Xi'an & the Terracotta Army Holidays

What you can find in Xian that you won't find anywhere else?

Visitors can enjoy a private guided tour of the Terracotta Army, discovered in 1974 not far from the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang, the man who first unified China in the third century BC. It is thought the army was created and then buried in order to guard the emperor's tomb. It consists of more than 7,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses, drawn up in battle formation, as well as bronze chariots and weapons. The scale of the undertaking is awesome, and the whole army is remarkably well preserved.

The tour then takes in the Banpo Museum containing articles from the surrounding area that date back more than 6,000 years and offer a glimpse into the life of ancient China. Then continue on to the Wild Goose Pagoda and the surrounding temples from the Ming and Qing periods that contain statues of the founders of Buddhism in China.

The next day, take a private guided tour of the impressive Ming dynasty city walls, which still protectively surround the old city. The 40ft walls are interspersed with gate-towers, run for ten miles and enclose an area of over 6 square miles. The Xi'an walls are some of the most complete remaining in China. The tour will also take in the graceful Bell Tower, which offers an excellent view of the city, and the Shaanxi Museum, which contains a collection of historic artefacts spanning several dynasties.