Kick off your tour with an in-depth visit to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors Museum, the iconic mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Your professional local guide will provide detailed, vivid commentary throughout the visit, walking you through the three grand exhibition pits with distinct features: the No.1 Pit (the largest one, with over 6,000 life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots arrayed in a grand battle formation), the No.2 Pit (a mixed military unit with rare cavalry, archer and chariot figures, showcasing the advanced military system of the Qin Dynasty), and the No.3 Pit (serving as the military command center of the terracotta army, with exquisite general figures and a compact layout). You’ll learn the fascinating story of how this incredible relic was accidentally discovered by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974, as well as the exquisite craftsmanship, archaeological excavation progress and profound historical background.

After a delicious local lunch, head to the Xi’an City Wall, the most complete and well-preserved ancient city wall in China with a history of over 600 years. First built in the early Ming Dynasty on the foundation of the Sui and Tang Dynasty imperial city walls, this grand military defense project stretches for 13.7 kilometers, with a sturdy structure featuring tall ramparts, massive gate towers, watchtowers and moats—embodying the superb fortification construction technology of ancient China. Your guide will share the wall’s historical evolution, military functions and cultural significance as you climb to the top of the rampart. You can stroll along the ancient wall, admire the stunning contrast of the old ramparts against the modern city skyline below, and even take a slow bike ride on the wall (optional) to experience the grand scale of this ancient fortress up close.

Next, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a landmark of Xi’an and a precious relic of Tang Dynasty Buddhist culture, located in the beautiful Daci’en Temple. Built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty, the pagoda was originally constructed to preserve the Buddhist sutras, sacred figurines and other Buddhist relics that the famous monk Xuanzang brought back to China after his 17-year arduous pilgrimage to India for Buddhist scriptures. Your guide will detail Xuanzang’s epic journey to the West, the history of the pagoda’s construction and reconstruction, and its profound influence on the spread of Buddhism in China and even across Asia. You can walk around the seven-story square brick pagoda, admire its simple and grand Tang-style architecture, and also visit the surrounding Daci’en Temple to see ancient Buddhist cultural relics, feeling the profound and peaceful Buddhist atmosphere of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.