5 Days | Shaanxi: Unforgettable Xi'an Tour

Tour Overview 

China is a country with a 5,000-year history, do you know which city can best represent these splendid histories? It is Xi'an. The Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuang showcases the scene of the first unified empire; while the Han Chang'an City and Tang Chang'an City were the largest metropolises in the ancient world. Tang poetry, music and dance, as well as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, all of them carry the grandeur of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

When you visit the Datang Everbright City in Xi'an, the collision of neon lights and Tang Dynasty charm will bring a shock to your soul. If you take your relatives or friends to touch the stones of the ancient city wall, you will feel that every crack is an extension of cultural heritage. You can unlock hidden ways to have fun with a Citywalk and when you turn a corner, you may encounter a rock version of Qinqiang opera with interesting styles you had never met before. At the end of an alley, there may be the mixed philosophy of coffee with roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).

During this five-day trip in Shaanxi, you will appreciate the Terracotta Warriors (the world-famous Eighth Wonder) and visit the Lantian Shuilu An, which is the scene in the game "Black Myth: Wukong"; climb Huashan Mountain, one of China's Five Great Mountains, to experience the steepness of China's marvelous mountains; step into the Qinqiang Museum to appreciate the charm of intangible cultural heritage and get close to traditional Chinese culture; stroll around the Datang Everbright City in Tang Dynasty costumes to feel the elegance of the prosperous Tang Dynasty; and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the landmarks of Xi'an, to enjoy the glamour of the world's largest musical fountain, all these unique scenes will bring you unforgettable surprising experiences. 

 

Highlights of this tour:

1. Appreciate the Terracotta Army—the Eighth Wonder of the World.

2. Visit Water and Land Sanctuary (Shuilu'an) in Lantian, the Black Myth: Wukong game scene location, and immerse in the world of Chinese ancient architectural aesthetics

3. Climb Huashan Mountain, one of China's Five Great Mountains, and enjoy the grandeur of the Western Sacred Mountain.

4. Explore Bai Lu Yuan Film Studio to experience the charm of Chinese film and television productions.

5. Taste Shaanxi specialty meals, such as the Six Kingdoms Banquet, Shaanxi snacks, and the Hero Banquet.

6. Step into the Qinqiang Opera Museum to appreciate the charm of intangible cultural heritage, such as string puppet shows and shadow plays.

7. Stroll through Datang Everbright City in Tang-style costumes to feel the elegance of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

8. Visit Xi'an's landmarks: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

 

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Xi’an

Route: Shenzhen – Xi’an (Flight + Tour Bus)

In the first day, you will first gather at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and then take a flight to Xi’an, which is historically known as Chang’an, one of China’s four great ancient capitals. Upon arrival, you will head to Xi’an’s urban area to visit the famous culinary and cultural blocks in the Muslim Quarter: Maixian Street, Daxuexi Alley, and Huimin Street (for approximately 3 hours). As the premier street for Shaanxi cuisine, Huimin Street is often thronged with countless visitors. Here, the tour guide will take you to explore all the century-old restaurants and hidden local eateries. Huimin Street is home to over 50 shops serving steamed pork with rice flour, more than 100 stalls selling sour plum soup and offering cold noodles, as well as the most renowned steamed stuffed buns and the most popular cured beef and mutton in the country. On this day, you only need to bring your appetite and follow the guide to unlock the authentic delicacies of the Muslim Quarter. (Our travel agency thoughtfully prepares for each tourist the most authentic sour plum soup, the most genuine Shaanxi snacks, and the most famous steamed stuffed buns from the Muslim Quarter.) After the tour, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in. 

Meal: Dinner

Hotel: Xi'an Hotel

 

Day 2: Visit the Famous Film Location

Route: Xi’an – Lantian – Xi’an 

After breakfast, you will visit the Water and Land Sanctuary (Shuilu'an) in Lantian, a film location for the game Black Myth: Wukong. As a famous temple with a history dating back to the Six Dynasties, it houses over 3,700 ancient colored sculptures with each exquisite and lifelike, earning it the reputation of "China’s Second Dunhuang".

