A Taste of Two Ancient Capitals From Beijing to Xi'an

Welcome! Please be prepared to meet in the lobby at 5:30 P.M. to depart for your welcome dinner. The dinner reservation time will be finalized closer to your trip date. If you plan on arriving today, we recommend flying into PEK.

The day begins with a transfer and visit to the iconic Tiananmen Square, a monumental public square in the heart of Beijing, surrounded by key landmarks like the Chairman Mao Mausoleum and National Museum. Following that, you'll explore The Forbidden City, a vast imperial palace complex with over 9,000 rooms, showcasing traditional Chinese architecture and serving as the home of emperors for almost 500 years. Afterward, you'll have the afternoon to explore on your own. In the evening, you'll take a 20 minute transfer from your hotel to Bejing's historic Hutong area. Hutongs are narrow alleys lined with traditional residences, and here you'll participate in a dumpling making demonstration with a local family and enjoy dumplings for dinner. After dinner, you'll transfer back to the hotel.

• Tian'anmen Square

  From the hotel, you'll take a 30 min private transfer over to Tiananmen Square. Tiananmen Square is a monumental public square in the heart of Beijing, known for its historical and political significance. Spanning 109 acres, it is one of the largest city squares in the world. The square is surrounded by key landmarks such as Chairman Mao Mausoleum, National Congress Hall, and National Museum - all visible from the outside during your visit.

  09:00· 60 min· Beijing Tian'anmen Square
• The Forbidden City

  Then take a 15 minute private transfer to The Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is a vast imperial palace complex that served as the home of Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years, from the Ming to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Enclosed by impressive walls and a large moat, it is a remarkable example of traditional Chinese palatial architecture. Featuring over 9,000 rooms, the Forbidden City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is renowned for its intricate wooden structures, grand halls, and stunning courtyards. Today, it stands as the Palace Museum, allowing visitors to explore its rich history, imperial artifacts, and the symbolic significance of each meticulously designed section. *Note that due to recent capacity restrictions at the Forbidden City, this activity is subject to ticket availability. In the case that tickets are not available, you will alternatively visit the Ancestral Temple nearby that resembles Forbidden City's architecture style and the Summer Palace, the ancient imperial garden and also a must-see in Beijing.**

  10:00· 120 min· Forbidden City Museum
• Dumpling Making Demonstration With a Local Family

  Then hop on a 20 minute private transfer to the Beijing Hutongs. Hutongs are narrow alleys or lanes, typically lined with traditional courtyard residences known as siheyuan, offering a glimpse into the city's historical architecture and way of life. These ancient, maze-like neighborhoods form a unique part of Beijing's cultural landscape, showcasing a traditional urban lifestyle that dates back centuries. As modernization continues, efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize hutong areas, balancing the city's development with the conservation of its rich heritage. Nestled within the narrow alleys, you’ll visit a local family home where they'll demonstrate how to make traditional Chinese dumplings. You'll be shown the secrets behind preparing the perfect dough, dumpling fillings, and dumpling pinching techniques. Then you'll enjoy dumplings made by the family for dinner.

  17:00· 90 min· Beijing Hutongs

Today you will take a transfer out of the city to explore the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, the longest and most fully-restored section. You’ll take a cable car ride up the wall and take a toboggan ride down if you are feeling adventurous. With the greens of pines and cypresses covering over 90% of the surrounding area, the scenery there is beautiful all the year-round. After visiting the Great Wall, you’ll transfer to lunch at a local restaurant in a village. After lunch, transfer back to Beijing for the rest of your day at leisure. Remember to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes today!

• Cable Car Ride & Toboggan Ride at Mutianyu Great Wall

  Take a cable car ride to the top of the Great Wall and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains. When you come down, you will have the options to either take the cable car or an exhilarating toboggan ride downhill.

  09:30· 5 min· Mutianyu Great Wall
• Great Wall of China (Mutianyu)

  This morning you’ll drive out to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and spend some time exploring, taking photos and learning about the history of the 6000km wall which snakes through the hills almost endlessly into the distance. It's up to you how far you walk once up on the wall. Note that steps could be inconsistent in sizing and steep.

