Xian · history museum
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors) (秦始皇兵马俑博物馆, Qín Shǐhuáng Bīngmǎyǒng Bówùguǎn)
The mausoleum site museum sits about 40 km east of central Xian in Lintong District and protects three excavated pits containing the funerary army of Qin Shi Huang, plus the Bronze Chariots and Horses pit discovered in 1980. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1987) and, by excavation area, the largest archaeological site in the world. Most visitors come for Pit 1, but Pit 2 holds the rarest figures and the onsite conservation lab is the most underrated stop.
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Quick Answer
Is Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors) worth visiting?
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.
Quick facts
| Category | history |
|---|---|
| Ticket | CNY 120 for the main three pits (Mar–Nov); CNY 90 (Dec–Feb, off-season). Students with passport ID pay CNY 60. The separate Bronze Chariots and Horses pit (Pit 0006, opened 2010) costs an extra CNY 10–15 (verify). Free entry for children under 1.2 m or under 6 years old. (as of 2026) |
| Hours | March 16 – November 15: 08:30–17:00 (last ticket 16:00, last entry 16:10). November 16 – March 15: 08:30–16:30. Open daily including public holidays; closed only for the Chinese New Year week in some years (verify). No evening hours. |
| Recommended duration | 3 to 4 hours for the three main pits + Bronze Chariots pit + the onsite film (about 20 minutes). Allow 6 to 7 hours door-to-door from central Xian. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings, arriving at opening (08:30) or just after, September–October or April–May for comfortable walking weather. Avoid Golden Week (Oct 1–7), Tomb-Sweeping Day weekend (early April), and any Saturday afternoon when the tour-bus crowds peak around 11:00. |
| How to get there | Tourist Bus 306 (You-6) from Xian Railway Station east square: CNY 7, ~70 min, runs 07:00–19:00, drops at the parking lot — it is the cheapest real option. Tourist Bus 5 (You-5) from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area also works. DiDi/taxi from central Xian: CNY 180–230 one-way, 50–70 min depending on traffic. There is no metro to the site (as of 2026); the planned Line 9 extension to Lintong does not yet serve the museum (verify). The Xian-Baoji or Xian-Lintong high-speed trains from Xian North do not stop at the museum either. |
| English signage | yes |
Why visit
No other museum in China delivers a punch quite like standing at the rim of Pit 1 and seeing 2,200-year-old infantry lined up in corridors that stretch the length of a football field. It is also the rare Chinese museum where English-language infrastructure (audio guides, signage, the museum app) is actually usable, so first-timers do not feel locked out. Go before noon: the tour buses from Xian have not arrived yet, the light rakes across the warriors from the right angle, and you can hear yourself think.
Collection highlights
- Pit 1 — the largest vault, about 230 m long, holding roughly 6,000 infantry and 40 wooden chariots in 11 corridors; about 1,000 figures are on display.
- Pit 2 — the “treasure pit,” discovered in 1976, with kneeling crossbowmen, cavalry horses, and the only general figure ever found (about 196 cm tall).
- Pit 3 — the smallest pit, interpreted as the army's command HQ, with 68 figures and a deer antler and animal-skin believed to be a shamanic war-blessing kit.
- Pit 0006 — the two Bronze Chariots (originally painted white and brown), discovered 1980 and exhibited since 2010 in a climate-controlled hall next to Pit 1.
- The onsite Conservation & Restoration Lab (opened 2018) where visitors watch technicians piece together fragments through glass; free with main ticket.
- The Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum park itself, including the unexcavated burial mound (a 76 m tall pyramid of rammed earth) reached by the sightseeing shuttle (extra CNY 15).
Tips
- Buy tickets on the official WeChat mini-program (“秦始皇帝陵博物院”) the day before to skip the on-site queue, which can run 30–60 minutes on busy days.
- Rent the English audio guide at the entrance (about CNY 30, deposit CNY 100) — the printed English panels are sparse and the audio is genuinely good.
- Start at Pit 1 in reverse: enter from the far end after the main crowd has funneled in from the front, then work back toward the exit.
- Skip the on-site “souvenir photo” stations where staff dress you as a warrior and photograph you against a green screen; the prints cost CNY 30 and the experience is tacky.
- Bring a hat and water — the parking-lot-to-Pit-1 walk is 800 m with little shade in summer, and the onsite bottled water costs about 3x what you pay in town.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Terracotta Warriors museum cost in 2026?
CNY 120 (Mar–Nov) or CNY 90 (Dec–Feb) for the main three pits; CNY 60 for students with passport ID; CNY 10–15 extra for the Bronze Chariots pit. (as of 2026)
What are the opening hours?
08:30–17:00 (Mar 16–Nov 15) and 08:30–16:30 (Nov 16–Mar 15); last ticket sold one hour before close. Open daily year-round.
How do I get there from Xian without a tour?
Tourist Bus 306 from Xian Railway Station east square, CNY 7, about 70 minutes. DiDi or taxi costs CNY 180–230 one-way, 50–70 minutes. There is no metro station at the site.
How long do I need at the museum?
Three to four hours for the three pits, the Bronze Chariots, and the 20-minute orientation film. Six to seven hours door-to-door from central Xian.
Which pit is the best?
Pit 1 for sheer scale (6,000 warriors), Pit 2 for the rarest figures including the only general, Pit 3 as a 5-minute quick stop.
When were the warriors discovered?
March 1974, by a group of farmers digging a well in Lintong. Formal excavation began in 1975; Pit 1 opened to the public on October 1, 1979.
How many warriors have been found?
About 8,000 clay soldiers plus 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses have been recovered across the three main pits; the original count is believed to be over 8,000.
Is an English audio guide available?
Yes, at the entrance near the ticket hall, about CNY 30 with a CNY 100 cash or WeChat deposit refundable on return.
Can I visit Emperor Qin Shi Huang's actual tomb?
The burial mound (a 76 m tall pyramid) is reachable by a paid sightseeing shuttle (about CNY 15) but has not been opened to visitors, and the Chinese government has stated it will not be excavated in the foreseeable future.
Is it crowded?
About 9 million people a year visit. Weekdays in shoulder season (April, May, September, October) before 10:30 are calmest; Golden Week and any Saturday afternoon are the worst.
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