Xi'an Travel Forum

I would appreciate any advice on the following, as I will be going to Xian on Friday with 5 friends for the weekend.

This is our proposed itinerary:
FRIDAY
- arrive 2pm, hotel by 330pm
- walk around town
- Tang Dynasty Show for dinner

SATURDAY
- leave hotel 8am for Terracotta Warriors
- Wild Good Pagoda in the afternoon

SUNDAY
- Drum/Bell Tower
- City Wall
- Muslim Quarter
- depart for airport at 5pm

1. Since we are a large group, we are thinking it'd be easier to just hire a car/van for the day we go to the Terracotta Warriors (on Sat), and that way the driver could bring us to some other spots along the way/on the way back. Is this a good idea, and how much should be expect to pay for a driver for the day?

2. Any comments on our itinerary?

3. Is the best way to get to our hotel by taxi?

Many thanks for your help!

well , you have joined a tour group? or you guys just want to visit those places alone? i think you'd better hire a van or car.

We are going on our own...

I think the itinerary is pretty good. You have left enough time to really see places. The only suggestion I would make is that you try and allow time to do the city walls at night, as well. You don't really have a lot of time to see the city on the day you arrive, but you will have time on the Sunday. There's a really intresting market area just near the Muslim quarter - there's an alleyway of souvenirs on the way to the mosque but if you branch off, then you will find the market area.

You forgot History Museum, it shouldn't be missed. It's one of the best museum of China.
1.I suggest that city wall,bell tower and muslim corner are good places for day and night, so visit some of them at Sunday evening. Then Monday you can visit history muserm (2~3hours), the rest of time go to the unfinished places.
2.or if you can come back from terra cotta before 2:30pm, you can visit museum insteast of pagoda. the night view, including fountain show, of big wild goose pagoda is beautiful.