The former Silk Road city of Xi'an is close to the Terracotta Army and home to a vibrant Muslim Quarter.
Today it is a bustling Chinese mega-city, but the historic walled city of Xi'an was one of the cradles of Chinese civilisation, the starting point of the legendary Silk Road and the capital of eleven different dynasties. This heritage is explored on the perfectly maintained city walls, the Great Mosque and Muslim quarter, the impressive stelae museum, the intricate bell tower and two towering traditional pagodas.
For most, the major attraction lies some 20 miles outside the city. The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site of the Terracotta Army consists of three giant pits, excavated to reveal over 8,000 individually sculptured clay soldiers, archers and horses, protecting the nearby tomb of the first emperor of the Qin dynasty - Qin Shihuang. Aside from the sheer number of life-size figures, what is truly remarkable is the incredible level of craftsmanship and detail of each, with their own facial expression and hairstyle. Even more impressive is the fact that they were originally all equipped with weapons and painted in vibrant colours, pigments of which can still be seen if you look closely enough.
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Delve into China's Imperial past and hike the Great Wall away from the crowds. Discover Hong Kong beyond the skyscrapers and stand in awe at the iconic Terracotta Army
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Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu - Guilin - Hong Kong
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Yangtze Tour
13 Nights from
£3,901
Beijing & Great Wall - Xi'an & Terracotta Army - Chengdu - Yangtze Cruise - Shanghai
Cruise on the Yangtze River, through the Three Gorges landscape in 5* style, experience China's Imperial age wonders and go beyond the skyscrapers to uncover the real Shanghai…
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Beijing & Great Wall - Xi'an & Terracotta Army - Chengdu - Yangtze Cruise - Shanghai
China
Mandarin Tour
20 Nights from
£5,151
Beijing - Xi'an - Lhasa - Chengdu - Longji Rice Terraces - Guilin & Yangshuo - Hong Kong
Palaces of the Dalai Lama and Chinese emperors, baby pandas, the Terracotta Army and Hong Kong beyond the skyscrapers
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Beijing - Xi'an - Lhasa - Chengdu - Longji Rice Terraces - Guilin & Yangshuo - Hong Kong
Explore Imperial palaces, hike the Great Wall of China and enjoy Hong Kong's exotic beaches and local markets. Great cities of the world are a must for vibrant city life, anci…
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Beijing - Great Wall - Hong Kong
China
Panda Family Tour
14 Nights from
£5,244
Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu - Shangri-La - Lijiang - Hong Kong
Your children will love China, visiting the ancient history of Beijing, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, the pandas at Chengdu, ethnic minorities and Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan…
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Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu - Shangri-La - Lijiang - Hong Kong
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Why the Terracotta Army is so much more than a collection of statues