Cultural Discovery in Beijing & Xi'an - 6 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing, Peking Duck Experience

Welcome to China! Once you arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport, meet your driver for a private transfer into Beijing, the world's most densely populated capital city. As one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals, this metropolis has been the seat of power in the country for eight centuries. After check-in at your downtown hotel, you'll have the remainder of the day free to head out and explore epic sights, including the Temple of Heaven or the Summer Palace. 

Later in the day, your guide will take you to a nearby restaurant for a traditional Peking duck dinner. A staple in Beijing cuisine for centuries, this royal dish of slow-roasted duck is served with paper-thin pancakes, thinly sliced scallions, and cucumbers, and drizzled with hoisin sauce. The resulting combination of tender meat, crunchy skin, and fresh vegetables is uniquely delicious and a must-try in Beijing. 

Day 2: Tour Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City, See the City's Traditional Hutongs

In the morning, you'll meet your guide and driver in the hotel lobby and embark on a grand tour of Beijing, beginning at the famous Tiananmen Square, the world's largest city square. This massive public space, dating to the 15th century, is surrounded by government buildings, including the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Mao Zedong. 

Walk through the square to the enormous portrait of Chairman Mao at Tiananmen Gate, the entrance to the Forbidden City, constructed in 1415 CE during the Ming Dynasty. Tour the vast, UNESCO-listed complex that served as the Chinese imperial palace from 1420 (Ming Dynasty) to 1912 (Qing Dynasty). For several hours, you'll wander among the 980 buildings spread across 180 acres (72 ha) and visit the Imperial Garden, former living quarters, and galleries featuring ancient imperial artifacts.

In the afternoon, rest your legs with a 30-minute pedicab tour through the hutongs of Beijing. Hutongs are narrow alleyways that crisscross through old neighborhoods in the city, some dating back 800 years. There's a traditional Chinese folk culture here, and many people still live in the old houses, called siheyuans, that line the hutongs. After the hutong tour, visit one of these traditional courtyard residences to meet some of the local families still inhabiting these ancient dwellings.

Day 3: Hike Along the Great Wall of China

You're in for a treat, as today you'll visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: the Great Wall of China. Because this ancient fortification is so massive, it's separated into various sections open to visitors. You'll be visiting Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved portions of the Great Wall. Located 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing, it was built in 1368 ACE by the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

This wall section stretches for 13 miles (22 km) and comprises 22 stone watchtowers. Sitting atop steep hills blanketed in rich green pines and cypress trees, the views from here on a clear day are nothing short of breathtaking. Enjoy a moderate hike along the wall for two to six hours, depending on your chosen route.

After visiting the Great Wall, you'll return to Beijing via Changling Tomb, the final resting place of the Ming-era Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) and his empress, Xushi. The largest Ming tomb near Tianshou Mountain, it's particularly famous for its exceptionally preserved Ling'en Hall (Hall of Eminent Favor), made from rare Chinese cedarwood.

With your guide, explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and other iconic buildings, including the Circular Mound Altar, which was the site of winter solstice ceremonies, and the Imperial Vault of Heaven, a circular building that housed the stone tablets used in the harvest prayer ceremonies. In the afternoon, you'll head to the railway station and hop on a bullet train for the approximately 5.5-hour journey south to the beautiful city of Xi'an, where you'll spend the rest of your trip.

Day 5: Discover the Terracotta Army, Calligraphy Workshop

A car will meet you in the morning at your hotel for the one-hour drive east of Xi'an to Mount Li, home to the Terracotta Army Museum and the famous life-size warrior sculptures. This massive collection of incredibly detailed, life-size clay sculptures depicts the armies of Qin Shi Huang, founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor of China, reigning from 221 BCE to 210 BCE. 

This enormous site covers approximately 38 square miles (98 sq km), and its discovery in 1974 represents one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. The terracotta warrior sculptures were created to be symbolic guardians of Qin's burial tomb and thus protect his spirit in the afterlife. Touring the massive excavation pits, you'll see various warriors, chariots, and cavalry figures. Spend hours discovering the secrets of the army, then head back to Xi'an.