Stand on the north bank of the Wei River at Weicheng and you are looking across the water at Xi'an, a few kilometres downstream. This is the ground the Qin chose for their capital in 350 BC, and the ground the Han chose for their tombs once the Qin city had been burned. The layers are still here, in the museums and in the burial mounds out on the plain.
Xianyang suits travellers who are already in Xi'an and want the Qin and Han story without the crowds of the better-known sites, and anyone passing through Xi'an Xianyang International Airport with a few spare hours. It also works as a base for the Tang imperial tombs further out at Qian County, Liquan County and Xingping.
This guide covers the museums and historical sites named in the source material, with practical notes on getting to each and what to combine it with. Opening hours, entry fees and transport details are given as recorded; confirm them before you travel.
Top things to do in Xianyang
1. Tomb of Emperor Jingdi
A Han dynasty tomb whose pits hold tens of thousands of doll-sized terracotta figures, human and animal, arranged in formation. The Underground Museum at the excavation site has a glass floor you walk over while looking down at the ongoing work, and there is a holographic film as part of the exhibit. Guides explain far more than the captions do, and English-language guides cost more than Chinese ones.
It sits near the airport, which makes it an easy stop on a journey to or from a flight. A shuttle bus runs from Qingong Station on the Airport Intercity Railway. Across the road are the Archaeological Exhibit Center, a deer park and the ruins of a sacrifice temple; the grounds have fragrant wild grasses and a rose garden beside the exhibit centre. Entry is not permitted in the last 90 minutes before closing.
2. Qianling Mausoleum
The shared tomb of Wu Zetian, China's first and only female emperor, and her husband Emperor Gaozong of the Tang dynasty, and the best preserved of the Tang imperial tombs. The main burial chamber has not been excavated, but the tombs of five attendants, a court official, a military officer, two princes and a princess have been, and the last three are open to the public.
Reach it by train to Qian County from Xi'an Railway Station or Xi'an North Railway Station, then bus nos. 1 or 2 to the final stop, or by bus from Xi'an Chengxi Bus Station followed by bus no. 2. No entry in the last 60 minutes before closing.
3. Maoling Mausoleum
The large pyramid tomb of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty and the largest of the Han imperial tombs. Emperor Wu expanded the empire's borders, established the first Silk Road and reigned for 54 years. A museum 1 km to the east of the pyramid houses many stone carvings.
From Xi'an, take a long-distance bus to Xingping from Xi'an Chengxi Bus Station and transfer to bus no. 301; from downtown Xianyang, take bus no. 4 and transfer to bus no. 301 at Fujia Bridge. There are bus stops at both the tomb and the museum.
4. Zhaoling Mausoleum
The tomb of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, the largest of the Tang imperial tombs and the largest royal mausoleum complex in the world by land area. It is known for the Six Steeds, stone relief carvings of six war horses the emperor rode into battle; those on site are replicas, with four originals in the Beilin Museum and two in the Penn Museum in Philadelphia.
It is often visited together with Yuanjia Village, a notable tourist village, and Zhaoling Museum lies about 2 km south of the village. There is no public transport in the area, so save on taxi fares by taking a bus to Yuanjia Village first; buses depart from Xianyang North Bus Station.
5. Qin and Han Museum
Opened in 2024 as a branch of the Shaanxi History Museum, this museum specialises in artifacts from the Qin and Han dynasties. It is near Qingong Metro Station, within walking distance or by shuttle bus, and shuttle buses also run here from the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi and from the Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an.
You are expected to book on the museum's WeChat account before visiting; search for "陕西历史博物馆" in the app. Entry is free, no entry after 16:00, and it is closed on Tuesdays except when Tuesday falls on a public holiday.
6. Xianyang Museum
A free museum on Zhongshan Street in Weicheng District, reached by bus nos. 19, 56 and 60 or the Xianyang-Guodu bus. It is the most central of the city's collections and pairs naturally with the Qingweilou Art Museum, about 1 km to the east.
It closes on Mondays except when Monday is a public holiday, and no entry is allowed after 17:00.
7. Qingweilou Art Museum
Housed in a reconstruction of the Qingweilou, a historical tower demolished during the 20th century, this museum displays ancient and modern artwork including paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, bronzeware and jade. It sits on Weiyang East Road in Weicheng District.
Take bus nos. 19, 56, 60 or the Xianyang-Guodu bus. Entry is free, no entry after 16:30, and it is closed on Mondays and public holidays.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi, arriving early enough to have time in the Underground Museum and the grounds before the last-90-minute entry cutoff. If you are coming from the airport side, the shuttle from Qingong Station is the simplest approach.
Afternoon: Continue to the Qin and Han Museum, either by shuttle bus from the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi or via Qingong Metro Station. Book on WeChat before you set out, and remember there is no entry after 16:00.
Evening: Return to Weicheng District for the Xianyang Museum on Zhongshan Street, then walk or take a bus about 1 km east to the Qingweilou Art Museum on Weiyang East Road. Check the day of the week first: both close on Mondays, and the art museum also closes on public holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book the Qin and Han Museum in advance?
Yes. Visitors are expected to make a booking on the museum's WeChat account before visiting, which you can find by searching for "陕西历史博物馆" in the WeChat app.
Which of the imperial tombs can I reach by public transport?
The Tomb of Emperor Jingdi has a shuttle bus from Qingong Station on the Airport Intercity Railway, and Qianling Mausoleum can be reached by train to Qian County followed by bus nos. 1 or 2. Maoling Mausoleum is served by bus no. 301 after a transfer. Zhaoling Mausoleum has no public transport in the area, so you would get a bus to Yuanjia Village first and continue by taxi.
Are the museums free to enter?
The Qin and Han Museum, Xianyang Museum and Qingweilou Art Museum are all free. The imperial tomb sites charge admission, with lower prices in the December to February slack season.
When should I avoid planning a museum visit?
The Qin and Han Museum closes on Tuesdays, the Xianyang Museum closes on Mondays, and the Qingweilou Art Museum closes on Mondays and public holidays, in each case except where the closed day falls on a public holiday.
Decide which tombs matter most to you, check the closing days against your dates, and build the rest of the trip around them.