8 Days Private Tour of Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai

Day 1 · Beijing Arrival

1. 1

   Stop 1

   one hour

   Upon you arrive at Beijing Airport, our driver will pick you up at the exit of the airport according to your flight schedule and transfer you to your hotel in Beijing for check-in. Rest day is free on your own. You may have a good rest at the hotel. (No tour guide service today)

   If your arrival airport is Beijing Daxing International Airport, an additional fare surcharge will apply.

Overnight in Beijing

Day 2 · Beijing Classic Tour

1. 1

   Tiananmen Square

   30 min

   In the morning, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to Tiananmen Square, which is the heart and symbol of Beijing and the largest city square in the world. The spacious square has been used for many public celebrations, ceremonies, and demonstrations for over a hundred years.

2. 2

   The Palace Museum

   2 hours Admission included

   Next destination is the Forbidden City, one of the largest and most completely preserved palace complex built of wood. It functioned as the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912). 24 emperors of the two dynasties once lived here.

3. 3

   Hutong Tour

   one hour Admission included

   visit the Beijing local folk residence: Hutong Alley. There is opportunity for you to take a rickshaw to explore Hutong to see daily life of native Beijing people. Following the local expert guide, you will find another face of the city that totally different from what you see in major streets.

Overnight in Beijing

Day 3 · Beijing Great Wall Tour

1. 1

   Temple of Heaven

   one hour Admission included

   Today's tour begins with the Temple of Heaven. Located at southern part of Beijing, it served as a complex of sacrificial building where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest.

2. 2

   Mutianyu Great Wall

   2 hours Admission included

   Mutianyu Great Wall is the most scenic part of Chinese Great Wall. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty at 1368 and stretches for 5400 meters. 90 percent of the Mutianyu is covered by vegetation. So in each season this part of the Great Wall will treat visitors with its unique scenery. If hiking is too much for you, cable car is available and optional.

3. 3

   Beijing

   1 h 30 min

   On the way back to city area, pay an outer visit to Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

Overnight in Beijing

Day 4 · Beijing to Xi'an by High Speed Train

1. 1

   Summer Palace

   2 hours Admission included

   In the morning, you will visit Summer Palace. It is located at the west skirt of Beijing and covers an area of 290 hectares. During the Qianlong Era of the Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace was built by imitating the layout of the West Lake in Hangzhou. Now it is the largest and most completely preserved imperial garden in China.

2. 2

   Beijing West Railway Station

   one hour

   After lunch, transfer to Beijing West Train Station for high speed train to Xi'an. Upon arrival, our local driver will pick you up on time, transfer to your hotel in Xi'an downtown area.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   one hour Admission included

   Upon your arrival in Xi’an by high‑speed train, our local driver will meet you at the exit and transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Xi'an

Day 5 · Highlights in Xian

1. 1

   The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses

   2 hours Admission included

   Today you will be companied with our guide to visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture. It is located 30 km east of Xi’an City and the original site was discovered by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974. Now it has turned into one of the most important attractions in China and the top site in Xi’an. The museum includes Pit 1 (the largest), Pit 2, Pit 3, and the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses.

2. 2

   Muslim Quarter

   one hour

   Then come to Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square to have an outer look of the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. At last, go to visit Muslim Quarter, the most famous food street in Xian.

3. 3

   Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

   one hour Admission included

   Big Wild Goose Pagoda , a sacred place for worshiping Buddha. The pagoda was originally built to preserve sutras and figures of Buddha that Xuanzang brought back to China from India in the Tang Dynasty. Now there is a big Garden around Big Wild Goose Pagoda where people can have a nice walk.

Overnight in Xi'an

Day 6 · Half Day Xian Tour, Fly to Shanghai by Flight

1. 1

   Xi'an City Wall

   one hour Admission included

   At noon, you will be driven to visit Xian Ancient City Wall, the most completely preserved and largest city wall in China. It was built for military defense in the Ming Dynasty, about 650 years ago. You can optionally ride a bike on the city wall. The rental fee is on your own side.

2. 2

   Small Goose Pagoda

   one hour Admission included

   **Small Wild Goose Pagoda**

   Built in 707 AD during the Tang Dynasty, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda stands gracefully within Jianfu Temple. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, this elegant brick pagoda features classic Tang‑dynasty architecture. Unlike the grand Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it boasts a delicate and streamlined design. Visitors can enjoy peaceful temple grounds, ancient relics, and a tranquil garden atmosphere that showcases Chang’an’s profound Buddhist culture.

3. 3

   Xi'an Museum

   one hour Admission included

   Xi’an Museum sits beside the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It displays abundant relics of ancient Chang’an. Explore exquisite stone sculptures and treasures of the Tang Dynasty while enjoying quiet temple gardens.

4. 4

   Pudong International Airport

   one hour

   After lunch, take the afternoon flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, our local driver will pick you up on time, and then transfer to your hotel in Shanghai downtown area.

Overnight in Shanghai

Day 7 · Shanghai Classic City Tour

1. 1

   Yu Garden

   3 hours Admission included

   Yuyuan Garden was finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan. The garden was specially built for Pan’s parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age.

   After visiting the pretty Yuyuan Garden, you will wander around the lively Yuyuan Market. You can get everything here from traditional Chinese crafts like chopsticks, fans, and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes. Don’t forget to haggle for a better price.

2. 2

   Xintiandi

   30 min

   Xintiandi is a great place for leisure and amusement where you will meet rows of shops and bars transformed from Shikumen houses.

3. 3

   The Bund

   one hour

   The Bund is one of the most famous landmarks in Shanghai. Standing on the bank of Huangpu River, the 26 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance are a symbol of Shanghai’s past.

Overnight in Shanghai

Day 8 · Shanghai Departure

1. 1

   Shanghai

   one hour

   At confirmed time, our driver will meet you in your hotel lobby and escort you to airport.