Xi'an Terracotta Army and Lishan Garden One-Day Tour Guide (Reverse Itinerary)

Even though it's the off-season, the ancient capital of Xi'an is still quite popular~ I stayed in Xi'an for four days, and there were still quite a lot of tourists on the weekend!! Yesterday, I visited the Terracotta Army and I'm sharing a reverse itinerary with you. This comprehensive guide will show you how to easily spend a day there😉😉 - 🗺Itinerary Departure from downtown → Lishan Garden → Terracotta Army → The Song of Everlasting Sorrow (It was suspended recently, so I didn't get to see it🥹) → Return to downtown We departed around 9 a.m. and arrived at Lishan Garden at 11 a.m. There were very few people in the entire scenic area at that time~ ‼️‼️In the morning, many tour groups go to the Terracotta Army first and then to Lishan Garden. There are fewer people taking the shuttle bus and no queues~ After 1 p.m., there will be queues for the shuttle bus in Lishan Garden, so the reverse itinerary is only suitable for those who can enter the park before noon~ If you arrive late, it doesn't matter which way you go~ . 🎫Tickets Adult tickets are 120 RMB, covering both parks (Terracotta Army & Lishan Garden)~ Book at least two days in advance during peak season~ There is a free shuttle bus from Lishan Garden to the Terracotta Army. However, as Lishan Garden is quite large, you need to buy a sightseeing bus ticket for 15 RMB/person. You can hop on and off as you please~ . 🚇Transportation ① Take the subway to Qinling West Station ➕ take a taxi for 10 RMB (approx. 2 hrs) ② Take a round-trip bus from the Bell Tower, 30 RMB/trip (There is a fixed timetable for daily departures and returns) ③ Four people can take a taxi directly, 90-100 RMB for a one-way trip (approx. 1 hr) . 1️⃣Lishan Garden Travel Tips🌟 ✅There are three stops for the sightseeing bus in Lishan Garden, covering a total distance of more than 10 km. Tickets can only be purchased at the starting point (not available mid-route). The scenery from the back row of the bus is amazing! The first two stops are for visiting the burial pits and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Museum (three exhibition halls in total), which are highly recommended~ The third stop is the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (not yet open to the public), which is not worth visiting~ After you finish visiting, walk a short distance to the shuttle bus to the Terracotta Army. It's a public bus. . 2️⃣Terracotta Army Travel Tips🌟 ‼️The Terracotta Army is not very interesting without a guide. It's just a quick glance at clay figures~ Renting the official electronic guide (30 RMB) is not very useful, and the price is similar to hiring an official guide (1-5 people 90 RMB ➕ headphones 8 RMB/person) ‼️The official guide only explains the three pits and does not include the Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall~ The tour lasts 1-1.5 hrs depending on the guide's pace~ ✅Itinerary Pit No. 1 → Pit No. 3 → Pit No. 2 → Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall ⭕️About stamps There is a Terracotta Army-themed post office at the exit. You can stamp anything at the entrance, and the postcards inside are 5 RMB/piece, which is not bad! . 3️⃣After the visit, you can go to Huaqing Palace to see The Song of Everlasting Sorrow or return to downtown Tickets for The Song of Everlasting Sorrow are quite difficult to get. There are not many people watching the show in winter, and it is currently suspended for program updates (so we didn't get to see it). If you want to see The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, be sure to book your tickets a week in advance. Ticket prices vary depending on the time and seat location. Tickets are also available at the Terracotta Army/Lishan Garden/Huaqing Palace, but they are difficult to get on-site during peak season~ .