This 6-day group tour takes you to explore two of China’s most iconic historic destinations, imperial Beijing and ancient Xi’an, offering a well-rounded introduction to China’s centuries of fascinating culture. Curated as a top pick for travelers, this tour boasts a carefully selected itinerary, unbeatable affordable pricing, and fully secure, trusted payment processes, delivering a hassle-free, great-value cross-city China travel experience.
This hassle-free group tour whisks you from the bustling modern capital of Beijing, where you’ll explore imperial palaces, walk the iconic Great Wall, and dive into traditional old-city culture, before gliding south on a comfortable high-speed train to Xi’an – the ancient Silk Road starting point and home of the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. You’ll get a perfectly paced mix of iconic sightseeing, interactive cultural experiences and relaxed exploration, covering thousands of years of Chinese history across two unmissable destinations in one seamless journey.
🌟 Day 1: Beijing Arrival Kick off your adventure with a stress-free arrival in the Chinese capital. After touching down, you’ll head straight to your centrally located accommodation to unpack and rest up after your journey. There’s no rushed sightseeing scheduled today – feel free to wander the local neighborhood or grab your first taste of authentic Beijing street food at your leisure. 🏨 Accommodation: Sunworld Hotel Beijing (or similar quality hotel)
🌟 Day 2: Beijing City Exploration Wake up to a hearty included breakfast at your hotel, then dive into the heart of Beijing culture. Your first stop is the stunning UNESCO-listed Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once prayed for bountiful harvests. Next, you’ll weave through the winding alleyways of historic Beijing hutongs on a fun rickshaw ride, stopping to visit a local family to experience everyday life in the old city. You’ll also get creative painting your own Peking opera facial mask, a unique souvenir to take home, before wrapping up the day at iconic Tiananmen Square. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast (hotel), lunch at a popular local Chinese restaurant 🏨 Accommodation: Sunworld Hotel Beijing (or similar quality hotel)
🌟 Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall Adventure Fuel up for a day of exploration with a filling hotel breakfast, then head out of the city to one of the world’s most famous landmarks: the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu. This quieter, well-preserved section boasts stunning mountain views and intact historic watchtowers, and your included round-trip cable car whisks you straight to the wall top so you can spend more time exploring and less time hiking. After your day on the wall, head back into the city to snap photos at Beijing’s most iconic modern landmarks: the Bird’s Nest National Stadium and the Water Cube Aquatics Center. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast (hotel), lunch at a local restaurant near the Great Wall 🏨 Accommodation: Sunworld Hotel Beijing (or similar quality hotel)
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
🌟 Day 4: Beijing to Xi'an Wrap up your time in Beijing with a morning visit to the Summer Palace, the beautiful lakeside imperial retreat of Qing Dynasty emperors. You’ll stroll along the famous Long Corridor, lined with thousands of intricate traditional paintings, before stopping for lunch at a local Beijing restaurant. After lunch, you’ll board your included 2nd class high-speed train to Xi’an, China’s ancient western capital, and check into your accommodation upon arrival. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast (hotel), lunch at a local Beijing restaurant 🏨 Accommodation: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an (or similar quality hotel)
🌟 Day 5: Xi'an Historical Tour Start your day of exploration with an included hotel breakfast, then dive into thousands of years of Xi’an history. First, you’ll walk atop the largest intact ancient city wall in the world, Xi’an’s preserved City Wall, with sweeping views of the city inside and out. Next, you’ll visit a local pottery workshop for a hands-on experience shaping your own mini terracotta warrior, before heading to the unmissable Terracotta Warriors site – the 2,000-year-old archaeological wonder of thousands of life-sized clay warriors built to guard China’s first emperor. The day wraps up with a relaxed stroll around bustling central Bell Tower Square. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast (hotel), lunch at a local restaurant near the Terracotta Warriors 🏨 Accommodation: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an (or similar quality hotel)
🌟 Day 6: Xi'an Cultural Experience & Departure Enjoy your final included breakfast before setting off for a last few cultural experiences before departure. First, you’ll tour the historic Gao’s Courtyard, a beautifully preserved traditional Xi’an courtyard home. Next, you’ll experience the ancient folk art of Chinese shadow puppetry, before stopping at the North Plaza of the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist landmark, for photos. You’ll then watch the famous music fountain show, one of the largest in Asia, before wrapping up with a final included lunch at a local restaurant ahead of your onward departure. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast (hotel), lunch at a local Xi'an restaurant
April 22, 2026
Walking along the Great Wall outside Beijing and standing face-to-face with the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an was every bit as awe-inspiring as I imagined. The 6-day timeline was perfectly balanced, not too rushed to enjoy each landmark and not too slow that we ever felt bored. This is the ideal tour for anyone who wants to check off China’s most iconic historic spots without all the planning work.
January 20, 2026
September 17, 2025
May 2, 2025
March 12, 2025
December 18, 2024
As a high school history teacher, I’ve dreamed of visiting the Terracotta Warriors and Forbidden City for decades, and this tour exceeded every single one of my expectations. Our local guides in both Beijing and Xi’an shared so many little-known contextual details that made each site feel alive, not just a stop on a tourist checklist. The group size was small enough that we never felt herded around, and the included local meals were delicious with plenty of options for my gluten allergy. I would absolutely recommend this tour to any first-time visitor to China who wants to see two of its most iconic destinations without the stress of independent planning.
This well-organized tour turned our first trip to China into a completely stress-free, unforgettable adventure.
We booked this tour during the May national holiday, so all major attractions were far more wonderful than we anticipated. That said, every scheduled activity ran exactly on time, and we still got to experience all the iconic historic sites we came to see.
This 6-day Beijing and Xi'an tour was the perfect introduction to China's incredible millennia of history.
Our consultant Ethan from HelloChinaTrip helped us tweak our small-group itinerary perfectly before we arrived. We got to visit the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors without rushing, and every stop was vividly explained by our knowledgeable local guides.
