Terracotta Warriors in Xian What to Know Before You Go

Terracotta Warriors Xian: A Half-Day Tour to One of Archaeology's Greatest Discoveries

The Terracotta Army is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Unearthed in 1974 by farmers digging a well near the city of Xian in Shaanxi Province, the site revealed an extraordinary collection of life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots buried to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who died in 210 BCE. Over 2,000 years of burial had preserved the army in remarkable condition, and ongoing excavations continue to reveal new figures and artifacts in what is estimated to be one of the largest archaeological complexes in the world.

Book the Xian Terracotta Warriors half-day tour on Klook which includes round-trip transportation from Xian city, an English-speaking guide, and entry tickets to the three main excavation pits. The guided tour experience is strongly recommended as the scale, history, and archaeological significance of the site are much easier to understand with expert interpretation. The half-day format covers the essential pits and the on-site museum in approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, leaving the afternoon free for Xian city sightseeing.

The Emperor and the Army

Qin Shi Huang became king of the Qin state at age 13 and by 221 BCE had conquered all other Chinese states to become the first emperor of a unified China. He standardized weights and measures, currency, and writing across his new empire. He also began construction of an early version of the Great Wall. Work on his massive mausoleum complex began when he became king and continued for 37 years, involving an estimated 700,000 workers. Historical texts describe his tomb chamber as containing a map of his empire with rivers of flowing mercury, but the main burial mound has not been excavated, partly out of preservation concerns and partly due to archaeological sensitivity about opening such a significant site.

The Terracotta Army was discovered only by accident when the farmers drilling their well hit fragments of pottery and reported the find to local authorities. Initial excavations revealed the first pit, now called Pit 1, which contains an estimated 6,000 figures in battle formation. Subsequent excavations revealed Pit 2 and Pit 3 nearby. The scale of the burial reflects the ancient Chinese belief in an afterlife where the emperor would need the same resources, armies, and administrative apparatus in death as in life. The craftsmanship of the individual figures is extraordinary, with each warrior having distinct facial features, suggesting they were modeled on real soldiers.

The Three Main Pits

Pit 1 is the largest and most impressive excavation hall, covering an area of 16,300 square meters. It contains the main infantry formation with over 6,000 warriors arranged in battle order with cavalry and chariots. The scale of the pit and the density of the figures are genuinely overwhelming. Viewing platforms around the perimeter allow you to look down across the rows of soldiers, and additional access points allow closer views of specific sections. Ongoing restoration work is visible in some areas where archaeologists are still assembling figures from fragments.

Pit 2 is smaller but contains a more diverse mix of cavalry, infantry, and chariot units in complex tactical formations. Some of the most technically sophisticated pieces in the collection were found here, including a bronze chariot with extraordinarily detailed metalwork now displayed in the adjacent museum. Pit 3 is the smallest pit and appears to have been the army's command headquarters, with figures in positions suggesting senior officers. The on-site Bronze Chariot Museum displays two half-scale bronze chariots with horses that were found near the main tomb mound and represent the peak of ancient Chinese bronze casting technology. The Forbidden City in Beijing similarly tells the story of later imperial power and is a natural Beijing complement to the Xian experience.

Practical Tips for Your Visit

The Terracotta Army site is about 35 kilometers east of Xian city center, and the journey takes approximately 45 minutes by car or tour bus. The site opens at 8:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM during peak season (March to November) and at 5:30 PM during the winter months. The site can get very crowded, particularly from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Arriving early with a tour that departs from Xian by 8:00 AM gives you the best chance of experiencing the first pit before the largest groups arrive.

Photography is permitted throughout the site including inside the excavation halls, though flash photography is not allowed near the figures. A good telephoto lens or phone zoom function helps photograph individual figure details from the viewing platforms. The on-site visitor center provides context through a documentary film that many tours include as the first stop before the pits. The city of Xian itself warrants at least one additional day beyond the Terracotta Warriors visit, as the city wall, the Muslim Quarter, and the Huimin Street food market are all outstanding attractions. From Xian, high-speed train connections run to Beijing where you can visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City.