After lunch, head to Bai Lu Yuan Film Studio. When you stand here, you will really indulge in a feast of Bailuyuan’s delicious food with the soft breeze of Zishui County. Wandering through streets lined with Guanzhong-style houses "with half a roof" and savoring local specialties, you’ll feel as if you’re a true Guanzhong local. Here, you can traverse five ancient passes in a single day – Wuguan, Xiaoguan, Tongguan, Jinsuoguan, and Dasanguan – to experience the ancient plateau, learn about its stories, and travel back through the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties. Only by being here in person can you feel the vicissitudes and lingering charm of this fertile land!

The ticket package includes a ride on the longest outdoor sightseeing escalator in northwest China, a battery car tour, a viewing of the live-action performance Two Tigers Defend Chang’an, and an experience on 360° Extreme Flying Sphere, all of which allow you to immerse yourself in a unique perspective of the great Chang’an.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Hotel: Xi'an Hotel

 

Day 3: Explore Ming Dynasty City Wall and Terra-Cotta Warriors 

Route: Xi’an – Lintong – Huashan (Tour Bus) 

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to visit the Ming Dynasty City Wall. This majestic ancient city wall of Xi’an was built in the early Ming Dynasty on the foundation of the imperial city of Tang Chang’an. As one of the important symbols of Xi’an, it is also a famous historical and cultural site, and is rare in the world for its grand scale and well-preserved state. Standing on the city wall, you can enjoy the time-honored scenery of the ancient city.

After that you will be arranged to visit the Emperor Qin's Terracotta Warriors (admission ticket included, complimentary Bluetooth earbuds for in-depth commentary). As the Eighth Wonder of the World, the museum houses over a thousand terracotta soldier statues, each with a unique appearance and vivid expression. It is a shining pearl in the history of ancient Chinese sculpture and has been hailed as "one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century". You will be overwhelmed by their grandeur and spectacular presence, which will leave a profound impression on your soul. Afterwards, you will follow the guide to explore the pit area and discover the massive "underground army". After the visit, take a bus to a hotel near Huashan Scenic Area for check-in.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Hotel: Huashan Hotel

 

Day 4: Unique Huashan Mountain Experience

Route: Huashan – Xi’an (Tour Bus)

After breakfast at the hotel, head to visit Huashan Mountain (Western Sacred Mountain), which is renowned as the steepest among the Five Great Mountains in China, with the saying “Since ancient times, there has been only one road to Huashan”. Here, jagged peaks tower, and sheer cliffs stand majestically, awe-inspiring to the soul. The mountain comprises five peaks, all of which are grand and precipitous, reaching high into the sky. From a distance, it resembles a blooming lotus flower, hence it has got the name “Huashan” (Lotus Mountain). 

Huashan is also a sacred site of Taoism, known as the “Fourth Grotto-Heaven”. It houses over 72 semi-suspended caves and more than 20 Taoist temples. Since the Sui and Tang dynasties, literati such as Li Bai and Du Fu have written no fewer than a thousand poems, inscriptions, and travelogues about Huashan Mountain, with over a thousand cliff carvings remaining. There are more than 210 famous scenic spots in the mountain, including the sky-high Plank Road, the three-sided impending Yaozi Fansen (Hawk Turn), and the cliff-carved paths like Qianchi Zhuang (Thousand-Foot Building), Baichi Xia (Hundred-Foot Gorge), and Laojun Li (Immortal Laozi’s Plow).

