9 Days China Golden Triangle Tour: Beijing, Xian, Shanghai Highlights

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Upon your arrival at Beijing airport or train station, our driver will wait for you at the exit of arrival hall or train station by holding a sign with "China Xian Tour" and transfer you to downtown hotel to check in. The rest of the day is free at your disposal.

   And you may feel interested in exploring Beijing’s lively nightlife when evening arrives, consider strolling along Wangfujing Snack Street where the fragrance of local delicacies and the lively atmosphere can fill the air.

   Unwinding at Houhai Bar Street is also a good choice, and here you can relax yourself with lakeside drinks and music after a long flight journey.

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   3-star hotel in Beijing
2. Day 2: Beijing Great Wall Adventure
   Mutianyu Great Wall

   You will be collected by the tour guide from hotel lobby around 7 am and then drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall. The tour guide will introduce you the history and travel notes of the Mutianyu Great Wall in the coach.

   Lunch is on your own.

   You will arrive at the Mutianyu Great Wall at about 9:30, the site appraised as the World Best of Beijing Tourism in 1992. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty in 1368. 90 percentage of the Mutianyu is covered by vegetation, hence the title of “the most scenic part of Chinese Great Wall”. To save both time and energy, you can take the cable car or chair lift up and down (optional, pay on site). Enjoy 4 hours of free time at the Mutianyu Great Wall (We suggest you to prepare some food and water in advance as lunch. You can enjoy your food at the beacon tower while appreciating the beauty of the Mutianyu Great Wall around here, which will be an impressive experience).

   Ending exploration of the Great Wall, you will be transferred back to hotel. On the way back to downtown Beijing, you will stop for an exterior view of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube — two iconic venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

   

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   3-star hotel in Beijing
3. Day 3: Beijing City Highlights
   Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace

   Today’s trip starts from Tiananmen Square, which is the heart and one the most symbolic sites of Beijing. It is also the largest city square in the world and for over hundreds of years, it has silently witnessed uncountable public celebrations, ceremonies, or demonstrations taking place, in which many of them have left incredibly important marks in Chinese history.

   Walking through the square, and you’ll come to the Forbidden City, which is one of the largest and most completely preserved palace complex built of wood. It was the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912), and every brick that you pass by may record a secret imperial story. There were 24 emperors of the two dynasties spent their long days here. And it would take about 3 hours to explore its magnificent halls and courtyards, learning about life once going on here, ancient rituals, and hidden symbolism within the palace architecture.

   After lunch, we will go to the Temple of Heaven. Located at southern part of Beijing, it serviced as a complex of sacrificial building where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest. Today’s last scenic site will be the Summer Palace. It is located at the west skirt of Beijing and covers an area of 290 hectares. In the Qing Dynasty during the Qianlong Era, the Summer Palace was built by imitating the layout of the West Lake in Hangzhou. Now it is the largest and most completely preserved imperial garden in China. An optional activity here is to take a relaxing boat ride on Kunming Lake (extra cost applies).

   After the tour, you will be escorted back to hotel at about 5:00 pm.

   

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   3-star hotel in Beijing
4. Day 4: Beijing to Xian by High-speed Train
   Hutong, Yonghe Palace, Panda House in Beijing Zoo

   After hotel pickup, you will be transferred together with the guide to visit a traditional Hutong, where you’ll enjoy a fun rickshaw ride through the narrow alleyways to get a glimpse of old Beijing life.

   After lunch, you will head to the railway station and take a high-speed train from Beijing to Xian (approx. 5–6 hours). Upon arrival, our local driver will greet you at the exit and transfer you to your downtown hotel for check-in and rest.

   

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   3-star hotel in Xi'an
5. Day 5: Xian Terracotta Army Tour
   Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xi'an Museum

   In the morning, meet your Xian guide and then you will drive to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The museum was accidentally discovered in 1974 by a farmer who was digging wells and listed by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site in 1987. It includes three pits, among which Pit 1 is the largest, as well as the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. You will spend around 2 to 2.5 hours here exploring the three main pits, each displaying life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots arranged in battle formation.

