6 Days Beijing Xian Tour by Train

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   When your arrival to Beijing, our driver will hold a welcome sign with your name at the airport exit. Please board the private car to the local hotel for check-in. The rest of day is free with your disposal.

   Accommodation: Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace (Breakfast, Lunch)

   AM: Collected from your hotel by tour guide after breakfast, you will start today with Tiananmen Square, the heart and symbol of Beijing and the largest city square in the world. The spacious square has been used for many public celebrations, ceremonies, and demonstrations for over a hundred years.

   Walk through the Square and get to the entrance of Forbidden City, one of the largest and most completely preserved palace complex built of wood. It functioned as the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912). 24 emperors of the two dynasties once lived here.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: After lunch at a local restaurant, head to Summer Palace. It is located at the west skirt of Beijing and covers an area of 290 hectares. During the Qianlong Era of the Qing Dynasty, 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.

   Afterwards, you will be escorted back to hotel.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing - Xian by Overnight Train
   Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing Zoo (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: Please pack your luggage and get ready at hotel lobby because you will directly board the train to Xian after the tour.

   The first highlight today is the famous world’s heritage – Mutianyu Great Wall. It is the most scenic part of Chinese Great Wall. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty at 1368 and stretches 5400 meters. 90% of the Mutianyu Great Wall is covered by vegetation. So in each season this part of the Great Wall will treat visitors with its unique scenery. The usual suggested hiking time is 2 hours on the wall. Cable car is available and optional (cost on your own).

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, you will be transferred to visit the lovely pandas in Beijing Zoo. Remember to take pictures for those lovely creatures. Afterwards, transfer to Beijing train station for overnight soft sleeper train to Xian.

   Accommodation: Soft-sleeper overnight train (4 berths shared in 1 cabin)

   

4. Day 4: Xian
   Ancient City Wall, Shaanxi History Museum, Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square, Muslim Quarter (Lunch)

   AM: When your arriavl to Xian in the morning, our tour guide and driver will greet you at exit of Xian train station. If you would like to have breakfast firstly, please feel free to ask tour guide to bring you to a restaurant around (cost on your own).

   Your adventure begins with Big Wild Goose Pagoda. On the way to the attraction spot, your guide will introduce the history and culture of this ancient city for you to catch a glimpse of reason why so many well-known relics were discovered on this land. Big Wild Goose Pagoda was originally built to hold Buddhist sutra and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang brought back from India in Tang Dyansty, 652 A.D. Now there is a big square divided into North Square and South Square, surrounding the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The design of the buildings and statues is in Tang style, showing people the ever glory of that great time.

   Next, visit Shaanxi History Museum which is one of the biggest and most famous museums in China. The museum houses the cultural heritage unearthed in Shaanxi Province. Although it’s a provincial Museum, the collection of relics here is at national level from both quantity and quality as Xian had been Capitals for more than 13 dynasties in ancient China.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Afterwards, continue your exploration on Xian Ancient City Wall. Built in the Ming Dynasty, 1370 A.D., it is not only the unique and intact city wall that has survived in China but also the biggest and most complete military system of defense in the world. Walking or riding a bike (optional with cost on your own) on the 600-year-old wall is definitely a life-time experience.

   Finally, head to Bell and Drum Tower Square locates in the very center of the city and is considered as the symbol of this old capital. Walking forward, you will come to Muslim Quarter where you will find many special local products and authentic local snacks. You can enjoy preserved meat, casserole, various noodles, and purcahse some Terracotta Warriors imitation as souvenirs.

   End today’s visiting with the hotel drop-off.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

5. Day 5: Xian - Beijing by Overnight Train
   Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Banpo Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Breakfast+ Lunch)

   AM: Please be ready for the tour today at hotel lobby after breakfast. The first stop is Terracotta Warriors Museum, located 30 km east of the Xi’an City. Known as “the Eighth Wonders of the World”, it was found by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974. Now it has turned into one of the most important attractions in China and the No.1 attractive site in Xi’an. The museum includes Pit 1(the largest pit), Pit 2, Pit 3, and the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. You will stay in the museum for 2-3 hours. Listening to the explanation from the expert tour guide, you will learn the hidden story of those live-sized sculptures and history of their owner: First Emperor of Qin who is also the first emperor of China.

   Noon: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

   PM: Afterwards, visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area, twin of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Both the two pagodas are important witnesses for the history of Great Tang Dynasty. Same as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda was also built to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from Ancient India by the master monk Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty. Different from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda attracts visitors with its special charms that it keeps quiet and peaceful in the bustling downtown area, has precious value on architecture and Chinese garden aesthetics. Inside of Small Wild Goose Pagoda, you will pay a visit to Xian Museum to learn about the city’s history and appreciate some exquisite relics unearthed in local area.

   After the tour, depart with the guide and driver at Xian train station for overnight train Z20/19:21-06:58+1 back to Beijing.

   Accommodation: Overnight soft sleeper train (4 berths shared in 1 cabin)

   

6. Day 6: Beijing Arrival

   Upon arrival in Beijing, meet Beijing local driver at the exit of Beijing West Train Station and finally end the whole tour with hotel drop-off.