8-Day Beijing & Xian Imperial Tour

Begin at Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public plaza, as your historian guide brings 600 years of imperial and modern history to life. Walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace into the Forbidden City — the 9,999-room palace of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Explore the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the imperial gardens and quiet side palaces most visitors miss. Finish with a panoramic view over the golden rooftops from Jingshan Park. Evening is free to stroll the Wangfujing shopping street.

Today is the highlight you have been waiting for — the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu. This beautifully restored yet far less crowded section winds across forested ridges. Ride the cable car up, walk between watchtowers at your own pace, then race down on the toboggan slide — a favorite with families. After a countryside lunch, return to the city for a rickshaw ride through the hutongs, Beijing's 700-year-old alleyways. Visit a local courtyard family, sip tea at a traditional tea ceremony, and hear stories of daily life old and new.

Join locals for morning tai chi beneath the circular blue roof of the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Wander the echo wall and long marble walkway, then enjoy free time for lunch and a last look at Beijing. In the afternoon, board the high-speed G-train and glide 1,200 km southwest to Xian in just 4.5 hours, watching the North China plain roll past at 300 km/h. Your Xian guide meets you on arrival for the hotel transfer.

Stand before the 2,200-year-old Terracotta Army that guarded Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb — 8,000 life-sized warriors, each with a unique face. Your guide leads you through Pits 1, 2 and 3 in the optimal order, explains the ongoing excavation, and shows you the priceless Bronze Chariots in the museum. Stop at a traditional pottery workshop to see how warriors are still made by hand. Tonight, savor a Xian dumpling banquet — 18 varieties shaped like flowers, fish and penguins.

Rent a bike and ride atop the Ming Dynasty City Wall — at 14 km, it is the most complete ancient city wall on earth, with sweeping views over the old town and modern skyline. This afternoon dive into the vibrant Muslim Quarter, the culinary heart of Xian. Taste your way through the bazaars: roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), biangbiang noodles, persimmon cakes and pomegranate juice, while your guide navigates the bustling back alleys and the Great Mosque's serene Chinese-Islamic courtyards.

Explore the Shaanxi History Museum, home to over 370,000 treasures from the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties — your guide's stories turn 3,000 years of the Silk Road into an unforgettable morning. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India by monk Xuanzang. Tonight, dress in Tang costumes (optional) and enjoy a spectacular Tang Dynasty music & dance show with dinner, a living window into China's golden age.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and a free morning — perhaps a final stroll, souvenir shopping for Terracotta miniatures, silks and tea, or simply sleep in. Your guide and driver then transfer you to Xian Xianyang International Airport or the railway station for your onward flight or train. We say zaijian — see you again — at the end of an unforgettable imperial journey through ancient China's two greatest capitals.