Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xian Arrival (No meal)

   Upon arrival in Xian, Our driver will greet you at Xian airport by holding a welcome board with your name. Then the driver will transfer you to hotel in downtown Xian. The rest day is free for you.

   Accommodation: Xian

2. Day 2: Xian
   Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Qujiang Pool (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: In the morning our local guide will pick you up from hotel lobby and then transfer to visit the most famous and must-be see spot the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum. which is known as “the Eighth Wonders of the World” with a surprisingly high level in sculpture. It is located 30 km east of the Xi’an City and the original site was found by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974. 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 a local restaurant.

   

   PM: After lunch, you will visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda which 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. It’s busier in the evening when many activities with Tang elements held by local amateur. The last stop is the Qujiang Pool Park, an elegant park built on the base of historical relics, serving as not only a recreational zone but also a relics protected zone. Finally, we drop you off at hotel.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

3. Day 3: Xian
   Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area, Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque, Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square (Breakfast + Lunch)

   Am: Our guide will pick you up from hotel lobby in the morning. First we visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area. Small Wild Goose Pagoda is the twin of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Both the two pagodas are important witnesses for the history of Great Tang Dynasty. Same as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda was also built to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from Ancient India by the master monk Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty. Different from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda attracts visitors with its special charms that it keeps quiet and peaceful in the bustling downtown area, has precious value on architecture and Chinese garden aesthetics.

   Noon: Lunch in a local restaurant.

   PM: Then head to Muslim Quarter where you will find many special local products and authentic local snacks. You can enjoy preserved meat, casserole, various noodles, and purcahse some Terracotta Warriors imitation as souvenirs. In the hidden lane of Muslim Quarter, you will visit the Great Mosque, a major spot for religious activities among the Muslims in Xi’an. It possesses much traditional Chinese architectural elements in its design. For example, you will see Chinese pavilions with painted beams and engraved ridgepoles.

   Before board the car to go back to your hotel, you will take short a walk around the Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square and take some pictures here.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

4. Day 4: Xian-Luoyang-Xian by Bullet Train
   Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple (Lunch)

   AM: Get up early and meet our driver at your hotel lobby around 6:00 to go to Xian North Train Station to catch the high speed train to Luoyang (suggested G2002 08:10/09:49 or a train with similar schedule).

   Upon your arrival in Luoyang, Luoyang local guide will greet you at the exit of the railway station. A private car will transfer you to visit the Longmen Grottoes. It is considered as a treasure house of ancient stone-carving art with more than 100,000 stone statues varying from 2 cm to 17.14 m high. Longmen Grottoes extends for about 1,094 yards along both banks of Yi River and about 12 km far away from Luoyang city. It is one of the three most valuable Buddhist Cave and rock carvings in China.

   Noon: Lunch in a local restaurant.

   

   PM: After the lunch, continue to visit the Shaolin Temple. It is famous not only as one of China’s most important Buddhist temples but also as the center of Chinese Kung Fu. First constructed in 495, the temple was mainly designed to accommodate Batuo, a famous Indian monk. Now Shaolin Temple is reputed as “the Number One Temple Under Heaven” and also listed as UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2010. The temple is the cradle of the Chinese Zen Buddhism and the Shaolin martial arts. The Shaolin martial arts are an important part of the relics. Kung Fu Show here is no doubt a big highlight as the saying goes “All martial arts (Kongfu) are from Shaolin”.

   Finish sightseeing , our guide will see you off at Luoyang Longmen Railway Station. You will take the high-speed train back to Xian (suggested: G637/18:54-20:27 or a train with similar schedule). Meet Xian driver at Xian Train Station and get dropped off to your hotel afterwards.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

5. Day 5: Xian
   Xian City Wall, Yongxingfang Food Street, Daming Palace National Heritage Park, Shuyuanmen Ancient Cultural Street (Breakfast + Lunch)

   AM: Get picked up from hotel lobby by the guide after breakfast and then go to visit Xian City Wall. It is the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China. It was built for the military defense in the Ming Dynasty, 1370 A.D. Since it is cycling the Xian city, visitors can ride a bike around the city wall which is optional (cost on your own, CNY45p.p). Afterwards, take a walk along the Shuyuanmen Ancient Cultural Street to see ancient Chinese stationery, Chinese painting and calligraphy.

   Noon: Lunch in a local restaurant.

   

   PM: After lunch, you will come to visit the Yongxingfang Food Street. The whole street was built in ancient Ming and Qing Dynasty style. Many family-handmade foods which have been lost in big cities can be found here. They cook right in front of you, so you get to see how each food you try was made. Of course, each family has its own secret source or spices you won’t get to know how they make it. Then drive to visit Daming Palace National Heritage Park. It was once the political center and symbol of Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). It was built in the year of 634 and served as a place for 17 emperors to handle state affairs for more than 200 years. The palace of a large scale and complete layout was called the “peak of Chinese palace architecture” and greatly influenced the design of the famous Forbidden City and even palaces in Asian countries such as Japan and Korea. Unfortunately, it was ruined in the wars in the late Tang Dynasty. The current palace was duplicated according to the ever-existed one and has become a world cultural heritage site and is cherished by the whole world. You will enjoy an IMAX 3D movie Legend of the Daming Palace which relates a love story arising from a piece of exquisite ancient mural and will bring you back to the glorious days of Tang Dynasty. Your guide will lead you to admire the unearthed relics in the museum and uncover the stories of Tang Dynasty you may never heard of.

   At last, come back to your hotel.

   Accommodation: Xian

   

6. Day 6: Xian Departure

   Our driver will pick you up from hotel lobby at appointed time and transfer to Xian airport for your departure. Service ends from here.