8 days Beijing - Pingyao and Xi'an impression tour

Upon your arrival in Beijing, you will be met by a local guide and driver who will help transport you to your hotel. Here you can have a short rest, check email or explore the nearby neighborhood. Overnight in Beijing.

Your first day will begin with a visit to the largest public square in the world - Tiananmen Square. This assembling place for Chinese people is used to celebrate important festivals or hold other big events. 

Located just north of Tiananmen Square, is the Forbidden City, the best persevered imperial palace in China. Walk through this mysterious place and taste the more than 500-year historical civilization that once was China. Imagine you've traveled back more than 1,000 years ago, wandering here with princess or princes. 

After lunch, you, your guide and driver will visit the Temple of Heaven, where you can walk in the steps once only reserved for Chinese emperors. This beautiful place of worship where the emperor would travel annually to pray to heaven for an abundant harvest.

After dinner, you can choose to enjoy the authentic Chinese Kong Fu Show. Overnight in Beijing.

Your morning excursion heads toward Mutianyu, a less-crowded section of China's Great Wall. It will take approximately 2.5 hours to drive here. You can choose to ascend to the top of the Great Wall by cable car or foot. Spend about 2 - 3 hours to free enjoy the breathtaking scenery along the top of the wall. Explore each watchtower that has helped to keep China protected from northern invaders.

In the afternoon, you will have a ride in Hutong (in East City).  Hutongs are a type of narrow streets or alleys. In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyard residences known as siheyuan. Many neighborhoods were formed by the joining of siheyuans.

Sadly since the mid - 20th century, the number of Beijing hutongs has dropped dramatically as they are demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas in an attempt to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history. Here you can experience the real life of local Beijing residents. Overnight in Beijing.

Your last day in Beijing is perhaps the best! With a visit to the grand Summer Palace, an original royal garden and a temporary dwelling palace for emperors of Qing Dynasty. It is declared "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design" a world heritage site by UNESCO. 

After lunch, your Beijing guide and driver will say farewell as you depart for Pingyao by bullet train. After a short 4 hours train journey you will be greeted in Pingyao. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and have a good rest. Overnight in Pingyao.

Begin your exploration into Pingyao an ancient city which is famous as a trade center during the Ming Dynasty. Pingyao has three main streets not to be missed and you won't! They include South Avenue, West Avenue, and East Avenue. 

Starting on West Avenue visit Rishengchang Exchange Shop, one of the most famous forex shops in China. Known as the "Countryside Grandfather of sundry Chinese banks. It was established in 1823 during the Qing Dynasty. 

After lunch, continue to Ming Qing Street, the busiest street in this city, not very wide but contains tons of Ming-Qing dynasty style shops. Walking on the street, you will feel that you have returned to 200 years ago.

Last stop of the day is the Pingyao Ancient Government Office. In some cases based on your personal interest and abundant choice, we can easily adjust which attractions to hit or miss based on your personal interests. Overnight at Pingyao.

After what will certainly feel like a fast 48 hours you will prepare to depart for Xi'an but not before a visit t the Wang Family Courtyard. This home appears more like a grand castle than a cozy home, with its impressive courtyards numbering well over 100. The driving time to the Wang Family Courtyard is about 1 hour from your hotel.

The last stop of the Pingyao is Shuanglin Temple, a short 7 km. (4 mi.) south of the city. It contains rare Song and Yuan dynasty painted statues. Reconstructed in 571 A.D., the Shuanglin Temple has a history of over 1,400 years. The temple consists of a range of different size halls from small to large, along with rooms exclusively meant for sutra chanting hall.

Then say farewell to your Pingyao guide and driver as you board the bullet train to Xi'an.

Arrive in Xi'an, just in time to have breakfast, freshen up and meet your local guide and driver.  When ready your tour will begin with a short drive into the suburb to visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. Here you can embrace this more than 2,000 years lost history recently discovered by a local farmer, digging a new well! See the more than 10,000 clay warriors and their chariots, none of which are the same!

Afterward, you will be driven back to Xi'an downtown where in the afternoon, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a major landmarks of Xi'an. It's said the pagoda was built to house the Buddhist sutras brought back from India by a famous monk named Xuanzang. Here, you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the city and samples of ancient architecture.

A short drive will then take you to the final stop of the day which is Xi'an Muslim Quarters and the Great Mosque. These two places will are filled with a rich ethnic atmosphere. Snack on some of the local foods, while you explore. A great place to pick up small gifts.

In the morning, visit Shaanxi History Museum, which is often touted as one of the best of China, with a collection of 370,000 elaborate relics. You will feel that you have come to the ancient Xi'an because the museum is built in the architectural style of the Tang dynasty.

After you and your guide have left the museum, enjoy a delicious local lunch and then continue on to visit the famous Xi'an City wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved walls in China. Your last stop on the tour is Shuyuan Men, a perfect place to grab some last trinkets. It presents you what the building and people's life in Tang dynasty. Your guide will ensure you reach the airport or train station for your departure from Xi'an.