Day 1 Banpo Neolithic Museum, Terracotta Warriors Museum, Cave House

09:00: Meet your local tour representative at your centrally-located hotel and set off for your first sight of the day, the Banpo Neolithic Museum. Located in the Yellow River Valley east of Xian city, the Banpo Museum is a site that contains the remains of some neolithic settlements showing the culture and living conditions of the Yangshao matriarchal society dating back between 6700-5600 years ago. The whole area is divided into 3 parts: pottery manufacturing area, residential area complete with moat, and cemetery. In the pottery manufacturing area, different kinds of potteries from that time have been excavated revealing the culture and life. In the residential area, primitive houses can be seen and if you like, you can even build such a house under the guidance of a local expert. In the last section, the matriarchal culture is clearly exhibited.














11:30-12:30: Enjoy lunch at a restaurant frequented by locals and taste authentic Xian food.







13:30 - 16:00: After a drive of about an hour, you will arrive at the renowned Terracotta Warriors Museum. Your tour guide will take you through all important figures, horses and weapons. By examining the terracotta figures discovered here, you can imagine what the Qin soldiers looked like 2000 years ago. From the horse cart and weapons displayed, you will have an idea how these soldiers used to fight. If you look closely enough, you will discover that each figure has different facial expressions, which is astonishing considering how many figures there are. Then, you will appreciate how great this work is and why the Terracotta Warriors Museum is regarded as the Eighth Wonder in the world.












16:30-17:00: Your guide will take you to visit a local cave house family. Cave houses built in the mountains are quite common in some areas of middle and northwestern China. To avoid wild animals and keep cool in summer and warm in winter, ancient people discovered that cave living was very useful. Further development led to cave houses being carved out of the hillside, especially on the vertical side of loess hills. The bottom is rectangle-shaped and the ceiling a semi-circle. To make it safer and more attractive, modern people usually use bricks or cement to decorate the outside and paint the inside. The cave house is usually built on the south side of a hill. Beside the door is a large window, allowing in more light. Another fascinating thing about cave houses is that they have beds made out of loess. Such beds are hollow inside so the owners can make a fire inside to keep the bed warm. Seeing such a way of living will give you a new understanding of the rural Chinese people.

18:00: Your guide will escort you back to your hotel, this day trip ends here.