Day in Xi'an with tour group vs. local friends, questions!

We are taking a two week escorted tour and will be in Xi%26#39;an from a Friday night until Sunday afternoon. We have a friend (also American) who is living and teaching university in Luoyang. He is taking the train to Xi%26#39;an to meet us for the weekend and is bringing one of his students with him. Our tour company says that we can have them join us for the day for a fee. (The US-based office said it was OK with them, but to ask our national guide once in China.) I just don%26#39;t want to do anything that might get the guide in trouble. To be polite, we would also probably ask the others in the group if this was OK with them.

But, since we will have a native Chinese speaker with us, I%26#39;m sure we can also easily find our way around to the Warriors, Muslim Quarter, etc. as a group of four people. I am not sure if a Chinese university student will think it is fun or not to travel around on a bus with a bunch of Americans vs. going on our own, so I have left the choice up to our friend and his student. Questions: how much difference is there between going with an escorted group to the warriors vs. going on our own? (in terms of information, what you see, etc.) How easy or difficult will it be for us to get taxis and meet up with our friends and then meet back up with our group? Any other advice or recommendations for what we are trying to do? I just want my husband, our friend and his student to all have a good time and get to see the things we want to see. It will be everyone%26#39;s first time in Xian. Thank you for your help.

Day in Xi'an with tour group vs. local friends, questions!

xi%26#39;an is one alce full of history and cultulre

we can;t follow evetything without the help of tour guide

it syas that ,in Xi%26#39;an if you wish to know the atttraction well

30% depend on the things you see, the 70% dependt on the the explanation by tour guyide

if you think it%26#39;s not easy to find a guide ,you can fidn the the guide ion the meseum , about RMB100-200 can give you the clear picture