Xi`an-Baoji

7-Day Ancient Capitals & Qinling Discovery Tour: Xi'an & Baoji

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

Tour Highlights

• Two Legendary Ancient Capitals, One In-Depth Journey Travel from Xi’an, the golden capital of the Tang Dynasty and eastern gateway of the Silk Road, to nearby Baoji, the 3,000-year-old cradle of Zhou and Qin civilization. This relaxed itinerary brings together imperial grandeur, world-class archaeology, sacred Buddhist culture, and the wild alpine scenery of the Qinling Mountains.
• Stand Before the World-Famous Terracotta Army Come face to face with thousands of life-sized clay warriors, horses and chariots — each sculpted with a unique face. Explore all three pits and the Bronze Chariot Exhibition Hall with your expert guide, and discover why this 2,200-year-old underground army is called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
• Where the Word "China" Was First Written Visit China’s largest and finest bronze museum in Baoji. Its crown jewel, the He Zun ritual vessel, bears a 3,000-year-old inscription containing the earliest known written form of “Zhongguo” (China) — a genuinely moving moment for anyone curious about where the civilization’s story begins.
• A Living Buddhist Wonder: Famen Temple & the Buddha's Finger Relic Walk the serene ancient monastery and its Tang Dynasty underground palace, discovered in 1987 with thousands of imperial Tang treasures. Gaze up at the striking 148-meter Namaste Dagoba. Famen Temple is one of Buddhism’s most revered pilgrimage sites.
• Millennia of Han & Tang Civilization Trace the footsteps of the monk Xuanzang at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, admire priceless national treasures in the Shaanxi History Museum, and step into a golden age of poetry, silk and ceremony in the lantern-lit Tang Paradise.
• From Imperial History to Qinling Wilderness Escape the cities into the Qinling Range, the ecological divide between northern and southern China. Ride a cable car up Mount Taibai — its highest peak over 3,770 m — for seas of cloud, turquoise alpine lakes, and the thrill of “four seasons in a single day.” Nature lovers may instead choose the rolling horse pastures of Guanshan Grassland, known as the “Alps of Shaanxi.”
• Authentic Local Street Life & Regional Flavors Graze your way through Xi’an’s legendary Muslim Quarter, cycle the ancient City Wall at sunset, and hunt for Baoji’s beloved Qishan saozi noodles, roujiamo “Chinese burgers,” and chewy spiced noodles in lantern-lit Chencang Old Street.
• Exceptional Value, All-Inclusive Premium Tour Your package includes private air-conditioned transportation throughout, hand-selected 5-star and deluxe accommodation, a dedicated English-speaking guide, and daily breakfast plus selected local lunches and dinners — so you can focus entirely on the journey.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Xi'an · Ancient City Wall & Muslim Quarter

• Meals: Dinner (welcome local feast)

Your private driver welcomes you at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport and transfers you to your deluxe hotel inside or near the Ancient City Wall, close to the Bell Tower. Settle in and recover from your flight at your own pace.

• Late afternoon: Walk or cycle along the Ancient City Wall at golden hour — one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved city walls in China — as warm light sweeps over the rooftops below.
• Evening: Dive into the bustling Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie). Try cumin-spiced lamb, roujiamo burgers, hand-pulled biangbiang noodles, persimmon cakes, and sweet walnut pastries.

Day 2 | Terracotta Army & Huaqing Palace

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• 08:00: Depart by private car for Lintong District.Approx. 1 hour drive.
• Morning: Visit the Museum of Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army. Explore Pits 1, 2 and 3 and the Bronze Chariot Exhibition Hall, while your guide explains the formation, weapons and craftsmanship of the Qin imperial army.
• Lunch: A regional Shaanxi meal near the site.
• Afternoon: Discover Huaqing Palace, the Tang imperial hot-spring retreat against Mount Li, setting of the classic Song of Everlasting Sorrow legend.
• Evening (Optional): The spectacular outdoor show The Everlasting Sorrow at Huaqing Palace.

