Destination guide
Xi’an Tours
Updated November 2026
Xian was the capital of thirteen dynasties and the eastern end of the Silk Road, and most visitors give it one night on the way to Beijing. Two full days is the honest minimum: one for the Terracotta Army, one for the city wall, the Muslim Quarter and the pagodas.
The Terracotta Army
Farmers digging a well found the first figures in 1974, 40 km east of the city. Three pits are open. Pit 1 holds around 6,000 infantry in battle formation and is the hall you have seen photographs of; Pit 3 is the command post; Pit 2 has the archers and cavalry and is still largely unexcavated. Allow two to two and a half hours on site and an hour each way by road. Leave at 08:00 and you will be inside Pit 1 before the coach groups arrive, which is usually around 10:30. The two reconstructed bronze chariots in the museum hall are worth ten minutes on the way out.
The city wall
The wall runs 13.7 km around the old city, 12 m high and 15 m thick at the base — wide enough for a road on top. The present brickwork dates from the 1370s, built on Tang foundations. Rent a bike at the South Gate and ride the loop in ninety minutes to two hours, stopping at the west and east gates. Sunset from the south wall is the best hour of the day, and the wall stays open until about 22:00 in summer with the lights on from 19:30.
Beyond the wall
- Shaanxi History Museum: free, timed, closed Mondays, book three days ahead. The Tang gold and the tomb murals are the reason to go.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: built in 652 to hold the sutras Xuanzang carried back from India. The square below has a fountain show in the evening.
- Muslim Quarter: food lanes behind the Drum Tower, best after 18:00. The Great Mosque, founded in 742, is a Chinese courtyard with an Islamic prayer hall at the back.
- Mount Huashan: 120 km east, 40 minutes by high-speed train. Plank walks and a 2,154 m summit; a full day, and not for anyone uneasy with heights.
How many days
| Stay | What it adds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | Army, wall, Muslim Quarter, pagoda | The minimum that works |
| 3 days | Shaanxi History Museum, Mount Huashan | Comfortable; no rushing |
| 4 days | Luoyang and the Longmen Grottoes | 90 minutes by train each way |
When to go
March to May and September to November sit between 15 and 25 degrees with clearer air. July and August reach 38 and the excavation pits have almost no shade. December to February is 0 to 8 degrees, dry, and nearly empty — the army in light snow is worth the cold. Avoid the first week of October, when domestic tourism peaks.
Getting there
Xianyang Airport (XIY) is 40 km northwest, about 45 minutes by road, with direct flights from most Asian hubs and a few from Europe. High-speed rail: Beijing 4.5 hours, Shanghai 6 hours, Chengdu 3.5 hours, Luoyang 90 minutes. Metro line 2 runs from the North Railway Station to the South Gate in 25 minutes, which puts you inside the wall without a taxi.
What trips people up
- Touts in the car park sell replica figures and unofficial tickets. Buy at the official gate only.
- The army is a three-hour visit. A guide who stretches it to six is selling you a shopping stop.
- The Muslim Quarter is for eating. Jade and “antique” shops along the same lanes are not.
- Shaanxi History Museum tickets are released three days ahead and disappear within minutes.
- Smoking is common indoors. Ask for a non-smoking floor and check the room before unpacking.
Xian fits naturally between Beijing and Shanghai or Chengdu on a private route. Tell us how many days you have and we will show you where it goes.
Questions travellers ask
Can you see the Terracotta Army in half a day?
Yes. The site is about 40 km east of the city, roughly an hour by road, and the three pits take two to two and a half hours. Leave at 08:00 to be inside Pit 1 before the coach groups arrive, which is usually around 10:30.
How long does it take to cycle the Xi an city wall?
The wall runs 13.7 km around the old city, is 12 m high and wide enough to ride. A full loop takes one and a half to two hours at an easy pace. Bikes are rented at the South Gate and must be returned to the gate you took them from.
Is two days enough for Xi an?
Two days covers the Terracotta Army, the city wall, the Muslim Quarter and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. A third day adds the Shaanxi History Museum and Mount Huashan. A fourth adds the Longmen Grottoes at Luoyang, 90 minutes away by high-speed train.
Do I need to book the Shaanxi History Museum in advance?
Yes. Entry is free but timed, and the online allocation for the next three days is normally gone by mid-morning. It closes on Mondays. Bring the passport you booked with, because that is what gets you through the gate.