After touring Mount Hua, the group will gather at the foot of the mountain and take a bus to Xi'an to witness the night view of the North Square of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. There, you can admire Asia's largest musical fountain, where within this 60-meter-wide laser water screen towering over 20 meters high, you will see four flame-spitting fountains soaring six meters into the air. The low-temperature bursting flames create a striking contrast with the chilly mist rising from the water. Additionally, 3,300 colored lights transform the water screen into swirling auroras, engaging in a dialogue across time and space with the ancient silhouette of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Its stunning audio-visual effects and diverse performance styles will leave you with a profound impression.

In Xi’an, if you want to travel back to the Tang Dynasty, it starts with changing into traditional clothing. When you dress in Hanfu or Tang-style costumes to transform into talented scholars or beautiful ladies of the prosperous Tang in the streets and alleys of Datang Everbright City full of the classic atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty, you’ll feel the city’s strong classical charm and a heart full of happiness. As you explore Datang Everbright City, you’ll experience a carnival capital filled with Tang culture—the eternal prosperity of history comes alive here. At night, the city is ablaze with lights, the ancient-style buildings shimmer in the light, grand and magnificent, as if the golden age of the Tang Dynasty has been reborn.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Hotel: Xi'an Hotel

 

Day 5: Departure

Route: Xi’an – Shenzhen (Tour Bus + Flight)

After breakfast, head to visit the Xi’an Museum, it is a comprehensive cultural complex integrating a museum, historical relics, and urban gardens together. Renowned for its precious artifacts, the millennium-old Tang Dynasty pagoda, the melodious Morning Bell of the Wild Goose Pagoda, and exquisite landscaped scenery, it immerses visitors in the Holographic Chang'an experience. This digital exhibition employs 360-degree immersive circular-screen technology to recreate ancient Chang'an's cultural symbols.

Next, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. According to historical records, it was built during the Jinglong period of the Tang Dynasty (707–710 AD) as a pagoda of Jianfu Temple in Chang’an, originally named Jianfu Temple Pagoda. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the related cultural relics of Jianfu Temple experience the historical changes of Tang Dynasty and the spread of Buddhist architectural art along the Silk Road.

Then, explore Sajin Bridge—its Muslim Quarter is a true local food street in Xi’an, a paradise for food lovers. When it comes to mutton paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup), the famous spots here are Mahong and Liuxin, offering affordable and delicious options. After visiting Sajin Bridge, you will be transferred to China Qinqiang Opera Museum (complimentary: intangible cultural heritage shadow puppet shows + string puppet performances). Here, you can experience the millennia-old Qinqiang epic, awakening your “opera DNA”. As the saying goes, “One museum holds half of China’s opera history”—this 3,700-square-meter immersive space condenses 5,000 years of Qinqiang art, housing over 3,000 precious collections, from Neolithic music and dance figurines to costumes of modern masters. As "China's earliest rock music", you'll immerse yourself in the desolate yet powerful resonance of Qinqiang opera echoing across the land of Shaanxi. Upon concluding the journey, airport transfer will be arranged based on your flight schedule for your onward journey.

Meal: Breakfast

 

Tour Price ($=USD)

From $820 P.P, which is based on a private tour for 2-6 people.

The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel.

 

Price Includes

√ Round-trip transportation between Shenzhen and Xi'an;

√ Vehicle: Local air-conditioned tour bus with good condition, ensuring one seat per person;

√ Accommodation: 4 nights' well-selected hotels listed in the itinerary;

√ Meals: 4 breakfasts and 5 dinners are arranged throughout the trip;

√ Attractions: First-entry tickets to all attractions listed in the itinerary;

√ Tour guide: Services of local excellent licensed tour guides;

√ Insurance: Including travel agency liability insurance.

 

Price Excludes

√ Transportation: Round-trip transfers to and from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport;

√ Single Room Supplement;

√ Expenses caused by the factors such as traffic delays, strikes, bad weather, aircraft mechanical failures, flight cancellations or schedule changes, etc;

√ Personal expenses: Costs incurred from personal consumption such as laundry, haircuts, phone calls, faxes, TV, drinks, tobacco, alcohol in the hotel, etc.