Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

Museum · Xi'an

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

Museum · Xi'an

Lintong District, Xi'An, Shaanxi, China, 710612

Highlights

Lifelike terra-cotta warriors, chariots, horses, and musicians.

Lintong District, Xi'An, Shaanxi, China, 710612 Get directions

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@afar

"China's Game Of Thrones The story of the Emperor Qin reads something like Game of Thrones , with hostages, feuding brothers, wars, and the ultimate unification and creation of what we know as China today. Wanting to protect himself in the afterlife, Emperor Qin created an army of 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses made of terra-cotta. The first lineup of soldiers were said to be the "Dare to Die" soldiers as they were quick and sharp like a knife. They wore less armor than the rest of the warriors. This is one of the most massive archaeological finds on the planet and is found an hour outside of Xi’an China. Restoring the warriors was like putting together a complex puzzle— it's really amazing to see how meticulously everything was recreated."

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Ryan Bagley

Google

Visiting Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum to see the Terracotta Army is undeniably a great opportunity to see one of the world's most important archaeological discoveries. I have always wanted to witness this historical marvel firsthand, and the sheer scale and intricate detail of the warriors truly are awe-inspiring. It is an incredible testament to ancient craftsmanship and imperial power. However, my experience was definitely shaped by the elements. The brutal 104 F heat made the visit incredibly challenging. Walking between the various pits and exhibition halls under such intense sun, even with water, was quite draining. It certainly detracted from my ability to fully immerse myself in the historical significance of the site, as I was constantly seeking shade and a cooler spot. I strongly advise future visitors to check the weather and consider cooler months if possible. Beyond the heat, the museum experience was typical for a major attraction in China, complete with massive crowds and queues. Navigating through the throngs of people to get a good view of the pits required patience and some strategic positioning. While the sheer number of visitors speaks to the site's popularity, it does mean that a serene, contemplative experience is hard to come by. I found myself waiting in lines for entry and to move between viewing areas. Despite these challenges, seeing the Terracotta Army remains an unforgettable experience. It is a powerful historical site that every traveler should try to visit. Just be prepared for the heat, the crowds, and the typical museum flow you might encounter at such a popular destination.

Sakinah

Google

Visiting the Terracotta Warriors Museum was truly a dream come true. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to witness the soldiers in real life, and seeing them up close was absolutely fascinating. The craftsmanship and artistry of the people from the Qin Dynasty are incredible—every statue is detailed and unique, and it really gives you a glimpse into the past. The museum itself is well-maintained and air-conditioned, which made the visit comfortable despite the heat outside. However, we went during Labor Day, so the crowd was quite overwhelming. If you’re planning to visit during a public holiday, be prepared for a lot of people. I highly recommend buying your tickets in advance—we used Trip.com, and it was very convenient. Also, don’t forget to bring your passport, as it’s required for entry into the museum. Overall, it’s an unforgettable historical experience and a must-see when in Xi’an.

Darren Beer

Google

This site is home to the famous Terracotta Warriors. I visited on a weekday, and the crowd was pretty mild, which made it easy to take everything in. The experience was impressive on several levels. First, the army itself is remarkable and seeing all the warriors lined up gave me a real emotional moment. Second, the effort taken to protect them is very commendable. They’re housed in massive, air-conditioned hangar-style buildings that shield them well from the elements. Third, the walkways are well-designed, giving you plenty of space and good vantage points so getting around is easy and never felt crowded. Our guide explained that the way the warriors are laid out mirrors how the real army would’ve been arranged: the front rows were younger soldiers, essentially the first to fall in battle. Another wild fact, every warrior was found smashed to pieces and had to be carefully excavated and reassembled like a giant puzzle. And finally, the story behind the discovery really adds to the sense of mystery and destiny. The entire site was found by accident when a farmer was digging a well. If not for that, the world might never have seen this wonder.

Anh Chu Tuan

Google

If you hire a taxi from Xi'an to get here, be careful because the taxi driver will make it difficult for you to enter this area, but will visit some places suggested by the taxi driver, so that the driver can get a commission. You should not visit this area on holidays because it will be very crowded with tourists. You should buy tickets here in advance. Tickets are only sold online, not directly. This area is very large and has little shade, so you need to prepare appropriate sunscreen. This whole area mainly consists of terracotta statues. Visiting is just for fun, but there are not many interesting things. On the way out, there are many rows of shops with many specialties and delicious food at reasonable prices.

Mark Lee

Google

Definitely a must-visit but do plan your visit early in terms of getting the tickets or a guided tour package. I can't comment on how to buy the tickets but if you getting a local tour package, make sure to get a Chinese or English speaking guide or else you will be seeing things aimlessly. Also get the local bus transport within the pits as its a pretty long walk in between. Come early, like be there by 8am so that you are ahead of the tour busses. Takes anywhere form 3 to 5 hours depending how long u spend in each of the spot. Could easily spend 6 hours if you were to read through all the display.

Jesse Bowskill

Google

Super cool to see, there were tons of people! We got an official guide who was very nice and taught us a lot. Make sure to walk past all the unofficial people offering in the parking lot etc, only the officials guides in black at the counter near the ticket office are certified.

Will Dixon

Google

What more needs to be said about one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. An incredible sight to see. It does get busy so advise to head there very first thing before the tour buses arrive. Also make sure you don't miss the free shuttle bus to the mausoleum and tomb complex which is about 1.5km away. Many foreigners miss this and don't see the main site of the actual tomb or the chariot museum which is actually the most modern and best explained museum in the whole complex.

Jonathon Davey

Google

Public Bus Route 306 (Line 5) for tourists: As of March 2025 the 306 does NOT go from Xi'an central railway station, but from Fangzhicheng metro station. At the metro station take exit A and upon reaching the outside main road, the 306 bus stop is located 100 metres to your right. The 306 buses are double-decker designs and it cost 5 Yuan each way. You do not need to wake up early and get there for 08:30 as various blogs state. 08:30 low season is the busiest time (though still not super busy). At 08:30 I arrived and the ticket counter had only 3 people queuing for physical tickets. The price is 120 Yuan and cards were accepted. Most tourists are Chinese tour groups and so all their tickets are pre-bought. At 08:30 there were approximately 2,000 people, though nobody was arriving when I left after 2 hours at 10:30, which would seem to be the perfect time to visit, or thereafter. 2 hours exactly was sufficient for all 3 pits and the "museum". The complex itself is very disappointing. The warriors are nevertheless worth seeing of course due to the uniqueness and consequent marvel they exhibit, but the actual site is beyond poor.The museum is 1/10. A joke. And the entire compound is dilapidated and abandoned in parts (even though they must be making hundreds of millions of dollars per year from ticket sales alone).