Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   When your arrival to Beijing airport or train station, our driver will greet you at the exit by holding a welcome sign with your name. 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, National Museum of China, Jinshan Park (Breakfast, Lunch)

   AM: Meet tour guide at hotel lobby after breakfast. Today begins with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. After a short sightseeing at Tiananmen Square to learn about its history, architecture and anecdotes, you will walk across the Golden Water Bridge and come to the splendid Forbidden City built 600 years ago, where you will be impressed by the gorgeous imperial palaces and vast storage of historical relics.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After getting out of the back door of the Forbidden City, coem to the Jingshan Park just opposite the street. In the park, the guide will point you the place with the best angle to take pictures of Forbidden City.

   The last stop is National Museum of China, one of most popular museums in China. The museum will surprise you with large quantities of exquisite cultural relics. It’s a real feast for history and culture lovers.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing
   Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking (Breakfast, Lunch)

   AM: Today it will be a whole day’s hiking tour of Mutianyu Great Wall which enjoys the best quality among all Great Wall sections in Beijing. Please make sure to wear the shoes suiting for long time walking. Measure the glory past of the wall by your foot, which is definitely life-time experience. If you want to reach the highest point, your guide will help you to buy the cable car tickets on spot (Please pay the cost on spot).

   Noon: Simple lunch.

   PM: On the way back to hotel, we will pass by Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. There is opportunity for you to make a stop to pay an outer visit and take some pictures there.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing
   Beijing Zoo, Summer Palace, Hutong (Breakfast, Lunch)

   AM: The first site to visit is Panda House in Beijing Zoo. Here you will have a closer observation to the the cute creatures. Panda is also fames as “National Treasure” in China.

   Afterwards, 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.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Finally, visit the Beijing local folk residence: Hutong Alley. There is opportunity for you to take a rickshaw to explore Hutong to see daily life of native Beijing people. Following the local expert guide, you will find another face of the city that totally different from what you see in major streets.

   After the tour, go back to hotel.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

5. Day 5: Beijing – Xian by Bullet Train
   Big Wild Goose Pagoda (No Meal)

   AM: In the early morning you will be transferred to Beijing train station to take high speed train to Xian (suggested G653/7:43-13:51 or train with simliar schedule).

   PM: Arriving in Xian, meet your local guide and driver at the Xian North Train Station. Board the private car to Xian city area. Today there is only one site to visit: Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It 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 buidlings and statues is in Tang style, showing people the ever glory of that great time.

   End the tour with hotel drop-off finally.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

6. Day 6: Xian
   Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses, Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square, Muslim Quarter (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: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Afterwards, come to 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.

   Last, come to Bell and Drum Tower Square which 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.

   Finally, return to hotel.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

7. Day 7: Xian - Mount. Huashan - Xian
   Mount. Huashan (Breakfast)

   AM: After the breakfast, our English-speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby at 8 am. We will arrive at Mount Huashan after 2 hours’ driving. You will take a shuttle bus to North Cable Car Station and then cable car to the North Peak. Along the way, you will appreciate the amazing scenery on the thrilling cable car ride and listening the interesting introduction about this famous mountain from tour guide. When you get to the North peak, your tour guide will suggest you the detailed route to explore the peaks one by one according to your physical condition and interest, and also appoint a meeting place after your hiking. Then it’s the free time on your own to enjoy the adventure here. On the top of the mountain, there are several spots, such as the Buddhist and Taoist temples, sculptures and engravings. You will enjoy yourself very much on the 4 peaks. You will have a good treat by the fresh air on the Mount Huashan!

   Noon: We would like to suggest you to prepare some food for the whole climbing. The lunch is on your own because there is no restaurant on mountain top.

   PM: Please return to North Peak and take the same way down to the mountain by North Peak cable car and shuttle bus. Meet the guide at the appointed place and get back to your hotel together.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

8. Day 8: Xian Departure
   Shaanxi History Museum (Breakfast)

   AM: After breakfast, please pack your luggage and meet the tour guide in the lobby. You will have a 2-hour tour of the Shaanxi History Museum before the transfer to the airport. Shaanxi History Museum 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 a national level in both quantity and quality as Xian had been the Capital for more than 13 dynasties in ancient China.

   At Last, we will transfer you to the airport according to your flight time. Your 8-day Beijing & Xian family tour