Great Wall and Warriors: Beijing & Xi'an Private Tour
From the Water Great Wall to the Terracotta Army, discover two of China's greatest imperial capitals at your own pace.
This Beijing and Xi'an private tour brings together seven days of immersive exploration across two of China's most historically significant cities, combining ancient imperial landmarks with living cultural traditions that have endured for centuries.
In Beijing, you will walk through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, explore the narrow hutong lanes of old Beijing, and hike the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall, where the wall descends into a lake, creating one of the most photographed and least crowded stretches along the entire structure. A visit to the 798 Art District offers a sharp contrast, where decommissioned industrial buildings now house galleries and design studios shaping contemporary Chinese culture.
The journey continues by high-speed train to Xi'an, where Ming-era city walls still encircle the old town and the Muslim Quarter fills the air with the scent of cumin and roasting meat. The highlight of the Xi'an leg is a guided visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, home to an army of more than 8,000 life-sized figures buried for over two thousand years to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang.
Throughout the tour, private guides and drivers handle all logistics, allowing you to move at a measured pace and engage with each site on your own terms rather than following a group schedule.
Tour Highlights
Walk through the Forbidden City, the best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world, home to Ming and Qing dynasty emperors for over 500 years.
Hike the Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall, a scenic and less-visited section where the ancient fortification meets the surface of a reservoir lake.
Stand before the Terracotta Warriors, an archaeological wonder comprising 8,000 unique life-sized soldiers, 100 chariots, and 600 horses guarding an emperor's tomb.
Explore Beijing's hutong alleyways and siheyuan courtyard homes, a surviving fragment of the city's Yuan Dynasty urban fabric.
Wander through Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, a 1,300-year-old community established by Silk Road traders, still alive with food stalls and traditional craft vendors.
Visit the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors conducted ceremonies to pray for a good harvest, set within a large public park used daily by local residents.
Discover the 798 Art District, a reimagined Cold War-era factory complex that has become Beijing's leading hub for contemporary art and design.
Itinerary Overview
Arrive at Beijing Airport and meet your private guide and driver in the arrivals hall. Transfer to your hotel with the rest of the day free to rest and acclimatise.
Visit Tiananmen Square and walk through the Forbidden City, then explore the hutong lanes and Miaoying Temple with its 13th-century White Stupa in old Beijing.
Hike the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall with panoramic lake views, then spend the afternoon in the 798 Art District among galleries and contemporary design spaces.
Tour the Temple of Heaven complex in the morning before boarding a second-class high-speed train to Xi'an. Arrive in time to explore the Muslim Quarter and sample street food.
Walk or cycle along Xi'an's intact Ming-era city walls, then visit the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors Museum with a professional guide before a stop at the Xi'an City Museum.
Take the high-speed train back to Beijing and transfer to your hotel for a final overnight stay in the capital.
What Is Included
Included
- Private airport and station transfers throughout
- Professional English-speaking private guides
- Lunches on Days 2, 3, and 5 at local tourist restaurants
- Dinner on Day 4 at a local tourist restaurant
- Second-class high-speed train tickets Beijing to Xi'an and return
- Entrance fees to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and Terracotta Warriors Museum
- Hotel accommodation for 6 nights
Not Included
- International or domestic flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
- Bike or electric bike rental on Xi'an City Wall
- Halal skewer street food in Muslim Quarter
- Xi'an Museum entrance if visiting on a Tuesday (closed)
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Important Information
Reserve Your Private Tour
Secure your place on this private seven-day journey through Beijing and Xi'an, covering the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, and much more with dedicated guides throughout.
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