Short answer
Entry is free but daily slots are capped, so reserve a few days ahead through the museum's official channel with your passport. Tickets are released five days ahead at 17:00 daily, and visitors without a booking cannot enter.
Free does not mean walk-in
The cap is the constraint, not the price. Reservations open a few days ahead and the morning slots are usually gone first. Reserve as soon as your Xi'an dates are fixed.
- Free entry to the main halls; some special exhibitions are ticketed separately
- Closed Mondays, except on public holidays
- Real-name booking with your passport
If it shows full
- Check again the evening before — late releases and cancellations appear
- Try the paid special exhibition, which sometimes includes main-hall access
- Build the day around the city wall and Muslim Quarter and try the next morning
Related guides
More questions answered
Where these matter
Official sources
Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.