Just one-and-a-half hours by air from Beijing, Xi'an city is home of the world-famous life-size Terra Cotta Army, unearthed in 1974 after being buried with the first Qin emperor for 22 centuries. Xi'an was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC, and the capital city for 11 dynasties up to the 9th century. It is from here that caravans started on the Silk Road to Europe, changing the Western world forever. The massive City Wall and Moat that surround the city are a monument to the importance of Xi'an. Today, modern hotels complement a rich cultural heritage that invites exploration. About

What to do:
Museum of the Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses
This is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world with three exhibition halls, the largest of which is 180 meters by 60 meters, housing the continuing excavation of an army of 6,000 terra-cotta soldiers and horses that guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the unified China. It is a stunning exhibition of ancient artifacts that is well laid out and easy to view.

Shaanxi History Museum
The museum, covering 60,000 square meters, was built in the Tang style of architecture with elegant galleries and courtyards. Its collections amount to over 115,000 relics representing the periods from 11th century BC to 907 AD.

The Xi'an City Wall
The Xi'an City Wall is the largest, best-preserved ancient city wall in China