Day 3 | Shaanxi History Museum · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda & Tang Paradise

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Morning: Visit the Shaanxi History Museum.Advance reservation included. Admire bronzes, Tang gold and silverware, murals and ceramics spanning 3,000 years of civilization.
• Lunch: Classic Xi’an cuisine, including traditional lamb paomo.
• Afternoon: Explore the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Ci’en Temple, where the monk Xuanzang translated the scriptures he brought back from ancient India.
• Evening: Enter Tang Paradise, a grand Tang cultural park of lakes, pavilions and lantern-lit courtyards, with evening performances evoking the golden age.

Day 4 | Xi'an → Famen Temple → Baoji

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Morning: Travel west by private car to Famen Temple in Fufeng County.Approx. 1.5–2 hours. Explore the ancient monastery, the Tang Dynasty underground palace with imperial gold and silver treasures, and the modern hands-clasped Namaste Dagoba. Famen Temple enshrines a sacred finger-bone relic of the Buddha and is revered as the “ancestor of pagoda temples in Guanzhong.”Relic viewing follows the temple's ceremonial schedule.
• Lunch: A refined temple vegetarian meal.
• Afternoon: Continue to Baoji.Approx. 1 hour. Check into your deluxe international hotel.
• Evening: A gentle stroll along the illuminated Wei River waterfront.

Day 5 | Baoji Bronze Ware Museum · Stone Drum Garden & Chencang Old Street

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Morning: Visit the Baoji Bronze Ware Museum within China Stone Drum Park — China’s largest and most complete bronze museum. Meet the national treasures He Zun, Zhe Gong, Lai Pan, and the Qin Gong bells, and see the very inscription where the word “China” first appeared. Continue through China Stone Drum Garden, honoring the earliest known carved Chinese script, and climb the Stone Drum Pavilion for a sweeping view over Baoji and the Wei River.
• Lunch: Baoji’s signature Qishan saozi noodles and local chilled noodles.
• Afternoon: Leisure time, with an optional hot-spring soak or hotel rest.
• Evening: Wander Chencang Old Street (Xifu Old Street) — blue-brick lanes, vintage locomotives, folk crafts, and over 20 local snacks. Try a warming bowl of douhua paomo.
• 

Day 6 | Mount Taibai of the Qinling Range → Return to Xi'an

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• 08:00: Drive to Mount Taibai National Forest Park, highest peak of the Qinling Mountains.Approx. 1 hour. Take the scenic shuttle and cable car up to Tianyuan Difang (around 3,511 m). Walk the boardwalks above a famous sea of clouds, with turquoise alpine lakes, glacial traces, and forested ridges below. Mount Taibai’s vertical climate gives you “four seasons in one day.”Cool even in summer; a warm jacket is advised. Pace is kept gentle at altitude.
• Lunch: A hearty farmhouse meal at the foothills — wild mountain vegetables and stewed local chicken.
• Afternoon: Descend and return to Xi’an by private car or high-speed train.Approx. 1.5 hours. Check in near Xi’an North Station or the airport.Nature lovers may instead choose Guanshan Grassland — the “Alps of Shaanxi” — with horseback riding, alpine meadows, and big-sky sunsets.
• Evening: Free time for a farewell dinner and last-minute shopping for tea and silk.
• 

Day 7 | Departure & Farewell

• Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and final moments of relaxation. At your scheduled time, your private driver transfers you to Xi’an Xianyang International Airport or your onward train. From the silent ranks of the Terracotta Army to the earliest written “China” cast in bronze, and from Tang lanterns to seas of cloud above the mountains — we hope this journey stays with you for years to come. Have a pleasant flight home.

What's Included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle and experienced driver throughout, including airport transfers
• 6 nights in hand-selected 5-star / deluxe hotels
• Daily breakfast plus selected local lunches and dinners as listed
• Dedicated English-speaking licensed guide
• All entrance fees to listed attractions, including the Terracotta Army and Famen Temple
• High-speed train tickets where used
• 24/7 on-trip support and advance reservations for museums with limited daily tickets

What to Know

• Best season: April–October; May–June and September are ideal. Mount Taibai is cool in summer and colorful in early autumn.
• Pacing: Cultural days are relaxed; Mount Taibai involves altitude and short boardwalk walks — please share mobility or health considerations in advance.
• Museum closures: The Baoji Bronze Ware Museum is closed on Mondays; the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.
• Tailoring: This is a private tour that can be shortened, extended (e.g., a Guanshan Grassland yurt overnight), or combined with Huashan Mountain or a continuation to Lanzhou.