  09:40· 120 min· Great Wall at Mutianyu Section
• Transfer · Beijing → Great Wall

  You will take about a private transfer from the hotel to the Mutianyu section of The Great Wall.

  private · 90 min
• Transfer · Great Wall → Beijing

  You will take a private transfer from lunch back to the hotel in Beijing.

  90 min

Early this morning you will say goodbye to Beijing, transfer to the station and board a bullet train for nearly a full day transfer from Beijing to the old capital, Xi’an. You’ll be picked up from the station in Xi’an and then transferred to your hotel for a late afternoon and evening at leisure to relax after the long journey.

• Transfer · Beijing → Xi'an

  Take a 20 minute private transfer from the hotel in Beijing to the train station. Then board the bullet train on a 2nd class fare from Beijing to Xi’an. Once you arrive at the Xi’an station, it is a 40 minute transfer to the hotel. Restrooms are available on the train.

  train · 300 min

Today is your first full day exploring Xi'an. You'll start the morning with a transfer to the old city walls where you were rent bikes and ride atop the rim! You'll then arrive back to the hotel around noon where you'll get to freshen up and explore the city at leisure. In the evening you'll transfer to a local restaurant to see noodle masters at work and enjoy a bowl of fresh noodles!

• Cycling on the City Wall

  The city wall of Xi'an is the best preserved and most popular ancient city wall. Cycling on Xi'an City Wall offers a unique perspective of the ancient capital, enjoying panoramic views of the city's historic architecture and surrounding landscapes. The well-preserved wall, dating back over 600 years, provides a leisurely and immersive way to experience the rich cultural heritage of Xi'an.This morning you'll be cycling on top of the city wall. The total length of the wall is about 8.7 mi (14km), and it takes about 1 hour and 30 min to cycle the whole wall. The wall is mostly flat, but has some bumps, and moderate difficulty. There is also an option to rent a golf car on top of the wall at your own cost if you do not want to bike.

  09:30· 90 min· Xi'an City Wall
• Noodle Making Demonstration

  This evening you'll head out to learn more about Chinese noodle making. First you will transfer 30 minutes to a family run restaurant where an experienced local chef will show you the core techniques of kneading, rolling, stretching and cutting dough to make Biangbiang noodles, from thin strands to wide sheets. The chef will walk you through the process while introducing you to the fundamentals and techniques of Chinese cuisine. No cooking experience required—just bring your curiosity and appetite!

  17:00· 60 min· Local restaurant

Other than being China's first capital, Xi'an is also most famous for being home to the Terracotta Warriors. Today, you'll take a one hour private transfer out to the site of the Terrracotta Warriors, where you'll be able to learn the history and visit 3 different pits where the warriors were buried. You'll then transfer to a local village nearby for lunch before taking another transfer back to the hotel for an evening to explore at leisure.

• Terracotta Warriors

  The first emperor in China history built an incredible tomb for himself and made an artificial army to protect it, known as the Terracotta Warriors. The clay warriors were discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well, after being buried for 2000 years. Three main pits are open for you to view, where over 6000 warriors – each individually sculpted from clay, with a different costume, height, and even facial expression – stand in battle formation.

  10:00· 120 min· Terracotta Warriors Museum
• Transfer · Xi'an → Terracotta Warriors

  You will take a private transfer to the site of the Terracotta Warriors.

  private · 60 min
• Transfer · Terracotta Warriors → Hotel

  You will take a private transfer back to the hotel in Xi'an.

  private · 60 min

Today is your last full day in Xi'an. You can either spend the day exploring the city at leisure or signing up for an optional walking food tour at the famous Muslim Street to taste some delicious treats!

• Muslim Street Walking Food Tour

  During the walking tour you will wander around the Muslim Food Street and have a chance to taste 4 different kinds of snacks on the Muslim Street and learn about the history of this ethnic enclave. Some examples of street food you'll try are rou jia mo (seasoned shredded meat, usually beef or lamb, stuffed inside a flatbread), liang pi (cold noodles made from wheat or rice starch), and yangrou chuan (grilled lamb skewers. Street food may vary and are subject to change based on the groups preferences, seasonality, and availability.

  10:00· 120 min· Xi'an

All good things must come to an end, but only until your next adventure! Enjoy a final breakfast and then make your own way onward. If departing directly from the hotel, we recommend flying out of XIY.