Xian 4-Day Tour

Arriving at Xian Airport, or Xian Train Station, met by our English speaking tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Xian ( booked by us ). After lunch, first visit Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. If you are interested in Chinese history, Shaanxi Provincial Museum is a must on your Xian trip.

It is one of the four largest museums in China ( the other three are Forbidden City Museum, Shanghai Museum and Henan Provincial Museum. It is situated 1km away, northwest of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It is a giant architectural complex in the Tang-dynasty style. It occupies an area of 70,000 square metres, and the construction area being more than 50,000 square metres. It focuses on the highlights of the Shaanxi culture and depicts the development of the Chinese civilization.

Then move on to the Bell Towe r. In Chinese history from Ming Dynasty, each city had a bell tower and a drum tower. The bell was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in ancient time, a means of telling time. Xian was not exception. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The two are located in the center of the Xian city connecting the four roads from east, south, west and north within the city wall. Atop the Bell Tower you will have a panoramic view of the Xian City.

Then continue to visit the Muslim Quarter (excluding the visit to the Great Mosque). Xian Muslim Quarter is just located behind ( north of ) the Drum Tower. The Xian Muslim quarters is a delightful place you mustn't miss! The bazaar in the Muslim area is most attractive with a wide area of stalls selling everything. The streets and walkways are full of life. The shopping is great, very cheap and some unusual items we will seldom see anywhere else in China.

After the day tour, get to the Shaanxi Grand Opera House around 6:00pm and our tour guide will help you find your seat for the Dumpling dinner within the Opera House. Dumpling, or Jiaozi in Chinese, is one of the most representative Chinese food.

The food can be dated back two thousands years ago. It is quite popular in China, and also loved by most of foreign tourists. Enjoy the jiaozi dinner before and over the Tang Dynasty Show. The Tang Dynasty Show showcases the costumes, music, and dancing of China's golden age: the Tang dynasty (618 - 907). Return to your downtown hotel in Xian.

Visit Army of Terra Cotta Warrors and City Wall

Pick up from your hotel in Xian. First visit the Terra-cotta Warriors. To visit Army of Terra Cotta Warriors is the main reason why you are here in Xian. You may have already seen its pictures from China travel books or China tour related travel websites. The original site was found by a local farmer drilling a well in 1974.

Now it has turned into the most important attraction in Xian - Terracotta Warriors and Horse Museum. It is located about 50km east of the Xian City. The museum includes Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 as well the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. The Pit 1 is the largest of the three. The museum and the mausoleum are listed the world's cultural legacies as the UNESCO.

Drive back to the city center of Xian, you have a la carte lunch with an a la carte menu at a nice local restaurant, where you could enjoy the authentic Chinese food. After lunch，visit the City Wall. The main magnet of Xian is the city wall, which is the most complete city wall that has survived in China as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

It was enlarged in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) from the city wall initially built in Tang Dynasty (618 -907). Now it is 12 meters tall, 12-14 meters wide overing 14 kilometers in length with a deep moat surrounding it. You can walk, even cycle on the wall. Its south gate is the most largest with a suspension bridge. Most of the tourists choose the south gate for sightseeing. Back to your hotel in Xian.

Pick up from your hotel in Xian. First drive 120km west of Xian and get to Famen Temple. The Famen Temple was first set up during East Han Dynasty. In the year 147 AD, King Asoka of India traveled to Asia, preaching Buddhism. He established Famen Temple and left the fingers of Buddha to be enshrined here. In the course of rebuilding the pagoda in 1987,an underground vault was discovered under the base of the pagoda. A great amount of Buddhist relics were found including four finger sarira relics.

After lunch, then visit Qianling Tomb, 85km west of Xian - the co-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. Qianling Tomb was first built in 684 A.D.and its construction took 23 years. An holy way flanked by animal and human statues leading all the way to the tombs from the southern approach. After the tour, you are transferred back to your hotel in Xian.

After breakfast, you are free till your transfer to Xian Train Station, or Xian Airport for your next destination.