In the morning, your guide and driver will meet you at your own booked hotel in downtown Xi’an at the pre-agreed time with you, and then a one-hour private vehicle ride along the highway will first take you to the Terracotta Army Museum, a World Cultural Heritage Site and the Eighth Wonder of the World, with the identity of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (259 -210 BC), the first emperor of ancient China. The guide will unveil more details about the museum for you along the way.

Upon arrival, spend 2.5 to 3 hours with us in awe of the invincible army that has slumbered underground for over 2,000 years. In the three main burial pits, thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors, horses, and bronze chariots were neatly arranged, forming a huge battle formation, as if they were ready to go to war at any moment. Look closely, and you’ll find that the facial expressions of the figurines are quite different, with some smiling and some serious. Learn more about the differences in hairstyle, costume, and footwear design among different arms of the services, including infantry, archer, and cavalry, from your guide. Then, head to a new exhibition to witness 230 rare objects carefully selected from excavations over the past 50-plus years, many of which have never been seen by the world before. Pay special attention to that terracotta figure kneeling on one knee with the upper body slightly turned to the left, who gazes forward with bright piercing eyes, holding a bow in the left hand and pulling the string in the right, as if it is about to shoot a fatal arrow in the next second. Such meticulous depiction will make you can't help but respect the ancient craftsmen's ultimate pursuit of details.

Lunch is on your own. Some fast food restaurants, such as Western Subway or Chinese Weijia Cold Noodles, can be found outside the museum, and you can have a simple meal for about USD 7 per person at your guide’s suggestion.

Afterward, make our way back downtown and visit the City Wall, which was built to defend the imperial capital from external invasions over 600 years ago. As you stroll on it, the military facilities such as watchtowers, barbicans, and arrow towers you come across from time to time will make you deeply appreciate the ancients’ wisdom and superb workmanship. Meanwhile, get a bird’s-eye view of the inner city with traditional residences, solemn temples, and historical sites, and the outer city with skyscraping buildings and fashionable commercial areas, which together form a vivid urban picture that blends the ancient and the modern. Surprisingly, there are bicycles available for you to rent on the Wall, and if you are interested, the guide will be willing to assist you with the rental at your own expense.

The centuries-old Bell and Drum Towers, the core city landmarks located in the heart of Xian, beckon to you on your way to the next stop, the Muslim Quarter, a popular down-to-earth destination that can make your taste buds go wild. Wandering through the streets, you’ll be tempted by various local specialties like Crumbled Bread in Mutton Stew, Chinese Hamburger, and shish kebabs hawked by vendors dressed in traditional Muslim costumes. Moreover, the scenes of local artisans making paper-cuts and performing shadow puppetry will also leave you dazzled. At the end of the day, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel. Or if you prefer to have dinner here and then enjoy a stunning night view around the Bell Tower, you can take a taxi to the hotel by yourself when you’re done. Of course the guide will be glad to offer you some dining recommendations.​

After meeting your private guide and driver at your hotel this morning, let’s embark on an adventurous journey to Mt. Huashan, famous for its precipitous cliffs and narrow roads on and between the five distinctive peaks. Expect to be familiarized with some background information about Mt. Huashan during the 2-hour drive.

► Friendly Tips:
1. The best travel time to Mt. Huashan is from April to October. It is advisable to avoid crowded Chinese public holidays like May Day (May 1st to 3rd) and National Day (Oct 1st to 7th).
2. As the mountain trip requires a lot of hiking, you are recommended to wear a pair of comfortable sports shoes. A coat is also needed to cope with the low temperature at the summit.
3. Due to the limited dining conditions on the mountain, we kindly suggest you have a hearty breakfast at your hotel and prepare some food like burgers and bread as lunch by yourself in advance.

● Take the Cable Car up the Mountain
Once there, the guide will first accompany you to take a shuttle bus to the lower station of the West Peak Cable car, where you’ll be transported to the mountaintop in about 20 minutes. During the climb, bravely open your eyes to admire the peculiar textures and colors of the typical granite rock clusters of Mt. Huashan, as well as the grandeur of the deep canyons.

West Peak - Middle Peak - North Peak
Out of the cable car, hike through some steep trails while holding onto the chains on both sides to get to the West Peak, also known as the Lotus Peak because of a huge lotus-shaped boulder on it. Three sides of it are sheer cliffs, looking as if they were cut by a saw, whose magnificent appearance undoubtedly highlights the unique charm of Mt. Huashan. With your guide, delve into the mythological stories behind the Taoist Emerald Cloud Palace, the Giant Spirit God's Foot, and the Axe-splitting Rock. Next, continue walking for about an hour to reach the Middle Peak, aka Jade Maiden Peak, where legend has it that fairies once haunted. Prepare to be relaxed by the alluring fragrance of diverse rare plants in the serene forest here. Keep going forward and test your mettle on one of the most dangerous paths on Mt. Huashan, the Black Dragon Ridge, which is hundreds of meters long and has a slope of nearly 45 degrees. Since both sides are bottomless abysses, walking down along the ridge is as thrilling as strolling in the clouds. About two hours later, we’ll arrive at the North Peak. It stands alone, with its top stretching high into the clouds, just like a divine terrace, so it is also called the Cloud Terrace Peak. Take the chance to pose for wonderful photos beside the classic stone tablet inscribed with “The Swordsmanship Contest on Mt. Huashan” from a martial arts novel by the renowned Chinese writer Jin Yong.

► Alternative Hiking Route - More Challenging
For those who are physically fit and more adventurous, we can also craft another more laborious hiking route for you: West Peak - South Peak - East Peak - Middle Peak. It takes 5 to 6 hours to conquer all its five peaks and gives you the chance to challenge some of the most perilous paths, like Changkong Plank Trail and Hawk’s Turn Road, both of which require you to walk along the edge of nearly vertical cliffs with the help of safety ropes. At the highest South Peak, you can also get stunning panoramic views of Mt. Huashan.

● Take the Cable Car down the Mountain
After that, the guide will accompany you to descend the mountain by cable car of the North Peak. Finally, take the shuttle bus to the exit to conclude today’s adventure.

As your 2 days Xi’an private tour with Mt. Huashan comes to an end, we will escort you back to your hotel. Thank you for travelling with us! Xian also boasts other must-visit sites like the world-class Shaanxi History Museum, the UNESCO-certified Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and the most prosperous Great Tang All Day Mall, and if you are interested, contact our travel consultant anytime to extend or customize a tour to your liking.​