One Day Terracotta Warriors and Cave Houses Tour from Xi’an

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Terracotta Warriors and Cave Houses

   Around 8 o'clock in the morning, your professional tour guide will pick you up at your hotel on time. Drive for 1 hour to reach the cave dwellings located in Lintong called Cave Houses. Until the 1970s, these caves were the main residences of local residents, built from thick layers of loess. They keep warm in winter and cool in summer.

   Due to its simple construction and low cost, it is known as a "green building". Visit an old-fashioned earthen cave with an arched structure. Even inside the courtyard, you can see traditional household utensils such as stone mills and stone troughs.

   

    

   After the tour, drive to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Known as "the eighth wonder of the world", this is the burial pit of the underground army in the Mausoleum of Qinshihuang. By the way, Qinshihuang was the first emperor of China.

   You will visit here for 2.5-3 hours, a total of 3 pits. Among them, Pit No.1 has the largest scale, showing the mixed formation of Qin army's main infantry and chariots. Appreciate the life size clay figures. Each of them has a distinct facial expression.

   In Pit No. 2, you can see many types of soldiers - archers, cavalrymen and charioteers. The famous and extremely well-preserved Kneeling Archer Figurine was unearthed here. Pit No. 3 is the smallest in size, shaped like a "凹" character and is believed to be the command center.

   Please carefully observe the surface of the figurines. Archaeologists have discovered fingerprints left by craftsmen over 2000 years ago on some of the warriors.

   

   After the visit, have lunch at a nearby restaurant.

   In the afternoon, drive for one hour to Hanyangling Museum. This is the joint burial tomb of the fourth emperor and his empress of the Western Han Dynasty. The pottery figurines unearthed here are only one-third the size of the Terracotta Warriors, from eunuchs, maids, warriors, even to pigs and dogs.

   The underground museum is the highlight. You will observe up close through the glass under your feet how pottery figurines, chariots and horses from over 2000 years ago were "preserved in situ" in a constant temperature and humidity environment.

   

   Upon closer observation, you'll find that most of the warriors have no arms and are naked. Archaeological evidence confirms that they were originally equipped with movable wooden arms and wore silk clothing, which eventually decayed over time.

   After the visit, send you back to the hotel in the city. The service ends here.