Xi'an · Visitor Guide
Terracotta Army (秦始皇兵马俑, Qínshǐhuáng Bīngmǎyǒng)
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. Discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, it is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
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Quick Answer
Is Terracotta Army worth visiting?
UNESCO site with 8,000+ life-sized warriors buried 2,200 years ago. 1.5 hours from Xi'an. Allow 3-4 hours.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥120 (Mar-Nov) / ¥120 (Dec-Feb). Official guide ¥100-200, audio guide ¥30. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:30-17:00 (last entry 16:00). Closed Dec 30-Jan 1 for maintenance. |
| Recommended duration | 3-4 hours. Add 1.5 hours each way for Xi'an transport. |
| Best time to visit | Spring and autumn for weather. Weekday mornings to avoid crowds. |
| How to get there | Tour bus from Xi'an (¥30-50), private car (¥300-400), or Metro Line 9 to Huaqing Pool + bus 307. |
| English signage | yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Discovered | 1974 by local farmers |
| Buried | 210-209 BC |
| Total figures | 8,000+ (estimated) |
| Pits open | 3 (Pit 1, 2, 3) + exhibition hall |
| UNESCO | 1987 |
What to expect
The Terracotta Army was constructed over 38 years (from 246 BC) to guard Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife. Each warrior is unique — with distinct facial features, hair styles, and even body positions. The army was rediscovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well.
Pit 1 is the largest (230m × 62m) with the main battle formation — about 6,000 figures plus horses. Pit 2 has the most variety: archers, cavalry, and the famous kneeling archer. Pit 3 is the smallest and was the command post.
The warriors were originally painted in vivid colors, but exposure to air causes the paint to oxidize within minutes. Only a few figures have been fully preserved, and ongoing conservation work continues to develop new techniques.
How to get there
Tour bus 306/914 from Xi'an Railway Station to Terracotta Army stop (¥7, 1 hour). Private car or DiDi: 1 hour, ¥300-400. Many guided day tours from Xi'an hotels include hotel pickup.
Best photo spots
- Pit 1 from the front viewing platform — the iconic army in formation
- Pit 2 kneeling archer — the most well-preserved figure
- Bronze chariots in the exhibition hall (discovered in 1980)
- The excavation site itself — a working archaeological museum
Tips
- Hire a guide or rent the audio guide — the site is unremarkable without context
- Visit in the morning when the crowds are smaller
- Combine with the on-site Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum site (included)
- Bring water — limited shade in the pits
- Don't expect the warriors to be pristine — most are reconstructed fragments
Scams to avoid
- Unofficial "photographers" demanding ¥100+ for souvenir photos
- "Antique" souvenirs sold at inflated prices in the gift shop
- Taxi drivers claiming the museum is closed (it's not)
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Xi'an to the Terracotta Army?
Tour bus 306 or 914 from Xi'an Railway Station (¥7, 1 hour). Private car/DiDi: 1 hour, ¥300-400. Tour with hotel pickup: ¥400-600 with guide.
How much does the Terracotta Army cost?
¥120 entry (year-round). Audio guide ¥30. Licensed guide ¥100-200. Add transport: ¥30 (bus) to ¥400 (private car). Total day trip from Xi'an: ¥300-800 per person.
Is the Terracotta Army worth visiting?
Yes — it's one of China's most important archaeological sites. Even if you're not into history, the scale (8,000+ figures) and 2,200-year preservation are impressive. Allocate 3-4 hours.
Why are the warriors in pieces?
The wooden frames holding the figures collapsed after the Qin Dynasty fell, and the roof beams burned during a peasant revolt. Excavators found the figures in thousands of fragments and reassembled them — like a giant 3D puzzle. New figures still have visible cracks.
Can I see the warriors being excavated?
Yes — there's an active excavation site at Pit 2 where you can see archaeologists at work. The pace is slow (1 figure per week on average) to preserve the paint, which oxidizes within minutes when exposed to air.
Is the Terracotta Army a full day trip?
Yes — allow 30-60 min each way for transport, 3-4 hours on site, plus 1-2 hours for the on-site museum. Add 30 min for the Bronze Chariot exhibition. Xi'an itself needs 1-2 days.
What is Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum?
A separate site 1.5 km from the museum. The tomb itself has never been opened — it is said to contain rivers of mercury and booby traps. The surrounding mound is a 76m-tall earthen pyramid. The museum ticket includes entry to the mausoleum grounds.
