How to Watch The Great Qin as a Foreigner — Xi'an Guide

《赳赳大秦》— official English name The Great Qin — is one of Xi’an’s most impressive shows. Even if you don’t speak Chinese, you can still enjoy it. Here is what you need to know.

What is it about?

A large-scale epic immersive performance telling the story of Qin’s unification of China (~2200 years ago), seen through the eyes of an ordinary soldier named Heifu. The signature feature: the audience seats physically move forward with the story — you sit and travel through history.

Do I need to understand Chinese?

No. The show is highly visual — stage effects, choreography, and spectacle carry most of the emotion. There is no need to follow every line. Many international visitors rate it a “must-see” purely for the experience.

Even better, the theatre now offers an AI smart glasses service that directly breaks the language barrier:

AI Smart Glasses: Real-Time Subtitles

• Designed for foreign tourists and hearing-impaired guests, with on-site staff to help you fit and calibrate the glasses.
• The lenses project stage dialogue subtitles in real time, synced to the 80-minute performance — you follow the plot and the characters’ emotions throughout and watch the whole show immersed.
• Already in trial operation for overseas audiences during regular performances. One foreign visitor said after trying it: “These glasses helped me understand the show and its history on a much deeper level.”
• With millisecond-level translation latency and subtitles precisely matched to the performance rhythm, language is no longer a barrier to understanding the spirit of the Qin people.

How to book

• Add WeChat xiantour86 (online 08:00–22:00).
• Send: date + session (14:30 / 16:50 / 19:45) + zone + number of people.
• Pay via WeChat after the agent confirms availability; your seat number is sent by SMS.
• One ID per ticket: one passport can book only 1 ticket per day. Each person uses their own passport.

Getting there

• Metro Line 5 to Afanggong Nan (阿房宫南) Station, Exit A/D, then walk ~1 km north on Tiantai Rd (~10 min).
• Address: northeast corner of Fengdong Ave & Tiantai Rd, Xi’an (West-Xian New Area).
• Driving: free Parking Lot 1 (east side); Lot 2 is 3 RMB/hour, capped 20 RMB.

Rules to know (passport entry)

• Real-name entry: bring your passport; collect the paper ticket at the manual window first, then scan passport + ticket.
• No passport = no entry. A photo on your phone is usually not accepted — bring the original.
• Late by 15 min = no entry (seats already moved). Arrive 1 hour early.
• No photos/videos inside. No food/drinks in the hall.
• Under 5 years old not admitted; over 75 / pregnant / heart conditions not recommended.

Sessions & price

Sessions: 14:30 / 16:50 / 19:45. Closed every Tuesday. Tickets from ~258 RMB (C zone promo) to 688 RMB (premium).