Best of Xian Private Day Trip to Terracotta Warriors, Great Mosque & Muslim Quarter

Hotel Pick-up & Transfer to Terracotta Warriors
Your private guide will be holding ICT pick-up sign and waiting for you in your hotel lobby (or other appointed meeting place) at the appointed time. You will be transferred to Terracotta Warriors in a comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle.

Explore Terracotta Warriors
Also named Terracotta Army, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses are a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shihuang, the first Emperor of China. They were buried to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The Terracotta Army were discovered in 1974 by local farmers drilling wells for irrigation. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. There are an estimated of 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses buried in three pits. Other terracotta non-military figures were found in other pits, including officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians. The Terracotta Army is one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century in the world. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Lunch at local Halal restaurant

Visit The Great Mosque & Muslim Quarter
The Great Mosque of Xian was built in 742 and it is a tranquil and historic mosque that has served Xian’s Muslim community for more than a millennium. Being the largest and best preserved of the ancient mosques of China, the buildings of Xian Great Mosque are a fascinating fusion of Chinese and Arabian styles. The Great Mosque is laid out like a traditional Chinese temple, with successive courtyards of pavilions and pagodas occupying a long and narrow site (48 meters by 248 meters). The Islamic function of the mosque becomes clear on closer inspection, with the usual figurative decoration mostly replaced by Arabic and Chinese calligraphy. The Great Mosque is aligned on an east-west axis, facing Mecca, with five courtyards in all, leading to a prayer hall at the western end of the mosque. Xian Great Mosque was added to the UNESCO Islamic Heritage List in 1985.

Xian was the first city in China to be introduced to Islam when Emperor Gaozong of the Tang dynasty officially allowed the practice of Islam in 651 AD and since, has made it home to a large Muslim community. Xian Muslim quarter covers several blocks with an estimated 60,000 Muslims in the region, majority of them are Chinese speaking Hui Muslims. There are about seven mosques in the area to accommodate the Muslim population, among which the Great Mosque built in 742 is most famous and popular among all. At Xian’s Muslim Quarter you will find a seemingly endless labyrinth of street food, restaurants and bustling local life. Walking along this twisted, narrow street which is aligned with stores on both sides, you can see that Muslims with white hats sit inside the stores and talk leisurely with each other. Dotted throughout are a number of other attractions including the Gao Grand Courtyard and shadow puppet show.

Transfer Back to Your Hotel
After visiting the Muslim Quarter, your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel.