Updated 2 October 2026 · LocalKey consultant team
Foreign visitors book the Terracotta Army through the museum's official real-name channels using their passport details. Reserve a time slot online, arrive about 30 minutes early with your original passport, and enter through the North Gate.
The official site is the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Lintong District, about 35 km northeast of Xi'an at the northern foot of Mount Li. It includes the Terracotta Warriors Museum and the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum National Archaeological Site Park, also known as Lishan Park or Lishan yuan. A single same-day ticket covers both areas, with a free shuttle between them.
The mausoleum was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 under criteria (i), (iii), (iv), and (vi). The terracotta army was discovered in 1974, more than two millennia after Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BCE. This page focuses on the practical visit: tickets, timing, the North Gate, and the journey from Xi'an to Lintong. For the wider city context, see Xi'an 2026: A Culture City, Not a Terracotta Checklist.
How do foreigners book Terracotta Army tickets in 2026?
All visitors, including foreign visitors, must make a real-name online reservation through an official museum channel, using passport information. The original passport must be presented for ticket verification and must match the person and booking record.
Use only these official channels:
- The official ticketing page on bmy.com.cn.
- The official WeChat account named “Qin Shi Huang Emperor's Mausoleum Site Museum”.
- The official WeChat account named “Terracotta Warriors Ticket Service Online”.
Choose a date and time slot for each traveller. The museum operates with time-slot entry and a daily capacity of 65,000 visitors; ticket sales stop when the capacity is reached. Do not rely on an unofficial reseller or an old travel page for availability, booking rules, or admission details.
After booking, keep the order information available on your phone. On the day, arrive around 30 minutes before the reserved slot. At inspection, the museum checks the booking, the original identity document, and the traveller whose name appears on the booking. For a foreign visitor, that identity document is the original passport, not a photocopy.
If plans change, request a refund before ticket inspection. A ticket that has already been used cannot be refunded. The official ticketing instructions state that approved refunds normally return to the original payment account within 3–5 business days.
The museum does not publish a Monday-closure rule on its official visitor pages. Check the official site again before travel, especially around public holidays, when opening arrangements follow the latest museum notice. Do not use an attraction price copied from an older guide; consult the official ticketing page for current admission information.
What are the museum opening hours and how do Pit 1, 2, and 3 work?
From 16 March to 15 November, ticket inspection runs from 08:30 to 17:00 and the museum closes at 18:30. From 16 November to 15 March, inspection runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and the museum closes at 18:00. A practical indoor sequence is Pit 1, then Pit 3, Pit 2, then the Bronze Chariots Exhibition Hall — Pit 1 about 14,260 m² with roughly 6,000 estimated figures, Pit 2 about 6,000 m² with official estimated contents of 939 figures / 472 horses / 89 chariots, and Pit 3 about 520 m² as the command pit and the one not burned.
| Season | Ticket inspection | Museum closing |
|---|---|---|
| 16 March–15 November | 08:30–17:00 | 18:30 |
| 16 November–15 March | 08:30–16:30 | 18:00 |
Holiday arrangements can change, so use the official visitor guide for the latest notice. The official guide describes the Terracotta Warriors Museum and Lishan Park (Lishan yuan) as two parts of one museum visit. Allow about 1.5 hours for each area and use the free shuttle between them. Build in time for walking, inspection, the shuttle, and the return journey to Xi'an.
A practical route is to visit Pit 1 first, then Pit 3, Pit 2, and the Bronze Chariots Exhibition Hall.
- Pit 1 alone was discovered in March 1974 by well-diggers at Xiyang Village in Lintong, according to the official account. It covers about 14,260 square metres, with an official estimate of approximately 6,000 terracotta figures and horses. The official ticketing page also publishes excavated figures from the ongoing, still-partial excavation: more than 500 life-size warriors, 24 terracotta horses, 6 wooden chariots, and bronze weapons and chariot fittings.
- Pit 2 is an L-shaped, later-excavated companion pit covering about 6,000 square metres. The official museum description estimates its contents at 939 figures, 472 horses, and 89 chariots; these are official estimated contents, not a fully excavated display count.
- Pit 3 is a later-excavated companion pit covering about 520 square metres. The official description treats it as the command post for Pits 1 and 2 and notes that it was the only one of these pits not burned.
The official museum route also includes the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. If you are short on time, prioritise Pit 1 and the exhibition hall. If you have more time, follow the museum's suggested sequence of Pit 1, Pit 3, Pit 2, and the Bronze Chariots Exhibition Hall.
The site is not only a hall of excavated figures. It presents the archaeological remains and protection of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum complex. The World Heritage setting, the pits, and the mausoleum park are best treated as one connected visit, while keeping expectations practical: some areas involve long walks and periods of standing.