Is the Terracotta Army accessible for wheelchairs?
Partially — Pit 1 has ramps. Pit 2 and 3 have stairs. The site is mostly accessible, but some areas require navigating uneven ground. The on-site museum is fully accessible.
How long should I spend at the Terracotta Army?
Minimum 3 hours. 4-5 hours for a thorough visit including Pit 1, 2, 3, the exhibition hall with bronze chariots, and the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum grounds.
Can I see the original colors of the warriors?
A few preserved figures have been kept in climate-controlled cases. The colors fade within minutes when exposed to air, so most excavated figures are now the natural terracotta orange. Conservation technology is being developed but has not solved this problem yet.
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Other things to do in Xi'an
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an's 1,200-year-old Hui Muslim food district — 10+ blocks of lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles, persimmon cakes, and the 1,300-year-old Great Mosque. Free entry. Food ¥5–50 per item.
Xi'an City Wall
The best-preserved ancient city wall in China — 13.7 km of Ming Dynasty fortifications you can bike on top of. ¥54 entry, ¥45 bike rental. 2–3 hours to bike the full loop.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to house scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang (the real Tripitaka). ¥50. Evening fountain show is free.
Huaqing Palace
Tang Dynasty imperial hot springs resort — Yang Guifei's bathing pool, scene of the 1936 Xi'an Incident. ¥120 entry. 30 km east of Xi'an. Combine with Terracotta Army.
Shaanxi History Museum
China's richest provincial museum, holding roughly 1.7 million artifacts from 13 dynastic capitals across 1,100 years. Budget 2-3 hours for the free halls, 4-5 with the ¥270 Tang tomb-mural gallery — one of the most remarkable museum experiences in the country.
Great Mosque of Xi'an
A 1,280-year-old mosque site down Huajue Lane that looks like a Ming temple but serves Xi'an's Hui Muslim community — four courtyards, a pagoda-style minaret, no domes. ¥25 entry (as of 2026), allow 45–60 minutes; go at the 8:00 opening, not noon.
Grand Tang Mall (Datang Everbright City)
A 1.5-km free pedestrian avenue of lit-up Tang-style pavilions, costumed performers, and food stalls running south from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda through Xi'an's Qujiang district. Budget 2–3 hours after dusk; the lights and shows peak 19:00–21:00.
Drum and Bell Towers
Two 14th-century Ming-dynasty towers anchoring Xi'an's old-city centre — the Bell Tower (1384) at the crossroads, the Drum Tower (1380) at the Muslim Quarter gate. ¥30 each to climb, 1-1.5 hours total, best at dusk when both light up.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
A 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty brick pagoda inside Jianfu Temple — quieter, free, and climbable for ¥30 (as of 2026). Pair it with the on-site Xi'an Museum; allow 2–3 hours.
Museums in Xi'an
Shaanxi History Museum
370,000 artifacts from the cradle of Chinese civilization — Tang Dynasty gold, Zhou bronzes, and Qin terracotta figurines. Free but book weeks ahead. Xi'an's must-see museum.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
The world-famous Terracotta Army viewed through the museum lens: excavation in progress, bronze chariot conservation, and the science behind 2,200-year-old polychrome preservation. ¥120.
Banpo Museum
A 6,000-year-old Neolithic village preserved in situ — walk through a matriarchal Yangshao Culture settlement with houses, kilns, and a burial ground. ¥65. China's first prehistoric site museum.
Xi'an Museum
Tang Dynasty artifacts inside the Small Wild Goose Pagoda temple complex — a calmer, more intimate alternative to the Shaanxi History Museum. Free entry with garden and pagoda access. Jianfu Temple grounds.
Shaanxi History Museum — Qin-Han Branch
New branch opened 2024 near the Qin Dynasty palace ruins. Focuses exclusively on the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-220 AD). Free. Book ahead.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors)
About 8,000 life-size clay soldiers buried in 210 BCE to guard China's first emperor — plan 3 to 4 hours on site plus 90 minutes each way from central Xian.
Forest of Steles Museum (Xi'an Beilin Museum)
Xi'an's 1,094-year-old "Forest of Steles" holds more than 3,000 carved stone tablets and rewards 2–3 hours of close looking — most visitors should skip the calligraphy trance and head straight for the six horses of Zhaoling Tangseng.