From the route collectionFrom the journal

Xi’an + Hukou Waterfall + Terracotta Army + Huaqing Palace + Famen Temple 6-Day 5-Night Group Trip

An earlier itinerary from our China travel journal. Read for inspiration, then check the practical details before you go.

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  1. Xi'an + Hukou Waterfall + Terracotta Army + Huaqing Palace + Famen Temple 6-Day 5-Night G…
  2. Note:
  3. Itinerary
  4. Day 1 — Arrive in Xi’an
  5. Day 2 — Qianling & Famen Temple
  6. Day 3 — Hukou Waterfall, Yellow Emperor Mausoleum & Xuanyuan Temple
  7. Day 4 — Huaqing Palace, Terracotta Army & Grand Tang All Day Mall
  8. Day 5 — Xi’an City Wall, museum, pagoda & Huimin Street
  9. Day 6 — Departure
  10. FAQs
  11. 1. Q: How much time should I allocate for visiting the Shaanxi History Museum?
  12. 2. Q: Where can I experience rich Muslim culture and taste characteristic snacks?
  13. 3. Q: Which attraction is related to China's only reigning female emperor Wu Zetian?
  14. 4. Q: What is the alleged burial site of the legendary Yellow Emperor?
  15. 5. Q: Are there any restrictions on photography at these historical sites?
  16. 6. Q:How can I visit here with a 144-hour visa-free entry?

Xi'an + Hukou Waterfall + Terracotta Army + Huaqing Palace + Famen Temple 6-Day 5-Night Group Trip

Shaanxi is an inland province in Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichuan (SW), Gansu (W), Ningxia (NW), and Inner Mongolia (N).

Shaanxi covers an area of over 205,000 km2 (79,151 sq mi) with about 37 million people, the 16th largest in China. Xi’an – which includes the sites of the former Chinese capitals Fenghao and Chang’an – is the provincial capital as well as the largest city in Northwest China and also one of the oldest cities in China and the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals, being the capital for the Western Zhou, Western Han, Jin, Sui and Tang dynasties. Xianyang, which served as the Qin dynasty capital, is just north across Wei River. The other prefecture-level cities into which the province is divided are Ankang, Baoji, Hanzhong, Shangluo, Tongchuan, Weinan, Yan’an and Yulin.

Along with areas of adjacent Shanxi and Henan provinces, it formed the cradle of the Chinese civilization. In the Republican era of China, the city of Yan’an was near the endpoint of the Long March by the Chinese Red Army, who fled from Jiangxi after the Chinese Soviet Republic were destroyed by the Kuomintang armies, and became the birthplace of the Chinese Communist Revolution from late 1935 to early 1947 and the Communists formed the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region in constituent parts of Shaanxi.

Note:

  • Xi'an is an ancient capital of six dynasties, rich in historical and cultural relics. It is advisable to research the historical sites online before visiting, in order to enhance your experience and understanding of the places you will explore.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Xi’an

Original day heading

Day 01 — Departure Place — Xi'an [Free Activities]

1. The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses (Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses): Located near the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, it is one of the world’s famous archaeological discoveries, showcasing the spectacular array of the Qin Dynasty’s army.

2. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda: Situated within the Da Ci’en Temple, it is a pavilion-style Buddhist pagoda from the Tang Dynasty, representing the superb craftsmanship of Tang Dynasty architecture and is one of the symbols of Xi’an.

3. Xi’an City Wall: A well-preserved city wall where visitors can cycle or walk on top, overlooking the entire city.

4. Shaanxi History Museum: Houses a vast collection of artifacts from the peak periods of ancient China, making it an important place to understand the history of ancient China.

5. Huaqing Pool: The royal bath of the Tang Dynasty and the site of the “Xi’an Incident,” it holds rich historical and cultural value.

6. Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City: Located between the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Tang Paradise, it is a modern tourist area filled with elements of the Tang Dynasty style.

7. Huiminsi Street: A Muslim quarter with a history of hundreds of years, known for its rich Muslim culture and a variety of characteristic snacks from Xi’an.

8. Bell & Drum Tower: Located in the city center, they are the iconic structures of Xi’an, with the Bell Tower and Drum Tower situated at the city’s central point, symbolizing the city.

9. Xi’an Beilin Museum: Collects a large number of ancient steles and calligraphic works, and is a treasure trove of Chinese calligraphic art.

