Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Mini Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim Bazaar

• Customized Private Day Tour of Terracotta Warriors and Xi'an

• Half Day Mini Group Xi'an Tours to Terracotta Army with Lunch

• Terracotta Army Ticket

• 8-Day Small-Group China Tour to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai

Tickets for the Terracotta Warriors Museum cost ¥120, but you need Chinese apps and language skills to buy them from the official website, so many purchase through third parties; prices start at around US$25. Tours including lunch, tickets, a guide, and round-trip transportation from Xian start at about US$80.

Yes, the Terracotta Warriors Museum is absolutely worth visiting, not least because it's Xian's signature sight. The thousands of lifelike figures at this UNESCO World Heritage Site form an incredible tribute to the first emperor of China. Visiting as part of a guided tour does more than just simplify the logistics—it can help you beat the crowds, understand the history, and even take a deep dive into Chinese culture.

Per one customer who booked the Xi'an: Exclusive Terracotta Army Tour & Local Family Lunch, "Andy explained the history of the discovery of the warriors and also about the time they were built. He also explained about the history of Xi'an, and also how things had changed dramatically in his lifetime. As for the actual visit to the Warriors, it was excellent and Andy was a great guide. But the icing on the cake for this trip was lunch with a local family. But not just any family. It was with his parents in their little village. We were made to feel very welcome and the food was delicious and plentiful. It was a very memorable day."

The Terracotta Warriors Museum (Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum) is the largest tomb in Chinese history and archaeologists learned much about Chinese civilization from its excavation. This huge expanse of life-sized terracotta warriors, horses, and chariots weren’t unearthed until 1974, almost 2000 years after they were buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Today it’s a major tourist attraction outside of Xian.

There’s a lot to see at the Terracotta Warriors Museum, so wear good walking shoes. There are three huge excavated pits filled with rows of warriors, horses, and weapons, plus bronze sculptures and animals in the museum. You can also purchase souvenirs, food, and drinks.

Plan to spend around 2-3 hours at the Terracotta Warriors Museum. The journey from Xian is about 30 minutes by car or taxi, then it’s a 15-minute walk from the car park to the museum.

It depends. The Terracotta Warriors Museum is a relatively long day out for kids and there are usually large crowds, but it’s an impressive site that many children might be interested to see (depending on their interests and temperament). If you’re in Xian, it would be a waste not to visit.

Yes, you can visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum by yourself. You can take a public bus or a taxi there and hire a guide at the entrance, if you want to enhance the experience. If you take a taxi, you can ask your driver to wait and take you back to Xian later.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Terracotta Warriors Museum. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Xian:

• South Gate

• Xi'an City Wall

• Big Wild Goose Pagoda

• Shaanxi History Museum

• Tang Dynasty Show

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Xian.