Beijing Xi'an Essentials

We will begin this one week China tour from the solemn Tiananmen Square, commonly known as the symbol of China. Passing through Tiananmen Tower, we will arrive at the Forbidden City, where the imperial family lived for more than 500 years. The stunning palaces are well preserved with crimson columns and eaves decorated with colored glaze. Besides the magnificent architecture, you will surely be amazed by the numerous treasures stored in the Treasure Galley and the Clock & Watch Hall.

Following the guide inside Forbidden City, you will definitely see the pair of lions in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, which are the biggest bronze lions in China. The lion grasping a ball under his paw is the male, while the other one holding a cub is the lioness. As the two lions are so big, how the exquisite huge monsters were made in ancient times? The artisans adopted lost-wax process, that’s to say, they carved the lions with wax first. After mold making, the wax lion was melted and flow out, while the liquid bronze was poured into the mold. They got the entire bronze lion as the mold was cracked, then just polishing and improving the blemishes were needed. A clever method!

After that we will take you to enjoy an extraordinary royal lunch at one of the city's most exclusive restaurants, Fangshan Restaurant in Beihai Park. This restaurant has inherited and regenerated the recipes created for the royal families of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), so it can offer food that is similar to what the emperors ate in the past. The varieties of dishes served are delicate and palatable, and all the waiters around you wear traditional Qing Dynasty attire. So dinning here will be quite a different experience.

Afterwards, our tour moves on to the Temple of Heaven, which was used by ancient emperors to worship Heaven and pray for a good harvest. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Imperial lunch

We start today's trip with a visit to the Summer Palace. As the grandest extant royal garden in China, its natural Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, together with the man-made halls, pavilions and corridors constitute unsurpassed scenery. You will take a pleasant boat trip on the Kunming Lake to fully enjoy the landscape. Lunch today will be served with an a la carte menu at a good local restaurant. To ensure that you enjoy real Chinese food, we select excellent restaurants for you, where you can select dishes that appeal to your taste and appetite. 

After lunch, we will move on to the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Designed by the French architect Paul Andreu, this egg-shaped theater is a good example of modern architecture. Thereafter, let's get to the Hutong area, where you may immerse in the living culture of Beijing. An old-fashioned rickshaw ride through the narrow Hutong alleys is really a fun-filled experience for everyone. Would you like to relax a little this evening? If yes, we can take you to the Buffalo at Shichahai instead of driving back to the hotel. This restaurant not only has exquisite environment, but also provides western food, private home cuisine, various drinks and ice-creams. It costs about CNY200 per person for a meal, which is at your own expense. After exploring the lively night life there, please take a taxi back to the hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Today, let's set out for a ride to the Gubei Water Town nestled against the Simatai Great Wall in the suburb area of Beijing. After checking in at the hotel, the guide will accompany you to enjoy some leisure time exploring the quaint town. The town presents its most beautiful side at night, when red lanterns and warm lights are all lit up. The Simatai Great Wall will also be outlined by neon lights, looking like a fiery dragon crawling along the mountain ridges. If you are also interested in a night visit to the Great Wall, please tell us and we will be happy to make the reservation for you.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today let's explore the Simatai Great Wall, a less-renovated section revealing a beautiful wildness. We can also start off earlier between 05:00-06:00 if you want to enjoy the sunrise scene. Standing on the beacon tower, you can have an imposing view of the surrounding mountains. Lunch is not included today. You can have your own preferred food at your guide's suggestion.

In the afternoon, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, our local guide and driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

A Xian tour is never complete without seeing the Terracotta Army Museum. Today, a morning car ride will take you to this marvelous site in suburb area. As the funeral object of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC), it perfectly reproduces the complete military formation of Qin troops with more than 8,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots lining orderly in the pits. After the visit, we will drive to the 5-star Huaqing Aegean International Hot Sprig Resort to have an a la carte lunch.

After returning to the city proper, our guide will accompany you to go sightseeing on the City Wall, which has been around for more than 600 years. Either riding a bike or taking a battery car can provide you exciting visiting experience. The next stop is the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, where you can admire the ancient brick building and learn about the Buddhist culture. 

The Tang Dynasty Dinner Show awaits you at night, offering you not only gourmet imperial cuisines, but also fabulous singing and dancing performance of the Tang Dynasty.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch, Dinner 

After breakfast, you will be guided to visit the Provincial History Museum, one of the four best museums to immerse yourself in China's long history. The next stop is the Great Mosque. A visit to the bustling Muslim Quarter is followed.

Your one week Beijing Xian tour ends here, and you will be escorted to the airport. Our guide will be on hand to assist you with the check-in procedures and see you off. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast