Tour Overview
Combine Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors with Zhangye's rainbow mountains in one incredible 5-day journey. Start with Emperor Qin's 2,200-year-old army, then fly to Zhangye for the surreal Danxia landforms, the cliff-hanging Matisi Temple, and the giant reclining Buddha. A perfect add-on to any Xi'an trip.
Highlights
- ✅ Terracotta Warriors — 8,000 life-sized soldiers from 210 BC
- ✅ Zhangye Danxia — rainbow mountains at their most vivid
- ✅ Xi'an Ancient City Wall — bike along 14km of Ming Dynasty fortifications
- ✅ Matisi Temple — vertical cliff Buddhist grottoes
- ✅ Dafo Temple — 34.5m reclining Buddha, largest indoor in Asia
- ✅ Xi'an Muslim Quarter — authentic street food experience
What's Included
- ✅ Professional English-speaking guide in each city
- ✅ 4 nights 4-star hotel with breakfast
- ✅ Flight: Xi'an→Zhangye (economy)
- ✅ All entrance tickets
- ✅ Private vehicle transfers
- ✅ Airport/station transfers
What's Excluded
- ❌ Flights to Xi'an / from Zhangye
- ❌ Lunches & dinners
- ❌ Personal expenses
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Xi'an — City Wall
Arrive at Xi'an. Afternoon: bike ride on Xi'an Ancient City Wall — the best-preserved city wall in China (14km circuit). Evening: Muslim Quarter — lamb skewers, yangrou paomo, persimmon cakes. Overnight in Xi'an.
Day 2: Terracotta Warriors
Full day at the Terracotta Warriors Museum (1h from Xi'an). Visit all three excavation pits — Pit 1 with 6,000+ warriors in battle formation, Pit 2 with cavalry and archers, Pit 3 (command post). See the bronze chariots. Afternoon: Huaqing Hot Springs or a replica workshop. Overnight in Xi'an.
Day 3: Fly to Zhangye — Danxia
Morning flight to Zhangye (1.5h). Afternoon: Zhangye Danxia Geopark — the rainbow mountains. Spend the afternoon exploring all viewing platforms and stay for the golden sunset when the colors are most intense. Evening: Zhangye lamb feast. Overnight in Zhangye.
Day 4: Matisi Temple & Dafo Temple
Morning: Matisi Temple (1.5h) — Buddhist grottoes carved into a vertical cliff, connected by narrow walkways. Afternoon: Dafo Temple — the awe-inspiring 34.5m reclining Buddha and Ming Dynasty murals. Evening: Zhangye night market. Overnight in Zhangye.
Day 5: Morning Leisure & Departure
Morning: visit Zhangye Wetland Park or the Zhangye Museum. Free time for souvenir shopping — local dates, goji berries, and Silk Road crafts. Afternoon: transfer to Zhangye Airport.