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Visiting The Terracotta Army in Xi’an, China

Visiting The Terracotta Army in Xi’an is one of THE things to do when you travel to China. Perhaps second only to visiting the Great Wall of China from Beijing. I’ve been to the terracotta army twice, once as a broke backpacker, and once with money. The first time I did it all independently, and it cost about $35 or so and took the whole day. The second time I booked a tour for about $100, and it took half a day. Which was better? If you’re broke, like I was, take the bus and do it yourself. If you’re older and on holiday. And not wasting time is important. Just book a guided tour. It’s much more stress-free.

TLDR? I used these guys to book a tour to pick me up from Xian, drive me al the way to the Terracotta Army, guided tour (in English) and drive me back to the city by 3 pm. $110 or so.  Money well spent. 

What Is the Terracotta Army in Xian?

The Terracotta Army Warriors were discovered in 1974 when 3 farmers were digging a well in Shaanxi Province. Now those 3 guys take it in turns to sit at the entrance of the Terracotta Army and have their photo taken. 

The very brief story behind the army is that it was built for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. In 210BC when the Emperor died, he was buried with the army to protect him in his afterlife. Brutal.

Now the Army is housed in 3 huge vaults, showing 8,000 lifesize warriors all with individual faces and expressions, 300, 000 weapons, 100 chariots etc. The actual site disappointed me a little actually, I think I was too excited about seeing something I dreamt about for years. I was left a little underwhelmed. That being said, it’s still awesome but temper your expectations a little so you’re not left disenchanted.

Where is the Terracotta Army?

It’s in Xian, China. Very roughly speaking, it’s in the geographic middle of China. Xi’an is a really cool city, one which strongly considered moving to and studying Chinese in actually (before I fell in love in Thailand, and got engaged in French Polynesia). 

The Terracotta Army is actually about an hour drive, 40km or so, west of Xian’s city centre. 

How to Get to the Terracotta Army in Xian?

First, you have to get to Xian, I wrote about that here. Once in Xian, you have 3 options to get to the Terracotta Army:

*Xian is now only 5 hours by train from Beijing on the new fast train!

BUS:

The cheapest option, obviously. Head to the Xi’an train station and take the GREEN BUS (or bus numbers 306, 914 or 915). It’s about $1 and takes you directly to the Terracotta Army. The same bus will bring you back. It takes about 90 minutes.

TOUR:

Group tours can run from about $75 to $200 with pick-up and drop off from Xi’an city. These guys are about $100 and are the most pain-free way to do it!

TAXI:

It’s an hour, roughly, each way. So you can take separate taxis, or have your taxi wait for you. It’ll cost about $25 each way, plus another $20 or so waiting time. So $70 or so all-in. Better to just book a tour, to be honest.

Tips on visiting the Terracotta Army in Xian

Terracotta Army Ticket Prices:

150RMB (about $23). Half price for students.

Terracotta Army Opening hours:

March 16th until November 14th: 8:30 – 17:30

November 15th until March 15th: 8:30 – 17:00

Best time to considering visiting the Terracotta Army?

Late Spring to Early Autumn or Fall. So April until September. But visiting all year round is completely doable. And in fact, my first time was in December.

Final Thoughts on Visiting the Terracotta Army

It’s hugely famous. But for me, I was a little underwhelmed. However, with the story behind it, and the fact that Xian is such a cool city, I’d still 100% recommend people visiting the Terracotta Army. Huashan Mountain is probably the biggest highlight when visiting Xian, but the Terracotta army would come in second. It’s of huge cultural and historical significance, so go for it. 

FAQs about visiting the Terracotta army in Xi’an

What is the Terracotta Army?

The Terracotta Army is a vast collection of life-size clay soldiers buried with China’s first emperor. The statues were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well near Xi’an. Today the site is one of China’s most famous historical attractions and part of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.

When was the Terracotta Army built?

The Terracotta Army was built between around 246 BC and 210 BC, during the reign of Qin Shi Huang. Construction began when the emperor was just 13 years old and continued for decades until his death.

How old is the Terracotta Army?

The Terracotta Army is more than 2,200 years old. Despite this age, thousands of the statues remain remarkably well preserved.

How many Terracotta Warriors are there?

Archaeologists estimate there are:

• Around 8,000 soldiers
• About 130 chariots
• More than 600 horses
• Thousands of bronze weapons

Not all of the figures have been excavated yet, and new discoveries are still being made.

Who built the Terracotta Army?

The army was built by craftsmen working for the imperial court of Qin Shi Huang. Historical records suggest that over 700,000 workers were involved in constructing the emperor’s enormous tomb complex.

Why was the Terracotta Army built?

The army was created to protect the emperor in the afterlife. Ancient Chinese rulers believed their power and status would continue after death, so Qin Shi Huang ordered a full military force to accompany him into the next world.

Where is the Terracotta Army located?

The Terracotta Army is located about 40 km east of Xi’an, in Shaanxi Province in central China. The site lies near the burial mound of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and forms part of a huge archaeological park.

How do you get to the Terracotta Army from Beijing?

You need to get to Xi’an. The easiest way is to first travel from Beijing to Xi’an.

Options include:

High-speed train

• Around 4.5 to 5.5 hours
• Runs frequently from Beijing West Railway Station

Flight

• About 2 hours

Once in Xi’an, the Terracotta Army is about one hour away by car or bus. Public buses from Xi’an Railway Station (such as Bus 306) go directly to the site.

Which Chinese emperor is buried with the Terracotta Army?

The army was created for Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who unified China in 221 BC and founded the Qin Dynasty.

Interesting facts about the Terracotta Army

• Every warrior has a unique face and expression.
• The statues were originally painted in bright colours, although most pigments faded after excavation.
• The soldiers represent different military ranks including generals, archers, infantry and cavalry.
• The entire site covers more than 50 square kilometres.
• It is considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

Is visiting the Terracotta Army worth it?

Absolutely. Even if you’re not normally into museums or ancient history, seeing thousands of life-size warriors standing in formation is an unforgettable experience and one of the most famous sights in China.

Full disclosure though. I thought it was kinda boring. Still worth it though.

Other places to consider including visiting in China are;

• Chongqing
• Avatar Mountains national park
• Tibet