9 Days Beijing Xian Chengdu Group Tour by High-speed Train

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Hey there! Get ready for an awesome 9-day China group tour to Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu. Beijing, China's capital, is where ancient traditions meet modern world. When you land, a driver will meet you at the exit with a welcome board “China Xian Tour” and send you to your hotel downtown.

   Feel free to spend the rest of the day at your own pace. Grab some Peking Duck (it's great!), get a foot massage, or just stroll through one of Beijing's parks and watch people go about their day.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing City Sightseeing
   Witness Dawn Flag Rites, Tread Golden-Tiled Palace Corridors

   After breakfast, firstly be guided to Tian’anmen Square, one of the largest square in the world. This is a stage for Chinese history where Mao’s portrait watches flag ceremony at dawn every day. Enter the Forbidden City across the Zhengyang Gate. Aka the Palace Museum, it is a 600-year-old imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with nearly 9,000 rooms featuring shiny golden roof tiles and vermilion walls. During the 3 hours, you will be guided to explore remarkable halls like the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the Dragon Throne ceremony was once held.  In addition, there are big courtyards and tons of old, valuable artifacts to appreciate.

   After lunch, go to visit the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an outstanding example of Chinese royal architecture. Here, you can also watch locals doing morning exercises and experience a slice of Beijing’s daily life.

   Last, head to the Summer Palace in the city’s western suburbs. It was once a summer resort for Qing emperors, built around Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake based on West Lake in Hangzhou. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. Here, the tour guide will share the royal history with you, and you have the opportunity to take a boat trip on Kunming Lake (optional, extra charge). Today you will pay visit to a Pearl Factory to learn about the pearl arts.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Great Wall of Beijing
   Trace 7th-Century Defense Genius Through Watchtower Strongholds

   Let's start our Great Wall hiking at the Mutianyu section after breakfast - it's about a 90-minute drive. Mutianyu Great Wall is the longest in China and one of the Sixteen Scenic Spots in Beijing. It has the most watertowers among the Great Walls, over 20 ones dotting the mountain ridges! You can hike to the top, or take a cable car if you want to save some energy. Walk along the winding walls up and down for about 2-3 hours. The No.20 Tower is the highest point. The view of the Great Wall snaking through the mountains from there is quite amazing. Get your camera ready!

   The No.1 Tower is a must-see, serving as the connection point between three sections of the Great Wall and a great place for taking photos. The Zhengguan Terrace (No. 4 Tower) is another highlight, consisting of three neatly arranged watchtowers, each with two levels. Here, you can observe ancient defensive buildings up close. Afterward, you will explore the Great Wall on your own. After finishing, we drive back to the hotel in the city. During the day, we will take you to a jade shop to appreciate some beautiful jade products.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing to Xian by High-speed Train
   Time-Travel Between Ancient Bell Towers and Sizzling Muslim Food Stalls

   After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to the train station for a high-speed train ride to Xi’an (about 5 hours). When you arrive, a Xi’an local driver will meet you and transfer you to your downtown hotel for check-in.

   Around 18:00, your tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and then lead you on a food adventure. Before that, we first go to visit the Bell and Drum Tower Square, located at the intersection of South Street, North Street, East Street, and West Street. To its east is a clock tower with a history of 600 years, and to its west is the largest existing drum tower in China. There are some shopping centers, shops, and cafes under the square. On weekends, many locals come here to relax and shop. Nearby is the Huimin Street. This thousand-year-old Muslim community is full of the attractive aroma of Xi’an snacks, such as Roujiamo, Liangpi, soup dumplings, ice peak drink, etc.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi’an

   

5. Day 5: Xian’s Must-see
   Decipher Qin's Clay Army Secrets, Trace Tang Monks' Footsteps Through Neon-Lit Dynasty Revival Streets

   After breakfast, we will drive for 1 hour to visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. This grand army was created by China’s first emperor to guard him in the afterlife. Here you will be guided to see 3 pits where there are more than 8,000 life-size soldiers, horses, and chariots were buried for over 2,000 years. You can find that each figure is unique, with different facial expression. Understand some facts about how/why it was built and what these warriors were made of.

