Day 1 Terracotta Warriors → Huaqing Palace → Bell Tower or hotel within the Third Ring Road
All day
Around 8:30-8:45, guests staying in hotels within the Third Ring Road of Xi'an will be waiting for us to pick up. We will then take a bus to [Terracotta Warriors Pits 1/2/3] to decipher the "underground army" that Qin Shi Huang built for himself.
The Terracotta Army, one of the first batch of Chinese World Heritage Sites and a key national cultural relic protection site, is known worldwide as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." How many secrets are hidden in the underground palace built by Qin Shihuang to unify the country? How can one glimpse the Qin Dynasty from underground? How were such enormous terracotta warriors fired? These questions will be answered here.
After lunch, we headed to Huaqing Palace to revisit the history of the Tang Dynasty's love and hate, and the Xi'an Incident.
The ruins of the imperial hot springs in the Huaqing Palace of the Tang Dynasty, a national 5A-level scenic spot, is where the romantic love story of Emperor Minghuang of Tang and Yang Guifei took place. Huaqing Pool, known as the "royal imperial hot spring ruins", is known for its "smooth hot spring water washing away fat" as a portrayal of Yang Guifei's bathing here. Today, the private hot springs of Emperor Minghuang of Tang and Yang Guifei are preserved here; the site of the Xi'an Incident that shocked China and the world - Huanyuan (Wujianting) also took place here.
The trip ends around 18:00 in the afternoon and we return to Xi'an, where we will take you to your hotel in the city.
Day 2 Xi'an Hotel → Yongning Gate → Huifang → Xi'an Museum → Small Wild Goose Pagoda → Big Wild Goose Pagoda → Tang Dynasty City
All day
After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel entrance and take a taxi to Yongning Gate. Explore the mysteries of the city wall along the way and reach the main gate, Yongning Gate, which fully embodies the five elements of the city wall.
As you walk along 600-year-old bricks, have you ever wondered what makes the city wall so rock-solid? How many bricks were needed to build such a magnificent wall? Walk along the wall to the Yongning Gate Tower, the main gate of the Xi'an City Wall and the longest-standing gate in use. Its imposing presence fully demonstrates the wall's five-pronged defense system. Explore how the wall protected the city.
Special Experience | Enjoy Authentic Xi'an Cuisine at Huifang on a CityWalk
Even though Huimin Street and Sajin Bridge, the hallmarks of the Hui Quarter, are now overrun with tourists, they remain essential destinations for locals seeking out Xi'an delicacies, albeit more discreetly. Following in the footsteps of these locals, we set out from the less-visited Dapiyuan. The narrow 400-meter street is dotted with Shaanxi favorites: Lao Li's mixed liver soup, Ma Zhigang oil cakes, Shijia steamed buns, Yizhenlou steamed buns, and Hua Nainai's sour plum soup—you'll want to cling to the wall when you leave.
Then take a taxi to Xi'an Museum to restore the life of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty
The Xi'an Museum and the Shaanxi History Museum were both designed by renowned architect Zhang Jinqiu. The museum's collection, themed "Ancient Capital Xi'an," showcases the city's transformation over the millennia, drawing on its collection of artifacts and history as the capital of 13 dynasties. Visitors can stand before a massive replica of Tang Dynasty Chang'an and learn about the unique designs and stories of the imperial city during that time.
【Special Note】
1. The Xi'an Museum is closed every Tuesday. If this happens, the order of your visit will be adjusted based on the actual situation. Please remain calm and thank you for your understanding.
2. If the Xi'an Museum is unable to make a reservation due to excessive crowds during holidays, we will adjust the tour to other attractions based on the actual situation. Thank you for your understanding.
Special Experience | Ring the "Yanta Morning Bell," one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong, at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the largest of the museum's collections, was built during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty. Located in Jianfu Temple in Chang'an, it housed Buddhist scriptures and images brought back from India by the eminent Tang monk Yijing. During the wars of the late Tang Dynasty, the temple was destroyed, leaving only the Small Wild Goose Pagoda intact. The Wild Goose Pagoda Morning Bell, one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong, is also located here. Every morning, monks would ring the bell to announce the time, creating a clear, melodious sound and a towering beauty that stood proudly in the heart of the city. We have also recreated the beautiful scene of the Wild Goose Pagoda Morning Bell.
Afterwards, let's look out over the Big Wild Goose Pagoda from its south square, listen to the story of Xuanzang's journey to the West to seek Buddhist scriptures, and take a group photo at a great camera spot.
Xuanzang, upon his return from his pilgrimage to the West, translated Buddhist scriptures here and founded the Yogacara school. Hear about Xuanzang's journey along the Silk Road. The long tradition of inscribing poems on the Big Wild Goose Pagoda has left a rich legacy of literary influence. Are there any familiar figures or poems here?
The sun sets, and after dinner you can go to the Tang Dynasty City to have fun and watch the performances.
