7 Days Beijing Xian Tour In-depth Tour

After breakfast, begin your Beijing sightseeing at Tiananmen Square, the monumental heart of the capital and one of the city's most significant historical landmarks. Walk across the spacious plaza and learn about its history before continuing toward the imperial center of Beijing.

Enter the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Follow your guide through the grand gates, courtyards, ceremonial halls, and palace buildings while discovering the history of China's emperors, court ceremonies, traditional architecture, and palace life. The impressive yellow-glazed roofs, marble features, painted decorations, and carefully planned palace layout provide a fascinating introduction to China's imperial heritage.

After lunch, visit Jingshan Park, located directly behind the Forbidden City. Walk up to the park's elevated viewpoint for a panoramic view of the palace complex and central Beijing, offering an excellent opportunity for photographs.

Continue to the Summer Palace, one of China's finest imperial gardens. Enjoy a leisurely walk beside Kunming Lake and explore traditional pavilions, bridges, temples, landscaped gardens, and the famous Long Corridor. The peaceful scenery provides a pleasant contrast to the grand palace architecture experienced earlier in the day.

Return to your hotel in the evening for some free time. Travelers interested in traditional Chinese performing arts can choose an optional Beijing Opera or Kung Fu show, subject to the performance schedule.

After breakfast, travel approximately 70 km from central Beijing to the mountainous northern outskirts of the city for a visit to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Known for its well-preserved fortifications, forested surroundings, and beautiful mountain scenery, Mutianyu offers an excellent combination of history, hiking, and photography.

Take the cable car up to the Great Wall and enjoy a leisurely hike along the restored walls and watchtowers. Walk across the mountain ridges, explore the ancient defensive structures, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and forests. The cable car helps make the experience more comfortable and leaves more time for sightseeing. If you prefer a more active experience, you can choose to hike part of the route according to your energy level.

After lunch, continue to the Ming Tombs, an important imperial burial complex from the Ming Dynasty. Visit the selected tomb area and explore the underground palace while learning about imperial burial traditions, architectural planning, and traditional Chinese geomancy.

Return to Beijing in the afternoon and stop at Beijing Olympic Park to view the iconic Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from outside. The modern Olympic architecture creates an interesting contrast with the ancient imperial landmarks visited earlier in the tour.

Return to your hotel in the evening and enjoy some free time to relax. An optional Peking Duck dinner can also be arranged for those who would like to experience one of Beijing's most famous culinary specialties.

After breakfast, visit the Temple of Heaven, an important imperial religious complex where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties once performed ceremonies to pray for good harvests. Take a leisurely walk through the surrounding park and observe local residents practicing Tai Chi, dancing, playing traditional instruments, flying kites, and enjoying their morning activities. This offers a more relaxed glimpse into everyday life in Beijing.

Continue to the historic Beijing Hutongs, the traditional alleyways formed by rows of courtyard residences. Take a rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes, explore small shops and traditional neighborhoods, and visit a local family home to learn more about the lifestyle and architecture of old Beijing. The Hutong experience provides an interesting contrast to the grand imperial landmarks visited during the previous days.

After lunch, your guide will accompany you to Beijing West Railway Station for a high-speed train to Xi’an. The journey takes around five hours, allowing you to relax and enjoy the changing scenery along the way. Upon arrival at Xi’an North Railway Station, your local guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The evening is free to rest or take an independent walk around the city.

After breakfast, drive to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, one of China's most remarkable archaeological discoveries. Explore the excavation pits containing thousands of life-size warriors, horses, and chariots created to protect Qin Shihuang in the afterlife. Your guide will explain the Qin Dynasty, the emperor's ambitious mausoleum project, and the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the figures.

After lunch, return to central Xi’an and visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the city's most recognizable Buddhist landmarks. Learn about its connection with the famous monk Xuanzang and the translation and preservation of Buddhist scriptures brought from India during the Tang Dynasty.

The evening is free to enjoy Xi’an at your own pace. For a more immersive cultural experience, you may choose an optional visit to the illuminated Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, where traditional-style architecture, performances, lighting, and evening activities recreate the atmosphere of Tang-era Xi’an. You can also arrange a Hanfu photography experience or an optional Tang Dynasty cultural performance.

After breakfast, begin the day with a leisurely visit to the Xi’an Ancient City Wall, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. Enter through the historic Hanguang Gate area and visit the small museum displaying archaeological remains and sections of earlier city walls. Then walk or cycle along the top of the city wall while enjoying panoramic views of historic and modern Xi’an.

Continue with a visit to a local family for an authentic cultural experience. Learn about traditional Chinese household life and join the host in making Chinese dumplings. Enjoy lunch together and experience a more personal side of local culture beyond the major tourist attractions.

In the afternoon, explore the area around Bell Tower and Drum Tower, two of Xi’an's most important historic landmarks. Climb one of the towers, admire the traditional architecture, and enjoy views across the city center.

Later, spend some leisure time in the Muslim Quarter, one of Xi’an's liveliest historic neighborhoods. Explore its food stalls, traditional shops, and local atmosphere while learning about the city's long-standing Muslim heritage. You can also visit the Great Mosque, a historic religious complex that combines traditional Chinese architectural elements with Islamic traditions. If you would like more time for local food and independent exploration, your guide can adjust the schedule accordingly.

After breakfast, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an Museum, located within a peaceful historic park. Explore the pagoda's distinctive architecture and learn about its Tang Dynasty origins before continuing to the museum, which houses a rich collection of archaeological and cultural artifacts related to Xi’an and the surrounding region.

Next, travel to Hanyangling, the mausoleum complex of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty. Compared with the Terracotta Warriors, this archaeological site generally offers a quieter experience. Walk above the excavation area and view the smaller terracotta figures, including warriors, horses, animals, and other burial objects, while learning about Han Dynasty burial customs and archaeological discoveries.

After the sightseeing program, the remainder of the day is free until your private transfer to Xi’an airport or railway station for your onward journey. Your guide and driver will assist with the departure transfer, marking the end of your seven-day Beijing and Xi’an cultural journey.