9 Days Private China Tour of Shanghai, Xian and Beijing

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shanghai Arrival

   Welcome to Shanghai for a 9-day private China tour! Upon your arrival, your driver will greet you at the exit of the arrival hall by holding a name sign and transfer you to your downtown hotel.

   Before getting off the plane, please double-check your belongings to ensure you have collected all your stuff. The rest of the day is for your own arrangement. If you need any suggestions in your free time, we will be very happy to help you.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

2. Day 2: Shanghai Highlights Tour
   Learn about the Past and Present of this City

   Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and transfer you to Shanghai Museum to start your Shanghai tour. The museum houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings, and calligraphy works. Next, move on to Yuyuan Garden. It is a famous classical garden which was originally built by the owner as a place for his parents to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age.

   

   After lunch, you will be guided to visit the former French Concession, a perfect place to learn the history of Shanghai from 1849 to 1943. Then, wander around Nanjing Road to see traditional department stores and optionally try some authentic Shanghai snacks.

   The last stop today is the Bund. Admire buildings of various styles, enjoy the beautiful Huangpu River, and listen to your guide explaining its history. After a leisurely walk, the guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

3. Day 3: Shanghai to Xian Tour by Flight
   Take a Leisure Stroll around the Venice of the East

   After breakfast, meet your guide at your hotel lobby and check out. Please pack your belongings in advance.

   Today is the last day of your China private tour in Shanghai. You will visit Xintiandi, a walking street based in the old Shikumen building district, where you can find nice bars, cafes, and squares. Next, transfer you to the Jade Buddha Temple. This more than 100-year-old temple was built to keep two jade Buddha statues brought back from Burma by a monk named Huigen.

   

   After lunch, drive to the ancient Zhujiajiao Water Town. Stroll along the old-time town while listening to the introduction about its history. The town could be dated back to even 1,700 years ago, as early as the time of the Three Kingdoms. The appearance of the city we see today was left from the Ming Dynasty.

   Nowadays, the ancient town is best known for its bridges, old streets, and gardens built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The highlight things to see here are Fangsheng Bridge, Baoguo Temple, Town God’s Temple, and Zhuxi Garden. Capture snapshots of charming alleyways and ancient stone houses. You can also take the optional boat cruise here if you are interested.

   After the tour, escort you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Upon your arrival in Xian, your driver will greet you at the exit of the arrival hall and transfer you to Xian downtown hotel for a good rest.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xian

   

4. Day 4: Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour
   Marvel at the Life-size Clay Warriors 2,200 Years Ago

   Meet your private tour guide and begin your Xian tour at the Terracotta Army. Known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors slept under the ground for 2,200 years before the accidental discovery by local farmers who were digging wells. The life-size clay warriors differ from one another in clothing, hairstyle, posture, and facial expression. Since its opening to the public in 1979, it has attracted millions of people from all over the world each year. You will be guided to visit Pit 1, 2 and 3.

   After lunch, drive back to Xian downtown to visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It was built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). At the end of the tour, your guide will take you to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xian

   

5. Day 5: Xian to Beijing Tour by Overnight Train
   Visit Historical Sites and Cultural Food Streets

   After breakfast, leave for the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the twin of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Both the two pagodas are important witnesses to the history of the Great Tang Dynasty. Small Wild Goose Pagoda was also built to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from Ancient India. Different from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda attracts visitors with its quiet and peaceful charm.

   Then, move on to the Ancient City Wall, a military defensive system in old times. You can optionally ride a bike on the top of the City Wall and enjoy the amazing view of the entire area inside the City Wall.

   

   In the afternoon, go to visit Shuyuanmen Street, an ancient cultural street renovated based on Ming and Qing architecture. Now, it is lined by stores selling the four treasures of study (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, and paper). Next, have a walk on Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square, a landmark building in Xian. Nearby, visit the Great Mosque, a main Islamic place for religious activities in Xian.

   The last stop in Xian is the famous Muslim Street, a paradise for food lovers where you will find all kinds of delicious local snacks such as Biang Biang Noodle, Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger), and Yangrou Paomo (Mutton and Bread Pieces in Soup).

   At the end of the tour, we will transfer you to the train station for your overnight train to Beijing (recommended: Z180/18:24-07:52+1).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: on the Train

   

6. Day 6: Beijing City Tour
   Discover the Imperial Heritage of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China

   When your train arrives in Beijing in the morning, a local private guide and driver will wait for you at the exit of the train station by holding a name sign. After meeting them, have breakfast at your own cost before the exploration.

   Your China tour package of Beijing begins with Tiananmen Square, 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. Next, walk for 5 minutes to visit the Forbidden City, one of the largest and most completely preserved palace complexes 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.

   

   After lunch, go to the Temple of Heaven. Located in the southern part of Beijing, it served as a complex of sacrificial buildings where emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest.

   Then, the Beijing tour transfers you to the Summer Palace. It is located in the west skirt of Beijing and covers an area of 290 hectares. During the Qianlong Era (1736-1796) 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. After the whole day tour, your guide will escort you to your downtown hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

7. Day 7: Beijing Great Wall Tour
   Hike on the Mutianyu Great Wall for the Beautiful Scenery

   After breakfast, take a guided tour of the Ming Tomb and see the underground palace of Dingling (one of the 13 Ming Dynasty Imperial Mausoleums). Dingling is the tomb of the Emperor Shenzong, Zhuyijun, who reigned the nation for 48 years as the longest-serving monarch among all Ming emperors.

   In the afternoon, we will drive to Mutianyu Great Wall for about 1 hour. As the most scenic part of the Chinese Great Wall, it was built in the early Ming Dynasty in 1368 and stretches for 5400 meters. Ninety percent of the Mutianyu is covered by vegetation. So you will enjoy unique scenery in each season. The cable car is available and optional, if hiking is too much for you. After all the activities, be transferred back to your downtown hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

8. Day 8: Beijing Free Day Tour

   Free and easy on your own. No tour arrangement for today.

   Ideas:

   • You can take a rickshaw to explore the authentic old Beijing culture in the hutongs.
   • If you are taking children, you may consider visiting the Panda House at Beijing Zoo.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Beijing

9. Day 9: Beijing Departure

   It's time to say goodbye today. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight (usually 4 hours in advance for international flights and 3 hours for domestic flights). Our 9 days private Shanghai Xian Beijing tour will end here. Wish you a pleasant journey!

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A