The Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an are one of the must-visit attractions for all travelers to China. The dramatic exhibition reveals the secrets behind the 2,000-year-old army of clay statues that guarded the tomb of China's first emperor until a chance discovery in 1974.
- Location: 42 kilometers (26 miles) east of Xi'an in Lintong District
- Area: 16,300 square meters (175,000 sq. ft.)
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Open: 8:30am–5:30pm (March 16th to November 15th); 8:30am–6pm (November 16th to March 15th)
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Tips for Visiting the Terracotta Army
1. Consider walking from the parking lot to the entrance.
The parking lot is about 1 km from the entrance. There are shared golf carts running from the parking lot to the entrance.
As you need to queue for them (in the busy travel season from May to October), we recommend you walk the 15 minutes or so there if you are able. Our guide will accompany you on the walk.
2. Maybe give the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang a miss.
The ticket price for the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum includes entrance to the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. You can take a free shuttle bus to go there if you are interested, taking around 10 minutes.
It's not excavated yet, so there's not much to see, except a mound. You are recommended to visit the site by viewing at a distance instead of taking a close look at the model mockup of the interior.
Travel with us, and you will be taken care of well by your private guide.3. Avoid scams.
For example, don't buy the book signed by the farmer who claims to be one of the discoveries of the Terracotta Army. They are all fake. Many play that role to rip off travelers. The book is over-priced at 180–200 yuan: (29–32 USD). Museum guides may recommend it to you!
4. And avoid the souvenir shops.
When you finish your visit, you have to pass an area with a lot of souvenir shops. We don't recommend you buy gifts there, as they may be over-priced. A better place to buy souvenirs is the market in Xi'an.
5. The restaurants around the museum aren't the best.
There are many tourist restaurants around the museum, but lower your expectations on taste and quality. Some even may rip you off. Our guides choose the best available restaurant for our customers.
- 1-Day Xi'an Highlights Tour
- 3-Day Beijing to Xi'an by High-Speed Rail
- 4-Day Xi'an and Huashan Mountain Tour
Things to See in the Terracotta Warriors
The highlights of the museum are the three pits where the warriors are on display and the Exhibition of Bronze Chariots.
Map of the Terracotta Army Museum- Pit 1: This is the largest and most impressive, where about 2,000 terracotta warriors are displayed.
- Pit 2: This middle-sized pit has the most army units with archers, chariots, mixed forces, and cavalry.
- Pit 3: It is the smallest pit and represents the command post.
Our recommended visiting sequence is Pit 1 – Pit 3 – Pit 2 – Bronze Chariot Exhibit, as this way you will follow the Terracotta Army story from overall to detailed information.
- Exhibits: thousands of life-size clay figures, ancient weapons, jade and gold ornaments, bronze chariot replicas…
- The time needed: Two to three hours are recommended for visiting this marvelous site.
Guide or Self-Guided?
There is very little (good English) signage, so a guide is definitely needed to explain the exhibits, and help you get the most out of a visit.
You have three choices: rent an audio guide, hire a guide at the museum; have a private guide included in your private tour (as we do).
Our guide can lead you to learn how to make warriors from a local shokunin family.1) Rent an audio guide (recorded guide). The cost is 40 yuan (deposit 200 yuan). The audio guide only provides limited and stilted introductions to certain parts of the museum.
2) Hire a guide at the museum. At the entrance, you'll be approached by English-speaking guides and asked if you want their services. The cost is around 150 yuan, and the quality of guiding you get varies. Try to avoid the commission shopping sites the guide may take you to.
3) Have a private guide (our recommendation). Our private Xi'an guides are picked to be the best. They will give you an expert appraisal of the Terracotta Warriors, answer your questions, navigate the crowds, and lead you to the best spots for photos.
The Best Time to See and How to Avoid Crowds
The Terracotta Army is an indoor attraction, which is not likely to be affected by weather, so it can be visited all year round.
As the Terracotta Army Museum is one of the must-visit attractions in China, it is crowded most of the time, especially during weekends and Chinese public holidays such as National Day Holiday (October 1–7) and Labor Day Holiday (May 1–3).
