Xian's vice-mayor has issued a formal apology after 13 tourists from Sichuan were injured in a melee with actors dressed as terracotta warriors for an historical re-enactment.
Tourism officials have ordered an investigation into Thursday's brawl, saying such an incident is bound to damage Xian's image as a tourist city.
The dispute began when elderly tourists Zhou Aiyi and his wife decided not to join their tour group at the North Gate of the Wencheng Ancient Replica City. Instead, they wanted to sit for a moment on a nearby bench, Shaanxi's China Business View reported.
But workers from the Xian City Wall North Gate Management Office not only prevented the couple from resting, but also moved the bench several metres away and obstructed the couple by sitting on the bench themselves.
What began as a verbal dispute eventually escalated into a 20-minute brawl that included warrior-clad performers brandishing period weapons, and irate members of the 68-strong tour group, who rushed to the scene after seeing the fracas from the ancient city wall.
Deng Weili, 57, was the most seriously injured after being bashed on the head with a red-tasselled spear. He lost half a litre of blood and required eight stitches.