Xi'an Memories Tour

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Xian, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Xian)

Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel (Deluxe) Xian Skytel Hotel (Economy) Sofitel On Renmin Square Xian (Superior) 

Day 2

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Imperial Fine Arts center
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch)

- The Terracotta Warriors and Horses (2 hours): Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda (1 hour): A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.
- Xian Imperial Fine Arts center: Xian Imperial Fine Arts mainly manufactures jade carvings and lacquer ware.Tourists can learn how the fine Chinese jade carved and the function of jade.
Tel: 029-85515419
- A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch): A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant was established in 2004, mainly specializes in Hunan and Sichuan cuisine. It provides delicacy by using the material from Shanxi, obtaining a nationwide reputation from customers. It would be a nice choice to dine while traveling the nearby Terra cotta Warriors and Horses.

Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel (Deluxe) Xian Skytel Hotel (Economy) Sofitel On Renmin Square Xian (Superior) 

Day 3

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Qianling Tomb, The Maoling Mausoleum, Famen Temple
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Qianling Tomb (1 hour): Built in 684 AD, the mausoleum is the joint tomb of Emperor Tang Gaozong (Li Zhi, 628 A.D.-683 A.D.) and Empress Wu Zetian (624 A.D.-705 A.D.), the only Empress in Chinese history.
- The Maoling Mausoleum (1 hour): The Maoling Mausoleum is located about 40km north of Xi'an City. It was the tomb of Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD). It is grand in scale, and it is the biggest mausoleum of all the imperial mausoleums of the Western Han Dynasty. In 1981, more than 230 pieces of cultural relics were found in the eastern satellite tombs including such items as the gold-plated copper horses, gold-plated and silver-plated bamboo smoke stoves and copper warming stoves. They are all rare art treasures. Hundreds of the cultural relics found in the mausoleum are now on display in the Maoling Mausoleum Museum.
- Famen Temple (1.5 hours): It locates to the west of Xian city and sits in the 120km Fufeng County. The temple has a history of 1700. This Buddhist temple, which records mention as far back as 67AD, contains a 13-storied brick pagoda as part of the monastery. This pagoda fell down in the rain in August, 1981 and revealed a 1000 year old underground vault full with 2,400 treasures of the Tang and previous dynasties given as offerings. These included gold and silver utensils, glazed wares, porcelains, pearls, precious stones and textiles, as well as religious items. The biggest treasure is a finger bone of Buddha offered to the Emperor of China during the Tang dynasty. Heshi Buddhist Pagoda was built in Famen Temple in May 2009. It is in the shape of two palms with ten fingers clinging together. It is the tallest Buddhist pagoda in the world.

Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel (Deluxe) Xian Skytel Hotel (Economy) Sofitel On Renmin Square Xian (Superior) 

Day 4

Place & Transport: Depart Xian, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Xian City Wall with Bicycle, Shaanxi History Museum, Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Xian City Wall with Bicycle (1.5 hours): The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defenses still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre, it is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest of the city defense systems in China. We operate this with bicycle. If the weather is not good for biking on the city wall, we will substitute a visit to the Bell Tower. Your guide will be very glad to take you the Bell Tower after you have been to look at the city wall.
- Shaanxi History Museum (1.5 hours): The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Qianzhou Restaurant(Xiao Yanta Branch): Qianzhou Restaurant is well-known for its local flavors and ingredients originating from Qian County. The style, Qianzhou Four Treasures is considered to be famous nationally. The specialties are of ancient origin from the Tang Dynasty and leave customers with great culinary memories.