0:59Xi’an
The Terracotta Army
Close views of the warriors, their expressions and the excavation setting.
Read the Xi’an guide ↗Xi'an travel guide ↗
History
The Terracotta Warriors
The archaeological museum near Xi’an displaying ranks of life-size terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots.
Include this in my private trip ↗
About this place
Why visit
The excavated army belongs to a much larger imperial burial landscape. First take in the formation, then look for differences in faces, clothing and posture. Displays about excavation and conservation explain why broken fragments, empty spaces and ongoing research matter as much as the reconstructed ranks.
Details worth noticing
- The arrangement of the pits
- Individual faces and uniforms
- Excavation and conservation displays
Watch before you go
Watch the place and its surroundings
See the scenery and setting, then use the visitor guide to plan your visit.
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0:16Xi’an
Inside the Terracotta Army museum
A short look at the museum’s figures and exhibition spaces.
Read the Xi’an guide ↗Before you go
Plan your visit
The museum is outside the walled city. Protect the transfer and give the pits time; an interior Xi’an monument is not a neighboring stop. Check the exact museum and current reservation arrangements before travel.
Keep the museum visit distinct from sightseeing inside Xi’an’s city walls. Confirm the exact museum destination and admission arrangements through official information.
Nearby visits and onward travel
Keep any additional Lintong visit optional; the City Wall and central food streets fit better into a separate city day.
Getting there & around Xi'an ↗A flexible day idea
A suggested day
Use this day plan as a guide. We can adjust the walking, transport and breaks for your group.
- Start
Journey to the museum
Travel to the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum. Use the introduction and site layout to understand the wider burial landscape before moving between the main display areas.
- Explore
Look closely
Take in the scale of the army, then study differences in faces, armor and posture. Include excavation and conservation displays instead of viewing every hall only from its busiest balcony.
- Finish
Return to Xi’an
Have a relaxed meal and return to your city base. A short Bell Tower or neighborhood evening is optional if the group still has energy.
Longer itinerary ideas
Plan a longer trip
Explore day-by-day routes that include Xi'an and its wider region, then adapt one with us.
1 day
A dedicated Terracotta Army day
Use one full day for the museum excursion, with time to look beyond the most famous photograph.
See the day-by-day idea ↗3 daysXi’an: archaeology, walls and culture
Three sightseeing days combine the Terracotta Army with the old city and the southern cultural district.
See the day-by-day idea ↗7 daysXi’an and Beijing
Begin with Xi’an’s highlights, then travel to Beijing for palace courtyards and a Great Wall excursion. Finish in Beijing.
See the day-by-day idea ↗10 daysXi’an and a deeper Beijing visit
Allow more space for museums, neighborhood life and garden landscapes across two historic capitals. The journey ends in Beijing.
See the day-by-day idea ↗