Xi'an: the Terracotta Army with an Archaeological Guide

The army was found in March 1974 by farmers sinking a well at Xiyang village, and the first pit alone holds an estimated 6,000 figures in battle formation, with chariots, horses and weapons. Pit 2 is the mixed formation of archers, cavalry and chariots; Pit 3 is the command post; the bronze chariots and horses, found in 1980 west of the tomb mound, are in their own hall and are the finest bronze work in the complex.

What most visits miss is the condition of the figures when they came out: broken, painted, and fragile, with pigment that lifts off the clay within minutes of exposure to air. The conservation labs and the reconstruction work you can see inside the pits are why the site is a research institution and not only a monument. Your guide on this afternoon is an archaeologist or a specialist museum guide, and the three hours follow the order that makes the formation legible: Pit 1, then 3, then 2, then the bronzes.

• Found in March 1974 by farmers sinking a well at Xiyang village
• Pit 1: an estimated 6,000 figures in battle formation, with chariots, horses and weapons
• Pit 2's mixed formation of archers, cavalry and chariots; Pit 3, the command post
• The bronze chariots and horses found in 1980, in their own hall
• Why the paint lifts off the clay within minutes of exposure to air
• The conservation labs and the visible reconstruction work inside the pits
• UNESCO World Heritage site, inscribed in 1987

• Meals as listed in the daily itinerary (no meals; bottled water provided)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout
• English-speaking local guide (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian or Japanese on request)
• All entrance fees for the sites listed, including shuttle buses, eco-buses and cable cars where the site requires them
• Local handling and coordination service throughout the programme
• Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day) and audio headsets where group size requires them
• Travel accident insurance for the duration of the tour

• International air tickets and any domestic flights not listed in the itinerary
• China visa or visa-free entry documentation fees
• Meals not specified in the daily itinerary and all beverages/alcohol
• Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff (suggested USD 8-12 per person per day)
• Personal expenses: laundry, telephone, minibar, shopping
• Optional activities and any item not listed under Price Includes
• Single-room supplement if a traveller requires a room alone
• The shuttle bus inside the complex, if taken (about CNY 20, paid on site)
• The film or the VR presentation at the entrance, if you want them

Published: October 2026 — prices and itinerary reviewed on this date; later updates are shown in the revision note below.

Please read the notes below before you book. The site is 40 kilometres east of the city and the pits are hangars, not air-conditioned museums: hot in summer, cold in winter.

Q: Why the afternoon rather than the morning?
A: Because the morning belongs to the coaches from the city and the cruise groups. Between two and four the site is emptier, the light through the hangar doors is better for photographs, and the guards are more relaxed about people standing still. In July and August the afternoon is hotter, so we run the morning in high summer instead.

Q: How much walking is there, and is it accessible?
A: About two kilometres on the flat between the pits and the bronze hall, on paved paths with seating. The shuttle covers the outer stretch. Pit 1 has a ramp at the west end; Pits 2 and 3 have steps. Wheelchair users can see all three pits with a slightly longer route - tell us in advance and we plan it.

Q: Is the site crowded, and can we avoid the crowds?
A: It is one of the most visited sites in China and there is no way to see Pit 1 alone. What we can do is time it: late afternoon, out of holiday weeks, and starting at the far end of Pit 1 where the tour groups do not walk. The difference between a good and a miserable visit is usually thirty minutes of timing.

Q: Is the archaeologist guide worth the extra?
A: If you want to understand what you are looking at, yes. The site labels tell you the dynasty and the dimensions; they do not tell you why the figures were made hollow, how the bronze weapons were plated, or what the pigment analysis showed. Our guide does. If you mainly want photographs and an hour in each pit, a standard guide is fine and cheaper.

Q: Can we combine this with the Huaqing Palace?
A: Yes - they are 10 minutes apart and the usual shape is Huaqing first, then the pits, or the reverse. Both in one afternoon is tight but doable: two hours at the pits and one at Huaqing. If you also want the hot springs, take a full day.

Q: Do we need to book tickets in advance?
A: Yes, and they sell out on public holidays. Tickets are timed and passport-linked, so send us the passport details at booking rather than at the gate. We buy them as soon as your dates are confirmed, and the price shown includes the entrance fee.

Q: Do I need a visa for this?
A: Most visitors do not. China's unilateral visa-free scheme covers 50 countries for stays up to 30 days, and 240-hour visa-free transit covers 57 nationalities through 65 designated ports. Confirm your nationality against the National Immigration Administration list before booking flights, because the scheme is revised from time to time.