How do you get from Xi'an to the Terracotta Army?
The museum sits in Lintong about 35 km northeast of Xi'an; a checked public option is bus 306 / Tourist Line 5 from Xi'an East Railway Station, while many visitors use a pre-arranged private car and driver (Independent add-on or Private Guided).
The museum is in Lintong District, outside the central city. A private car avoids the uncertainty of finding the correct vehicle, handling luggage, and matching an inflexible bus timetable to a timed museum reservation. It also makes it easier to combine the museum with a planned Lintong stop when that fits your day.
A public option checked on 29 August 2026 is bus 306, also called Tourist Line 5. The adjusted route runs from Xi'an East Railway Station through Textile City, Huaqing Palace, and onward to the Terracotta Army. The reported operating window is approximately 07:00–19:00. Schedules, boarding points, and traffic conditions can change, so check the current route before departure and allow a generous margin before the museum slot. The museum's official guide remains the place to check its current traffic and transport information.
Do not plan this visit around driving yourself. Parking, traffic near the museum, and the timed entry system add avoidable pressure. A driver arranged for your booking can drop you at the visitor area, wait or return at an agreed time, and help keep the day connected to your Xi'an hotel or onward rail plan.
The museum itself is not a quick city-centre stop. Allow time for the road journey in both directions, the security and ticket checks, the walking route through the pits, and the shuttle to Lishan yuan if you include the second area. A late morning slot can make the return to Xi'an feel compressed, particularly in peak season.
For broader route planning, see Beijing Xi'an Shanghai Private Tour 2026: Independent Rail-Led Sample Route and 10-Day China Itinerary 2026: 240-Hour Visa-Free Route.
Where do you enter, and what should you bring on the day?
The North Gate is the only entrance, and every foreign visitor should bring the original passport used for the reservation. Arrive before the booked time slot and allow enough time for security, ticket verification, and walking from the visitor area.
Your day-of-visit checklist:
- Original passport for every foreign visitor.
- Booking confirmation and time-slot details on your phone.
- Comfortable shoes for extended walking and standing.
- Water and weather-appropriate layers, subject to security rules.
- A phone with enough battery for booking records, transport coordination, and contact with your driver or LocalKey support.
The museum uses a one-way entrance and exit arrangement. Enter through the North Gate and follow the marked route. The official visitor information lists medical support, luggage storage, wheelchairs, strollers, and accessible routes within the complex, but storage is subject to security restrictions. Do not bring prohibited items such as drones, pets, flammable materials, weapons, or other restricted objects listed in the official visitor guide.
The museum address is in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. For visitor assistance, the official guide lists 029-81399174; for ticket enquiries, it lists 029-81399127. The official email is information@bmy.com.cn.
Once inside, follow the museum route rather than trying to optimise every viewing position. Pit 1 is generally the main orientation point; Pit 2 and Pit 3 give a different sense of the military formations and command structure. If a traveller in your group needs a slower pace, use the available rest points and consider leaving the mausoleum park for a separate decision after the main museum.
You can also pair the visit with the wider Xi'an destination guide or explore LocalKey's culture experiences after the ticket and transport details are settled.
How do Independent and Private Guided trips handle the Terracotta Army?
Independent is the app-supported option with 24/7 backup and optional transport or guide add-ons; Private Guided includes a private guide and driver/car across the trip. Both are designed around a booked museum slot, a practical morning departure, and a clear return plan.
With Independent at /private-china-tours#classic, LocalKey supports the trip through the app and 24/7 backup. You can add airport pickup, a car and driver on demand, or a local guide on demand. This works well for travellers who want control over the visit while keeping the Lintong transfer and ticket timing organised.
With Private Guided at /private-china-tours#signature, a private guide and driver/car accompany you across the trip. The guide can help with the museum sequence, timing between the two site areas, and communication around the day. This is often the smoother choice for families, senior travellers, or anyone who wants the archaeological context explained while moving at a measured pace.
Both options can be arranged as part of private China tours: your own China trip — planned, booked and backed. LocalKey can coordinate a 1:1 specialist and 7×24 WeChat or WhatsApp support for ticket timing, transport changes, and practical questions during the journey.
Sources
- Official museum ticketing and real-name booking instructions: bmy.com.cn ticketing — verified_on 2026-10-02.
- Official museum opening hours, visitor guide, transport information, capacity, North Gate entry, facilities, and contact details: bmy.com.cn visitor guide — verified_on 2026-10-02.
- UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor: UNESCO World Heritage Centre — verified_on 2026-10-02.
- 2026 bus 306 / Tourist Line 5 adjustment (Xi'an East Railway Station terminus) and reported operating window: cnwest.com report, 29 August 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-02.
