Xi'an Terracotta Army tour: 1-day coach with museum entry

Eight thousand clay soldiers, a thousand-year-old pagoda, and your choice of what comes next

A full-day coach tour from Xi'an hotels to the Terracotta Warriors Museum with a live English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle and hotel pickup. You spend two hours in the museum pits with your guide, then select one of four route options: City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty Show, Muslim Quarter, or Huaqing Palace hot spring resort. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours depending on which stops you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

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

Explore Xi'an main attractions

• Meet tour representative at hotel lobby
• Travel to Terracotta Army Museum
• Visit Terracotta Army pits with guide
• Visit Huaqing Palace and hot spring
• Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Walk or bike on City Wall
• Stop at Bazaar for optional exploration
• Watch Tang Dynasty Show

The experience

Your driver meets you at the hotel lobby at 8:00 a.m. with a welcome sign, and you leave for the Terracotta Warriors Museum by 9:00 a.m. From 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., your guide walks you through each pit, explaining the formation of the First Emperor's mausoleum and the stories behind the clay army. The museum is the centerpiece of the day. Everything else branches from there.

After the museum, the route splits. Tour A adds the 13.47-kilometer City Wall (you can walk or bike the top), and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist temple popular with locals. Tour B swaps the wall for the Tang Dynasty Show, a performance of music and dance from over 1,300 years ago. Tour C combines the wall with the Muslim Quarter, the most thriving bazaar area in the city, where you can explore at your own pace and eat dinner before returning to your hotel. Tour D replaces the wall and pagoda with Huaqing Palace, an imperial resort from the Tang Dynasty with hot springs inside. The guide gives directions for returning to your hotel from the bazaar. Other stops have set return times timed to your pickup.

Comfortable walking shoes matter. You'll be on your feet in the museum and at whichever sites you choose. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the guide speaks English throughout. Infants can ride in a stroller, and the tour operates in all weather, so dress for the season.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional tour guide speaking English.
• Terracotta Warriors Museum entrance ticket.
• hotel pickup and return transport. Depending on which tour option you select, you also receive City Wall entrance ticket and Big Wild Goose Pagoda ticket (Tour A), Tang Dynasty Show ticket (Tour B), Muslim Quarter access (Tours C and E), or Huaqing Palace entrance ticket (Tour D).

Options for this experience

5 options

Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter (option E)Guide in English · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Terracotta Warriors and Horses plus Muslim Quarter, with admission to all attractions included.

Terracotta, Wall and Muslim Quarter (option C)Guide in English · 08:30 and 09:00Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall and Muslim Quarter, with admission to all attractions included.

Terracotta Army and City Highlights (option A)Guide in English · 08:30 and 09:00Terracotta Army, Dayan Pagoda and Xi'an City Wall, with admission to all attractions included.

See 2 more options

Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace (option D)Guide in English · 08:30 and 09:00Huaqing Palace together with the Terracotta Army, with admission to all attractions included.

B-Terracotta+Tang Dynasty showGuide in English · 08:30 and 09:00The Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors, Horses and the Tang Dynasty show, with admission to all attractions included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by xiantours365

Is this one for you?Choose Tour A or Tour C if you want to walk or bike the ancient City Wall and see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in one morning. Pick Tour B if the Tang Dynasty Show is on your list. Tour C and Tour E suit travelers who want to explore the Muslim Quarter bazaar at their own pace and eat dinner there. Tour D works best if you'd rather relax at the hot springs of Huaqing Palace instead of the wall and pagoda.

Traveler reviews

4.71★★★★★★★★★★

59 verified traveler reviews

5 ★48

4 ★6

3 ★4

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

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

What exactly will I see inside the Terracotta Warriors Museum?

The museum displays the clay army of the First Emperor arranged in pits. Your guide escorts you through each pit and explains the formation of his mausoleum, the stories of the Qin Dynasty, and how the ancients built this underground army. You spend about two hours there.

Can I walk the City Wall, or do I have to ride a bike?

The City Wall is 13.47 kilometers long and the best preserved in the world. You can walk on top of it or rent a bike to ride along it. The choice is yours. This stop is included in Tour A and Tour C.

What is the Muslim Quarter, and can I eat there?

The Muslim Quarter is the most thriving bazaar area of Xi'an, within walking distance of the Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square. It offers excellent dinner choices, and on Tour C and Tour E you explore it at your own pace before returning to your hotel on your own. Your guide provides directions for the return trip.

Is the Tang Dynasty Show included, or do I pay extra?

The Tang Dynasty Show is included only in Tour B. It is a performance of traditional music and dance from over 1,300 years ago and is listed as the second highlight in Xi'an. Other tours do not include it.

What is Huaqing Palace?

Huaqing Palace is an imperial resort palace from the Tang Dynasty, about 1,300 years old, with hot springs inside. It is included in Tour D and is the alternative to the City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda on other routes.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 6 to 8 hours depending on which route option you choose. Your driver picks you up at 8:00 a.m., and the museum visit alone takes about two hours. The remaining time covers your chosen stops and return to the hotel.