In my opinion the Terra Cotta warriors were amazing and worth the trip to Xian. However, we didn't have very good weather and didn't see much else of interest there.

Yes, this was part of a cruise. We left the ship in Shanghai and returned in Hong Kong. One night in Xian and one night in Guilin. The river trip was terrific, but it was in late September, which I'm sure is quite different weather than you would have at this time of year.

Unless things have changed, I would think you still need a guide to do "the countryside." I don't think you can just wander on your own. I would really ask someone at B&K to put you in touch with someone in China to present some options that would interest you.

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Eugene