The Terracotta Warriors were the main reason we added Xi’an to our China itinerary, but we were honestly not sure they would be worth the hype. This combined with the fact that planning the visit was more confusing than we expected. The site sits well outside central Xi’an, tickets use real-name booking, there are three main excavation pits plus the wider mausoleum area, and there are dozens of tours that all look very similar online.

After visiting ourselves, we think the Terracotta Warriors are absolutely worth the trip—but how you visit makes a big difference. You can easily organise the day independently, while a good English-speaking guide can add far more historical context if this is one of the places you most want to understand in China.

In this guide we’ll explain exactly how to travel from Xi’an to the Terracotta Army, which ticket you need, whether we’d go DIY or take a tour, how we’d order the three pits, how long to allow and what we’d do differently next time.

Visited: August 2026 | Ticket and visitor information checked: October 2026

Terracotta Warriors from Xi’an at a Glance

Our quick recommendation: Book your ticket before you travel. If you’re comfortable using Didi and Chinese apps, visiting independently is straightforward. If you want to properly understand what you’re looking at rather than simply see the warriors, this is one Xi’an attraction where we’d seriously consider paying for an English guide.

Is the Terracotta Army Worth Visiting?

We were honestly not sure if we wanted to visit the Terracotta Warriors, worried that it would be overhyped but we are really glad we did. They really were as incredible as described. Pit 1 was really impressive and lived up to the hype. Although there were crowds, they were manageable. Each pit had a different feeling, which created a different experience at each. Even after seeing thousands of photographs beforehand, the scale of Pit 1 was much more impressive in person.

We were surprised by how big it was, not just the pits but the grounds and the extra Lishan Garden area. It really is huge and takes time to get around it all. I expected to be able to see everything quickly but we spent hours wandering around.

UNESCO describes the mausoleum complex as an archaeological landscape built for Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, with hundreds of accompanying pits and thousands of life-sized warriors, horses, chariots and weapons. The property has been World Heritage listed since 1987.

What You Need to Book Before Visiting

1. Terracotta Warriors admission

This must be done in advance as it can sell out on certain days and times. If you are taking a tour make sure this is included as you may need to purchase separately.

2. Passport

You will need a real-name booking to enter as your passport will be scanned to match on entry.

3. Transport or tour

This will depend on your preference. If you want a tour you would need to pre-book it. Alternatively, DiDi or the metro can be used. Neither requires you to book before your visit, just when you are ready to go.

4. Huaqing Palace

If you decide to visit Huaqing Palace then I would definitely pre-book this also.

🏺 Visiting independently? Book your Terracotta Warriors ticket before you go — check current availability on Klook →

Terracotta Warriors Tickets — Which Ticket Should You Buy?

There are a few different ticket options for the Terracotta Warriors, this is what we purchased..

Basic Admission Ticket

The basic admission ticket is best option for confident, independent travellers, independent travellers who prefer to use their own history resources or knowledge to understand what they are seeing. The ticket includes entry to the Mausoleum site, three pits and gardens, it also includes the museums, transfer shuttle and entry to Lishan Garden. You will need your passport to enter the sites. You will organise your own tickets and transport, navigate yourself around and try to glean information using the information boards and internet searching.

This is the ticket we purchased, it was really simple to do. They contacted us after we bought our ticket and registered our passports so when we arrived it was ready to scan us in. We also asked them about the quietest time to visit and they were on site and sent us photos throughout the day showing us how busy it was. Their advice was the first time slot was usually the quietest, or very late but it is generally busy all day. We went with the first time slot. They were incredibly helpful and we were glad we booked this ticket.

Ticket + Group English Guide

If you choose to take a group English tour which includes your tickets you will get the transport included from Xi’an, the guide will handle your ticket organisation and explain the history and meaning behind what you are seeing. They will navigate you around so you don’t waste time looking for directions. You will be with a small group so will move at the group pace.

