Xian Holidays
Home to the striking Terracotta Army, Xian is the birthplace of Chinese civilisation.
See the 10,000 Chinese warriors in all their glory, lined up ready for battle in this Ming-era destination that's rife with history. Tour the Wild Goose Pagoda, the symbol of Xian city, and visit the Muslim quarter to find bustling markets and culture.
Twin your trip to Xian with a visit to Beijing, home to the Great Wall, or visit Shanghai for its metropolis atmosphere.
Destination Highlights
The ancient city of Xi’an has seen the rise and fall of many Chinese Dynasties and it is this wealth of history that draws visitors to this fascinating city to this day. From the famous Terracotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda there is plenty to see and do in Xi’an.
Take a bicycle tour of the City Wall – the most complete city wall to survive in China, visit the Great Mosque – one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Islamic mosques in China, stop at the Yangling Mausoleum – the joint tomb of Liu Qi, the fourth Emperor of the Western Han Dynasty and his Empress Wang, or spend some time at the picturesque Huaging Hot Spring.
Considering the city’s rich history, it is no surprise that Xi’an is home to an array of museums. The Banpo museum, built on the Banpo excavation site portrays a typical Neolithic matriarchal community with two exhibition halls displaying the unearthed relics. The Shaanxi History Museum showcases the fascinating history of the region. The Beilin Museum, initially founded in the 2nd year of the Yuanyou Dynasty, has an impressive collection of stone tablets showcasing the changing calligraphy styles over the changing Chinese dynasties.
No visit to Xi’an would be complete without seeing the Tang Dynasty show – a performance of Changan music and dance which originated over a thousand years ago in the Chinas Tang Dynasty.
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![Wild Goose Pagoda]( "Wild Goose Pagoda")
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Located in the heart of the Da Ci’en Temple complex, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was originally constructed during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty in 652. The pagoda was built for eminent monk Xuan Zang to house the Buddhist sutras and relics which he collected on his 17 year journey across India. The well preserved Big Wild Goose Pagoda still contains many Buddhist relics and is considered a holy place for Buddhists. Why not visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda on our full day tour?
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![Terracotta warriors]( "Terracotta Warriors")
Terra Cotta Warriors
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century and work continues on this site to this day. Built as the funeral project for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi huang, explore the life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations and dressed in their ceremonial garb. Over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from the site, most of which have been restored to their former grandeur.
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Shaanxi History Museum
Also known as the Provincial History Museum, the Shaanxi is China’s first large scale modern nation museum. The Shaanxi Province is known as the birthplace of the ancient Chinese civilization and Xi’an has been the capital city in 13 dynasties which lasted over 1100 years. Consequently, the ancient history of Shaanxi is to some degree the ancient history of China. The museum is home to more than 1,700,000 cultural relics and the permanent exhibition includes three halls displaying artefacts from 115,000 years ago to 1840, offering a unique insight into the history and lifestyle of ancient cultures. Why not experience the Shaanxi History Museum on our private half day tour?
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