Quick answer
- Cheapest: public tourist bus from central Xi'an, if you accept the time and the confusion.
- Sensible middle: Didi or a hotel-arranged taxi with a fixed price and a waiting arrangement.
- Simplest: private companion with a car — tickets, timing and the return leg all handled.
- Avoid: anyone who tells you the museum is closed.
Option 1: Tourist bus (You 5 / route 306)
Time: about an hour or more, plus waiting. Cost: the cheapest option.
A tourist bus runs from the area by Xi'an railway station out to the museum. It works, but it is the least predictable choice: queues at busy times, unclear signage for foreign visitors, and a ride that can stretch well beyond an hour.
Two cautions. First, there are imitator buses and touts around the station area claiming to go to the terracotta site — some take you to copycat attractions instead. Use the clearly signed official departure point, and ask your hotel to point you at it. Second, keep your passport with you for real-name ticketing.
Option 2: Train to Lintong + short ride
Time: roughly 20–30 minutes on the train, plus the final transfer.
There is a high-speed link towards Lintong, the district the museum sits in, after which you need a taxi or bus for the last stretch. It is fast, but the door-to-door time saving over a direct car is smaller than it looks once you add getting to the station, waiting, and the final leg.
Details on booking rail as a foreigner are in our high-speed train guide.
Option 3: Didi or taxi
Time: about an hour. Cost: a fixed price agreed in advance; more than the bus, far less than a wasted day.
This is the practical default for independent travellers. Two rules:
- Agree the price before you get in, and make clear you want the official museum — not a "similar" attraction.
- Arrange the return. Ride-hailing coverage at the museum is thinner than in the city. Either have the driver wait, or plan to take the tourist bus back.
Option 4: Private companion with a car
Time: about an hour each way, minus every bit of friction. Cost: priced per day.
What you are buying: pre-booked real-name tickets, a pickup time that beats the tour buses, a car that is still there when you finish, a driver who takes you to the right museum, and someone who explains what you are looking at inside. Given the scams around the site, the last two matter more here than they do in most Chinese cities.
Comparison
| Way to go | One-way time | Cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist bus | 1 hr plus waiting | Lowest | Budget travellers | Touts and imitator buses; slow at peak times |
| Train to Lintong + transfer | 30–50 min total | Low | People already near the station | Extra transfers with luggage or kids |
| Didi / taxi | About 1 hr | Moderate | Most independent travellers | Agree the fare; arrange the return |
| Private companion + car | About 1 hr | Per day | Stress-free, first-timers, families | Costs more than public transport |
Getting back, and the one scam to know
The return trip is where visitors get caught. Two things happen regularly: drivers quoted for a one-way drop-off disappear, and unlicensed drivers near the site offer rides to "another terracotta museum" that is a replica charging entry.
- Confirm your driver is waiting, or that a return pickup time is agreed.
- The genuine museum is the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. If a driver says it is closed and suggests somewhere else, that is the scam.
- Have your hotel write the museum name in Chinese to show the driver.
More Xi'an context on the Xi'an travel companion page, and what to see once you are there in the Terracotta Warriors visit guide.
Quick answers
What is the best way to get to the Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an?
For most visitors, a taxi or Didi with a fixed price and an arranged return is the best balance. A private companion day is simplest, and the tourist bus is cheapest but slowest and least predictable.
How far is the Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an city centre?
About 40 km east of the centre, roughly one hour by car depending on traffic.
Is there a train to the Terracotta Warriors?
There is rail service towards Lintong, the district the museum is in, but you still need a transfer for the final stretch. The door-to-door saving over a direct car is smaller than it looks.
Can I take a taxi back from the Terracotta Warriors?
Sometimes, but it is not reliable. Arrange for your driver to wait or book a return pickup in advance, and be sceptical of drivers offering to take you to a different terracotta attraction.
How do I avoid the fake Terracotta Warriors sites?
Go only to the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. If anyone tells you it is closed and suggests an alternative, that is a known scam aimed at visitors.
How much is a taxi from Xi'an to the Terracotta Warriors?
It varies by vehicle and negotiation. Agree a fixed price before you set off and be explicit about which museum you want, ideally by showing the name in Chinese.
Do I need to book Terracotta Warriors tickets in advance?
In peak season and on Chinese public holidays, yes. Tickets are real-name, so book with the passport you will carry.
Can I combine Huaqing Pool with the Terracotta Warriors in one trip?
Yes, and it is a natural pairing — Huaqing Pool sits on the route back towards Xi'an. A private car makes the combination easy; by public transport it is a long day.