To avoid crowds, we suggest that you:
- Start your day early and try to arrive before the large bus-tour groups arrive at around 10 am.
- Or visit around noon when other visitors leave for lunch if you do not mind having a late lunch.
- Visiting during the winter low season means fewer crowds, but the dry and cold weather is not so pleasant for Xi'an's outside attractions.
How to Get Your Entry Tickets for the Terracotta Warriors
The Terracotta Warriors Museum currently doesn't sell tickets on site. Tickets must be bought in advance online. You can buy tickets via the Terracotta Army Museum WeChat account (秦始皇帝陵博物院) in Chinese or its official website in English by logging in.
| March 16th to November 15th | November 16th to March 15th | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Hours | 08:30-17:30 | 08:30-18:00 |
| Entry Times | 08:30-10:00 | 10:01-11:30 | 11:31-13:00 | 13:01-14:30 | 14:31-16:30 | 08:30-10:00 | 10:01-11:30 | 11:31-13:00 | 13:01-14:30 | 14:31-16:30 |
You may want to enjoy our 1-Day Xi'an Highlights Private Tour (your tickets are included). Visit the Terracotta Warriors, cycle on Xi'an's best-preserved Ancient City Wall, and enjoy the rich flavor of life in the Muslim Quarter with a stroll there.
Location and How to Get There
The Terracotta Army is 45 km (28 mi) east of Xi'an city, taking about 1 hour by car.
How to Get to the Terracotta Army from Downtown Xi'an
The most convenient way is to take a private tour. Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the Terracotta Army.
If you travel independently, here are the information about transportation and cost for your reference:
| From | Public buses (line, journey) | Taxi |
|---|---|---|
| Xi'an Railway Station | Tourist Bus Line 5 (306), 1 hour | 150 yuan |
| Xi'an North Railway Station | Bus 266 + Tourist Bus Line 5 (306), 2 hours | 250 yuan |
| Xi'an Airport | Shuttle bus to Xi'an Railway Station + Tourist Bus Line 5 (306), 2 hours | 250 yuan |
How to Get to the Terracotta Army from Beijing
Many people wonder whether it is possible to take a day tour from Beijing to the Terracotta Army. The answer is yes, but it is very rushed.
There are three ways to do it: by flight, by high-speed train, or by over-night train.
The itinerary: early morning (or previous evening) start, afternoon Terracotta Army Visit, late return to Beijing.
We suggest you take a night train from Beijing to Xi'an and fly back. You will have a more relaxing day and plenty of time to see the Terracotta Army this way.
See our How to Get to the Terracotta Army from Xi'an or See details on our Xi'sn sample tours:
- Round Day Trip from Beijing to Xi'an by Flight
- 3-Day Xi'an Discovery by High-Speed Train from Beijing
The Facilities in the Museum
Coffee Shops
There are coffee shops in the museum. You can stop for a rest in several places when visiting.
Toilets
There are toilets inside and outside the museum grounds. They are all Chinese-style squat toilets. Bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
Disabled-Friendly Facilities
This museum is designed to be friendly to wheelchair users: equipped with barrier-free access, and shared golf carts running from the parking lot to the entrance.
Free luggage storage service:
On the left side of the Ticketing Office is the Tourist Information Center, which offers a free luggage storage service.
Explore the Terracotta Warriors with Us
If you don't want to waste time on finding a (non-con) taxi or public buses to the attraction, line up for tickets, read maps, make sense of Chinese signs, etc., a private tour is a great option.
It means that you will be well taken care of by a private guide and driver, and enjoy a lot of flexibility. Your guide will help you unravel the mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors, escape the crowds, and show you the best spots for photos.
Tell us your requirements and one of our specialists will be in touch to plan a unique trip for you.
Here is the best itinerary for your inspiration:
- The Essence of Xi'an: It includes 7 must-see attractions of Xi'an and 3 unique experiences, all in 3 days.
Start planning your tailor-made China tour by contacting one of our specialists...Create My Trip