• Arrive at site opening time (8:30 AM) for best experience
• Hire a guide - the historical context transforms the experience
• Visit Pit 2 and the Bronze Chariot Museum - not just Pit 1
• Bring water and snacks as queues inside the pits can be long
• Photography allowed without flash inside the excavation halls
• Allow 3.5-4 hours for a thorough visit of all three pits and museum
• Combine with Xian city wall and Muslim Quarter on a 2-day visit

Xian's Other Historical Attractions

Xian was the capital of China under multiple dynasties including the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang, giving it a depth of historical layers that makes it one of China's most rewarding cities for cultural tourism. The ancient city wall that surrounds the modern city center is one of the best preserved city walls in China, dating to the Ming dynasty. Renting a bicycle at the top of the wall and cycling the full 14-kilometer perimeter is an excellent way to see both the wall and the surrounding city.

The Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque of Xian contains one of the most atmospheric street food markets in China, where the Hui Muslim community has for centuries produced noodles, flatbreads, lamb skewers, and an extraordinary range of dried fruits and nuts. The mosque itself is an unusual fusion of Islamic and Chinese architectural traditions and is one of the finest examples of Sino-Islamic architecture in the country. After Xian, many travelers continue to Chengdu for the Giant Panda Research Base and the Leshan Giant Buddha, which makes for a logical China itinerary progressing from the historical east to the natural southwest.

Planning Your China Trip: Visa and Entry Requirements

Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter mainland China, which must be obtained in advance from a Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country. The tourist visa (L visa) allows a single entry or multiple entry stay typically for 30 or 60 days depending on the application. The visa application requires a passport valid for at least six months, completed application forms, passport photographs, and supporting documents including confirmed flight and hotel bookings. Processing typically takes three to five working days at embassies and up to two weeks at consulates.

Several countries have benefited from visa-free access arrangements with China that have been expanded in recent years, including a growing list of European nations, some ASEAN countries, and others. Check current visa requirements with the Chinese Embassy in your country before making travel plans. China also operates a transit visa exemption for certain passengers transiting through major airports including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, allowing stays of up to 144 hours without a visa. These entry requirements make it important to plan your China trip well in advance to allow sufficient time for visa processing. The Forbidden City in Beijing and the Great Wall at Mutianyu are typically the first stops on a Beijing visit.

Getting Around China: Transport Overview

China has developed one of the world's most extensive high-speed rail networks, with trains connecting major cities at speeds of up to 350 km/h. The high-speed rail network makes traveling between Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and other major cities fast and comfortable, often faster door-to-door than flying when airport waiting times are factored in. The Beijing to Shanghai route, for example, takes approximately 4.5 hours by high-speed train versus a total of 4-5 hours including airport time for flying. Trains between Xian and Beijing take approximately 4.5 hours on high-speed services.

Domestic flights are necessary for more distant destinations like Guilin for the Li River cruise or Zhangjiajie for the glass bridge when coming from eastern cities. China's domestic airlines are generally reliable and affordable. Within cities, comprehensive metro systems operate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and other major cities. Ride-hailing apps like Didi Chuxing function similarly to Uber and are the easiest way to take taxis in China. The language barrier can complicate transportation logistics, but having your destination written in Chinese characters and using translation apps substantially reduces this challenge.

Budget Planning for China

China's costs vary significantly between cities and between types of accommodation and dining. Major tourist cities like Beijing and Shanghai have prices comparable to mid-range European cities for hotels and restaurants. Budget travelers can manage on USD 50-80 per day with dormitory or budget hotel accommodation, street food, metro transportation, and careful selection of paid attractions. Mid-range travelers spending USD 120-200 per day can stay in comfortable hotels, eat well in sit-down restaurants, and book organized tours.

Major attraction entry fees in China can add up: the Forbidden City costs 60 CNY, the Great Wall at Mutianyu 65 CNY plus cable car, the Terracotta Warriors 150 CNY, and the Summer Palace 30 CNY plus building access. Budgeting 200-400 CNY (USD 28-55) per person per day for attractions and organized tours is reasonable. Food ranges from 15-30 CNY for street food meals to 100-300 CNY per person at mid-range restaurants. The Panda Research Base and the Leshan Giant Buddha are both affordable at 55 and 90 CNY respectively.

