Last updated on April 13th, 2024
Terracotta Warrior Excavation, Can Stock / dasar
Visit Xian – Terracotta Warriors
The main reason people visit Xian is to see the Terracotta Warriors. The Museum of the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang is 25 miles outside the city. You can see more than 8,000 life-size warriors and horses at the site. These terracotta warriors were sculpted around 210 BC. The warriors were placed in battle formation to protect the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife.
Bell Tower, © Can Stock / zhuzhu
A local farmer discovered the Terracotta Warriors in 1974. There is now a large warehouse structure over top of the excavations, which protects the site.
Xian City Wall, © Can Stock / urbanlight
Visit Xian City Wall
Builders started constructing the Xian City Wall in 194 BC. The Xian City Wall increased in size substantially during the Ming Dynasty in the 1300s. It’s a gigantic rectangle, which surrounds the old city. There are 4 gates through the wall – Changle, Anding, Yongning and Anyuan.
You can walk on top of the city wall or rent a bike to travel all four sides of it. The Xian City Wall Park was added in 1982 along the base of the wall.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda, © Can Stock / dasar
Visit Xian – Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (DaCi’en Temple Pagoda) was built in 652 AD to store Buddhist documents. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was badly damaged in World War II. The Small Goose Pagoda was built a few years later, but has suffered from the effects of earthquakes.
South Gate, Xian City Wall
Visit Xian – Hotels
- Eastern House Boutique Hotel
- Grand Park Xi’an
- Shan Bin Queensir Hotel Xi’an
Drum Tower, © Can Stock / jeayesy
Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Xian
The Ming Dynasty constructed the Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Xian in the 1380s. The bell was sounded at dawn and the drum was beaten at dusk. Enjoy excellent views over the city from the Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Xian.
Terracotta Warriors
Visit Xian – More Sights
- The Great Mosque of Xi’an and the Muslim Quarters.
- Shaanxi History Museum – thousands of years of Chinese history.
- The Forest of Stone Steles Museum (Xian Beilin Museum) – sculptures from various dynasties.
- Tang Paradise – acres of cultural theme park.
- Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show
Terracotta Warrior Museum, © Can Stock / cathames
Visit Sites near Xian
- Hanyang Tombs – Mausoleum of Han Dynasty Emperor Liu Qi from about 150 BC. The Hanyang Tombs are 20 miles from Xian.
- Famen Pagoda – 75 miles west of Xian. The Famen Pagoda stores the finger bone of the Sakyamuni Buddha.
Tang Paradise, © Can Stock / steve_t
Get to Xian
Most people who visit the Terracotta Warriors get to Xian by flying in to Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY). The airport is about 40 minutes from downtown. An airport bus downtown is a good option. Taxi prices are extremely variable, depending on what the driver can extract from unsuspecting tourists. You can get to Xian by excellent train links to the rest of China, but most tours of China visit Xian by flying here.
Terracotta Horses, © Can Stock / enrico01
Xian Weather
Xian weather is hot and humid in summer. Winters are cold and dray. July to September has the heaviest rainfall because Xian weather is affect by the Asian monsoon season. Dust storms can be common in April and May. That leaves June with our vote for the best month to visit Xian.
Visit Xian – Background
The city of Xi’an has been in existence since before the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the oldest cities in China. More than 6 million people live in Xian. At one time Xian was the eastern end of the Silk Road, which connected China with Africa and Europe over the centuries.
Today the main attraction in Xian is the recent discovery of the Terracotta Warriors. Their popularity has made Xian an integral part of most tours of China.
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