The ancient city of Xian, formerly known in Chinese history as Changan, is one of the oldest cities in China and the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Xian has served as the capital city for 13 of China’s ruling dynasties so the city is filled with historic sites – the most important of which is, of course, the 2,200-year old Terracotta Warriors. But there is much more to see in Xi’an than just the iconic Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Xian was the capital city for the Tang Dynasty from 618 to 907 A.D. and it was the starting point for the ancient trading route the Silk Road, so its historic role in the development of China was a crucial one. With its unique cultural and historic significance, Xian is a must-see city for any traveler and a convenient gateway for anyone wishing to travel on to Tibet.
Tourists are suggested to travel to Tibet from Xian by flights or train. If they do not want a long train ride, they can fly to Xining to catch a train to Lhasa
By flights – It takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes and costs around 2300 RMB to take a flight from Xian to Lhasa. Taking a flight is the most recommended way to travel to Tibet, because there are several non-stop flights from Xian to Lhasa every day, and there are often discounts for flights tickets.
By train – The sceneries along the railway from Xian to Lhasa are very beautiful. If it is ok for you to take a 32-hour-long train ride, you can take a train. The ticket price is around 1000 RMB.
Fly to Xining, and then take a train to Lhasa – If you want to admire the sceneries along the railway, but do not want to spend too much time on a train. It is suggested to fly to Xining from Xian, and then take a train to Lhasa. You only need to spend 22 hours on the train in this way.
Yes! Xian is one of the most historical cities in China. The Terracotta Army, Ancient City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and Shaanxi History Museum are the best places to learn about the history and culture about Xian and China. The Terracotta Army, a world heritage site selected by UNESCO, attracts thousands of tourists every year. The Qin Shihuang constructed this army to guard his tomb. Now, the underground army is priceless artwork for modern people.
If you like delicacy, the Muslim Quarter is a must-go place. Countless local snacks, Barbeques, noodle restaurants and handcraft shops are grouped on this area. The roast mutton is a must-food in this area.
The Terracotta was discovered in 1974 by a local farmer in Shaanxi Province.
In March 1974, a farmer tried to dig a well 1.5 kilometers to the east of the Tomb of Qin Shihuang. He did not find any water, but lots of fragments of terracotta warriors. He realized there must be something special under earth, so he reported this to the local government. However, the local government just asked him to dig a well anywhere else and tried to reassemble these fragments.
In June 1974, a journalist of Xinhua News Agency saw these terracotta warriors and reported this to the central government in Beijing. After researching the area where these terracotta warriors were unearthed, the central government were sure there were much priceless relics in that area, so they sent lots of archeologists to unearth more ruins of Terracotta Army. Some of them are preserved very well.
I had a wonderful 9 days trip in tibet. I enjoyed very aspect of this trip. Registration and organisation was very easy, and the driver was very kind and enthusiastic, so we weren't bored even during long distances. The food was great, and I especially enjoyed the purple sweet potato. The staff were polite and did their best to make us feel comfortable and listen to our needs.
I felt comfortable with everyone I met on this trip. I truly felt as if I had experienced and witnessed the lifestyle of Tibet, and I definitely recommend this place to other travelers. If the chance arises, I would like to go on this trip once again.
Thanks Amy, Tashi; he was a fantastic guide and my sweet driver; he made me laugh a lot. Oh, don't forget to bring a lot of headache tablet you might need a lot.
The tour guide and diver are pretty kind and zealous! And all the stories the guide told are very attractive as well. Hope next time visiting there, they can entertain us again.
Had a 10 days trip to Tibet with Asia Odyssey. The staffs and tour guide are very nice and helpful. Kay was the person who got in touch with me, and she assisted me with all the document and trip information. Honestly, she made me a lot more comfortable with the trip since I just found this company on the internet and I wasn't sure if it was a legit thing. She also came picked me up from the airport and sent me all the way to the hotel. She is truly a sweet and warm girl! :) Besides, the tour guide and driver are very friendly, they provided a lot of information for me to understand and discover Tibet from a different angle. Overall, I had a great experience with them, and I would love to travel again with Asia Odyssey. Highly recommend people to try their service because you won't be disappointed.
Wir haben zuvor einige Touren und Agenturen verglichen. Natürlich ist es schwierig auf die Entfernung und mit den doch wenigen Rezessionen einen Überblick zu bekommen, sind aber sehr froh uns letztendlich für diese Agentur und Route entschieden zu haben.
Von Anfang hat uns unsere Ansprechpartnerin Claire bei allen Fragen geholfen - inkl. Visaantrag und Einreiseerlaubnis. Wir haben wirklich etliche Mails hin und her geschrieben und wurden immer fürsorglich behandelt.
Vor Ort wurden wir am Flughafen empfangen und unsere Guides waren alle sehr nett. Die Ausflüge super interessant und man hat einen tollen Einblick bekommen. Das Programm war nicht zu viel und nicht zu wenig, wirklich toll gemacht!! Die Hotels waren weit besser als wir erwartet haben. Wir haben oft Tips für Restaurants oder bestimmte Gerichte bekommen. Es gab überhaupt keine Probleme bei Ausflügen, Organisation oder den etlichen Kontrollen im Land. Wir wurden selbst noch bis hinter die Passkontrollen an der Grenze zu Nepal begleitet. Erst als unser Guide wirklich nicht weiter durfte, haben wir uns verabschiedet.
Die Gruppen waren nett gemischt und die Wagen alle europäischer Standard.
Wir würden die Agentur und die Route jedem empfehlen!
Liebe Grüße und vielen Dank für eine unvergessliche Reise!
I had to mention our tour guide – Puktso because he is too nice. He is very passionate and thoughtful when he talked with us on the daily tour arrangement. We reschedule a little bit and he gave us great ideas. I like all the stories and insight knowledge on local life he shared with us. We enjoyed a wonderful trip with his company.
From the airport pickup time to the train station drop of, we enjoyed a five star service. I was welcome in a Tibetan way with Hada and Tibetan greetings, and our guide was careful with my itinerary and flight schedule, very thoughtful.
