6-Day Xi’an & Pingyao Private Tour with Muslim Culture

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Xi’an

   Upon your arrival at the airport or train station, your dedicated private guide will meet you and drive you to your hotel to rest. You are free to spend the rest of the time as you wish.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
2. Day 2: Xi'an Highlights
   Travel through time and experience the splendor of Chang'an

   Today, you’ll visit the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang — known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” — a vast underground military museum.

   Led by an expert tour guide, you will visit the 3 major excavation pits. The largest pit, Pit 1, is the most imposing, with thousands of life-sized infantry warriors neatly arranged in battle formation — a truly awe-inspiring sight.

   Next, proceed to Pit 2 to admire its unique mixed formation of cavalry, crossbowmen, and chariots; finally, visit Pit 3, which represents the command system of the Qin army. The highest-ranking general figurine unearthed here is also on display — be sure to note the details of his headgear and armor.

   

   In the afternoon, drive back to the city center and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square, one of Xi’an’s landmarks, to view from a distance this seven-story brick pagoda with a pavilion-style design that dates back over 1,300 years (exterior view) and listen to the guide explain the reasons behind its construction.

   After dark, take a stroll through the Datang Everbright City, where the Tang-style architecture glows resplendently under the lights, transporting you back to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. You can choose to don elegant Hanfu, enjoying various interactive performances along the way, and even have the chance to watch the internet-famous “Tumbler Lady” performance (subject to the day’s schedule).

   

   Optional Activity:

   Hand-sculpt a “miniature Terracotta Warrior” to create your own unique clay souvenir to take home.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
3. Day 3: Xi'an Culture Immersion
   Uncover the cultural gems of downtown Xi'an

   After breakfast, your tour guide will take you up onto the ancient Xi’an City Wall, which dates back more than 600 years. You’ll ascend the wall at Yongning Gate (the South Gate) and walk along its 13.74-kilometer-long structure — the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall still standing in China.

   On one side lies the old city’s streets and alleys with their blue bricks and gray tiles, while on the other stands a modern urban landscape of towering skyscrapers, creating a striking contrast.

   During the tour, your guide will explain the intricate military defense system comprising the moat, drawbridge, arrow towers, watchtowers, and barbican.

   Optional Activity: Bicycle rental services are available atop the city wall. If you find walking too tiring, you can explore by bicycle; your guide will assist with arrangements.

   

   After descending from the wall, proceed to the serene Small Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area. This Tang Dynasty multi-eaved brick pagoda has withstood more than 70 earthquakes — its cracks miraculously closing and re-sealing in later quakes, so it still stands today.

   

   The Xi’an Museum houses a collection of over 130,000 cultural relics, renowned for its treasures from the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties. It’s worth noting that in the “Ancient Capital Xi’an” exhibition hall, you can see a 1:1,500 scale model of the Tang-dynasty city of Chang’an — it’s truly breathtaking!

   Next, take in the view of the Great Mosque — a blend of traditional siheyuan courtyard layout and Islamic culture. Its architecture follows a Chinese garden style, while the steles and door lintels feature carvings of verses from the Quran and Arabic motifs.

   

   Finally, take a trip to the Muslim Quarter, where you can find various food stalls and a steady stream of diners. Here you can sample authentic local halal specialities: beef or lamb paomo (a rich, slow-cooked stew of bread and chunks of meat), liangpi (chilled, springy wheat noodles served with a spicy and sour sauce), and braised beef rougamo (Chinese beef hamburger). It's a lovely place to stroll, and the atmosphere is even more tranquil in the evening.

   Friendly Reminder: When sampling the local cuisine, we recommend ordering modestly so you can try a variety of foods.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
4. Day 4: Xi'an to Pingyao by High-Speed Train
   Discover the essence of Pingyao’s heritage sites

   This morning, take the high-speed train from Xi’an North Station for approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.

   Pingyao Ancient City has a history spanning over 2,800 years. Firstly, visit the Rishengchang Financial House Museum, China’s first draft bank. It served as the predecessor to modern Chinese banks. Stepping inside, you can see the working environment of ancient bookkeepers. You can also tour the hidden underground vault and listen as the guide shares stories of how the banking houses stored and transported vast amounts of silver in centuries past.

   

   Next, head to the County Government Office. Its rear courtyard still preserves ancient Qing Dynasty prison settings. You can see the High-Security Prison, the Women's Prison, and an exhibition area featuring torture instruments. Also watch the live performance “The County Magistrate Takes the Bench,” where actors in period costumes reenact ancient court proceedings.

   Special Note: The performance schedule for “The County Magistrate Takes the Bench” at the Pingyao County Government Office may vary depending on the season and holidays. Currently, specified showtimes are 9:30, 11:00, and 15:30 (subject to change by season and holidays).

   At the end of the day, climb the Pingyao City Wall. With a circumference of around 6 kilometers, it is one of China’s best-preserved ancient city walls. You can observe up close the intricate military defense system, which includes the barbican, corner towers, the command platform, and various openings in the wall.

   

   If you’re interested in martial arts, you can also stop by the “North China's First Escort Agency Museum.” During holidays, these venues offer immersive experiences such as “pushing an escort cart in period costume” and “bow and arrow shooting,” allowing you to get a taste of what it’s like to be an “escort agent.”

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   4-Star Hotel in Pingyao
5. Day 5: Pingyao Back to Xi'an by High-speed Train
   Explore the Magnificent Qing Dynasty Merchant Mansions

   After breakfast, we will drive from Pingyao to the Wang Family Courtyard in Lingshi County.

   Estimated driving time: 40–50 minutes.

   The Wang Family Compound is a magnificent complex of buildings constructed by the Wang family over more than 300 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is hailed as the ‘Folk Forbidden City’. The entire compound comprises five alleys, five forts, and five ancestral halls, covering a total area of 250,000 square metres.

   

   Your guide will take you on a tour of the Hongmen Fort and Gaojiaya complexes. These two complexes contain over a hundred courtyards and more than a thousand rooms.

   Gaojiaya was the residence of Wang Rucong and Wang Rucheng, brothers of the seventeenth generation of the Wang family. It is shaped like a ‘phoenix’. Upon entering, you will find a series of nested gates and courtyards within courtyards, forming an intricate network of passageways that adhere strictly to ritual protocols.

   Hongmen Fort was the residence of eight generations of the Wang family, spanning the 14th to the 21st generations. Eighty-eight courtyards are arranged in tiers up the hillside, forming the Chinese character for ‘Wang’ (王). You can climb to the highest point to take in the panoramic view, which is truly breathtaking.

   Travel Tip: The Wang Family Compound is built against the mountainside and features many walking paths, so we recommend wearing comfortable flat shoes!

   After the tour, drive to Lingshi East Station and board the high-speed train back to Xi'an (travel time is 2–2.5 hours; specific train schedules are subject to the day’s actual arrangements).

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
6. Day 6: Xi’an Departure

   This is the end of your Xi'an and Pinyao tour. A private transfer will take you to the airport or train station.

   If you’d like to extend your stay, please do not hesitate to let us know — we’d be happy to help you customize a new itinerary.

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