Day 2 Qianling & Famen Temple

Original day heading

Day 02 — Qianling — Famen Temple — Xi'an

The Qian Mausoleum (Chinese: 乾陵; pinyin: Qiánlíng) is a Tang dynasty (618–907) tomb site located in Qian County, Shaanxi province, China, and is 85 km (53 mi) northwest from Xi’an.[1] Built in 684 (with additional construction until 706), the tombs of the mausoleum complex house the remains of various members of the House of Li, the imperial family of the Tang dynasty. This includes Emperor Gaozong (r. 649–83), as well as his wife, Wu Zetian, who assumed the Tang throne and became China’s only reigning female emperor from 690 to 705. The mausoleum is renowned for its many Tang dynasty stone statues located above ground and the mural paintings adorning the subterranean walls of the tombs. Besides the main tumulus mound and underground tomb of Emperor Gaozong and Wu Zetian, there are 17 smaller attendant tombs, or peizang mu.[2] Presently, only five of these attendant tombs have been excavated by archaeologists, three belonging to members of the imperial family, one to a chancellor, and the other to a general of the left guard.[3] The Shaanxi Administration of Cultural Heritage declared in 2012 that no further excavations would take place for at least 50 years.[4]

Day 3 Hukou Waterfall, Yellow Emperor Mausoleum & Xuanyuan Temple

Original day heading

Day 03 — Hukou Waterfall - Yellow Emperor Mausoleum & Xuanyuan Temple (Root-Seeking Ancestry · Millennium Cypress) - Xi'an

The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor (simplified Chinese: 黄帝陵; traditional Chinese: 黃帝陵; pinyin: Huángdì Líng) is the alleged burial site of the legendary Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) of China. It is located in Huangling County, Yan’an City, Shaanxi Province, China. According to legend, the Yellow Emperor attained immortality and rose to Heaven, leaving behind only his clothing and cap to be entombed.

The mausoleum is located on Qiao Mountain, north of Yan’an proper. In 1961, the Chinese State Council proclaimed it as the first National State-Protected Great Cultural Site, with the identifier “Ancient Tomb #1” and the moniker “The First Tomb Under Heaven”. The mausoleum was anciently called “Qiao Tomb”, and was an important location where generations of emperors and famous people made offerings to the Yellow Emperor.

According to historical records, the earliest offerings to the Yellow Emperor at the mausoleum’s location began in 442 BCE. From the establishment of a shrine proper in the year 770 CE during the Tang dynasty, it was the scene of regular national offerings and sacrifices. The site has been rebuilt and restored several times, most recently beginning in 1993. The Yellow Emperor Mausoleum Foundation was established to raise money for the reconstruction process, which was divided into two phases. The first phase was completed in August 2001, and in 2004 yearly national offerings to the Yellow Emperor at the mausoleum resumed.

Day 4 Huaqing Palace, Terracotta Army & Grand Tang All Day Mall

Original day heading

Day 04 — Huaqing Palace - Terracotta Army Museum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang - Grand Tang All Day Mall - Xi'an

The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from approximately the late 200s BCE, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi’an, Shaanxi, China. The figures vary in height according to their rank, the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army hold more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which remain in situ in the pits near Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum. Other, non-military terracotta figures have since been found in other pits, including those of officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.

Day 5 Xi’an City Wall, museum, pagoda & Huimin Street

Original day heading

Day 05 — Xi'an City Wall - Xi'an Museum - Small Wild Goose Pagoda - Huimin Street - Xi'an

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, sometimes Little Wild Goose Pagoda (Chinese: 小雁塔; pinyin: Xiǎoyàn Tǎ), is one of two significant pagodas in Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, the site of the old Han and Tang capital Chang’an. The other notable pagoda is the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built in 652 and restored in 704. This pagoda, along with the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and other sites along the Silk Road, was inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor World Heritage Site.

Day 6 Departure

Original day heading

Day 06 — Return Trip

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport is located in Xianyang, which is a certain distance from Xi’an. Please remember to allow ample time for your journey.

FAQs

1. Q: How much time should I allocate for visiting the Shaanxi History Museum?

A: It is recommended to spend at least 3 to 4 hours to fully appreciate the vast collection.

2. Q: Where can I experience rich Muslim culture and taste characteristic snacks?

A: Huiminsi Street is a Muslim quarter with rich Muslim culture and a variety of characteristic snacks.

3. Q: Which attraction is related to China's only reigning female emperor Wu Zetian?

A: The Qian Mausoleum houses the remains of Emperor Gaozong and his wife Wu Zetian.

4. Q: What is the alleged burial site of the legendary Yellow Emperor?

A: The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor is the alleged burial site of the legendary Yellow Emperor.

5. Q: Are there any restrictions on photography at these historical sites?

A: Generally, photography is allowed at most sites. However, flash photography may be restricted in some areas to protect the artifacts.

6. Q:How can I visit here with a 144-hour visa-free entry?

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