9 Days Classic China Food Tour of Beijing Xi’an Shanghai

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Join us on one of China’s top food tour! After you arrive at Beijing Airport, our driver will pick you up at the arrival hall, holding a recognizable welcome sign with “China Xian Tour”. Then you will be taken directly to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free - use the time to relax or take a short walk to see the city on your own (no tour guide service today). Make sure to rest well and get ready for the exciting Beijing trip ahead.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Highlights of Beijing City
   Discover Imperial History, Savor Tea and Snacks in Beijing’s Hutong Lanes

   This morning, your guide will meet you in the hotel and take you to Tian'anmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world. The square has witnessed many historic events. The guide will share 1-2 of the most significant and famous ones with you. After that, you will take a brief 10-minute walk north to the Forbidden City, one of the largest and best-preserved wooden palace complexes in the world. The former royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it covers 720,000 square meters with nearly 9,000 rooms. Because the area is so vast, your guide will choose the best route depending on the crowds. As you walk through, you’ll hear stories about the emperors who lived here and the events that took place inside these red walls.

   In the afternoon, lose yourself in the narrow Hutong lanes, where life continues traditionally calm. Tucked inside one of the lanes, you'll find a quaint old tea house. Here, you'll be able to sit down and enjoy some fragrant jasmine tea. After that, stroll the alleys and try a variety of local Beijing snacks, from crispy bites to sweet treats. While relaxing, you will also learn about the fascinating stories about the history, culture, and everyday life of old Beijing.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Great Wall Hiking
   Hike Scenic Mutianyu Great Wall, Sample Countryside Flavors

   Today is a day of the Great Wall hiking! Before that, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. This grand complex was once used by the Ming and Qing dynasties emperors to worship Heaven and pray for good harvests. Its most famous building, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, is a round hall with three layers of eaves, where important ceremonies were held. Since 1998, the temple has been open as a public park. In the mornings, you can often see local people exercising, a lively view of daily life in Beijing.

   After that, it is about a 1.5 hour drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Built in 1368 during the Ming Dynasty, it is about 5,400 meters and is one of the most beautiful sections of the wall. The area has nearly 90% tree coverage, and the scenery changes from season to season. When you hike along the wall, your guide will tell the facts about it, such as how many passes of the Great Wall, who build it, and what the Great Wall is made of. If pure hiking is too much for you, you can choose a cable car or even a fun toboggan ride (optional, the guide will help you with the tickets) to enjoy the views from different angles. We will arrange for your lunch at a local farmhouse to taste the flavors of Beijing countryside cuisine.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: High-speed Train to Xi’an from Beijing
   Climb Ancient City Walls, Cycle Historic Paths, Feast On Xi'an's Vibrant Night Snacks

   After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the capital city. Your driver will transfer you from your hotel to the railway station for a high-speed train to Xi’an, the starting point of the Silk Road. In about 5-5.5 hours, meet your Xian local driver at the station and then be escorted to the hotel in the city center for check-in. Have a short rest.

   After lunch (at your own expense. If needed, the tour guide can recommend some restaurants for you based on your taste), you will climb the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China - the Ancient City Wall. The city wall is a closed rectangle with a height of 12 meters, a top width of 15 meters, and a circumference of 13.7 kilometers. Walking on it, you can appreciate the traces left by history, such as ancient bricks, weathered carvings, and modern skyline at the same time. If you are interested, you can rent a bicycle for an additional fee to ride on the top.

   Xi’an is lively at night, and one of the best places to experience it is Yongxingfang Food Street. In the evening, you can explore the street on your own and taste a wide variety of local snacks and dishes, such as Jinxian Youta (a kind of steamed sliced pastry), Caituan (vegetable roller), Saozimian (sliced noodles in clear or pork soup), and Qiaomian Heluo (noodles made of buckwheat powder).

