The Terracotta Army is a set of burial pits filled with terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots guarding the mausoleum of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in Lintong, on the outskirts of Xi’an (Shaanxi province). Discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. The Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum applies a single ticket at 120 yuan (CNY) for an adult, and named online booking with your passport is mandatory for everyone, foreigners included. This page explains how to book, what time to come and what to see on site.
For the rest of the country, see our guide to traveling to China and our page on the best time to visit China.
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Terracotta Army: the essentials
- Ticket: CNY 120 adult, same price in high and low season (checked on 27 October 2026 on bmy.com.cn)
- Booking: mandatory, named, online (official website or official WeChat accounts), with the passport number; show the original passport at the check
- Ticket check hours: 8:30 am – 5 pm from 16 March to 15 November, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm from 16 November to 15 March; the site closes at 6:30 pm or 6 pm
- What the ticket covers: the Terracotta Warriors Museum (pits 1, 2 and 3) and the mausoleum archaeological park (Lishan), linked by a free shuttle; valid on the same day
- Duration: about 1 h 30 min for each of the two sites, according to the museum
- Entry requirements: See entry requirements for China
The Terracotta Army at a glance
According to Wikipedia, work on Qin Shi Huang’s tomb began in 246 BC, when he became king of Qin at the age of 13, well before he unified China; the burial is dated to 210-209 BC. The warrior pits are east of the burial mound. The official museum says the site was discovered in March 1974 by villagers from Xiyang who were digging a well to fight drought.
The Mausoleum Site Museum (秦始皇帝陵博物院) now brings together two complexes: the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, and the national archaeological park of the mausoleum, called Lishan (丽山园). The museum says that the dense remains zone of the mausoleum covers about 2.13 km² (0.8 sq mi), within a total park of more than 50 km² (19 sq mi), with more than 180 accompanying pits discovered so far.
Booking and tickets: the key point
The official purchase guide (in Chinese) is clear: the museum applies named online booking for all visitors, including foreign visitors. You book on the official website with your passport, or via the official WeChat accounts « 秦始皇帝陵博物院 » and « 兵马俑票务在线 ». On the day of the visit, the original passport is checked at the gates: the person, the ticket and the ID must match. The museum asks visitors not to come without having bought their ticket online.
- Price: CNY 120 for an adult, under a 2018 decision of the provincial price bureau; same rate all year.
- Discounts: the half price (CNY 60) applies to full-time Chinese students; the listed free entries (accompanied under-16s, ages 65 and over, people with disabilities…) are reserved for Chinese nationals according to the official text. A foreign visitor therefore pays, in principle, the full price.
- Time slots: tickets are divided into time slots; the museum asks you to arrive half an hour before your slot.
- Validity: the ticket is valid for the day, with three checks (Warriors Museum, Lishan…).
- Cancellation: possible before the check; a used ticket is not refundable; refund within 3 to 5 working days according to the museum.
- Cap: the maximum capacity is set at 65,000 visitors per day; once reached, sales stop.
Excursion, guide or independent visit?
Many travelers take an excursion from Xi’an, which includes transport, booking and a guide. It is handy if booking in Chinese puts you off. Before buying, check that the named entry ticket is included (you will need to provide your passport number), whether Lishan is on the program, the guide’s language and the time spent on site. The museum also offers an on-site explanation service (official guide booking numbers: 029-81399047 / 029-81399048).
What to see: the three pits and Lishan
The museum imposes a visiting direction: you enter only through the north gate. The figures below come from the museum’s official presentation:
- Pit no. 1: the largest, 14,260 m² (about 3.5 acres), said to contain about 6,000 warriors and horses; more than 500 life-size warriors, 24 horses, 6 wooden chariots and many bronze weapons have been uncovered. This is the view of the ranks of soldiers that everyone knows.
- Pit no. 2: L-shaped, about 6,000 m² (about 1.5 acres); it combines kneeling and standing archers, cavalry, infantry and chariots, for a total of 939 figures, 472 horses and 89 chariots according to the museum.
- Pit no. 3: the smallest, about 520 m² (about 5,600 sq ft), considered the command post; the only one that was not burned, which explains the more visible traces of polychromy.
- Lishan (the mausoleum park): reached by free shuttle from the warriors’ car park, with the same ticket; you can see the bronze chariots gallery there, among other things.
Opening hours and best time
According to the museum’s « 导览 » (guide) page, two seasons apply: from 16 March to 15 November, ticket checks from 8:30 am to 5 pm and closing at 6:30 pm; from 16 November to 15 March, checks from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and closing at 6 pm. Both sites stop checking tickets at 5 pm. Hours on major public holidays follow the museum’s announcements.
Given about 1 h 30 min per site according to the museum, and the single visiting direction, it is better to book a morning slot so you can do the warriors then Lishan without rushing before checks end. The official daily cap of 65,000 visitors is a reason to book as soon as your dates are fixed; we have no official attendance figures by day or hour. As the site is largely covered, the weather matters less, but summer is hot in Xi’an: see the best time to visit China.
Entry requirements and practical tips
See entry requirements for China. Your passport is needed twice: to book your named ticket online, and again, in its original form, at the museum’s gates. For insurance and staying connected, see our travel insurance page and our travel eSIM guide, useful for using booking apps.
Common mistakes
- Coming without a reservation: the museum asks that you have bought your ticket online before showing up.
- Booking in someone else’s name or with a different passport number: the person, the ticket and the ID must match.
- Leaving the original passport at the hotel: it is required at the check.
- Arriving after 5 pm (4:30 pm in low season for the check): no entry possible.
- Ignoring Lishan: the ticket covers it and the shuttle is free.
- Counting on a foreigner’s reduced rate: the official discounts are aimed at Chinese nationals.
See elsewhere in China
Xi’an is often combined with Beijing and Shanghai. To build your itinerary, start from our guide to traveling to China.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Terracotta Army?
CNY 120 for an adult, the same rate all year, according to the official website of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum. The ticket includes the Warriors Museum and Lishan park.
Do you need to book to see the Terracotta Army?
Yes. The museum applies named online booking for all visitors, foreigners included, with the passport number; the original passport is checked at the entrance.
What are the opening hours of the Terracotta Army?
Ticket checks from 8:30 am to 5 pm from 16 March to 15 November, and from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from 16 November to 15 March, according to the museum.
How long does the visit take?
The museum allows about 1 h 30 min for the Warriors Museum and as much for Lishan park, linked by a free shuttle.
When was the Terracotta Army discovered?
In March 1974, by villagers digging a well, according to the museum. The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987.
Do you need your passport to visit?
Yes: the museum requires the passport number to book and the original passport at the check. For visas and other entry rules, see our page on entry requirements for China.
Our sources
- Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, bmy.com.cn: « 导览 » pages (hours, booking, capacity) and « Ticketing instructions / 购票须知 » (price, discounts, time slots, pits, Lishan), consulted on 27 October 2026
- Wikipedia, « Terracotta Army » article (dates of the reign and burial, UNESCO listing, coordinates), consulted on 27 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.