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The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda lit at night in Xi'an
4 DAYS · XI'AN

Xi'an: first mile of the Silk Road

Terracotta legions, Tang boulevards and the first mile of the Silk Road.

4 days
Xi'an round trip
3 nights
One hotel, no repacking
All year
Best in spring and autumn
Minimum 2 
Privately guided throughout
Introduction

Four days in the Tang capital, read with historians who know it well.

Xi'an was Chang'an, the eastern anchor of the Silk Road and the largest city in the world at the height of the Tang dynasty. What survives is unusually legible: an intact Ming city wall you can cycle in full, the Terracotta Army still standing in its excavation pits, and a Muslim Quarter whose trading families have been in the same lanes for a thousand years.

The program is short by design and paced for a first visit or a two-city add-on to Beijing. Mornings go to the major sites before the coach groups arrive, afternoons to museums, workshops and the wall, and evenings to the lantern-lit boulevards of the modern Tang district.

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Route map showing the flight route from Beijing to Xi'an in central China
Highlights

Why advisors choose this journey.

  1. The Terracotta Army, read closely

    An expert historian unpacks the pits, the figures and the politics behind them.

  2. Provincial museum with a specialist

    Senior experts guide the Tang and Han collections rather than a standard walkthrough.

  3. Tang capital after dark

    City wall, lantern-lit boulevards and the thousand-year-old Muslim Quarter.

  4. Optional Mount Huashan extension

    Add a day for the granite ridges and cliff paths outside the city.

Day by day

Full Itinerary.

  1. Xi'anD1-4
  2. Terracotta WarriorsD3

Airport to hotel

Upon arrival, be met by your guide and transfer to the hotel for a good rest.

Night view of Datang Everbright City in Xi'an

Datang Everbright City

In the evening, enjoy a walk at Datang Everbright City, a large-scale cultural attraction in Xi'an.

Overnight
Xi'an
Meals
Breakfast included

Xi'an historical highlights

This morning, start your visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty. Spend the afternoon on the City Wall, the most complete ancient city wall in China. You may take a biking tour on the wall led by your guide.

In the afternoon, you will visit the outstanding Provincial History Museum (closed on Monday), one of the largest museums in Xi'an. Its collection of artifacts is carefully assembled from Xi'an and its vicinity. Additionally, you have the option to participate in a guided tour of an exhibition room specifically dedicated to murals found in Xi'an for an additional fee.

Ancient civilisation exhibit at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

Muslim Quarter

Before dinner, we will pay a visit to the Big Mosque, one of China's oldest and largest mosques.

In the evening, delight in a street food walking tour through the enchanting Muslim Quarter. This historic district in downtown Xi'an boasts streets dating back over 1,000 years. Renowned for its delectable local snacks and rich cultural heritage shaped by centuries of immigration, the Muslim Quarter offers a tapestry of diverse cuisine, warm hospitality, and distinctive Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Its traditional mosques add to the area's allure, making it a must-visit destination for travelers both local and international.

Overnight
Xi'an
Meals
Breakfast included

Terra Cotta Warriors immersion

After breakfast, we will embark on a drive to one of China's most remarkable attractions: the Terra Cotta Warriors. Here, you will be astounded by thousands of life-sized soldiers, each bearing unique expressions, alongside horses. These statues were crafted as companions for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China and a key figure in the construction of the Great Wall.

In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to participate in the HANS Terracotta Workshop. This workshop offers various lectures on terracotta culture, covering ten different themes such as excavation, design, carving, painting, firing, and more.

Ranks of the Terracotta Warriors in their excavation pit
Optional

Song of Everlasting Sorrow

For those intrigued by traditional cultural performances, we can arrange a showing of “The Song of Everlasting Sorrow” at Huaqing Palace, located approximately 1.5 hours' drive from downtown Xi'an. Following the performance, you have the option to return to your hotel or extend your stay at the nearby Huaqing Yutang Hot Spring Hotel, situated near the Huaqing Palace.

Overnight
Xi'an
Meals
Breakfast included

Hotel to airport

Enjoy the day at your leisure. Upon checking out, transfer to the airport for your flight home, or towards your onward destination.

Meals
Breakfast included
Hotel information

Where you will stay.

In Xi'an

2 recommended stays

Sofitel Legendary Hotel on Renmin Square

Signature selection · Minister Room, 55 sq m / 592 sq ft

On Renmin Square, in the heart of the old imperial city.

We put guests at the Sofitel because it sits directly on Renmin Square, the old seat of Tang and Ming government, close to the Bell Tower and the Muslim Quarter without a long transfer each morning. The hotel occupies part of a grand mid-century government compound whose colonnaded facade has become a Xi'an landmark in its own right, and its kitchen team runs one of the city's more reliable Western dining rooms for a night off local snacks. We recommend the Minister Room, in the historic Legend wing, for the higher ceilings and quieter corridor.

Good to know
  • A 1953 heritage landmark that once served as the city's official State Guesthouse.
  • The only Sofitel Legend in China, blending French Art Deco with Sino-Russian grandeur.
  • Guests enjoy 24-hour Majordome butler service and a private onsite museum wing.
Visit hotel website →
Exterior of the Sofitel Legendary Hotel on Renmin Square
Bedroom at the Sofitel Legendary Hotel on Renmin Square
Dining room at the Sofitel Legendary Hotel on Renmin Square

Canopy by Hilton Xi'an Qujiang

Classic selection · Premier Room, 40–48 sq m / 431–517 sq ft

Amid Tang-era sites in Qujiang, with bikes to explore the district.

We chose Canopy by Hilton for guests who prefer a newer, design-led stay over a traditional five-star, and its Qujiang location puts the Tang Paradise gardens and several museums within an easy walk or bike ride. The hotel's complimentary Canopy bikes are a genuinely useful way to reach the neighbourhood's parks and restaurants, and the evening local tastings give a relaxed introduction to Shaanxi flavours before dinner. We recommend the Premier Room for the extra space over the standard category.

Good to know
  • A design-forward tribute to Tang Dynasty aesthetics in the heart of Qujiang.
  • Complimentary Canopy bikes for exploring the nearby Tang Paradise gardens.
  • Evening 'Canopy Central' tastings showcase craft beers and Shaanxi snacks.
Visit hotel website →
Exterior of Canopy by Hilton Xi'an Qujiang
Guest room at Canopy by Hilton Xi'an Qujiang
Lounge area at Canopy by Hilton Xi'an Qujiang
Official quotation

Rates & what is included.

The indicative cost covers the full journey for the party size shown. The single supplement applies only when one guest occupies a room alone. All rates in CNY.

Signature selection
  • Sofitel Legendary Hotel on Renmin Square · Xi'an · Minister Room, 55 sq m / 592 sq ft
Indicative cost per person
CNY 15,900
Single supplement
CNY 3,500
Classic selection
  • Canopy by Hilton Xi'an Qujiang · Xi'an · Premier Room, 40–48 sq m / 431–517 sq ft
Indicative cost per person
CNY 13,900
Single supplement
CNY 1,500

Based on 2 guests sharing twin rooms. Minimum 2 guests to operate. Single supplement added only for single-room occupancy. All rates in CNY.

What's included

  • Accommodation based on hotels as stated in the itinerary
  • All transportation & transfers on an air-conditioned MPV (7 seaters)
  • Local English-speaking expert guide
  • All entrance fees as stated

What's not included

  • International airfare
  • Lunches & dinners not stated
  • Beverages in restaurants where meals are included
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses, e.g. telephone bill & laundry
  • Travel insurance
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