Great Wall and Warriors, Private Tour

Welcome to China! Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, you will be greeted by the guide and driver at the arrivals halls. You will be then transferred to the hotel, with the remainder of the day at leisure. 

Overnight in Beijing.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby. Drive to Tiananmen Square, gaze across it and take in the full weight of its historical and cultural significance. People travel from all over the world to see Mao’s portrait and visit his mausoleum, which lies on the opposite end of the Square. Walking towards to Forbidden City, where emperors ruled, concubines fluttered their fans, and eunuchs schemed for five hundred years. It is a life preserved in chambers, where emperors ruled, gardens, where empresses and concubines strolled and in the palace where the emperor's courtesans lived for centuries behind the towering red walls. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). In the afternoon, venture to one of Beijing’s few remaining ‘hutongs’ or traditional lanes in the backstreets of the city to gain a perspective into fascinating and authentic ‘old’ Beijing. Hutongs, the narrow alleys and lanes first laid out during the Yuan dynasty (1268-1364AD), and the siheyuan, traditional courtyard homes that border these leafy streets, define old Beijing. Here, we can get an idea of what the entire city once looked like and experience the traditional way of life, the silhouette of imperial dynasties, Chinese local lifestyle, the impact of western countries. Visit the Buddhist Miaoying Temple, which has an iconic White Stupa that was completed in 1279, under the leadership of Kublai Khan.

Overnight in Beijing.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Huanghuacheng Great wall. Literally, the Yellow Flower Wall is considered one of the most scenic sections of the wall, and a great place to go for a not-too-strenuous hike along with the country's most iconic landmark. At either end of this stretch of the Great Wall are two lakes, made by dams built in the 1970s and ‘90s. Upon the wall, you’ll have unobstructed views of both lakes from high above, with the Great Wall dipping majestically down into the water. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). After lunch, delve into the heart of Beijing’s contemporary art scene at the 798 Art District, based rather ironically within an abandoned industrial complex, built by East Germans in the 1950s, Chinese contemporary artists moved in the 1990s, transforming this decommissioned factory district into a hotspot of modern art, culture, and design. From avant-garde galleries to cutting-edge food and drinks, make sure you set aside some time to explore what this area has to offer. 

Overnight in Beijing.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Temple of Heaven complex, situated in southeast Beijing, was built in the first half of the 15th century, for the use of Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors to worship the heavens and pray for a good harvest. The main architectural themes are: “on the earth” which is represented by the square-shaped 'Palace of Abstinence' in the west, much like The Forbidden City but on a smaller scale; whereas the circular-shaped Qinian Dian (Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) and Huanqiu (Circular Mound Altar) are thought to be connected with heaven. The park serves as a recreational ground for local people. Dancing, fencing, flag-waving, and Taichi are all part of locals’ morning rituals. Lunch on own arrangement. Transfer to Beijing West Railway Station 2nd class high-speed train to Xi’an, Xi’an known as “Chang’an” before the Ming Dynasty, its deep historical roots today are a testament to the city’s importance to past dynasties. Greeted by the guide and driver, then drive to Muslim Quarter, Let the savoury aroma wafting from the countless food stalls of Xi'an Muslim Quarter envelop you as you sample Halal skewers (at your own cost), roast mutton and persimmon cakes. Xi’an has one of the world’s oldest Muslim communities, founded some 1,300 years ago by traders of Persian and Arab origin who travelled along the Silk Road and settled in the then capital of the Tang Dynasty (618- 907AD). Dinner at a local tourist restaurant (included). 

Overnight in Xi’an.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Ancient City Wall, take a leisurely walk at Ancient City Wall, the most complete city wall that has survived in China as well as being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. The wall was originally built out of rammed earth and was rebuilt with bricks for the first time during the reign of Emperor Longquing. Along the wall are some bricks with markings on them to indicate that they are from the original wall. Once on top of the wall, you can rent a bike, or an electric bike to take you around the wall (own expense). You can ride the whole wall or just complete a section of it. Then start your adventure bright and early and beat the crowds at the UNESCO protected site of the Terracotta Warriors to unlock the mysteries of a now-vanished empire with a professional tour guide. Stand in awe of life-sized sculptures of warriors and horses, which were built to guard the massive mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang. Unearthed in the suburbs of Xi’an, the army of the Terracotta Warriors comprises one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of all time. Consisting of 8,000 life-size soldiers, 100 chariots and 600 horses, no two of which are the same, the army was built to guard the remains of Emperor Qin Shihuang, housed in a massive mausoleum complex. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). After back from the terra cotta warriors, pay a visit to Xi’an museum (closed on Tuesday), which is one of the most important cradles for the origin of the Chinese nation and the Huaxia civilization.

Overnight in Xi’an.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take the 2nd high-speed train back to Beijing. Transfer to hotel after arrival in Beijing. 

Overnight in Beijing.

Breakfast at hotel. Free time at leisure before hopping on the transfer to airport.