Xian Tour from Beijing: Terracotta Warriors and City Wall

Frequent schedules of flight and train make it possible to take a one-day round trip to Xi'an from many cities of China, especially from Beijing and Shanghai. To ensure enough time for this day tour, you're suggested to reach Xi'an at around 09:00 in the morning and leave after 20:00.

Upon your arrival, your guide and driver will pick you up from Xi’an airport or railway station. Then drive for about 1 hour to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Here you will not only take a close look at the more than 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses in the three burial pits, but also learn about the legendary stories of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of ancient China. You will spend at least 2.5 hours visiting this world's miracle. While it may be true that many more treasures are hidden within the super large mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, archaeologists dare not to excavate the tomb, for fear of many consequences if we venture into this unknown world. Apart from unexpected pitfalls everywhere, more than a hundred tons of toxic volatile mercury is flowing around the space, to take lives of whoever step into the tomb. Furthermore, any accident during excavations would possibly cause a landslide, damaging or even destroying the hidden treasures in the grave very deep underground.

Lunch is excluded on today's itinerary, but your guide will surely offer recommendations and assistance. In the afternoon, we will drive back to downtown Xi'an to visit the City Wall from the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD) first. It is the best-preserved and largest ancient city wall in China, with a total length of 14 kilometers (9 miles). A relaxing walk on the wall is a must-do for leisure travelers, moreover, you can also choose to ride a bike to take in the city views. Cycling on the centuries-old wall while witnessing traditional houses within and modern buildings outside would be awesome. It is a self-paying option and your guide will help you with bike renting.

Finally, you will be guided to the lively Muslim Quarter, a food lover’s paradise. Nearly all kinds of local snacks can be found here, such as dried fruits, nuts, bread, pastries, barbecued beef, and lamb soup. Some local specialized desserts are also worth a try, like “Qie Gao”, a huge rice cake topped with red sweet dates, mirror cake “Jing Gao”, another round and small rice cake topped with sesames, and green bean cake “Lv Dou Gao”. Overall, the Muslim Quarter is a perfect place for travelers to taste delicious street food and experience local food culture. By the way, if you want to buy souvenirs, don’t forget to bargain to get good prices.

As the tour ends, your guide and driver will escort you back to the airport or the railway station and see you off there.