Day 1 – Arrival in Beijing

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Beijing Airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Meals: No meals provided.

Day 2 – Beijing

Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Sacred Way, Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, Peking Roast Duck

Today you will have the opportunity to climb the ancient steps at Mutianyu Great Wall which is one of the best preserved sections of the wall. If you wish you can avoid the steep climb by riding a cable car up. On the way back to Beijing you will visit the Sacred Way with its amazing stone statues. You will also stop by the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube for an outside view of the unique constructions built for the 2008 Olympic Games.

For dinner, you will have a chance to taste the famous Peking Roast Duck.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, Dinner – Peking Roast Duck

Day 3 – Beijing

Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs, Temple of Heaven, Acrobatics Show

You will start today’s tour with a visit to Tiananmen Square, which is the largest city-central square in the world. To the north is the magnificent Tiananmen Gate with its five openings. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties the passage in the middle leading to the Forbidden City was reserved for the emperor himself. Now you can walk through it to explore the largest and best preserved imperial palace in China.

Later you will explore the Beijing Hutongs by rickshaw. These are the narrow back alleyways where you can get a glimpse of how Beijing used to be and learn more about the life and culture of ordinary Beijing people. Then you will visit the Temple of Heaven where the Emperors once worshiped heaven and prayed for good harvests.

In the evening you will attend an Acrobatic Show. Be amazed at the breathtaking routines of flexibility and skill using chairs, bikes, spinning plates and human strength.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 4 – Beijing to Xi’an

Attractions – Summer Palace

In the morning you will visit the Summer Palace to view the royal gardens and the famous Long Corridor. After lunch you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xi’an. Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Xi’an Airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 5 – Xi’an

Attractions: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Terracotta Warriors, Riding Bikes on the City Wall, Dumpling Banquet

The day’s activities will begin with a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang brought back from his epic journey to India. The pagoda is one of the most distinctive and outstanding landmarks of Xi’an.

Next you will head for Xi’an’s most famous attraction, the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin’s tomb since 210BC. Prepare to be impressed.

Finally we will visit the City Wall which was initially built as a military defense system over 600 years ago. From the wall you can appreciate magnificent ancient constructions and admire the surrounding urban landscape. Enjoy the experience of riding bicycles along the wall.

After your bike ride you will be ready to feast on a traditional Dumpling Banquet, a specialty of the region, afterwards enjoying a performance of music and dance from the Tang Dynasty.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel
Dinner – Dumpling Banquet

Day 6 – Xi’an

Attractions: Shaanxi History Museum, Bell Tower, Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter

Spend the morning at the Shaanxi History Museum. As part of the Silk Road route Xi’an has a well documented history and here you can admire the enormous collection of historic and cultural relics.

Later you can visit the Bell Tower, a stately traditional building that marked the geographical center of the ancient capital. It is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in China. When you have finished visiting the tower you may round off your trip by exploring the adjacent Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter with its myriad of interesting handicraft and snack shops.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 7 – Departure from Xi’an

After breakfast you will be driven to Xi’an Airport to check in for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel