6 Days Private Beijing Xi'an Tour

This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will accompany you to visit the iconic Tiananmen Square, located in the heart of Beijing. Having a photo stop at the vast square with a lot of important national buildings around, such as the ancient golden-tiled and vermilion-walled Tiananmen Tower.

Afterward, you’ll stroll across it to the north end, where Today’s highlight, the Forbidden City, sits. As the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient wooden imperial palace complex, the Forbidden City invites you to gain some insights into China’s feudal hierarchy and the luxurious life of the royal family from its intricate architectural layout and gorgeous decorations, as well as numerous historical relics. During the visit to some splendid halls, when encountering doorsills that are very important in old Chinese architecture, you can follow the traditional Chinese etiquette of men stepping over with their left foot and women with their right foot instead of treading on them. If you’re careful enough, you may find that some of them actually have been removed. Who did it and why? It’s China’s last emperor, Puyi, who reigned from 1908 to 1911 AD. When he first got a bicycle at 16, for a better cycling experience in the imperial palace, he ordered them to be dismantled. The young emperor surely never imagined at that time that just two years later, he would be kicked out of the Forbidden City. When the wheel of modernity broke through the doorsills of the Forbidden City, it signified that the ancient empire had collapsed, and the wheel of history would continue to roll forward.

Begin the afternoon’s sightseeing with a visit to the Lama Temple, also known as the Yonghe Lamasery, and once the mansion of a prince but later became the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Beijing. We are here mainly for a reverent look at the world’s tallest wooden sculpture of Maitreya Buddha, about 18 meters (59 ft.) high. Then let’s head to the Temple of Heaven, which is considered the dwelling of the God of Heaven in ancient times and was mainly used for emperors to pray for harvests. Besides appreciating the beautiful sacrificial architecture, including the landmark Circular Mound Altar, you can also see many retired locals exercising or entertaining in the surrounding park. After the visit, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

► Recommendation for Dinner (at your own expense):
How could you come to Beijing without tasting its gourmet specialty, the Beijing Roast Duck? Spread sweet bean sauce on every rice paper to be savored before wrapping the crispy duck meat, condiments, and sliced scallions in, which will create a perfectly balanced, non-greasy bite that will give you an endless aftertaste. The Siji Minfu Restaurant, which has garnered positive reviews on TripAdvisor and costs about CNY 130 (USD 19) per person, can be a reference. If you like, your guide will be glad to help you locate the nearest branch to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Receive a ‘good morning’ from your guide and driver in the hotel lobby, and then enjoy a smooth car ride for around 1.5 hours to the Mutianyu Great Wall, the most beautiful section in Beijing, with 20 watchtowers densely distributed. Originally built as a military defense system, the Great Wall protected central China for centuries. Now, it’s your time to witness the man-made architectural wonder built on the mountain ridges and the stunning natural vistas nearby with your own eyes.

The round-trip cable car is included, saving you more time and energy to fully enjoy the hike on it. If you're feeling adventurous, you can take the chairlift up and enjoy a thrilling toboggan ride down. Once you are up there, what amazes you first will be the brick walls on both sides of the footpath, which served as shelters for defending soldiers fighting against the enemy in ancient times. Unlike other sections of the Great Wall, such as the equally famous Badaling, which mostly has crenels only on the wall facing outside of the city, the Mutianyu has them on both walls. This means that on each side, it might engage in firefights with attackers, which exactly shows its strategic position in history. For lunch, we’ll serve you a buffet meal at the foot of the Great Wall.

On the way back to the downtown area, we’ll drive by the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and National Aquatics Center (Water Cube), the two high-tech buildings used to hold international sports events such as the Olympic Games. Let’s enjoy a short photo time at close quarters here.

Then, let’s move on to experience old Beijing's authentic customs and cultures in Hutongs, a particular expression in Beijing meaning old alleys or lanes. Riding in a traditional rickshaw, along the way you’ll see clothes drying, neatly arranged old-fashioned bicycles, and elderly people sitting idly at the gates of the characteristic quadrangle courtyard… These seemingly ordinary details, however, form the most genuine picture of local people’s daily life. Also, a home visit to a local family we specially arranged for you will add more fun to your Beijing trip. At the end of the day, in the company of your guide and driver, you’ll get back to your hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Buffet lunch

After being greeted by your guide and driver at the hotel, embark on a morning excursion to the Summer Palace, the largest existing royal garden in China, which was once used as a temporary palace and summer resort by the royal family from April to October every year. With your guide, immerse yourself in the typical Chinese garden landscape with mountains, lakes, bridges, and ancient structures. Climb up the Longevity Hill to appreciate the legendary Tower of Buddhist Incense, where a bronze Buddha statue is enshrined. Legend has it that it was originally brought here with a piece of its head missing, and the mystery remains unsolved that half of the Buddha's head, which was accidentally fished out from the Kunming Lake here, could fit perfectly with it.

