Terracotta Warriors Xi’an:
Complete Independent Travel Guide

Terracotta Army was definitely one of the bucket list items for me before visiting China. The army consists of thousands of sculptures of China’s first Emperor Qin Shihuang’s army warriors. The army was constructed in the 3rd century BC, it took 40 years and hundreds of thousands of workers. Subsequently, they were buried with the Emperor. Mausoleum of the Emperor together with the Terracotta army was inscribed, as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here is detailed historical timeline from ChinaHighlights.

How to Get to Terracotta Warriors by Public Transport

Getting to Terracotta warriors is not as difficult, as it looks and is completely possible by yourself. Don’t believe the people, who tell you that the only way to get there is by tour. Taxi might be quicker, but I believe it costs somewhere around 200 yuan, so it’s a huge difference with the bus fares. If you want to save money, simply go by one of the public transportation options listed below.

Cheapest Option: Bus 306 (line 5) from Fangzhicheng Station

On our first morning in Xi’an, we woke up bright and early (okok, it wasn’t so bright, as mornings never are for me :)) and headed to Terracotta warriors. Bus 306 (referred to as line 5) starts running from 7am.

The bus runs from the Fangzhicheng station on metro line 1. You can either take metro or a bus to reach this spot. Ask your hotel, which transport would be most convenient from the place you stay.

Please, note the bus was previously departing from the Xi’an Railway station, which is no longer the case. Be sure to head to Fangzhicheng station instead. The bus stop is located north of the station.

Bus scams: As soon as we got close to the station, some strange woman literally jumped at us, shouting “terracotta” and pushing us somewhere. I had already read that there are buses claiming to be official, which take tourists to souvenir shops and overcharge. This was a rather unpleasant situation, but we managed to ignore and get rid of her and quickly moved towards the official bus 306.

At the time we visited, the bus was quite old and surprisingly not in par with usual standards we were used to so far in China. But it got us there safe and sound. Nowadays, they have more modern buses. The bus gets full really quickly and moves immediately after that. It only costs 7 yuan payable on the bus and takes about an hour to get to Terracotta Warriors.

Note: Don’t get off at any of the stops 306 makes, you need to get to the last stop.

Bus 602 or 613 from Huaqing Pool Bus Station

Apparently, lately they added other bus lines, like 602 and 613 also going to Terracotta Army. They leave from the Huaqing Pool Bus Station, which is near metro line 9 stop Huaqing Pool – 200 meters from exit C. We didn’t use this option though.

There is also a more expensive option – a tourist bus departing from the east gate of Yisushe Grand Theater, which is located near the Bell Tower. However, this costs 30 yuans, so if you are not traveling alone, it doesn’t end up much cheaper.

For tips on taking public transport in China, see my dedicated post. 

Getting to Terracotta Army by public transport was quite straightforward for us with no hiccups. From the bus stop, it’s about 10 minute walk to the ticket office and then you will need to walk to the pits.

However, if you don’t want to figure out public transport, you can consider taking a tour provided by one of the agencies, like this highly rated tour with private and group options.

You can also combine the visit to Terracotta Warriors with other Xi’an sights in a day trip, such as this whirlwind tour.

Exploring Terracotta Warriors

Tickets for the Terracotta Army

Price: 120/150 yuan depending on the season.

Options for purchasing Terracotta Warriors tickets include:

• To get tickets online, you can do so on the official website. But you must register and provide your details, as the tickets are issued on your name.
• If you can’t figure out the website, you can get the ticket at the same price using Trip.com, which is the official seller. In fact, if you are using the main website in English, it’s default is to direct you there, instead of their own booking system.
• You can get tickets at the ticket office on the spot. I have read a lot about huge queues at the ticket offices and entrance, but it was ok on the day we went (it was early morning on a Tuesday). Be aware that on the particularly busy days, tickets may sell out, if the limit is reached.

Note: Your ticket will also include entry to the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang. It can be reached by taking a free shuttle (10 minutes) from the Terracotta Warriors. If you have enough time and are interested, this could be an option. But we had a lot of other things to do in Xi’an, therefore, decided to skip it.

Crowds at the Terracotta Army

We arrived in the morning, at about 9.30. We wanted to do so earlier, but getting there took some time. The site wasn’t very crowded. In fact when we got to the Pit 1, we could admire the Warriors without fighting for the view. However, within probably half an hour the amount of people tripled and it was difficult to walk around.

