Bejing-Xi’an

6-Day Imperial Capitals Tour: Beijing & Xi'an

Designed for American Travelers · 5-Star Hotels · Meals Included · Private Transportation · Dedicated English-Speaking Guide

Walk through the vermilion gates of the Forbidden City, stand atop a watchtower on the Great Wall as the ridges roll into the haze, and come face to face with a life-sized terracotta army that has stood guard for 2,200 years. This is China's essential first journey — the imperial capital of the Ming and Qing and the golden capital of the Tang, linked in one perfectly paced, privately escorted adventure through five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tour Highlights

• The Forbidden City & Beijing's Central Axis (UNESCO) Enter the 980-building Palace Museum through the Meridian Gate, stand in the world's greatest square, and climb Coal Hill for the classic rooftop panorama — all set along the imperial Central Axis inscribed by UNESCO in 2024.
• The Great Wall at Mutianyu (UNESCO) Hike a beautifully restored, far-less-crowded section of the Great Wall among forested mountains, with a cable car to carry you up and down so you can focus on the watchtowers and views rather than the climb.
• The Summer Palace & Temple of Heaven (UNESCO) Cruise the imperial lake of the Qing emperors' summer retreat beneath the Long Corridor, and walk the circular altar where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for bountiful harvests — two masterpieces on the same UNESCO inscription.
• The Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (UNESCO) Gaze into Pit 1 at more than 6,000 life-sized warriors and horses assembled in battle formation, explore all three pits and the bronze chariots, and hear the full story of the first emperor's 2,200-year-old mausoleum from an expert guide.
• Old Xi'an — City Wall, Muslim Quarter & Tang Pagodas Cycle the ramparts of China's greatest surviving medieval city wall, graze through the lantern-lit Muslim Quarter, and see the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda where the monk Xuanzang translated the Buddhist scriptures.
• Exceptional Value, All-Inclusive Premium Tour Your package covers every private transfer, the intercity Beijing–Xi'an train or flight, hand-picked 5-star hotels, an expert English-speaking guide, all entrance fees and hard-to-secure advance reservations, plus daily breakfast and signature meals including Peking duck — no shopping stops, ever.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Beijing · Welcome to the Capital

• Meals: Dinner
• Overnight: Beijing, 5-star hotel

Full day: Private pickup at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the Wangfujing or Forbidden City area.

• Late afternoon: Settle in with a gentle orientation walk along Wangfujing Street or around the historic Qianmen district south of Tiananmen.
• Evening: Welcome dinner of Beijing's most famous dish — crisp, lacquer-roasted Peking duck, carved tableside and wrapped in thin pancakes.

Day 2 | Tiananmen Square · Forbidden City · Temple of Heaven

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Overnight: Beijing
• Morning (early): Enter Tiananmen Square, then pass through Tiananmen Gate into the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), the vast Ming–Qing imperial palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Follow the one-way route from the Meridian Gate through the grand outer and inner courts, with the option of the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery.Real-name tickets release 7 days ahead and often sell out; we book the morning slot.
• Midday: Exit at the north gate and climb Jingshan Park (Coal Hill) for the sweeping rooftop view over the golden palace roofs and the central axis.
• Afternoon: Visit the Temple of Heaven, the circular wooden Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests where emperors performed the annual rituals, surrounded by gardens where locals practice tai chi.
• Evening: Optional Peking opera, kung fu or acrobatics show.

Day 3 | The Great Wall at Mutianyu

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Overnight: Beijing
• Morning: Drive into the mountains northeast of Beijing. Approx. 1.5 hours. Explore the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-restored and most scenic sections, far quieter than Badaling. Ride the cable car up to the watchtowers, then hike the ramparts at your own pace along gentle and steeper stretches; choose the cable car or an optional toboggan slide to descend.
• Lunch: Country lunch at a local restaurant near the wall.
• Afternoon: Return to Beijing, passing the iconic Olympic landmarks — the Bird's Nest National Stadium and Water Cube — for photos.
• Evening: Free to explore the houhai hutong lakes or enjoy a foot massage after a full day on the wall.

Day 4 | Summer Palace → High-Speed Train to Xi'an

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Overnight: Xi'an, 5-star hotel inside or near the old city
• Morning: Tour the Summer Palace, the Qing emperors' vast imperial garden and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the 728-meter painted Long Corridor, take a short boat ride on Kunming Lake, and climb to the Tower of Buddhist Incense for the panoramic view.
• Lunch: Beijing-style lunch before heading to the station.
• Afternoon: Board a G-series high-speed train from Beijing West to Xi'an North. Approx. 4.5–6 hours on the fastest direct trains; a roughly 2-hour flight can be arranged instead if you prefer to save time.
• Evening: Check in near the Ancient City Wall or Bell Tower. Take an easy walk or cycle along the illuminated ramparts at sunset, then graze the bustling Muslim Quarter — roujiamo burgers, biangbiang noodles and persimmon cakes.