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi’an

   

5. Day 5: Terracotta Warriors and Food Exploration
   Marvel at Clay Warriors' Grandeur, Admire Tang-Era Pagoda, Taste Muslim Quarter's Hala Delights

   Today’s Xi’an exploration takes you for a 1-hour ride to the famous Terracotta Warriors, often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” This incredible site was discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well and has since become the top attraction in Xi’an. The museum features several sections, including Pit 1 (the largest), Pit 2, and Pit 3. You’ll spend about 2 to 2.5 hours here. With your guide’s explanations, you’ll uncover the stories behind these life-sized clay figures and the emperor - Qinshihuang they were built to protect.

   After lunch, you will return to the city center to see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda inside Daci’en Temple. Built in 652 A.D. during the Tang Dynasty, it was used to store Buddhist scriptures and statues that the monk Xuanzang brought back from India. Today, the pagoda stands in a large square made up of the North and South Squares. The surrounding buildings and statues are designed in Tang style, reflecting the splendor of that golden era. After that, embark on a food tour at the Muslim Quarter - the most famous food street in Xi’an, where you will find many special local products and authentic Shaanxi snacks, including old-style yogurt, fresh pomegranate juice, hand-pulled biangbiang noodles, soup dumplings, beef balls spicy soup, and lamb or beef skewers.

   Meal: Breakfast + Dinner

   Accommodation: in Xi’an

   

6. Day 6: Xian Flight to Shanghai

   After breakfast, you will be sent to the airport for a 2.5-hour flight to Shanghai. After arrival, a local driver in Shanghai will pick you up and transfer you to a comfortable hotel in the city center. You can arrange the remaining time on your own. Here are some travel guides for your reference, which would be helpful to you: Best Places to See in Shanghai, Things to Do in Shanghai at Night.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

7. Day 7: Best of Shanghai
   Stroll Along the Colonial Bund, Sip Coffee in French Concession, Have Dim Sum Lunch, Ascend Shanghai Tower for Panoramic Views

   During today's tour, you will see both the historic and modern aspects of Shanghai. Your first stop is the Bund, the most famous landmark in Shanghai. As you stroll along the riverside promenade, admire a row of historic colonial buildings in a variety of western styles, and towering modern skyscrapers across the Huangpu River. Next, explore the tree-lined streets of the former French Concession - a respite from Shanghai's central business district. This neighborhood, founded in 1849 eventually became the biggest and wealthiest French concession in China. If you would like to slow down your pace, sit and relax with a coffee at a roadside cafe.

   You can enjoy a leisurely dim sum lunch and then take in a local market at Tianzifang. This small market area is made up of little street food stalls settled in with creative studios and craft shops. Then go to Yuyuan Garden, which is a well-known classical garden in Southern China. The garden has tall rocks, beautiful pavilions, and green trees, demonstrating the simple and soft character of the Ming and Qing dynasties gardens. Afterwards, you can visit the Yuyuan Bazaar, which has local foods you can taste like crab roe Xiaolongbao, eight-treasure duck, and pan-fried pork buns - grab whatever you want. Finally, ascend the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China. The observation deck is located on the 118th floor, called Top of Shanghai. From here, you will be able to take in sweeping views of the whole city.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

   

8. Day 8: Shanghai Cooking Class
   Experience Cooking Shanghai Dishes, Marvel at Bronze Treasures and Ancient Art

   After breakfast, follow your tour guide to visit a lively local market full of live seafood and fresh vegetables. Choose your own ingredients to use in the cooking class that follows. A local chef will then guide you step by step, teaching how to make delicate stir-fry dishes. After cooking, enjoy the meal you prepared.

   Next, you will stop at the Shanghai Museum, one of the best museums in the city and also very well respected throughout China for its enormous collection of over a million artifacts. The architecture of the museum is unique as it is shaped like a giant bronze ding (antique vessel), because of its exceptional collection of bronze. Inside, you can see bronzes from the Shang, Zhou, and Warring States periods up to the mid-Qing dynasty. The museum is also famous for its calligraphy, paintings, and unique ceramics. After the visit, drive you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

   

9. Day 9: Shanghai Departure

   After breakfast, you will head to the airport for your next flight. Take with you more than just souvenirs - bring the flavors, sights, and stories of China's Golden Triangle Cities. This is the end of your 9-day Beijing Xian Shanghai food tour! Hope you had a great food journey with us!

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A