5 Day Private Xian Tour with Terracotta Workshop and Shows

Xian, China
Duration5 days
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesGerman, English, Italian, French, Spanish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

Most tours only show you the Terracotta Warriors. This one lets you make one. In a hands-on workshop, you'll sculpt your own clay figurine — a real connection to Qin Dynasty craftsmanship, and a souvenir no photo can replace.
You'll also witness two of China's greatest live shows: the Legend of the Camel Bells, with its massive revolving stage bringing the Silk Road to life, and the Song of Everlasting Sorrow, an open-air Tang Dynasty love story set against Huaqing Palace and Mount Li.
Beyond the guidebook, you'll explore the South Gate Morning Market — tasting street food, hearing vendors call out, feeling the city wake up. At the Stele Forest, you'll see 2,000-year-old calligraphy carved in stone. In the Muslim Quarter, you'll savor flavors perfected over generations.
Travel with a private guide and driver. No rushing, no crowds, no shopping stops, no hidden costs. This is Xi'an as a living city, not a museum.
Walk with emperors. Create with your hands. Live like a local.

What's included

  • Daily buffet breakfast
  • Professional English-speaking guide
  • Live performances: "Legend of the Camel Bells" & "Song of Everlasting Sorrow"
  • All hotel taxes and service charge
  • Terracotta Warrior figurine making workshop (materials included)
  • Wireless headsets for guide commentary
  • Unlimited bottled water on board
  • All entrance fees and show tickets listed in the itinerary
  • Dinner
  • Welcome dinner on day 1
  • Breakfast
  • Private driver + air-conditioned vehicle
  • 4 nights at a 4-star hotel in downtown Xi'an
  • Lunch and dinner (unless specified)
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs
  • Tips and gratuities

What to expect

Day 1: Arrival in Xi‘an — First Encounter with the Ancient Capital
  1. 3h · Admission ticket included
    Your private guide and driver will greet you at Xi‘an Xianyang International Airport and escort you to your downtown hotel. After check-in, you’ll receive a warm welcome and a brief orientation to help you settle in. The rest of the day is yours to rest and explore at your own pace.Welcome dinner included at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Stele Forest, Calligraphy & The Silk Road Legend
  1. 2h · Admission ticket included
    Visit the Xi’an Stele Forest Museum, home to the finest collection of ancient stone calligraphy in China. Spanning from the Han to the Qing dynasties, these carved steles preserve the written history of Chinese civilization — from Confucian classics to Buddhist scriptures. Your guide will decode the stories behind the characters, revealing how writing shaped China‘s culture and governance over two millennia.
  2. 1h 30m
    Stroll along Shuyuanmen Ancient Street, a charming pedestrian lane lined with calligraphy shops, painting studios, and traditional stationery stores. Watch artisans at work, browse ink stones and brushes, and feel the scholarly atmosphere that has defined this street for centuries. This is where Xi’an‘s intellectual heritage comes to life.
  3. Xi'an Incident Memorial Hall
    Pass by
    In the evening, experience the grand live performance “Legend of the Camel Bells.” With a rotating stage and immersive technology, the show takes you on a journey along the ancient Silk Road. Witness the epic story of Tang Dynasty merchants traveling westward, the cultural exchanges between China and the West, and the enduring spirit of the Silk Road brought to life through music, dance, and spectacular staging.
Day 3: Terracotta Warriors, Huaqing Palace & Song of Everlasting Sorrow
  1. The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
    2h 30m · Admission ticket included
    Stand before the world-famous Terracotta Warriors — over 8,000 life-sized soldiers, each with unique facial features, standing guard for over 2,200 years. Your expert guide will reveal the story behind this underground army: the first emperor’s obsession with immortality, the astonishing craftsmanship of Qin artisans, and the dynasty that unified China. This is not just a museum visit — it‘s an encounter with one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in human history.
  2. The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
    1h 30m · Admission ticket included
    Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on Terracotta Warrior figurine workshop. Using traditional clay molds and tools, you will sculpt, carve facial features, hairstyles, and armor — just as Qin Dynasty artisans did over two millennia ago. Each figurine takes on its own unique expression. Once complete, you can take your creation home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir from Xi‘an.
  3. 1h 30m · Admission ticket included
    Visit Huaqing Palace, the royal hot spring retreat of the Tang Dynasty emperors. Set against the scenic backdrop of Mount Li, this is where Emperor Xuanzong and his beloved consort Yang Guifei once bathed in the palace‘s thermal springs. Your guide will share the legendary love story that inspired generations of poets and artists — and the tragic fate that followed.
  4. 1h 30m · Admission ticket included
    As night falls, experience the breathtaking “Song of Everlasting Sorrow” performance. Set against the real backdrop of Huaqing Palace and Mount Li, this outdoor production tells the tragic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei through dance, music, and spectacular lighting. The stage rises from the water, and the mountain becomes part of the show — an unforgettable evening under the stars.
Day 4: Morning Market, Xi‘an Museum & Muslim Quarter Food Tour
  1. 1h 30m · Admission ticket included
    Start your day like a true local at the Small South Gate Morning Market. This is where Xi’an wakes up — vendors call out their prices, fresh produce glistens, and steam rises from breakfast stalls. Wander through the aisles, taste street snacks, and soak in the authentic energy of everyday life. Your guide will explain what locals buy, how they cook, and why this market is the heartbeat of the neighborhood.
  2. 1h 30m · Admission ticket included
    Visit the iconic Bell Tower and Drum Tower, the historic heart of Xi’an. Climb up for panoramic views of the city‘s ancient streets and modern skyline. Learn how these towers once marked the rhythm of daily life — the bell ringing at dawn, the drum sounding at dusk — and why they remain the symbolic center of the city today.
  3. 2h · Admission ticket included
    Visit the Xi‘an Museum, home to a rich collection of relics that trace the rise and fall of Chang’an through the ages. Your guide will walk you through the city‘s history — from the Western Zhou to the Tang Dynasty. Step outside to see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a graceful Tang Dynasty structure that has stood for over 1,300 years. Walk around the pagoda and learn how it once housed Buddhist scriptures brought from India.
  4. Muslim Quarter
    2h · Admission ticket included
    End the day at the Muslim Quarter, a vibrant maze of food stalls, spice shops, and handicraft vendors. This is where Xi’an‘s culinary soul comes alive. Sample iconic street food — lamb skewers, pita bread soaked in soup, hand-pulled noodles, and persimmon cakes. Your guide will introduce you to the best stalls and the stories behind the flavors that have been perfected over generations.
Day 5: Farewell to Xi’an — Take Home the Stories
  1. 2h · Admission ticket included
    Enjoy a final Xi‘an breakfast before your private transfer to the airport. Your guide will assist with check-in and bid you farewell. You leave with more than just photographs — you take with you the stories of emperors and poets, the taste of street food, and the timeless presence of a city that has stood at the heart of Chinese civilization for over 3,000 years.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Xi‘an Tianze Culture Hotel (Chanba Branch)
Shop 3305, Building 1, No. 258 XingTai North Road, Chanba Ecological District, Weiyang District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

End point

Xi‘an Tianze Culture Hotel (Chanba Branch)
Shop 3305, Building 1, No. 258 XingTai North Road, Chanba Ecological District, Weiyang District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Pickup details

For airport pickup, your driver and guide will meet you at the arrival hall. The driver will be holding a sign with “Chango” and the lead traveler’s name. For hotel pickup, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Transportation is by private car.

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
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