Classic China Tour

8-Day Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Private Tour.

Have you ever watched movies or TV series about the royal families of the Qing (1644–1912 AD) dynasty? Now it’s your turn to be the princess or the emperor, as you enter the home of 24 emperors - the majestic Forbidden City in Beijing.

You will also visit Xi’an to discover the marvelous underground army - the Terracotta Warriors.

From US$
Per person based on 2 travelers in 4-star hotels

Highlights

map of classical china tour

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 Beijing Arrival and Transfer to Hotel
  • None

Your local English-speaking guide will wait for you at the arrivals hall, and you will be escorted directly to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel and recover from jet lag.

Free-Time Ideas

  • Stroll around Wangfujing night street to indulge in local Chinese food delicacies and various shops.
  • Watch a fabulous night show, such as the Kungfu or Acrobatics Show. Ask your guide to help you with tickets.
Pick up at Beijing airport
Pick up from Beijing Airport
DAY 2 Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven, Explore Hutongs
  • Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, you will visit Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City. Your tour guide will help you explore six carefully selected places in the Forbidden City to discover the deep secrets of the emperors and concubines. Then, you will have lunch in a local roast duck restaurant.

Take a relaxing visit to the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors used to worship God.

Good to Know

The Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing are closed on Mondays as part of its regular schedule. We will adjust to visit on days other than Monday.

forbidden city
Forbidden City, Beijing
DAY 3 Great Wall at Mutianyu Section (with Cable Cars)
  • Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu Section (1.5 hours drive from downtown Beijing). This is a less-crowded section of the Great Wall. A cable car takes you up to a good spot, where you can easily walk along the wall.

Descending the Mutianyu Great Wall by cable car then return to your hotel. 

Later, take you into the beating heart of Beijing - the Hutongs (old alleyways).  You can also ascend the Bell Tower for a bird’s-eye view of the hutong area.

Good to know

  • Put on your hiking shoes. You can hike at your own pace. If you don’t much like hiking, you can take some nice pictures of and from the Great Wall.
Great Wall of China
Mutianyu Great Wall of China
DAY 4Beijing Train Station Transfer, Beijing to Xi'an by High-speed Train, Xi'an Train Station Transfer
  • Breakfast

Enjoy your free time in the morning.

Your guide will pick you up in your hotel lobby. You’ll then transfer to the train station to catch an onward train to Xi'an. The train will take four and a half hours.

Your Xi’an guide and driver will transfer you directly to your hotel upon arrival.

DAY 5 Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an Ancient City Wall, The Muslim Quarter
  • Breakfast and lunch

Stand face to face with 6,000 statues at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, created by the first Emperor. It is said the warriors were all sculpted in the shape of powerful or rich people of the time.

Stroll around The Muslim Quarter located near the Drum Tower, known for its vibrant street markets, food stalls, and cultural significance.

Explore the Ancient City Wall, which surrounds the city center. The wall was built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City.

Good to know

If weather permits, you can rent a bike and ride around the city wall, the rental fees will be at your own expense.

Terracotta Warriors
Museum of Terracotta Warriors
DAY 6Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi'an Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Fly to Shanghai
  • Breakfast and lunch

Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the morning, as part of the Silk Road UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda embodies the cultural exchange between China and other civilizations along the ancient trade route.

Xi'an Museum is just near the pagoda. Xi'an Museum. This museum collectively reflects the long history of Xi'an City, integrating with the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, similar to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was used to store Buddhist scriptures and relics brought from India, to preserve and spread Buddhism in China.

Fly to Shanghai after lunch.

Shaanxi Historical Museum
Wild Goose Pagoda
DAY 7Shanghai Tower, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Former French Concession
  • Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, you climb to the top of Shanghai Tower, and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Shanghai from the observation deck. You can see the city's skyline, the Huangpu River, and landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower.

The Bund tour brings you back to the golden age of the Bund in the 1920s. Your guide will take you into several old buildings to have a look.

In the afternoon, explore Yuyuan Garden, a classic Chinese garden, and enjoy the visit the area covered by the Former French Concession in the 20th century was the premier residential and retail district of Shanghai, and was also the center of Catholicism in Shanghai

Night Time Ideas

  • Watch the ERA Acrobatics Show. Each performance attracts your attention and impresses your imagination. The artists do incredible things.
  • Take a Huangpu River Cruise in the evening, to witness the gleaming night-Bund.
The Bund
The Bund, Shanghai
DAY 8Private Transfer to the Airport, Shanghai Departure
  • Breakfast

You will be transferred to the airport on time for your flight. We will make sure that you arrive at the airport 1.5 hours ahead of departure time for domestic flights and 2.5 hours for international flights.

Extend Your Tour

Tongli Water Town is beautiful and gives you a taste of ancient China. You get a fully-fledged feel for the ancient surroundings by just walking around the fairly large town. Many souvenirs are for sale. Test your bargaining powers.

If you want to visit this water town near Shanghai, let us know on your inquiry form. We’ll arrange it for you.

What's Included

About This Tour

Do you want to change this 8-day itinerary according to your schedule and needs?

Do you know the ancient Forbidden City has recently become an online hit in China? Do you know why the Great Wall was built?

Our insightful local guides with a wide knowledge of Chinese culture and history will explain everything to you. You can learn many interesting stories from them.

Have you ever been taken by tour guides to shops and bought overpriced merchandise?

Inquire This Tour

Price is based on a 2-person tour with 4-star hotels in low season.

from US $ p/p

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