Terracotta Warriors & Xi'an Tour: Private Guide, Flexible Itinerary

8,000 terracotta soldiers in real battle formation, then the city on your terms

This private tour of Xi'an pairs a morning visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum—where you'll walk among three original pits holding life-sized soldiers, bronze chariots and weapons from the Qin Dynasty—with an afternoon you design yourself. Your own English-speaking guide and driver travel with you for the full day, and you pick from sites like the Ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter or a traditional Chinese show. Pickup is included; lunch is your choice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Terracotta Warriors and Xi'an sites

• Visit Terracotta Warriors Museum
• Choose two afternoon attractions
• Visit Muslim Quarter and explore food
• Return to hotel

The Experience

The Terracotta Warriors Museum opens the morning. You'll spend roughly two and a half hours walking flat ground through three excavated pits—Pit 1 as the main force, Pit 2 as the elite troupe, Pit 3 as headquarters—where 8,000 life-size terracotta soldiers stand in their original battle formation, buried for over 2,200 years. The museum also holds bronze chariots, terracotta acrobats and bronze weapons from the first dynasty. This is the core of the day and the reason most travelers book it.

After the warriors, the afternoon is yours to shape. Your guide presents options: the Xian Ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter (where 60,000 residents live across ten mosques and hundreds of food stalls), the Great Mosque, Banpo Neolithic Village, or one of several traditional Chinese shows—Legend of Camel Bell, The Empress of Grand Tang, or Romantic Show of Xi'an. You tell your guide which appeal to you before the day starts, and the itinerary builds around what fits the hours remaining. Some combinations won't work in a single afternoon; your guide will be clear about that upfront.

Your own driver handles transport in a comfortable business van or car, and your guide speaks English (Spanish, French, Italian or German available for an additional fee). The Terracotta Warriors entry fee is included; everything else—lunch, show tickets, additional site entries, tips—you arrange or add at checkout. The full day runs seven to eight hours.

What’s included

• Private driver in a comfortable business van or car.
• professional English-speaking guide (Spanish, French, Italian or German available for an additional fee).
• entry to the Terracotta Warriors Museum.
• hotel or meeting point pickup.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Noble Xi’an Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the Terracotta Warriors without assembling the day yourself—your guide and driver handle the logistics and transport, so you move from the museum to your afternoon choice without planning the route or managing multiple bookings. The flexibility to choose your afternoon stops means you're not locked into a preset itinerary that might not match what you actually want to see.

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Top questions

How many terracotta warriors will I actually see at the museum?

The Terracotta Warriors Museum displays 8,000 life-size soldiers arranged in their original battle formation across three excavated pits. Pit 1 holds the main force, Pit 2 the elite troupe, and Pit 3 the headquarters. The museum also exhibits bronze chariots, terracotta acrobats and bronze weapons from the Qin Dynasty.

Can I really choose what to do in the afternoon, or is it a set itinerary?

You choose. Before the tour starts, you tell your guide which afternoon sites or shows interest you—the Ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter, Banpo Neolithic Village, or a traditional Chinese performance. Your guide will confirm what fits into the remaining hours, since some combinations won't work in a single afternoon.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes your private driver and English-speaking guide, transport in a comfortable van or car, and entry to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Lunch, entry fees for any afternoon sites you choose, show tickets, and tips are separate. Tips are suggested at USD 15 per person for the guide and USD 7.50 for the driver.

Is the Muslim Quarter worth visiting if I'm short on time?

The Muslim Quarter is described as the best spot to explore Xi'an, with 60,000 residents, ten mosques and hundreds of food stalls across the neighborhood. Whether it fits depends on how much time remains after the Terracotta Warriors and your other afternoon choice; your guide will advise on what's realistic.

How much walking is involved at the Terracotta Warriors Museum?

The museum visit involves lots of flat walking across the three pits and exhibition areas, with a recommended time of two and a half hours. The site is wheelchair accessible, and strollers or prams are available for infants and small children.

Do I need to book my afternoon activities in advance, or can I decide on the day?

Tell your guide which afternoon sites or shows you'd like to visit before the tour begins so the itinerary can be planned around them. Some activities—particularly the traditional shows—may require advance booking; your guide will clarify what's possible and arrange tickets as needed.