Visiting The Terracotta Army: What To See + How To Get There [2024]

I’ve been fascinated with the idea of visiting the Terracotta Army in China since news of their discovery by construction workers aired in the 1970s. Many (many) years later, I got to visit the Terracotta Army Museum on my first trip to China. And it was just as magnificent as I had imagined.

Located in Xi’an, China, the Terracotta Army Museum is home to thousands of life-sized terracotta statues buried alongside China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Dating back over 2,000 years, these intricately crafted soldiers, horses, and chariots are an awe-inspiring testament to ancient Chinese craftsmanship and military might.

In this post, I share what to do and see when visiting the Terracotta Army, with tips on the best way to get to the museum.

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6 Easy Tips for Visiting the Terracotta Army

Today, Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army (or Terracotta Warriors) is one of the oldest UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is regarded as one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20^th century, rivalling all the treasures found in Egypt.

Why should you visit the Terracotta Army Museum?

The museum showcases thousands of warriors in battle formation guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. The figures include infantry, cavalry, charioteers, acrobats, and numerous animals.

The site represents the Emperor’s Palace. The excavated areas include offices, stables, halls, and other structures. The whole complex was buried beneath an unremarkable earth pyramid, protecting it from tomb raiders for two thousand years!

“There were Seven Wonders in the world, and the discovery of the Terracotta Army, we may say, is the eighth miracle of the world. No one who has not seen the pyramids can claim to have visited Egypt, and now I’d say that no one who has not seen these terracotta figures can claim to have visited China.”
Jacques Chirac – former President of France

One of the incredible sights you'll see when visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, China. Rows of terracotta figures buried in battle formation

How to visit the Terracotta Army Museum

Tickets and Tours

Visiting with a professional guide is the ideal way to understand the history and layout of the museum and avoid missing any highlights.

Here are some tour options departing from central Xi’an. They vary slightly in duration and how you will travel to the museum.

If you want to visit the Terracotta Army independently, finding the ticket booths is easy as soon as you arrive. The entrance fee is CNY150 in the high season and CNY120 in the low season.

The museum is located in the Lintong district, about an hour by taxi or 70 minutes by tourist bus from the city of Xi’an. Travelling by bus is safe, fully air-conditioned, and comfortable.

💡 Pro Tip: Make sure you get a tourist bus, as other buses are not as well maintained. Tourist buses are greyish green, with bold turquoise signage; the bus number is prominent in bright yellow. Bus conductors wear a blue-black uniform and speak English.

Bus Info:

Tourist Bus number 5 (306) departs from the East Square of Xi’an railway station – it can be very busy, particularly at weekends.
Hours: July 7 to September 1: 9 am to 12:45 am; Rest of the year: 9:30 am to 11:45 pm
Cost: The fare is CNY7; however, this does increase a little during peak periods.

Large square with mountain views outside the Terracotta Army Museum — The Terracotta Army Museum site is immaculately tidy, located in the beautiful mountains outside Xi’an City.

When can you visit the Terracotta Army?

The museum is open daily from 8.30 am until 5.00 pm (last entry).
The best time to visit the Terracotta Warriors is between 8:30 and 10 a.m., before the big tour groups arrive.
The hour between midday and 1 pm is generally quieter, too, as many visitors stop to eat at that time.
Avoid visiting during local and national school holidays and weekends, as the site will be extra crowded.

Accessibility

It’s a pleasant 10 to 15-minute (1-kilometre) walk from the parking area to the site. The walkway is beautifully maintained and immaculately clean.

If you can’t walk (or prefer not to), golf carts are available from the car park to the museum, but prepare to queue during the high season (May to October).

Wheelchairs are also available from the car park, and the entire site is wheelchair accessible.

Archaeologists believe they will still be working on the Terracotta Army Museum in 50 years, as there is still so much to discover!!

Highlights of the museum

If you’re wondering “what was the Terracotta Army?” The vast museum, with its three large excavation pits, helps explain these artefacts’ history and significance.

1. The Terracotta Warriors

You’ll learn about the types of soldiers in the Emperor’s army and how to identify their rank by clothing. Look out for the individual facial expressions on the figures, which are believed to have been modelled on real soldiers.

