The Terracotta Army is a grandiose funerary complex of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The ruler was so obsessed with the idea of immortality that he decided to take an entire army into the afterlife to protect himself from the spirits of his enemies. Just think about it: for over two thousand years, an entire army lay buried underground, and no one even suspected its existence!
Before Qin Shi Huang came to power, China practiced a gruesome tradition — burying servants and concubines alive alongside their master — just in case they might be needed in the afterlife. One could say that the creation of clay warriors became a kind of humanistic revolution. Moreover, depriving a prosperous state of thousands of trained fighters would have been the height of wasteful extravagance.
A remarkable fact: among 8,000 statues, no two are identical. Each infantryman and archer has individual facial features, expressions, and hairstyles — most likely, they were modeled after real people of that era. By the way, the "terracotta" color that the army acquired came with time. Originally, the warriors were covered with bright paints and glossy lacquer, which faded instantly when exposed to oxygen.
The modern Terracotta Army Museum might not have existed if local farmers hadn't decided to dig a well on their land in 1974. Can you imagine their shock when they stumbled upon this?
There are currently very few foreign tourists here, so there isn't much clear navigation for us either (not even in English). To help you avoid getting lost, below we've provided detailed instructions on how to independently reach the complex and easily navigate inside.
The Terracotta Army Museum is located approximately 40 km from Xi'an. You can get there in three ways — choose the option that suits your budget and travel style:
Taxi (fast and hassle-free). Xi'an has one of the cheapest taxi rates. You can quickly catch an official green taxi right on the street near your hotel — they use meters, and a one-way trip will cost around $25. Another option is to book a ride through the Chinese app DiDi, which is usually slightly cheaper.
Metro + bus (budget-friendly). If you want to save money and immerse yourself in local culture, this is the option for you. Head down to the metro and take line 9 (orange line) to Huaqing Pool station. Near the metro exit, look for free tourist shuttles or take city bus No. 613 or No. 602 (use the Chinese maps Baidu or Maps.Me to plan your exact route). Total transportation costs will be just $1–2.
Direct tourist shuttle. On the Trip.com platform, you can book a package that includes museum admission + a bus transfer directly from central Xi'an. In this case, transportation will cost $3.50. The main thing is to select a convenient pickup point from the list when booking in advance.
Please note: if you choose a bus or group shuttle, the transport will not take you right to the entrance. All tourists are dropped off at a terminal some distance from the museum complex, from where you'll need to walk another 7–10 minutes on foot. As we mentioned, navigation on site is challenging, so we've attached a route map in the carousel below.
Xi'an is a festival city! It's literally created for lovers of spectacular shows, as performances here follow one after another! A huge advantage is that all the main tourist attractions are gathered in one location — you won't have to spend time on long trips around the city.
The entire local culture of Xi'an literally revolves around the legacy of the Tang Dynasty, which became an era of triumph in science, art, and technology for China. In those distant times, the city was the richest capital of the empire and the most populous metropolis on the planet. It's no wonder that today's Xi'an has transformed the aesthetics of that era into an absolute trend, which can be seen at every turn here.
If your time in the city is limited, but you want to get the most out of your trip (listen to authentic music, see large-scale immersive shows and costumed dances), head straight to the Qujiang district — the cultural quarter of the Tang Dynasty.
Along the entire promenade are dozens of concept restaurants, modern cafes and souvenir shops. Prices in Xi'an are quite friendly, despite being one of the main tourist destinations.
Xi'an is the birthplace of the legendary super-wide and very long noodles. You can find noodles like those served in expensive restaurants as well as in authentic street eateries. They are usually served with oil, chili, garlic, and fresh herbs.
We recommend the "Chang'an Dapaidang" restaurant to everyone who loves Chinese cuisine but wants to try unusual "complex" dishes with interesting combinations of spices and ingredients.
The pagoda is considered one of the main symbols of Xi'an. Due to groundwater and past earthquakes, it has begun to lean noticeably to one side, becoming a local "Leaning Tower of Pisa".
Inside the temple complex, you can peacefully stroll through quiet gardens and climb to the observation deck of the pagoda.
The main symbol of Xi'an in the center of the old city, inside the city wall.
You can climb the tower to see the collection of bells and view the city from its most central point.
But the real magic happens in the evening, when the city lights come on. The tower transforms into a futuristic structure amid the flow of rushing traffic. It's another iconic location where crowds of girls in traditional hanfu costumes come in the evenings for authentic photo shoots.
The café is located on the roof of a small souvenir shop at the corner of a narrow street. To get up there, you need to go inside and find the stairs in the far corner of the hall.
They make very delicious teas here with spices and dried fruits. However, when ordering coffee with a picture of the Drum Tower, be careful: the presentation looks amazing, but the picture itself is just a piece of paper. It's worth buying solely for social media photos.
The Muslim Quarter emerged thanks to Arab and Persian merchants of the Great Silk Road. It's a bustling maze of narrow streets right behind the Drum Tower, where Chinese and Islamic cultures are remarkably intertwined.
The main attraction of this place is authentic halal street food: hearty lamb soups, crispy flatbreads, chewy nut sweets and spicy kebabs.
The mosque is hidden deep within the Muslim Quarter, in peace and away from the bustling trade, among secluded green courtyards.
At first glance, it appears to be just another Chinese temple, but if you look closer at the details, you can find Arabic calligraphy in the facade decoration, and the minaret is designed in the style of a traditional Chinese pagoda.
A single ticket allows entry to two areas: the main area with the army (three pits + exhibition hall) and the park area with the emperor's mausoleum (Lishan Park).
❗After 4 PM, all areas of the complex will be closed. To avoid a marathon-style sprint, plan to arrive at the museum before noon.
The main area with the warriors is the most expansive; please allow at least 2 hours to explore it. The famous Terracotta Army that we see in all photographs is in the first pit.
Lishan Park (the park with the mausoleum) is 2 kilometers from the main area. We walked for 20 minutes to get there. However, you can also spend a few dollars to take a taxi there. Just go through the turnstile at the exit and then head to the taxi parking lot.
We recommend purchasing tickets in advance, as the number of daily visitors is limited. Remember to bring your passport, as only those with valid documents can enter the area.