7 Days Beijing Xian Tour with Great Wall and Mount Huashan Hiking

After breakfast, begin your Beijing sightseeing with Tiananmen Square, one of the city’s most important historical and civic landmarks. From the square, continue into the Forbidden City, the magnificent former imperial palace and one of the highlights of Beijing’s historic center. Walk through the palace complex to appreciate its grand gates, courtyards, halls, traditional architecture, and imperial history.

Continue to Jingshan Park, located just north of the Forbidden City. The park provides an excellent elevated viewpoint overlooking the palace complex and the central area of Beijing, making it a particularly good place for photographs and a broader perspective of the city’s historic layout.

In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace, a vast imperial garden known for its landscaped grounds, traditional buildings, waterways, and Kunming Lake. Enjoy a more relaxed pace while exploring the gardens and appreciating the combination of imperial architecture and natural scenery.

In the evening, there is an opportunity to enjoy an optional traditional Beijing cultural performance, such as an acrobatic show or Peking Opera, depending on your interests and schedule. After the day's sightseeing, return to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.

Overnight in Beijing.

After breakfast, travel from central Beijing to the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most scenic sections of the Great Wall near the city. Today's program focuses on a customized hiking experience, allowing the route and walking intensity to be adjusted according to your interests, physical condition, and available time.

At Mutianyu, you can use a chairlift or cable car to reduce the initial uphill walking and then continue on foot along the Great Wall. The hiking route can include a series of watchtowers, with opportunities to walk along the restored wall sections, climb watchtower steps, enjoy mountain scenery, and take photographs from different viewpoints. The hiking portion can be arranged for approximately five to six hours and adjusted to create a more relaxed or more active experience.

After the Great Wall excursion, return toward Beijing and visit Beijing Olympic Park, the site of the 2008 Olympic Games. See the distinctive exterior of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, two of Beijing's most recognizable modern architectural landmarks. This creates a contrasting experience between the ancient Great Wall and the contemporary Olympic district.

After sightseeing, return to your hotel in Beijing and enjoy a free evening. The combination of historic landmarks, mountain scenery, Great Wall hiking, and modern architecture makes this a particularly varied day of the tour.

Overnight in Beijing.

After breakfast, visit the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most important imperial religious complexes. Explore its grand halls, ceremonial spaces, and surrounding park, learning about the rituals once performed by Chinese emperors to pray for good harvests and favorable weather.

Continue into the traditional Beijing Hutongs, where narrow lanes, courtyard residences, and historic neighborhoods offer a closer look at everyday life in old Beijing. A local rickshaw ride can be arranged for a more atmospheric experience, followed by a visit to a local family where you can learn about traditional courtyard living and Beijing's neighborhood culture.

In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station and take a high-speed train from Beijing to Xi’an. The journey provides a comfortable and efficient connection between the two historic capitals. Upon arrival in Xi’an, meet your local guide and driver and transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest.

Overnight in Xi’an.

After breakfast, travel to the Terracotta Warriors, one of China’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries. Explore the excavation pits and museum displays to see the life-sized warriors, horses, and military formations created more than two thousand years ago to guard the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. Your guide will introduce the history of the Qin Dynasty and explain the significance of the archaeological site.

Return to central Xi’an and visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, an important Buddhist landmark and one of the city's best-known historical structures. Explore the surrounding area and learn about Xi’an’s role as an important center of Buddhism and international exchange during the Tang Dynasty.

In the evening, you may choose an optional visit to the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, where illuminated streets, Tang-style architecture, cultural performances, and evening activities create a lively atmosphere inspired by the city's historic golden age. A Hanfu experience or Tang Dynasty cultural show can also be arranged for travelers interested in traditional costumes, music, dance, and performing arts.

Overnight in Xi’an.

Today is the adventure-focused highlight of the tour, with a full-day excursion to Mount Huashan. Travel from Xi’an to the mountain and begin the ascent using the cableway system, helping save energy for the main hiking sections and allowing more time to experience the dramatic mountain scenery.

The hiking route focuses on several of Mount Huashan’s famous peaks. Continue toward West Peak, known for its steep cliffs and spectacular panoramic views, before exploring sections leading toward South Peak, the highest point of the mountain. Depending on conditions, fitness level, access, and the selected route, continue to the famous Plank Road in the Sky, where narrow paths and cliffside sections create one of the most memorable experiences on the mountain.

The route can also include East Peak, another excellent viewpoint particularly known for its dramatic landscapes. Mount Huashan involves steep terrain, stairs, exposed sections, and significant physical effort, so the hiking program should be adjusted according to weather, trail conditions, mountain access, and personal fitness. After completing the excursion, return to Xi’an for an overnight stay.

Overnight in Xi’an.

After breakfast, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a historic Buddhist pagoda that provides a quieter complement to the larger landmark visited earlier in the tour. Continue to the Xi’an Museum, where exhibits provide additional insight into the city's long history, archaeological discoveries, and cultural development.

Next, visit the Xi’an Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved large city walls in China. Walk along the historic fortifications and enjoy views across the modern city from the elevated wall. The site offers a distinctive way to understand how ancient Xi’an was structured as a fortified capital.

Continue to the Muslim Quarter, a lively historic area known for its traditional streets, local food culture, shops, and multicultural heritage. This provides a final opportunity to experience the atmosphere of old Xi’an before departure.

At the appropriate time, your private guide and driver will transfer you to Xi’an airport or railway station for your onward journey, marking the end of the 7-day Beijing, Xi’an, and Mount Huashan adventure.