Every single one of the 10,000 warriors has a different facial expression.

Terracotta Warriors close up — Warriors undergoing painstaking repair!

2. The Terracotta Horses

Even if you’re not a “horsey” person, the magnificent terracotta horses will make an impression on you. Seeing the incredible detail on the horses’ faces hundreds of years after they were created is awe-inspiring.

Just imagine what they must have been like when they were freshly made, and the colour was still bright and new! Even the horses all have different expressions.

3. The Exhibition of Bronze Chariots

This area is packed with valuable artefacts from the excavations and tells the Qin dynasty story.

How long should you spend at the Terracotta Warriors Museum?

Image of Terracotta warrriors at Xi'an in China

Aim to spend at least 2 to 3 hours at the museum as it’s huge (16,300 sq. metres) and split across three pits, with a cinema and exhibition hall. The site closes at 7 pm.

Note: There’s a gift shop where you can also buy refreshments. The souvenirs are high-quality, at high prices. Expect to be told that the government fixes the prices; however, if you walk away, staff are often willing to negotiate a little.

The Best Itinerary for Visiting the Terracotta Army

While most guides and guidebooks suggest that you visit Pit 1, then Pits 2 and 3, followed by the Exhibition Hall, it’s better to start with the Exhibition Hall, then visit the pits in reverse order – start with the smallest pit (Pit 3) and saving the biggest area – Pit 1 for last.

1. The Exhibition Hall of the Bronze Chariots

Smaller than the excavation pits, this area can get very crowded, so arriving early and making this your first visit is well worth it.

Massed Terracotta warriors in Pit number one at the Terracotta Army Museum in China

2. Pit number 3 – The Command Centre of the Terracotta Army

This is the smallest of the pits at 21 metres by 17 metres, with only 68 terracotta figures, all of which are officials.

3. Pit number 2

Archaeologists consider this pit the most complete despite still being only one-sixth excavated so far. It contains all the types of terracotta warriors found to date, including infantry, cavalry, chariot warriors, and archers. It will be keeping archaeologists busy for decades to come!

It’s believed that this pit contains over 80 war chariots, 1,300 terracotta warriors and horses, and many thousands of bronze weapons.

Terracotta Horses in one of the excavated pits that you can see when visiting the Terracotta Warriors

4. Pit number 1 – 6,000 soldiers and horses

Be prepared to be blown away by the sheer size of this pit which was the first to be excavated after local farmers discovered the burial site.

The sight of the thousands of pottery soldiers and chariots is mesmerising. Every warrior is different, modelled from the Emperor’s real-life soldiers, and some still bear traces of their original colour.

Terracotta Army Xian — The huge Number One Pit, packed with thousands of Terracotta Soldiers

The Unsolved Mysteries of the Emperor’s Tomb

While archaeologists know where Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb is located, it’s not been excavated yet. The Chinese authorities have banned all excavation work here for at least 50 years to enable archaeologists to find a way to preserve artefacts fully.

We must wait to discover the secrets of the Terracotta Army and whether the myths of a mercury river, booby traps, a diamond-encrusted sky, and boundless buried treasures are true.

Essentials for Visiting the Terracotta Army

Comfortable shoes because the site is vast
A bottle of water as there are limited places to buy water onsite, and the pits get (extremely) hot during the summer months.

What to Avoid When Visiting the Terracotta Army

The Shops

You’ll find the usual array of cheap tourist-trap shops when you leave the Terracotta Warriors museum site and head to the parking area. The prices on some stalls may look tempting, but many of the goods are of poor quality.

The Refreshment Outlets

There’s a proliferation of food outlets – even a KFC! If you want to stop and eat, agree on the price before you order!

What to do after visiting the Terracotta Army

You’ll have time to relax and recharge your batteries on your journey back to Xi’an. If you made an early start, you might still have time to visit the Shaanxi History Museum, relax, or take a stroll through the fabulous Muslim Market.

If you’re planning a trip to China, you might also enjoy these articles about things to do while you’re visiting Xi’an: