Discover ancient civilisations and artefacts that have been unearthed by archaeologist in Xi'an. Visit the Terra Cotta Army Museum which features thousands of intricately carved statues set to guard an emperor's tomb, and Banpo Neolithic Village to see what remains of houses built 6,000 years ago.

Following a convenient hotel pickup, journey to the site of the Terra Cotta Army Museum. As you wander through the grounds, you are filled with a sense of wonder at how much time and effort was put into the creation of such a massive collections of individually carved statues, each with its own personality and storey. With extensive exhibits, artefacts, and a film to explain the history of the museum, you are sure to have plenty to do.

Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum is another great wonder in Xi’an and is your next stop. Hop out at this site chosen for its geomagnetic setting of mountains as the backdrop and a river in front. Emperor Qin Shihuang began to build the mausoleum for himself when he came to throne at the age of 13 and it was still unfinished when he died. As you stand in this sombre place, try to imagine the 720,000 convicts that were conscripted as labour to build this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site.

After the museum, visit the Banpo site that dates back around 6,000 years, and is representative of a typical Neolithic matriarchal community. At that time, the Banpo people used tools made primarily of wood and stone. Women, the crucial labour force, were responsible for making pottery, spinning, and raising the family, while the men fished. This village was excavated in 1953 and is full of ancient houses, pottery kilns, and tombs for you to explore before returning to your Xi'an hotel.