In the afternoon, the guide and driver will escort you to the railway station to take a 5-hour high-speed train ride to Xi’an. Remarkably, China’s high-speed trains are so stable that even at speeds exceeding 300 km/h (186 mph), passengers don’t need seat belts as they would in a car or an airplane. Once you arrive, your Xi’an guide and driver will pick you up at the exit of the railway station and then escort you to your hotel.
● If you prefer a 2-hour flight from Beijing to Xi’an, you can contact our travel consultant to arrange it for you instead of the train.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby, and then accompany you with a private car transfer to the Terracotta Army Museum, reputed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Constructed as accessory pits of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC), the first feudal emperor in China’s history, more than 2,200 years ago, its discovery in 1974 AD shocked the world. In the three pits and an exhibition here, you can not only witness the large-scale underground armies composed of over 8,000 terracotta warriors, but also view bronze weapons, chariots, and horses. When touring the exhibition hall, pay special attention to the green-faced kneeling archer figurine, which stood out from the other common ones with light pink skin. For its difference, scholars have various opinions: some thought it was just a mischievous creative work of the craftsmen, some believed it was a priest, specifically responsible for sacrificial ceremony and exorcism activities to ward off evil spirits in the military, while others hold the view that it represented an ethnic minority, as green facial makeup in Chinese opera often refers to people from exotic lands or minority groups.

Around noon, enjoy a simple lunch of local food before leaving the museum. Then, embark on the way returning to downtown Xi’an, and admire the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built 1,300 years ago to store the Buddha statues and translated scriptures brought from India by the venerable monk Xuanzang. Growing up in a Buddhist temple, Xuanzang was deeply edified by the religious culture and always longed for the support of the emperor to visit the birthplace of Buddhism. 17 years after his arduous spontaneous travel, he finally returned with myriad precious scriptures, eventually received the approval from the emperor, who commissioned the pagoda as a center for Xuanzang’s translation work. His efforts here eventually sparked the widespread rise of Buddhism across the country. Next, let’s make our way to the ancient City Wall for a stroll. Standing on it, you’ll have a nice bird's-eye view of Xi’an, experiencing the captivating blend of tradition and modernity. It is also possible to go sightseeing by bike on it, and if you feel interested, your guide would be happy to help you with the bike rental at your own expense. 

The last stop today is the Muslim Quarter, the most bustling market with tasty street food, where you’ll experience a very local vibe. On both sides of the street, at the small stalls or eateries, diverse delicious Xi’an delicacies, such as Chinese Hamburger, Cold Noodles, and Biang Biang Noodles, will make your mouth water. At last, your guide and driver will convoy you back to your hotel.

► FYI: If you are more inclined to stay longer here on your own for dinner, ask your guide for some advice on food and transportation to return to the hotel by yourself. It is recommended that you try the most representative Chinese Hamburger, which is handcrafted and baked on the spot, with only tender chopped beef sandwiched in the crispy skin, unlike its Western counterpart which has many ingredients layered at once.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Today will be the last day of your private Beijing Xi’an tour package. After breakfast, pack your luggage and check out at the hotel, and your guide and driver will escort you to the airport. 

On the way, stop to visit the Yangling Mausoleum, the cemetery of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) and his empress. Walk on the glass floor in the pit areas and look down directly at those naked, armless pottery figurines one-third the size of real people. Look closely, and you’ll see that from the warriors to the civil officials, and then to servants, they all seem to be smiling silently, which has been nicknamed the ‘Oriental Mona Lisa’ by archaeologists. Their smiles not only recorded the subtle joys of humanity 1,500 years earlier than this great picture, but also profoundly reflected the social atmosphere of the prosperous life of the people at that time.

After that, your guide will see you off at the airport. Hope you enjoyed travelling with us! Still interested in other cities in China, such as Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, and Chongqing? Feel free to contact our travel consultant to tailor a trip to your liking.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast