Xian is 1200 kms southwest of Beijing (1hour and forty minute flight); 1084 kms northwest of Shanghai (2 and half hours flight). Xian had long been the capital of ancient China. The emperor Qin Shihuang went on to establish the first imperial capital of China in Chang'an (present day Xi'an). For centuries, the Chinese Empire was governed from this location, and Chang'an remained largely its political hub until the end of the Tang dynasty around 900 AD.

Located at the eastern end of the Silk Road, Xi'an is home to some of the most spectacular sights in China, including the UNESCO-listed mausoleum of Emperor Shihuang with its thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors and their horses. Xi'an's excellent museum is one of the best in China, with Tang Dynasty pottery figurines and other relics. The Muslim Quarter, the Great Mosque, and the spectacular City Walls are all great historical sites.

The lesser known Terracotta Army of Hanyangling, or nicknamed nude figures of warriors" is the mausoleum of the Western Han Emperor Liu Qi and his wife, the Empress Wangi, is located in the village of Zhanjianan on the Loess Plateau 20 km North of Xianyang City and some 22 kilometers from both Xianyang airport and Xian

The 81 pits contained terracotta goods for the afterlife including thousands of animals, dogs, sheep, goats and pigs all formally laid out ready for slaughter. There were stoves, grain jars, wine vessels, horses and chariots all intended for the Emperor's use in the next life. And mostly what amazed historians even more was the discovery of thousands of nude and semi-nude, armless figures of warriors one third life-size.

So no visit to Xi'an should be considered complete tour to China without at least a stop here.

Highlights

* The city is surrounded by a well-preserved defensive wall which was re-constructed during the Ming Dynasty.
* The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and his Terracotta Army, located 40 kms to the east of the city's suburbs, is regarded as one of the seventh world wonders.
* The city's Muslim quarter is home to the Great Mosque of Xi'an.
* The Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda are both spectacular towers.

Best time to visit

All year round. But best time is the spring and autumn

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 Depart for Xi'an
Beijing departure:
by overnight train: soft-sleeper 8:30pm-8am
by air: Fly to Xi'an in the evening and then check in the hotel.

Shanghai departure
Fly to Xi'an in the evening and check in the hotel (Flights to Xi'an leave only from Pudong airport.)

If you go from other locale, we will check the available flights from your locale to Xi'an.

Day 2  Xi'an City
We starts the day with a leisurely stroll along Xi'an's glorious Ming-era city walls, then visit the world famous excavation site - the Terracotta Warriors, thousands of life-sized soldiers, officers, horses and wagons, form a component of the underground army buried to protect the first emperor of China during his afterlife - he is also builder of the Great Wall.

Day 3    Xi'an City / Fly out
This day we make for an early start to the Big Goose Pagoda - one of China's most famous pagodas, then visit the Shaanxi History Museum, meandering through its halls of ancient treasures that trace back more than 1,000 years of Chinese history, and evidence the important role Xi'an played as a center of development for Buddhism. After lunch, we explore the winding alleys of the Muslim Quarter with its unique Great Mosque. You will also have time for shopping in the bazaar.

Then we head to the lesser known Terracota Army of Hanyangling, or nicknamed “nude figures of warriors.” It is the Mausoleum of the Western Han Emperor Liu Qi and his wife, the Empress Wangi, and is located in the village of Zhanjianan on the Loess Plateau 20 km North of Xianyang City and some 22 kilometers from both Xianyang airport and Xian. The 81 pits contained terracotta goods for the afterlife including thousands of animals, dogs, sheep, goats and pigs all formally laid out ready for slaughter. There were stoves, grain jars, wine vessels, horses and chariots all intended for the Emperor's use in the next life. What amazed historians even more was the discovery of thousands of nude and semi-nude, armless figures of warriors one third life-size.

Fly out Xi'an
Xi'an--Beijing by air (flight 18:20-20:05)
Xi'an-Shanghai by air (flight 18:20-20:20)


Extended Tour:

Day 4 Xi'an / Baoji (Famen county) / Tianshui

Drive 3 hours to Famen county of Baoji City, and visit the Famen Temple, one of the most significent Buddhist temple of China, the only one where the Buddha Sarira, or the finger bone relic of Buddhism founder Sakyamuni, was kept. 

After lunch, drive to the Qianling Mausoleum, where, among other royal members of Tang Dynasty, China' s only empress Wu Zetian' s tomb is housed. The mausoleum is renowned for its many Tang Dynasty stone statues located above ground and the mural paintings adorning the subterranean walls of the tombs. There is a total of 17 smaller attendant tombs.

Later, we head for Tianshui (3 hours). Stay overnight in Tianshui.

Day 5 Tianshui / Xi'an /Fly out

The whole morning will dedicate to Maijishan Grottoes. Although many earthquakes and conflagration, it still remains 194 caves, 7200 sculpture, 1000 square M fresco which are excavated on the cliff about 30-80m high form the ground, more than 70 percent caves were excavated in the North dynasty. Spectacular Maiji peak, exquisite clay carving temple building under cliff, peculiar landform, about plant clear stream and waterfall combine naturally made up a harmonious landscape of mankind and nature.

After lunch, we visit the Temple of Fuxi (mid 2800s BCE), who was the first of the Three Sovereigns of ancient China, and a culture hero reputed to be the inventor of writing, fishing, and trapping. Fuxi is mostly known for present day people as the inventor of bagua (trigrams of the I Ching). The temple was first built more than five hundred years ago during the Ming Dynasty. Half a millennium may have passed but the people here and from other cities and countries still remember Fuxi twice a year in elaborate ceremonies. 

Then return to Xi'an (4 hours) and  transfer to the airport of Xi'an and fly out.

Xi'an - Beijing (around 20:40- 22:20)
Xi'an - Shanghai Pudong (around 20:30-22:30)

Starting from RMB 3,000

CCC services include:
--Train Beijing-Xi'an and flight Xi'an-Beijing / or round flights Shanghai-Xi'an
--1 night (or 2 nights for Shanghai participants)
--accommodation in a supurb 4-star Hotel
--transfers in customary air conditioned coaches
--entrance fee for all sights mentioned in the program
--all sightseeing and transfers with CCC guides & local English-speaking tour guides
--All meals during the trip