Ticket + Private Guide

A private guide is perfect for travellers who are willing to spend more to have a comfortable experience. It is also great if you are a history enthusiast as you will have the freedom to ask any questions. Also suitable for families as it will make transport and ticketing easy. If you love photography and want time to spend taking photos or you just hate being rushed and want to dictate the time spent at each site then a private guide will be the most suitable option.

What we’d choose: If I were returning I would still go independently but I would keep the whole day free and follow our guide so I didn’t feel rushed.

I would book a tour if I was travelling as a family, I had one day to see as much of Xi’an as possible or we wanted some in-depth history information.

How to Get from Xi’an to the Terracotta Warriors

The site is not in central Xi’an. It sits in Lintong, roughly 40 km away, so allow around an hour each way depending on transport and traffic.

Option 1 — Didi from Xi’an

This is the option we took, we wanted to make the trip there as easy as possible which is exactly what using DiDi does. Our trip to the Mausoleum site took 50 minutes, we left our hotel in central Xi’an at 7:15 am and arrived at 8:05 am. The trip cost us 91.3 CNY / US$ 13.64 which we felt was pretty reasonable for such a long drive and split between two of us. We set our DiDi to the Terracotta Warriors North Gate 2 on DiDi as our destination.

If you need it this is the Chinese translation for Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum:秦始皇帝陵博物院（兵马俑）

Option 2 — Metro + Local Transport

The metro is a great option for budget travellers. While we didn’t use it here we have used public transport enough in China to know it works very well. The directions to get there using the metro are to take:

Metro Line 9 → get off at Huaqing Pool/Huaqingchi → then take a local bus or use DiDi for the final leg to the mausoleum site.

While this will be a cheaper trip, costing approximately 11 CNY – 33 CNY (US$3.00 – $4.50) depending on whether you take a bus or DiDi, it may also take slightly longer as you would have to wait for the metro and buses etc. It would be quite convenient if you are staying near a metro line.

Option 3 — Organised Tour

An organised tour is best if you prefer hotel pick-up, English explanations of what you are seeing and minimal planning on your behalf. They can also include a lunch, performance or another attraction in Xi’an. It can also be a perfect solution for families, older travellers or those with limited time who may value convenience over budget.

🚐 Want transport and an English guide organised? Check current Terracotta Warriors tours on Klook →

DIY vs Terracotta Warriors Tour — Which Is Better?

Honestly, I wouldn’t say that one is better than the other. It is more that one will be more suitable for different travellers’ needs than the other.

When I’d Visit Independently

I would recommend to visit the terracotta army independently if you are comfortable using DiDi or public transport in China, you want to stick to a budget and you want extra time to take photos. I would also choose to visit yourself if you don’t like groups or you have already researched and understand the history and don’t want extra information.

When I’d Pay for a Guide

The Terracotta Warriors are visually impressive without a guide, but the things that make them significant such as the military formations, ranks, armour, weapons and restoration. The relationship to the First Emperor’s mausoleum is not immediately obvious from simply looking down into the pits so having a guide can help you understand all of these details. We had to try and find out ourselves by searching on the internet while there, reading the information boards that were dotted around and piecing it all together. I would also choose to pay for a guide or a tour if I was travelling with a family, older travellers or just don’t want to have to deal with the logistics of getting there, navigating the site and back.

👉 Prefer a private English-speaking guide and hotel pickup? See this highly reviewed private Terracotta Warriors tour on Viator →

Our Exact Terracotta Warriors Experience

We visited the Terracotta Warriors independently from Xi’an. While in Xi’an, we stayed at UrCove by Hyatt Xi’an Bell Tower Huimin Street Hotel and loved that they had an early breakfast so we could get an early start to our day. We ate and then called a DiDi to pick us up right at the front of the hotel. It arrived and we left at 7:15 am and arrived at 8:05 am; the DiDi cost us 91.3 CNY / US$ which we felt was pretty reasonable for a 50-minute ride.