If you wish to avoid crowds, be sure to arrive as early as you can, preferably upon the opening of the site at 8.30.

Terracotta Warriors Accessibility 

The site is accessible with relevant wheelchair ramps and pathes. The surfaces are flat, which makes it easily walkable for people with mobility issues as well.

Terracotta Army Sightseeing Route

Useful information: Once you enter through the main gates, you can find toilets on your right. They were quite all right. I am not sure, if there are any near the pits though.

From the gates, it’s about 10 minutes walk to the pits through the park. It’s a nice enough walk.

Pit 1 of the Terracotta Army

As soon as you get to the pits, the biggest one in front of you, is pit 1. It has 6,000 warriors in it, but only 2000 are displayed for viewing. This is the place you have seen numerous pictures of. And no, it doesn’t look as stunning as you may think from photos, as it has a very ugly modern roof. You also can’t get close to the warriors and can only marvel at them from far together with heaps of people.

But the sheer number and size of this army makes it worth it. The whole idea, that it was constructed 22 centuries ago and was buried underground for so long, leaves you speechless. Plus, if you look closely, each soldier has special facial expressions, clothes, stance, etc. It’s absolutely fascinating.

By the way, look out for the remains of the original wooden roof, still buried among the walls. The warriors were standing in rows, with walls in-between them in order to hold the roof in place. When the roof collapsed, most of it disintegrated, but you can still see signs of it.

The restoration works are constantly ongoing. It actually takes 5-8 years to restore one Terracotta soldier, so you can imagine, how much effort goes into this.

Many people are fascinated by the army. While many are underwhelmed, given the high expectations they had, as it didn’t turn out to be the amazing Instagrammable place they were hoping it to be 🙂 Whatever your expectations, this site is absolutely impressive.

Pit 3 of the Terracotta Army

If you get out on the other side of pit 1, you can enter pit 3. This is the smallest of the 3 pits, holding only 60-something warriors. This is the command center, so the warriors you see here are mostly the officers.

Pit 2 of the Terracotta Army

Pit 2 holds over 1000 warriors, many of them are partly excavated. You can see the photos explaining process of excavation here. Most fascinating thing about this pit is that you can find a couple of warriors, whose armour has a little of the color preserved. The thing is the warriors were painted in bright colors originally. However, very soon after they are excavated, the color fades.

If you take a look at the photos above and below, you will definitely notice fading colors. Unfortunately, they still haven’t found a way to prevent this from happening. This is one of the reasons, along with the lack of sufficient financial resources, why the excavations don’t proceed fast. I for one certainly hope they will find this technology. Imagine how fascinating the colourful warriors were, when they were first built.

If you want to take photos with the copies of Terracotta Warriors, there is a photo stand at the Pit 2. A photo costs 100 yuan.

Next to Pit 2 you will also find a hall with the exhibition of Bronze chariots. The 2 carriages are intricately constructed and very well preserved.

After spending time at the pits, you can head back to the bus. From the exit, you can pass numerous cafes and see the market. You can taste interesting Chinese sweets.

I suggest to spend at least 2 hours exploring Terracotta Warriors. We spent about 3 hours here. Once you take bus 306 to the Xi’an Railway Station, you can take metro line 4 to your next destination or direct buses, such as 603 and 611 to the Bell Tower and to the South Gate.

Interested what to do after exploring the Terracotta Army? Check out my 2-day itinerary of Xi’an.

Have you visited the Terracotta Army? Share your own tips and experiences in the comments below.

See Also

Practical Guide to Visiting Xi’an: 2-Day Itinerary

Make the most of your time in Xi’an with this 2-day itinerary that covers a step-by-step route, practical transport tips and booking guidance.

Comprehensive Guide to Public Transport in China

Plan smooth China travel with this guide on how to ride high-speed trains, use metros, book train tickets and navigate big stations in major cities

China Travel Guide: Essential Tips for Planning your Trip

Plan your independent trip to China with practical tips on visas, payments, apps, transport, food, and a flexible 10-day itinerary.

Hello I am Ket,

A traveler, planner, and sweet tooth behind Hit the Road Ket.

Travel isn’t just my passion – it’s a lifeline for my mental health. Having lived in three cities and explored 60 countries (and counting!), I created this blog to share my experiences, smart tips, and itinerary advice with fellow travel lovers.

I’m all about making the most of limited time, finding scenic routes, and turning every trip into something memorable – coffee in hand, of course.