Day 5 | Terracotta Army & Huaqing Palace

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Overnight: Xi'an
• 08:00: Drive to Lintong District. Approx. 1 hour.
• Morning: Visit the Museum of Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Pit 1 with its 6,000-strong battle formation, the command-level Pit 3, the vivid kneeling archers of Pit 2, and the Bronze Chariot Exhibition Hall, with your specialist guide explaining the 2,200-year-old tomb complex discovered by farmers in 1974.
• Afternoon: Visit nearby Huaqing Palace, the Tang imperial hot-spring resort at the foot of Mount Li, linked to Emperor Xuanzong and the legend of Yang Guifei.
• Evening (Optional): Return for the acclaimed outdoor drama The Song of Everlasting Sorrow (Changhenge), or enjoy a Tang-dynasty dumpling banquet in the city.

Day 6 | Shaanxi History Museum · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda · Departure

• Meals: Breakfast
• Morning: Visit the Shaanxi History Museum (free, advance reservation included; closed Mondays — your guide adjusts the order if needed), home to priceless bronzes, Tang gold and silver, and murals that trace 5,000 years of civilization. Then see the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Ci'en Temple, where the monk Xuanzang translated the scriptures he brought from India (part of the UNESCO Silk Roads inscription). If time allows: A final walk or bike ride atop the Ancient City Wall or through the Beilin old-stone streets, with last-minute souvenirs.
• Afternoon: Private transfer to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (about 1 hour) or Xi'an North station for your onward journey.We recommend a flight after 15:00; please share your departure details when booking.

From the golden throne halls of the Son of Heaven to the silent ranks of an emperor's eternal army, these six days trace the spine of Chinese civilization itself — the essential journey every visitor to China should make once.

What's Included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver in both cities, including all airport, station and scenic transfers (including the Mutianyu and Lintong days)
• Intercity Beijing–Xi'an transport: one G-series high-speed train in second class (first class available on request), with private station transfers; a roughly 2-hour flight can be substituted on request
• Mutianyu Great Wall round-trip cable car (or chairlift), with the option of the toboggan descent
• Dedicated English-speaking guide throughout, with specialist on-site guidance at the Terracotta Army
• 5 nights' accommodation: 3 nights at a 5-star Beijing hotel (Wangfujing/Forbidden City area) and 2 nights at a 5-star Xi'an hotel inside or near the Ancient City Wall (daily breakfast included)
• All entrance tickets and compulsory reservations: the Forbidden City (plus optional Treasure and Clock galleries), Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace with lake boat, Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace, Shaanxi History Museum reservation, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda/Ci'en Temple and the Xi'an City Wall
• Selected meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 1 welcome Peking-duck dinner, with additional Tang-dumpling and halal options
• Bottled water in the vehicle and 24/7 on-trip assistance
• No shopping stops — a pure, privately escorted imperial-heritage experience

What to Know

• Route & pacing: A relaxed one-way classic — arrive in Beijing and depart from Xi'an, with no backtracking. You have 3 full Beijing days plus a complete Terracotta Army day in Xi'an. The only long transfer is Day 4's Beijing–Xi'an leg (~4.5–6 h by the fastest direct high-speed train); choose the ~2-hour flight if you prefer to maximize sightseeing, and we will rebalance the day accordingly.
• Five UNESCO sites: the Forbidden City (1987) and Beijing's imperial Central Axis (2024); the Great Wall (1987) at Mutianyu; the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven (both 1998); and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor with the Terracotta Army (1987). The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda belongs to the Silk Roads (2014) inscription. Tiananmen Square, the Olympic stadiums, the Xi'an City Wall and the Shaanxi History Museum are celebrated national landmarks but are not themselves UNESCO-listed.
• Compulsory advance reservations: The Forbidden City sells no same-day tickets — real-name tickets are released 7 days ahead at 20:00 (Beijing time) and routinely sell out, with morning/afternoon entry slots and a one-way south-to-north route. The National Museum and Shaanxi History Museum are free but require real-name reservation and are closed on Mondays (except public holidays). Carry your passport every day; exact passport names are needed for every booking.
• Museum closures: The Forbidden City and the major museums are closed on Mondays (except public holidays). If your dates fall on a Monday, we reorder the Beijing and Xi'an days so nothing is missed.
• Best seasons: Late April–June and September–early November offer clear, comfortable weather on the Great Wall; autumn is famous for Beijing's clear skies. Summer is hot and crowded, and winter is cold but atmospheric with snow on the palace roofs and far fewer visitors.
• Walking level: Moderate to active. Expect very extensive walking and many stone steps in the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and especially on the Great Wall; the cable car greatly reduces the climb, and we can tailor the wall section to your fitness. Comfortable non-slip shoes are essential.
• Food: Beijing is famed for Peking duck, zhajiangmian and Mongolian hotpot; Xi'an is the hearty noodle-and-lamb heartland of the old Silk Road, with a lively halal Muslim Quarter. Please advise dietary needs (including halal, vegetarian or gluten-free) in advance.
• Optional extensions: Add a day at the Ming Tombs or the National Museum of China, extend to Chengde's imperial summer resort or Pingyao's old merchant city, or connect onward to Shanghai, Guilin or the Silk Road. We're glad to build a longer China journey around this core.