We had pre-purchased our tickets online and were ready to enter at 8:30 am when the complex opened. We found the entrance and lined up with some other people, there was a queue but it wasn’t overwhelming. After scanning our passports we followed the crowd inside. There is a main path that everyone will follow and it will split in two, we went right but weren’t sure what the difference was as we could see the other path and everyone joined back up in the end at the same place.

We walked through the three pits and took in the incredible sight. The biggest crowd was at Pit 1 but after that we didn’t really experience too much of a crowd at all.

After experiencing the three pits we walked back and checked out Pit 1 again, we wanted to see if it was quieter but it was pretty much the same. We walked the grounds and took in the gardens and the museum before heading back to the front and exit.

You will walk through an area with lots of shops, restaurants and performances that you can pay to watch. We had a look in a couple of shops and bought a Terracotta Warrior statue for souvenirs and a drink before we went to find the shuttle transfer to Lishan Gardens.

At Lishan Gardens we explored the lesser known pits and the museum to see the bronze chariots. Once we were ready we left, calling a DiDi at the car park area to take us back to Xi’an.

Our Timeline

The Best Order to See the Terracotta Warrior Pits

There are a couple of main options you can use to see the Terracotta Warriors. We had planned to see them in reverse order but when we arrived our whole plan changed. We booked through Klook which was incredibly simple and easy. They organised everything for us and even sent us live photos of what to expect in terms of crowds.

Option A — Pit 1 First – Best if you arrive at opening.

This option works best if you arrive at opening when it is a quieter time of day. The route is very straightforward:

Pit 1 → Pit 3 → Pit 2

The advantages of this are that you will have the best chance of seeing Pit 1 before peak crowds (however it will still be a crowd), you will get the strongest photos and you are fresh. Seeing it first thing full of enthusiasm is different to later in the day when you are already tired.

Option B — Build to the Biggest

The second option is to visit in the reverse order and can be useful if you are visiting later in the day closer to closing time, possibly around last entry. The route would be:

Pit 3 → Pit 2 → Pit 1

The positive aspect of this is that the story builds as you visit the smaller of the pits working towards the largest. Pit 1 then becomes the visual climax of the experience. It also means that if you are visiting in the last hours of the day you will have less people at Pit 1 by the time you get there. The biggest downfall to this is that you will have to plan your time carefully, so you don’t leave yourself short on time when you get to Pit 1.

This was my biggest concern about this route. If I was to do it I would make sure I had done Lishan Gardens already, and head to the Mausoleum with at least an hour before the last entry, in August when we visited it was 5 pm for last entry. I would use this time to see the grounds, the museum and start at Pit 3, slowly working towards Pit 1 and arrive there early enough so you have at least a half hour or more to spend walking around Pit 1 and taking it all in for as long as you want.

We did 1 → 2 → 3 because we arrived at first entry. Next time we’d keep that order unless we arrived in the late afternoon.

What Are the Pits Actually Like?

Pit 1 — The Main Terracotta Army

The biggest pit and arguably the one you will spend the most time at. This is where the highest concentration of warriors can be seen and it is pretty incredible. The sheer size of the site is bigger than it looks in images. You enter out on to a viewing platform and the whole front of the very large room is filled with Terracotta Army staring back at you. It is an amazing moment. There are multiple channels that the warriors are standing in, they are lined up next to and behind each other, as though they are waiting for a command to move.

We found room just to the left of centre (the centre was roped off with guards directing you left and right) and there was a little room that opened up right in front of us. A spot opened up right in front, as close to centre as possible and it was fantastic. We stayed marvelling over the many different faces, clothing, weaponry or stances that we could see. Taking photos and video was easy from this location. It is a huge collection of the warriors and horses so going left or right at the entry won’t make much difference it is a similar view on each side.

