6 Days Beijing Xian Group Tour by High-speed Train

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to Beijing, the capital city of China, for the 6-day Beijing and Xian group tour! When you arrive at the Capital International Airport, the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate of the airport and transfer you to the local hotel to check in. The rest of the day is free on your own. No English-speaking tour guide service or any tour activity for today.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Exploration
   Understand the Royal Stories of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

   After breakfast, your Beijing guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to visit Tian’anmen Square, the largest public square in the world and a symbol of China. Over the years, it has been the site of many important events.

   Pass through Tiananmen Gate, where modern China was declared, and enter the grand Forbidden City (Palace Museum). This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world’s largest preserved imperial palace, covering 72 hectares with nearly 9,000 rooms. For 500 years, it was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Follow your guide to see the Meridian Gate, Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the imperial living quarters, while admiring the yellow-glazed roofs, white marble terraces, and beautifully crafted brackets.

   In the afternoon, head to the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1420. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, emperors came here to pray for good harvests. The most famous structure is the Prayer Hall for Good Harvests - a round, three-story hall topped with a golden spire, decorated with blue tiles and supported by red columns.

   After that, transfer you to the Summer Palace. It was once the summer retreat for the royal family to escape the heat. The area is filled with gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, temples, and corridors, all showing amazing landscape design. Stroll at a relaxed pace, admiring the colorful paintings along the 728-meter Long Corridor, scenic hilltop views, and take a peaceful boat tour on the Kunming Lake (optional, extra fee on site). Today you will pay visit to a Pearl Factory. There are opportunities to learn about the pearl arts and also purchase fine products. After that, drive you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Great Wall Adventure
   Hike Ming-Era Watchtowers, Admire Beautiful Valleys and Rolling Mountains

   After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you to the stunning Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved and most scenic parts of the Great Wall. Unlike the busy Badaling section, Mutianyu is quieter and surrounded by beautiful green valleys and rolling mountains. This 5,400-meter stretch from the Ming Dynasty has 23 watchtowers, more than most other sections.

   For an easier visit, you can take a cable car (optional, about RMB 140 for a round trip) to enjoy amazing views and take great photos of the wall winding across the peaks. Then, explore the pathways and enemy towers at your own pace. During the day, we will have a visit to a jade shop to appreciate some beautiful jade products. Last, return to your hotel to rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xi’an by High-speed Train
   Taste the Local Street Foods at Xi’an Muslim Quarter

   You can explore Beijing on your own in the morning. Afterwards, the driver will pick you up at the hotel according to the agreed time and take you to the train station to take the high-speed train to Xi'an (about 5-6 hours). After arrival, local drivers in Xi'an will pick you up and take you to a hotel in the city center for check-in.

   In the evening, the Xian guide will take you to explore Xi'an cuisine. Pick you up at your hotel lobby at the agreed time. We first go to the Bell and Drum Tower Square to admire the landmarks of Xi'an city. She/he will explain their past functions. Afterwards, walk for 5 minutes to reach the Muslim Quarter, a food paradise. There are various local specialty snacks in Xi'an here, and you will try some famous ones such as Biangbiang Noodles, Ice Peak (a kind of drink), soup dumplings, mirror cake, sour plum soup, and lam skewer.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi’an

   

5. Day 5: Xi’an Highlights
   Stand Before 2,200-Year-Old Clay Armies, Craft Mini Warriors, Stroll Tang-Style Streets

   In the morning, meet your guide and take a 1-hour drive to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. This archaeological wonder, dating back to 210 BC, was made for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Each figure has its own face, which is very impressive. You will be guided to visit three main areas: Pit 1, the biggest, shows life-sized clay warriors arranged for battle; Pit 2 has cavalry and infantry soldiers; and Pit 3 is where the commanders stayed. Your guide will share stories and history about this incredible site.

   Then we go to a nearby factory to experience making a Terracotta Warrior. Under the guidance of a professional, you will DIY a mini warrior that can be taken home.

   After that, drive back to the city center. In the afternoon, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the landmark of Xian city. Built in 652 AD, it was made to keep sacred Buddhist books that the monk Xuanzang brought from India. The pagoda has seven floors and stands 64 meters tall. If you would like, you can pay extra to climb to the top and see a wide view of the city.

   Around the pagoda is the Datang Ever-bright City, the only walking street in China designed with Tang dynasty style buildings, showing the rich Tang culture. It is a famous place to visit in Xi’an in the evening. You can watch cultural shows, see the beautiful music fountain at North Square, and try on traditional Hanfu clothes for great pictures. Last, escort you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi’an

   

6. Day 6: Xian City Exploration, Departure
   Admire Tang Tri-Colored Treasures, Cycle Ming Dynasty Ramparts, Trace Scholars' Brushstrokes in Qing-Era Academies

   Today is the last day to explore Xi'an. In the morning, you will first visit the Xi'an Museum, which preserves up to 130,000 exquisite cultural relics, most of which were unearthed from important tombs of the Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang (with the highest proportion), and Song dynasties. Some exquisite items include Tang Dynasty Tri-coloured Glazed Pottery of Flying Horse, Phoenix Head Pot, Cloud and Thunder Pattern Ding, and Jade Cup. After the visit, in the same scenic area, you can also see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist architectural art heritage. The original tower had 15 floors, but the current has 13 floors and is 43.4 meters high. The pogoda has a beautiful shape and, like the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, is an important symbol preserved in Chang'an City (the ancient name of Xi'an) during the Tang Dynasty.

   Afterwards, we climb up the City Wall. You can walk or ride a bicycle (optional, at your own expense) on the largest and most well-preserved city wall in China. From the 12-meter-high wall, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the modern city of Xi'an. Finally, we go to the Shuyuan Gate, which is a pedestrian street from Beilin to the entrance of Guanzhong Academy. The street is named after Guanzhong Academy, the highest academic institution in Shaanxi during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and also one of the four famous academies in China. The cultural atmosphere here is very rich, and you can see many famous calligraphy and paintings, as well as learn about the four treasures of Chinese literature - brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

   After the visit, you will be taken to the airport or train station to leave. The 6-day Beijing and Xi'an tour has come to an end. Thanks for traveling with China Xian Tour!

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A