   After lunch, you will visit the Xi'an Museum, which shows cultural relics from the city’s 3,000-year history and offers an overview of ancient Chang’an’s development. In the same scenic area, you can also see the Little Wild Goose Pagoda, which is slightly smaller than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda we are going to see tomorrow, but more peaceful. Your tour will conclude with dropping off at your Xian downtown hotel.

   

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   3-star hotel in Xi'an
6. Day 6: Xian to Shanghai by Bullet Train
   Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Street

   The first stop today is Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a landmark building in Xian, which was initially built to preserve the Buddhist sutras and statues brought back from ancient India by Monk Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty. You will listen to its interesting stories from your knowledgeable guide. If you’d like to climb up the pagoda for a panoramic view, there’s an additional on-site fee required.

   Then you will move on to visit the Ancient City Wall, a military defensive system in old times. You can optionally ride a bike on the top of city wall and enjoy the amazing view of the entire area inside the City Wall. The last stop is the famous Muslim Street, which is a paradise for food lovers where you will find all kinds of delicious local snacks such as Biang Biang Noodle, Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger), and Yangrou Paomo (Mutton and Bread Pieces in Soup).

   

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   3-star hotel in Shanghai
7. Day 7: Shanghai Side Trip
   Zhujiajiao Water Town

   On day 7, you’ll be having a free morning before your Zhujiajiao Water Town visit in the afternoon. So that it would be fine if you want to get up a bit late or you can use this time to explore local breakfast culture and take a short walk. Your guide and driver will meet you in your hotel lobby at around 2:00 pm and then they’ll guide you to this picturesque ancient town, which is often called the “Venice of Shanghai.”

   Try to explore the secret of time by strolling through its charming stone-paved lanes which are carrying a history of over 1,700 years. The town took shape during the Song and Yuan Dynasties and flourished in the Ming and Qing eras. Today, Zhujiajiao is best known for its graceful bridges, old temples, and tranquil canals — must-see spots include Fangsheng Bridge, Baoguo Temple, Town God’s Temple, and Zhuxi Garden. Capture snapshots of charming alleyways and ancient stone houses. You can also take the optional boat cruise here if you are interested in it.

   After the tour ends, we will transfer you back to your downtown hotel.

   

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   3-star hotel in Shanghai
8. Day 8: Shanghai's Essence
   Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, Nanjing Road, the Bund, Xian Tian Di

   Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in the early morning after the breakfast and transfer you to the Jade Buddha Temple. This more than 100-year-old temple was built to keep two jade Buddha statues brought back from Burma by a monk named Huigen. Afterwards, you will stroll on People Square to have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals. The square now is most famous for its match-making corner where parents try to seek partners for their children.

   Next, you will head to the Shanghai Museum which houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings and calligraphy works.

   

   After lunch, you will move on to Yuyuan Garden. It is a famous classical garden which was originally built by the owner as a place for his parents to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Then you will wander around Shanghai Old Street which combines sightseeing, shopping, entertainment and cultural exhibition. Afterwards, take a stroll along the famous Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s most popular shopping street, where modern stores blend with century-old brands. The next stop is the Bund. You will admire buildings of various styles, enjoy the beautiful Huangpu River, and listen to your guide explaining its history.

   Then we’ll get to former French Concession, a perfect place to learn the history of Shanghai from 1849 to 1943. The last stop of today is Xin Tian Di, a walking street converted based on the old Shikumen building district, where you can find nice bars, cafes and square.

   After all the activities, the guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel for a good rest.

   

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   3-star hotel in Shanghai
9. Day 9: Shanghai Departure

   You will say farewell to Shanghai today. Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport or train station for your departure flight or train. Thank you for choosing China Xian Tour. Hope to seeing you soon on your next trip to China!

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