Xi’an + Hukou Waterfall + Terracotta Army + Huaqing Palace + Famen Temple · 6 days

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. Planning note: The following is a menu of ideas across the whole trip, not an arrival-day checklist. Terracotta Warriors and Huaqing belong on the later Lintong day; prioritise a neighbourhood walk after arrival.

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.

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]

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. Planning note: Hukou and the Yellow Emperor Mausoleum are far from central Xi’an. Choose one as a day excursion or add an overnight journey for both; a same-day return after both is not a relaxed default. Confirm the bank of the river and weather access.

The mausoleum is located on Qiao Mountain, in Huangling County, south of Yan’an city. 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.

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. Planning note: Secure the Qin museum’s real-name admission before arranging the day, and bring the original document used for the booking. Treat Huaqing and the evening mall walk as optional around the confirmed visit.^[9]

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.

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.

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

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

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