Practical Tips for First-Time China Visitors

Internet access in China requires some preparation. Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and most Western social media and news platforms are blocked by the Great Firewall. Downloading a VPN app before entering China is essential for maintaining access to these services during your trip. Popular VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Astrill work in China but download and activate them before arrival as the VPN websites themselves are blocked in China.

Mobile payment through WeChat Pay and Alipay is near-universal in China and many small vendors no longer accept cash. Foreign visitors can now link international credit cards to WeChat Pay and Alipay for payments, which has made daily transactions significantly easier than the cash-only experience of a few years ago. Translation apps on your phone are essential for navigating menus, signs, and conversations. Google Translate works with a VPN, or offline translation packages can be downloaded in advance. The Hutong rickshaw tour in Beijing and other guided tours in English are available for most major attractions and are highly recommended for historical sites where context is essential.

China Itinerary Suggestions

A 10-day China highlights itinerary covers Beijing for three days including the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Hutong rickshaw tour. From Beijing, take the high-speed train to Xian (4.5 hours) for the Terracotta Warriors and one night. Then fly to Chengdu for two days covering the Giant Panda Research Base and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Finish with two days in Shanghai covering the city highlights tour.

Adding Guilin extends the trip to 14 days and includes the Li River cruise to Yangshuo, one of China's most iconic natural experiences. Including Zhangjiajie adds another 2 days for the Grand Canyon glass bridge and the national forest park. The China itinerary is naturally organized from north to south (Beijing - Xian - Chengdu - Guilin - Zhangjiajie - Shanghai) or as a hub-and-spoke from Shanghai or Beijing with short domestic flights to Xian, Chengdu, and Guilin.

Photography Tips for the Terracotta Warriors

Photographing the Terracotta Warriors well requires understanding the best light conditions and camera positions. The golden hour immediately after sunrise and in the hour before sunset produces the warmest and most flattering light for both architectural and landscape photography. At many popular China sites, arriving for sunrise is worthwhile not only for the light but also because you will have the site largely to yourself before the tour buses arrive. At outdoor sites with reflective water surfaces, calm mornings produce the best reflections and mirror-like conditions that disappear once wind picks up.

Photography is permitted inside the excavation halls from the viewing platforms. A telephoto lens is needed to capture individual warrior faces and details from the elevated platform positions. Standard photography guidelines apply throughout: shoot in RAW format if your camera supports it for maximum post-processing flexibility, bring extra batteries as cold temperatures drain batteries faster, protect your equipment from rain and dust with appropriate cases, and use a polarizing filter for shots of water and sky which dramatically reduces glare and deepens colors. A travel tripod is worth carrying for interior low-light shots at temples and museums where flash is typically not permitted.

The scale of Pit 1 with its thousands of figures in formation is best conveyed with a wide-angle shot from an elevated platform that shows multiple rows extending into the distance. Photographing people at markets, temples, and cultural sites in China should always involve seeking permission, particularly for close portrait shots. Most people are happy to be photographed when asked respectfully, and the gesture of asking rather than photographing without awareness is both ethical and often results in better photographs as subjects are more relaxed and engaged. At busy tourist sites, patience pays off: waiting for a clear moment when other tourists are not in the frame often means waiting only a few minutes at less popular viewpoints, while major landmarks may require either very early arrival or longer waits for clear compositions.

Where to Stay in Xian

Xian has accommodation options across a wide range of price points and styles. Budget travelers will find guesthouses and hostels in the within the old city walls area area of the city or town from approximately CNY 100-200 per night, often with breakfast included and common areas that make meeting other travelers easy. These budget options are clean and functional if not luxurious, and their central locations offset the lack of amenities. For those who prefer more comfort, CNY 400-900 range hotels offer private rooms with air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, reliable WiFi, and often swimming pools.

Luxury travelers will find internationally branded hotels as well as boutique hotels in heritage buildings that combine high standards of service with locally distinctive character. China has invested substantially in tourism infrastructure and the quality of accommodation at all price levels has improved significantly over the past decade. Booking in advance is strongly recommended for visits during peak season when the best-value properties fill up weeks or months ahead. Staying in the most central area of Xian generally adds convenience and reduces transportation costs, though properties slightly outside the tourist center often offer better value and a more local atmosphere.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book through our Klook links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep producing free travel guides for readers like you. We only recommend experiences we genuinely believe are worth your time and money.