7-Day Beijing-Xi’an-Shanghai Private Tour

Welcome to take this private Beijing Xi’an tour to experience the charms of China’s two famous ancient capital cities and witness the most iconic attractions. Your private guide and driver will greet you outside Customs at Beijing airport and then escort you to the hotel in downtown for check-in. You can take a good rest at your hotel, relieving fatigue from the long-time flight journey.

Today, your trip begins with a visit to Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest urban city squares, located in the heart of Beijing. Having a photo stop at the vast square with a lot of important buildings around. Afterward, you will stroll across it to the north end, where the Forbidden City sits. Covering an area of about 74 hectares, the Forbidden City is the world's largest and best-preserved wooden imperial palace complex which boasts splendid Chinese ancient constructions and numerous historical relics. You could get some insights into China's feudal hierarchy and have a glimpse of the luxurious life of the royal family from the intricate lay-out and gorgeous decorations. Following the guide, you will learn about many interesting stories behind this giant palace complex. For example, you may find that some doorsills were removed in Forbidden City though they are very important in old Chinese architecture. So who removed them and why? It’s China’s last emperor Puyi. When he first time got a bicycle at 16, for a better cycling experience in the palace, the young emperor ordered to remove all the doorsills. The afternoon sightseeing will take you to the Yonghe Temple first. It was once the mansion of a prince during the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 AD) but later it became the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Beijing. It boasts the world's tallest wooden sculpture of Maitreya Buddha, about 18 meters (59 ft.) high. Then we will head to the Temple of Heaven, which is considered the dwelling of heaven in ancient times and mainly used for emperors to pray for harvests. Besides appreciating the beautiful architecture, you can also see many retired locals exercising or entertaining in the surrounding park. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

This morning, you will travel to China’s most symbolic attraction, the Great Wall. We have selected the most beautiful Mutianyu Great Wall section with 26 Watchtowers densely distributed. The round-way cable car ride is included. Originally built as a military defense system, the Great Wall protected central China for centuries. You will be amazed by wandering along the man-made architectural wonder built on the mountain ridges and the stunning natural vistas nearby. On the way back to the downtown area, you will drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium), the main venue of the 29th Olympic Games. The driver will make a stop here for you to admire the marvelous building at close quarters. Then we will go to experience Beijing's old customs and authentic cultures at Hutongs, a particular expression in Beijing meaning old alleys or lanes. Visiting by a traditional rickshaw, you will have a chance to dive deep into local people’s daily life. A special home visit to a local family will add more fun to your Beijing trip. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

The morning excursion will be extended to the Summer Palace. It is the existing largest royal garden in China, and was once used as a temporary palace and summer resort by the royal family. Absorbed the architectural styles of South China, North China and even foreign countries, the garden got the reputation of the "Museum of Imperial Garden". You can also admire the typical Chinese architecture here. After lunch, you will take an afternoon high-speed train for around 5 hours to reach Xi’an. You can take a nap on the train or view the countryside scenery along the way. Snacks, fruits, music or books are always good company for the train journey, so you may prepare some in advance. Your local guide in Xi’an will meet you at the train station and take you to the hotel. ● Alternative: High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an usually takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours. We will try best to book the shortest duration for you. While, if you do not want to take the train, we are glad to arrange a 2-hour flight for you instead. Please talk to your travel consultant. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

The whole morning will be devoted to the Terracotta Army Museum, which is reputed as the eighth wonder of the world. Constructed as an accessory pit of the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC) more than 2,200 years ago, its discovery in the year 1974 shocked the world. Here you can not only witness the large-scale underground armies but also view the ancient weapons and bronze chariots and horses. Then you will be guided to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built during 707 – 710 AD in the Tang Dynasty. Besides admiring the old 13-floor pagoda and enjoying a serene time here, your guide will also show you around Xi’an Museum inside with rich collections. Today’s last stop is the ancient City Wall of Xi'an, which is the largest and best-preserved old city wall in China. Standing on it, you could have a nice bird's eye view of the city, experiencing the captivating blend of tradition and modernity. It is also possible to cycle on the ancient city wall. If you feel interested, your guide would be very happy to help you with the bike rental at a small charge. Go cycling on the wall and enjoy golden sunset view, what a marvelous experience! Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, you will visit the oldest also the largest Muslim mosque in Xi’an, the Great Mosque. The 1,300 years old mosque perfectly combines the traditional Chinese architectural style with the original Muslim style, featuring exquisite buildings and sacred religious atmosphere. After the visit, you will have a chance to linger over the nearby Muslim Quarter. Inhabited by a large Muslim population, the quarter offers the most bustling local Muslim market with tasty street food. You can taste some delicious local snacks and experience a very local vibe here. In the afternoon, your tour guide will take you to the departure city of Shanghai to clear customs and leave the country. Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Your private car, driver, and guide will be ready and waiting at your hotel lobby to get you to the airport on time. Sit back and relax, as they help you check-in and escort you to the correct security gate. We will take the stress out of your travel and set you up for a nice journey home.