After a while we decided to move a little more to the left so we let some people behind us in and moved to the back, again we found a spot at the front as the crowd moved around us, we were on the left hand side of a large white pole half way down to the corner and it was another great vantage point. We could see the statues on an angle and their height was easier to gauge. This position felt like we were a little closer and could see the details better.

While Pit 1 looked exactly like I had seen in pictures it also felt nothing like it. Seeing it in person was familiar but the size and scale really surprised and awed us. Toward the back of the pits there was restoration work occurring which was interesting to see as well.

We spent almost a full hour here, taking it in, moving to different positions to see different angles and waiting for people to move. Yes, it will likely be busy but if you just wait a little you can get to the front as people leave. Honestly, it wasn’t a problem for us, we were mesmerised.

Pit 2 — The Most Detailed Figures

In Pit 2 you will find some different formations and archaeology. The warriors are usually more detailed in this area, along with the warriors there are archers and chariots. We saw the archer in the glass display cabinet and there were mounds that were undergoing restoration works during our visit.

Important update: Pit 2 was being upgraded when we visited

When we visited the Terracotta Warriors in August 2026, we were able to visit all three pits, including Pit 2. However, Pit 2 was undergoing a staged exhibition upgrade at the time, so only a smaller portion of the usual experience was accessible.

We actually found Pit 2 much smaller than we expected compared with Pit 1, and spent around 30 minutes there. This was our experience during the August 2026 upgrade period, rather than a reflection of the Pit 2 visitors see today.

The exhibition upgrade was completed in stages, with different sections of the hall being worked on at different times. The museum completed the full upgrade and reopened the newly enhanced Pit 2 to the public on October 1, 2026.

If you’re visiting now: Pit 2 has a substantially updated exhibition, with new interpretation, multimedia elements and two visitor routes. The northern route is designed for a deeper visit, while the southern route provides a quicker overview. So our August experience of Pit 2 should not be used as a description of the current exhibition.

Pit 3 — The Smallest Pit

The smallest of the pits, Pit 3 is the command centre of the mausoleum. There is are soldiers here as well as horses.

What About Lishan Garden and Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum?

Something that many Western tourists miss is that the warriors are just one part of a much larger mausoleum landscape containing hundreds of archaeological sites. The Lishan Garden mausoleum is a separate area which contains the Emperor’s tomb mound, which is not excavated or open. Entry is included with the main ticket, connected by shuttle, and houses the bronze-chariot exhibits.

To find the shuttle was a little challenging. We exited through the shopping and food area and started walking to the exit. Once you get to the large carpark area look to the left and you will see a bus area, there is a line up here for the Lishan Gardens. The bus is a big bus but it got very full when we were there. They arrive about every 15 minutes or so and drop you off at the entry to Lishan Gardens. There is no need to scan onto the bus.

You will find the museum with the bronze chariots here and there are a couple of other pits with some figures, ceramics and other pieces of daily life on show. There are information boards here to understand what you are looking at.

The area is very large and unfortunately when we entered we decided to walk rather than take the shuttle. This was a huge mistake as the grounds are massive so walking, while possible, adds a lot of time. I would strongly suggest taking the shuttle.

The museum here is really good. It not only houses the original bronze chariots but also has digital and video displays showing the making of them and the meaning. It was really interesting and informative.

Is Lishan Garden Worth Adding?

For us, Lishan Gardens was definitely worth adding on. We loved the extra history and experience it gave. However if you only have around 2–3 hours I would probably focus on the pits. If you have 4 or more hours and love archaeology then I would add it.

How Long Do You Need at the Terracotta Warriors?

We spent —-, and we’d recommend this for first visit, especially if you want to include Lishan Gardens. There is so much ground to cover that you could spend up to a full day in the Terracotta Warriors and Lishan Gardens, this is what you can do with your time.

2 hours

In 2 hours you will have a quick visit that may feel rushed. You can see the three pits but won’t have time to see the Lishan Garden area.

2.5–3 hours

The main pits can be done in 2.5–3 hours quite comfortably, you won’t need to rush but I wouldn’t try to get the Lishan Gardens in as well.

3–4 hours

This would be a good first time visit, you would have enough time to wander at your own pace. You can also possibly squeeze in a quick visit to Lishan Gardens but it would mean that both locations are more rushed.

4–5+ hours

In 4+ hours you can comfortably see the main pits as well as the wider mausoleum and Lishan Gardens. You shouldn’t have to rush at either site and can take your time to understand what you are looking at and navigate around.

Do You Need a Guide at the Terracotta Warriors?

No—but this is one attraction where a good guide adds more value than at many other sights in China.

Without guide you will still be impressed by the scale and there will be signs with information and audio guides you can hire if you want. Your time will be flexible and it is cheaper.

However with a guide you will learn the different ranks, weapons and meaning of the warriors and their formation as well as Qin history. They will explain the restoration process and navigate the area for you which will save time and be more efficient.

Our verdict

Personally we didn’t need a guide as we had kept most of the day aside for this visit, however I would have loved to learn more in-depth information about the site.

See the highly reviewed private Viator option →

Should You Combine the Terracotta Warriors With Huaqing Palace?

A visit to the Terracotta Warriors can be combined with Huaqing Palace to make a great full day experience and I wish we had done this while we were there.

Add Huaqing Palace if:

• you want a full sightseeing day;
• you are interested in Chinese imperial history;
• your guided tour includes it;
• it is your first trip to Xi’an, but have limited days to see everything.

Skip it if:

• the Terracotta Warriors are your main interest;
• you want a relaxed experience;
• you plan to return to Xi’an to see the City Wall or Big Wild Goose Pagoda that afternoon;
• you don’t like overpacked days.

Our choice: I honestly wish we had gone to Huaqing Palace while we were there as it does look interesting and it is so close to the mausoleum site. It would be much easier if we had been on a day tour that included it.

Compare Terracotta Warriors + Huaqing Palace packages on Klook →

What We’d Do Differently Next Time

We’d Use a Different Pit Order

I would only try this if I was visiting in the afternoon. We did return quickly to Pit 1 to see if it was quieter or busier after our first visit on our way out and it was definitely busier than our first time there earlier in the morning.

We’d Book a Guide

I would have loved to learn from a guide at the mausoleum, it would have been so interesting to hear any extra details that they could provide about the site. We had to work it out ourselves, someone who could have guided us and taught us at the same time would have been useful.

We’d Spend More Time at Pit 1

We did spend a lot of time here but if we had unlimited time I would have walked around the right hand side as well to see if there was a unique view in that direction. I was happy with our position at Pit 1 but I should have tried to go around both sides.

We’d Keep More Time for Lishan Garden

We really needed more time for Lishan Garden, it was so big and we didn’t use the shuttle which made it even more time intensive for us. We spent ____ hour but even another 45 minutes would have been great.

We’d Bring More Water/Snacks

This was a must, there are food places to stop and eat at the exit and entry but we were so busy that we just stopped to grab a drink. If I had packed snacks we could have eaten in between pits or while looking at the gardens.

What to Bring

You don’t need to bring a lot for the Terracotta Soldiers as it will just be more to carry. This is what I would consider essential.

• passport;
• booking confirmation;
• comfortable shoes;
• water and snacks;
• tissues;
• sunscreen;
• power bank;
• translation app;
• Alipay.

Terracotta Warriors With Kids / Mobility Considerations

The Terracotta Warriors are a large site and it does take a lot of walking to get around. We saw a shuttle at the mausoleum and again at Lishan Gardens but didn’t use them ourselves. I think they would be very helpful if you have a family or any issues with walking bigger distances.

Inside the pits and museums there are elevated galleries and while there are some elevators they do take a long time to arrive. There are some ramps in the main halls which can be helpful for strollers and to avoid stairs. There are some seating areas outside to rest on but there are not a huge amount of them that we saw.