One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 20 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace worth booking?
One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace is a 8-hour experience in Xian, China, from $113 per person. It scores 74 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 20 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 74 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (20)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $113 per person
This day trip will lead you to the east side of Xian and visit two important historical sites, which coincidentally adjacent to each other, Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace. The local guide will accompany you to admire
What you get
About this experience
This day trip will lead you to the east side of Xian and visit two important historical sites, which coincidentally adjacent to each other, Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace. The local guide will accompany you to admired the most significant excavation in 90s and see the great formation of the Terracotta Army, from which you will know about Qin history and the first Emperor in Chinese history - Qin Shi Huang. In the afternoon, you will head for Huaqing Palace and be amazed by its Tang era pavilions, lotus pools and gardens while listening to the great love story of Lady Yang.
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- Round-trip private transfer from city hotel
- Professional art historian guide
- Surcharges on fuel
- Experienced driver
Not included
- 1. Entrance fee for sites you will visit;
- 2. Tips for guide and driver;
- 3. Lunch.
- Entrance fees
What you'll see and do
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
We will start at 7:30 a.m, which is a bit early morning so as to avoid crowds. About 1 hour later, we will arrive at Terra-cotta Army Museum. This museum is built right on the original site of Terra-cotta Army as a great protection. You will see the museum is composed of three pits, which contained different terracotta figures and weapons ranked according to their different roles in a battle. We will focus on Pit 1 and Pit 2 as these two contain the majority of discovered figures. It's said this site has in total 8000 soldiers but we can only see part of them right now. Some of them remain unexcavated. From this short tour, you will learn about the history, society and culture of Qin Dynasty.
180 minutes here · Admission not included
Huaqing Palace
In the afternoon, you will head for last site of this day trip - Huaqing Palace. It was a palace for Emperor Longji of Tang Dynasty to get away from the stressful court and enjoy hot spring which this place is very famous for. The Emperor had a world-famous concubine named Yang Yuhuan, who usually took bath here. That's why you will see a couple of ancient bathtubs here. They had a great time in this palace and left a wonderful love story to later generations. Nowadays, you will still see the trees that they planted together and under which they made wishes to live together until death apart. Many lovers come here to make wishes as well. After the tour, you will be transferred back to city and take rest.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Stefanie's XiAn Private Tour
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- 1. Please let us know if you need to be picked up from other places outside hotel;
- 2. Please let us know if you need to be dropped off to other places outside hotel;
- 3. It's suggestive that you wear comfortable shoes;
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 20 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
20 verified traveler reviews for One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A Wonderful Guide Who Made Our Xi’an Trip Unforgettable
We had a wonderful experience with our tour guide Stefanie during our recent family trip to Xi’an. She was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive throughout our time together. She took the time to understand our family’s needs and interests, and she made sure everyone felt comfortable and enjoyed the experience. Her knowledge of Xi’an’s history and culture added so much value to our trip, and she shared everything in an engaging and easy-to-understand way. We would highly recommend Stefanie to anyone visiting Xi’an, especially families looking for a knowledgeable, caring, and reliable guide. She helped make our trip a very special one, and we are grateful for all her efforts!
via Tripadvisor
Flexible and Professional Private Tour with Stefanie – Highly Recommended!
We were coming to Xi’an for a few days, and wanted to do a private day trip to see the Terracotta Army and the Huaqing Palace. We were looking for a professional, English-speaking guide with whom we could flexibly arrange the trip. We found Stefanie: Planning and executing the trip with her was easy and flexible. Stefanie picked us up from the hotel as agreed. The car was spacious and in good condition, and in addition to water bottles, we were greeted with a bowl of fruit. In the morning, we still changed the order and made Huaqing Palace the first stop because the weather forecast predicted rain later in the day—and it did rain. Stefanie is a professional guide who showed us the sites and shared interesting information about them. Since the trip was private, we could proceed at our own pace, discuss, and take photos in peace. I warmly recommend Stefanie. She also arranges customized tours, and you can contact her directly.
via Tripadvisor
Highly rec!
Stephanie is an incredibly professional and knowledgeable guide. She was very flexible—we decided to switch the order of our itinerary because of rainy afternoon, and she accommodated us effortlessly. Stephanie responded to all our questions quickly and confirmed our details promptly. She was punctual, spoke fluent English, and had an impressive depth of knowledge about the history of both sites. The car was spacious, and the driver was calm and careful. We didn’t stop for shopping at all — every moment was spent exploring Huaqing Palace and the Terracotta Army. The value for money was excellent. A fantastic experience overall!
via Tripadvisor
This is why I choose small tour companies!
I like to choose small tour companies where you know you will be given all the focus and attention. Stefanie was a lovely guide and she customised the day exactly to what we wanted. She even took us out to a lovely lunch. Communication was clear and pickups on time. The driver recommended some amazing restaurants where we had our favourite meal of the trip. This is why I choose small tour businesses!!
via Tripadvisor
Stephanie was excellent
Stephanie was very informative, extremely helpful and fun to be around with. She provided water and gave excellent suggestions for restaurants. I left my iPhone in the toilet of Xian station and Stephanie was kind enough to pick the phone and send it by courier to reach me in Shanghai the next day
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $113 to $207
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 74
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Xian.
How much does One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace cost?
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Prices start at $113 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Xian usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Xian is not rushed.
Is One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 74 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 20 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Xian, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace?
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Around 7 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Xian can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Xian and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does One Day Private Trip to Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Xian within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Xian?
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On Outty we rank every Xian experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Private Xi'an Day Tour: Terracotta Army&Optional City Attractions, All-Inclusive Terracotta Army Tour with Premium Buffet Lunch, 2-Day Customized Warriors Tours & Xian Top Attractions. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Xian?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Xian?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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