The Terracotta Army at a glance
The warriors stand in three pits at Lintong, east of the old city of Xi'an in Shaanxi. The museum is officially called Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, with the address Qinling North Road, Lintong. It has two parts: the halls over the pits and the archaeological park of the mausoleum, called Lishan Garden. Together they belong to the tomb complex of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, which UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Most visitors come from Xi'an. Line 9 of the Metro takes you to Huaqingchi, and a local bus covers the rest. A day tour with a transfer is the easier option if you do not want to change buses. The adult ticket costs CNY 120 in 2026, and you book it with your real name and passport.
What this guide covers
This guide explains the ticket and the passport rule, compares tours with and without a transfer, and describes what you see in each pit. It also covers the Lishan Garden and the unopened tomb, the opening hours, and the routes from Xi'an by Metro, bus and taxi. If you start in Beijing, there is a page on trains and flights. The Xi'an pages cover the city wall, the Bell Tower, the Muslim Quarter and a list of twelve more things to do.
Prices are in Chinese yuan (CNY) as of 2026 and they change. Times are given for the regular seasons. Holiday weeks are much busier, so check the current notice before you go. The warriors are only one part of a trip to Xi'an, and the city has its own pages for a walk on the wall, a night in the Muslim Quarter and the museums of the old town.
If you only have one day, put the pits first, add the Lishan Garden if time allows, and keep the city for the evening. If you have two days, give the warriors a full day and spend the second in town. The best time page shows which months are mild and which are wet.
Our picks: Terracotta Army tours and tickets
Our take: the train day from Beijing is the choice if you have only one day in Xi'an. Already in Xi'an, the full day with the city wall and lunch covers most in one go, and the ticket with optional guide is the flexible budget pick.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private day trip from Beijing by bullet train
- Return bullet train, second class
- Private guide in Xi'an
- Terracotta Army entry
A long private day with the train tickets, transfers on both ends and the museum entry handled for you.
Check availability →
Terracotta Army ticket or guided half day
- Terracotta Army entry
- Lishan Garden
- Golf cart on the small-group half day
Choose the ticket on its own or add a guide; the entry also covers Lishan Garden at the mausoleum.
Check availability →
Terracotta Army, city wall, pagoda and bazaar
- Entries of the chosen tour
- Guide and hotel transfer
- Buffet lunch
The warriors and the main city sights in one day with a guide. The cheapest option is the ticket only.
Check availability →Terracotta Army tours and Xi'an day trips
Guided visits with a transfer, private tours and trips that combine the warriors with the city, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Terracotta Army visit
Start with tickets and tours, then pick the pages you need.
Terracotta Army tickets
Prices, the passport rule, the booking channels and the optional vehicles.
Tour options compared
Museum guide, group tour, private tour and half-day trip: what to check.
From Beijing
High-speed train or flight, travel times and why a day trip is long.
Pits 1, 2 and 3
Sizes, figures and what each hall shows.
The mausoleum
The tomb mound, Lishan Garden and why the burial chamber stays closed.
History and discovery
The first emperor, and the well diggers who found the figures in 1974.
Facts, nearby sights and Xi'an
More places to see, and how to get around.
Facts and numbers
How many warriors, how they were made and what happened to the colours.
Huaqing Palace
Tang bathhouse ruins at Lishan, a short ride from the museum.
Xi'an city tour
Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Xi'an food tour
Roujiamo, lamb soup with bread and hand-pulled noodles.
Xi'an city wall
13.74 km of rampart to walk or cycle.
Things to do in Xi'an
Twelve ideas beyond the warriors.
Getting there
Metro, bus, taxi and parking from Xi'an.
Best time to visit
Monthly weather and the 2026 holiday weeks.
Where to stay
Four areas of Xi'an and what each one suits.
A few things to know before you go
Details that matter for planning.
One ticket price all year
The adult ticket costs CNY 120 in both seasons, with a student rate of CNY 60 that is written for students in Chinese education. Book it with your passport details. See Terracotta Army tickets.
Two seasons for opening times
From 16 March to 15 November, ticket checks run from 08:30 to 17:00 and the museum closes at 18:30. From 16 November to 15 March, the checks end at 16:30 and closing is at 18:00. Allow time to walk between halls.
The bronze chariots are in Lishan Garden
The old bronze chariot exhibition next to the pits closed in 2021 and moved to the museum in Lishan Garden. Plan time for both areas. A free shuttle runs between them.
The mausoleum →Pit 2 has a refreshed exhibition
Since 1 October 2026, Pit 2 shows added research and conservation content, multimedia and a revised visitor route. It is a new presentation of an existing pit, not a fourth pit.
The pits →Bus 306 starts at Xi'an East
Since 29 August 2026 the tourist bus 306 runs from Xi'an East station to the museum, 45 km, from 07:00 to 19:00. Do not look for it at the old station square.
Getting there →The tomb itself stays closed
The central burial chamber has not been excavated and cannot be visited. Offers for a private tomb chamber in virtual reality are not access to the real tomb, even when they are advertised as official.
Entry to China: for passports from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, visa-free stays of up to 30 days apply until 31 December 2026. The rule depends on nationality, so check your own passport before you book.
Terracotta Army: frequently asked questions
How much is a Terracotta Army ticket?
The adult ticket costs CNY 120 in 2026, in both seasons. A student rate of CNY 60 exists for students in Chinese education. You book with your real name and your original passport. More on the tickets page.
How do I get from Xi'an to the Terracotta Army?
Take Metro line 9 to Huaqingchi, exit C, then a Lintong bus such as 602, or Qinlingxi exit D and bus 617. From the center, plan about 1.5 to 2 hours by Metro and bus. A taxi takes roughly 1 hour and costs about CNY 160 to 220. See getting there.
How long do I need at the museum?
Each of the two museum areas takes about 1.5 hours. With the trip from Xi'an, plan most of a day. If you add Huaqing Palace, start early.
Can I visit the Terracotta Army as a day trip from Beijing?
It is possible but long. The high-speed train takes about 4 to 6 hours each way, and you still need local transport and museum time. Many visitors stay a night in Xi'an. See from Beijing.
Can I go inside the tomb of Qin Shi Huang?
No. The central chamber is unexcavated. You can see the pits with the figures, the Lishan Garden and the grave mound from outside.
Is terracottaarmymuseum.org the official museum website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the museum, any Chinese authority, a tour operator or a hotel.