6-Day Through the Twin Capitals Tour - Exploring the Legacy Beneath Beijing and the Might of Xi'an

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Your guide and driver will be waiting for you at the exit of Beijing Capital Airport. Upon your arrival, meet them and proceed to your hotel in Beijing.

They will assist you with the check-in process, allowing you to relax and prepare for the next day's exploration.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on today's itinerary, visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in the morning.

Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city square, resides at the heart of Beijing, with the Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) to its north, demarcating it from the Forbidden City.

Encircled by formidable structures, it includes the Heavenly Gate, numerous museums, government edifices, and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.

Your tour guide will lead you through 12 meticulously chosen locations within the Forbidden City, surpassing the typical 6-8 brief stops of other group tours.

Beyond offering insights into the city's architecture, history, feng shui, and art, your guide will introduce you to sites associated with renowned figures from the two dynasties.

These figures include the most diligent emperors, the longest-reigning empress dowager, and the most gifted concubine. The guide will narrate their stories, allowing you to envision their experiences within the city.

Today's lunch will be served at a local restaurant, where your will savor Beijing Roast Duck. Your local tour guide will recommend a specific venue based on your itinerary.

Beijing Roast Duck, a dish originating from the imperial era, is celebrated for its thin, crisp skin. Authentic versions predominantly feature the skin with minimal meat, sliced before diners by the cook. It stands as the epitome of Beijing cuisine. 

After lunch, the guide will lead you to the Hutongs in Beijing's Dongcheng district for a walking tour.

Hutongs are historic alleyways flanked by traditional single-story courtyard houses, relics of old Beijing that are rapidly fading. As you wander through these narrow paths, you can visit local residents to experience the traditional lifestyle and learn about the preservation of these unique homes and their culture.

In a workshop within the hutongs, you'll also learn how to create Peking Opera masks. Additionally, you can ascend the Bell Tower to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the hutongs.

After this delightful excursion the guide will escort you back to your hotel for a rest. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, the guide and driver will pick you up to continue today's tour. Today's itinerary includes visits to the Temple of Heaven and the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist edifices where emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties held annual ceremonies to pray for bountiful harvests.

The park surrounding the Temple of Heaven is vibrant with activity; each morning, many local elders gather there to sing, exercise, and practice tai chi.  

Lunch is arranged at a local restaurant near the Great Wall, where the guide will assist you in selecting dishes according to your preferences.

The Mutianyu Great Wall, renowned for its picturesque scenery and expertly restored structures, is ranked the top section of the Great Wall on TripAdvisor.

To save you time, we have arranged round-trip cable car access, eliminating the need for a 40-minute staircase climb. Upon arrival at the Wall, the guide will offer an introduction, after which you are free to explore.

The cable car serves between Tower 14. Hiking from Tower 14 to Tower 23, often deemed the "Golden Route," is celebrated by trekkers as the Wall's most beautiful and captivating section. This hike typically takes about two hours.

Afterward, descend by cable car, take a bus back to our vehicle, and then return to the hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today marks the final day of your Beijing journey. After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you'll head out to explore the Summer Palace. 

The Summer Palace is the largest and most impeccably preserved royal park in China. Renowned for its natural beauty and cultural significance, the Palace has profoundly influenced Chinese horticulture and landscape design, earning the title 'The Museum of Royal Gardens'. 

You will lunch at popular local restaurant,  your guide will recommend specific restaurants based on your interests and itinerary.

After enjoying lunch, your guide and driver will escort you to the Beijing West Railway Station, where you will board the train to Xi'an.

Upon arriving at Xi'an North Railway Station in the evening, your guide of Xi'an will greet you and escort you to your hotel, assisting with your check-in. You can then relax and enjoy a well-deserved rest. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you're about to begin your day's tour. Your guide picks you up from the hotel, and you set off to visit and explore the Terracotta Army. 

The Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is situated at the northern foothills of Mount Li in Lintong District, Xi'an, approximately 37.5 kilometers from the city center. It takes roughly 1.5 hours to reach the site from central Xi'an. 

Here, you will explore the Terracotta Warriors, experience Qin Dynasty artifacts, and partake in a restoration activity.

Follow a professional guide to explore the three pits of the Terracotta Warriors.

At a nearby museum, get an up-close look at the first batch of restored warriors, including the renowned First Warrior, and learn about the visionary curator's initial restoration efforts.

Then, in the conservation lab, touch authentic Qin Dynasty artifacts, deepening your connection to history.

Finally, participate in a hands-on mini restoration experience guided by professional conservators, and take home your creation as a unique memento.

After concluding your visit to the Terracotta Warriors, the guide will arrange lunch for you at a nearby restaurant. Following lunch, you will return to Xi'an's city center and visit the ancient Xi'an City Wall.

Xi'an city walls, one of China's oldest and most complete defensive systems, comprise walls, gates, and watchtowers. The perimeter of the wall is 13.74 kilometers, and you will embark on a cycling tour that takes approximately two hours. The path is paved with blue bricks and is somewhat bumpy, allowing for a complete or partial circuit. 

Once the cycling tour of the city walls concludes, the day's excursion will come to an end, and your guide will escort you back to the hotel for some rest.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you'll check out and bring your luggage. Once today's itinerary is complete, your guide will take you directly to the airport without returning to the hotel.

Today's itinerary includes a visit to Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an Museum and Muslim Quarter. The guide will arrange for lunch at a local restaurant based on today's tour schedule. 

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a multi-eaved, square brick structure with fifteen stories. Originally standing at 46 meters, it now measures 43.3 meters due to the loss of its steeple. Intricate carvings adorn the lintel, depicting arhats and grass motifs, showcasing the exquisite artistry of the early Tang Dynasty. You will have the opportunity to ring the bell for blessings and good fortune. 

Xi'an Museum, located near the pagoda, it offers a comprehensive reflection of the rich history of Xi'an, seamlessly integrating the Small Wild Goose Pagoda— a national key cultural protection unit— with the historic structures of Jianfu Temple and a modern cultural relics exhibition hall.  

The Muslim Quarter is located 100 meters west of the Bell Tower in downtown Xi'an. This 500-meter-long avenue, paved with bluestones, is lined with unique stalls, souvenir shops, cafés, and bars, predominantly operated by Muslim locals.  

After the tour concludes, your guide will transport you to the Xi'an Xianyang International Airport for your departure flight.