Best Time to Visit Terracotta Warriors

Located in the east of Xian City (about 45min-1hour drive from the downtown area), the Terracotta Warriors and Horses is a must-visit for any Xian tour, especially for those who are visiting Xian for the first time.

Since the site is indoors, visitors can visit the Terracotta Army year-round without being affected by the weather or seasons. However, due to its popularity, the site can see up to 80,000 visitors a day. During peak tourist seasons or peak hours in the day, you may encounter a less-than-ideal experience due to the large crowds.

As a result, many tourists wonder: When is the best time to visit the Terracotta Warriors? This is where this article comes in. It includes the best months and seasons, the best days, the best time of day, and periods to avoid.

Xian-Terracotta Warriors and Horse
Terracotta Warriors and Horse

Best Seasons and Months to Visit

The best times to visit the Terracotta Army are in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Not only is the weather during these two seasons pleasant, but there are also lighter crowds in these months. To appreciate the majesty of this underground army and learn more about the specifics and enigma of these terracotta soldiers and treasures, a visit during these times is more pleasurable.

A visit in the sweltering summer and freezing winter may not be as enjoyable as one in the spring or fall because the Terracotta Army Museum lacks heating and air conditioning systems.

But, if you don’t mind the cold weather in Xian in winter, we recommend you consider visits in the off-peak season from November 16th to March 15th. During this time, you can encounter fewer tourists, and the tickets for the Terracotta Army are cheaper. You just need to bundle up to stay warm.

Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army

Best Days to Visit – Non-holiday Days

For a more peaceful and comfortable experience, it is best to visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses during non-peak seasons and on non-holiday days. On workdays, tourists are far less than during other periods, allowing you to take your time exploring the terracotta figures.

Best Time of Day for Terracotta Warriors

The museum typically sees the least crowds as soon as it opens. To escape the crowds, a good option is to arrive at the site in the early morning and get in line before 8:00 AM. Then you can enter the museum as soon as it opens, before the tour groups arrive, and have a more tranquil experience.

The busiest hours of the museum are usually from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. So, if possible, you’d better skip this time window. Try to arrange your visit before 10:00 AM or in the afternoon. Just note that you should leave around 3 hours to explore the Terracotta Army and the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Best Xian Tours including Terracotta Army:

Periods to Avoid

If possible, you’d better avoid visits to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses during the following periods, as the museum can get extremely crowded by then. Otherwise, you may end up seeing more of other visitors’ heads than the Terracotta Army itself.

Chinese Spring Festival  

The Chinese Spring Festival holiday lasts from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, typically falling between late January and mid-February, for a total of seven days. During this time, most people take a week off from work to spend time with family or travel. What’s more, finding a guide can be challenging during this period as many guides are also on holiday with their families. And guide fees tend to triple compared to normal times.

Chinese National Day Holiday

Terracotta Warriors Museum will be rather crowded from the 2nd day to the 6th day of the holiday. The worst thing is that the traffic from Xian to Terracotta Warrior would be very bad. In normal days it takes 45 min – 1hour from Xian to Terracotta Warriors, but during National Day Holiday it may take 2 hours or even longer.

Summer Vacation  

Early July to the end of August is the summer vacation for primary and secondary schools, as well as colleges in China, making these two months the peak season for most attractions around the country.

During this period, the Terracotta Warriors Museum would receive more visitors than normal days, though the crowds are still more manageable compared to the National Day holiday and the Spring Festival.

The weather during these summer months in Xi’an is also hot, making your visit not so comfortable.