracotta Army before crowds arrive. Groups stay around 12 people, and you return to your hotel by late afternoon. Pickup time is confirmed the day before. Carry the same valid ID you provided at booking, or the sites will deny entry.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Terracotta Warriors Museum3h · entry included
2. Big Wild Goose Pagoda2h · entry included
3. South Gate1h 30m · entry included

Explore Xi’an’s historic highlights

• Meet guide at hotel lobby
• Drive 1 hour to Terracotta Army Museum
• Tour Terracotta Army for 3 hours
• Enjoy buffet lunch with local dishes
• Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Walk on the 600-year-old City Wall
• Drive past Muslim Quarter for street food
• Return to hotel or disembark at Muslim Quarter

The experience

Your guide meets you at your hotel lobby in the morning and drives you an hour to the Terracotta Army Museum in an air-conditioned vehicle. Early entry means you arrive before the crowds and spend three hours exploring all three burial pits: over 8,000 life-sized warriors, horses and chariots spread across the underground complex. Pit 1 holds the main army formation; Pit 2 shows individual warriors ranked by armor and posture; Pit 3 is the command center. Your guide walks you through the site and explains the Qin Empire's reach and power, not just the facts on a placard.

Lunch is an upscale buffet with over 25 dishes: hand-pulled noodles and local specialties prepared in an open kitchen, plus Western options like fried chicken and macaroni, finishing with pastries and fresh fruit. This bypasses the low-quality tourist restaurants and village lunch stops that fill other tours. After eating, you drive back downtown to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a 1,300-year-old UNESCO site built centuries before Columbus sailed. It survived more than ten major earthquakes and stands as a Silk Road landmark where Buddhist scriptures were translated and spread across China.

Next, you walk the South Gate section of the City Wall, the most complete ancient fortification in China and nearly 14 kilometers long. The wall offers a vantage point where you can see how the old city meets the modern one. Bicycle rentals are available at your own cost if you want to ride rather than walk. On the way back, the driver passes through the Muslim Quarter, the city's main street food hub. You can choose to stay and explore on your own (trying cold noodles, pot stickers or jujube rice cakes), and return to your hotel independently, or ride back with the group in the air-conditioned vehicle. Either way, your hotel transfer is included.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• all entrance fees to the Terracotta Army Museum, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and City Wall.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• buffet lunch with over 25 dishes, fresh fruit and a soft drink.
• unlimited bottled water throughout the day.
• free earphones.
• free child seat upon request.

Options for this experience

4 options

Booking of Terracotta Army ticketsGuide in English · 8 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 15:30Entry ticket only, with no guide and no transport. Your ticket is linked to your passport, so please present it at the entrance for admission. Entry hours: 8:30 to 16:30. Pickup is included.

Small group trip to the Terracotta ArmyGuide in English · 07:30Skip the crowds of large groups and enjoy an in-depth museum visit led by an expert local guide. Everything is included: hotel pickup, a guide and driver, entry ticket, a buffet lunch with more than 25 dishes and local snacks, and drop-off at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Duration: 6 hours. Pickup is included.

Day tour of Xi'an in a small group, visiting the Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim BazaarGuide in English · 07:30Covering every highlight in a single day, this mini-group option keeps things flexible and saves money. Everything is included: entry tickets, a guide and driver, hotel pickup and drop-off, and a buffet lunch with more than 25 dishes and local snacks. The route takes in the Terracotta Army, a buffet lunch, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the City Wall, and a pass-by of the Muslim Bazaar. Pickup is included.

One-day private tours of Xi'anGuide in English · 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30The classic route covers the Terracotta Army, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the City Wall, and the Muslim Quarter, and can be fully tailored to your personal interests. Everything is included: entry tickets, a private guide, an exclusive vehicle with driver, and a premium buffet lunch with local flavors. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 15:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 85 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Travel China Guide

Is this one for you?Choose this tour for early-morning access to the Terracotta Army before crowds arrive, or pick the ticket-only option if you'd rather visit on your own schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How early do we get to the Terracotta Army Museum?

The tour departs your hotel in the morning and arrives at the Terracotta Army Museum with early entry, before the main crowds. This gives you a full three hours to explore all three burial pits without the rush of midday visitors.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is an upscale buffet with over 25 gourmet dishes: hand-pulled noodles, local specialties prepared in an open kitchen, Western favorites like fried chicken and macaroni, pastries, fresh fruit and a soft drink. It's designed to skip the low-quality tourist restaurants other tours use.

Can I walk the City Wall, or do I have to rent a bicycle?

Walking the City Wall is included. Bicycle rentals are available at your own expense if you prefer to ride instead. The tour includes time on the wall, and you choose how to spend it.

What happens at the Muslim Quarter?

The driver passes through the Muslim Quarter, the city's vibrant street food area. You can stay and explore on your own (trying local snacks like cold noodles and pot stickers), and return to your hotel independently, or ride back with the group in the vehicle. Both options are available.

What do I need to bring on the tour day?

Bring the same valid ID (passport or national ID) that you provided at booking. The scenic areas require real-name ticket verification and will deny entry if your ID doesn't match your reservation.

How many people are in the group?

The mini group tour includes about 12 people, which keeps the experience more personal than larger coach tours while still sharing the guide and transport costs.