   After that, we go back to the downtown area and check out the landmark of Xian City - Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, located in Da Cien Temple. 64.5 meters tall, the pogoda was built during the Tang Dynasty by the Buddhist master Xuanzang (the inspiration for the character Tang Seng in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West) to store sacred scriptures. If you would like to ascend the top of the pagoda for a wide view, there is an extra fee.

   Nearby, you can visit the Datang Ever-bright City, a wonderful place to stroll, enjoy amazing night views, and feel the elements of the Tang Dynasty.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Xi’an

   

6. Day 6: Xian City Sightseeing
   Decode 130,000 Relics, Optionally Ride atop Ming-Era Ramparts

   After breakfast, take a guided tour of the Xi’an Museum. This museum is home to over 130,000 cultural treasures, including jade relics, paintings, porcelain, seals, Buddhist statues, and many other valuable artifacts. Just a few minutes’ walk away is the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, smaller and 55 years younger than its “sister,” the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. It stands 43.4 meters tall with 13 levels (originally 15), looking like a rectangular pyramid.

   After that, have a relaxing visit to the City Wall, the best-preserved one in China. Follow your guide up to the wall for a pleasant walk and wide views of modern Xi’an. You can also rent a bike (45 RMB extra) for a leisurely ride. The duration and routes are flexible. Before leaving Xi’an, make sure to stop by Shuyuanmen (Academy Gate). This cultural street gets its name from Guanzhong Academy, Shaanxi Province's top academic institution in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Walk down the street and you'll catch a whiff of Chinese ink. The shops here mainly sell celebrity calligraphy and painting, antiques, jade, handmade souvenirs, etc.

   After the visit, you will be transferred to the railway station for a high-speed train to the hometown of the panda. Upon arrival, the local driver will pick you up and escort you to the hotel in the city center.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

   

7. Day 7: Chengdu Exploration
   Spot Bamboo-Munching Pandas, Sip Tea Like Locals, Chase Mask Flashes in Lantern-Lit Alleys

   Around 8:30 a.m., your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Then, your panda tour starts at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a place that protects the endangered animals. Here, you can see giant pandas and red pandas in a habitat made to look like their natural environment. Watch them play, eat, or sleep. You can get some interesting panda facts from your guide and she/he will help you take photos with cute pandas in the background. You can find some small gift shops where you can pick up some panda-themed souvenirs for your friends and family.

   Spend your afternoon in People’s Park to glimpse the leisurely Chengdu life. Here, you can try sip traditional Gaiwan tea, ear cleaning, watch locals napping or playing mahjong surrounded by flowers and garden views. After that, take a walk on Jinli Street, where you can see many old buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Pay a visit to some lovely handicraft shops and taste famous Sichuan food snacks. If interested, you can watch traditional performances like the famous face-changing opera (at your own expense). After the visit, you’ll be driven back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

   

8. Day 8: Drive to Leshan from Chengdu
   Marvel at the World’s Tallest Stone Buddha, Try Traditional Sichuan Snacks

   After breakfast, we'll drive about two hours to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, which is the biggest stone Buddha on Earth. This statue is 71 meters (233 feet) tall, and it took almost 90 years and three generations of workers to finish. We'll walk up the mountain on a zigzag path along the statue's right side. You will see the Buddha's head up close featuring its 1,051 hair curls. If you want to chill out, you can take a boat ride instead (this costs extra). You’ll be able to see the entire statue from the boat.

   In the afternoon, head back to Chengdu to explore the Kuanzhai (Wide and Narrow) Alley. This area is full of tea houses and shops, where you can also taste delicious street snacks such as Bobo Chicken, Spicy Rabbit Head, and Zhong Dumplings. After that, you’ll return comfortably to your hotel for the night.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

   

9. Day 9: Chengdu Departure

   Spend the morning until your driver meets you in the hotel lobby at the arranged time. You will be escorted to the airport in time for your flight. This marks the end of your 9-day Beijing Xian Chengdu group tour. Thank you for choosing China Xian Tour for your group tour of China!

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Chengdu