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Overview
Seven days, two capitals, and the story told in reverse. You begin in Beijing, where China's last two dynasties ruled from the Forbidden City, and finish in Xi'an, capital of the first emperor who unified the country. One afternoon on a business-class high-speed train joins them, with no airport in between. Three nights in each city means you unpack twice and each capital gets the time to be more than its postcard. You come home with China's imperial story in working order: an ending you stood inside, and a beginning you met face to face.
LyrikTrip travel designers
Your route is planned and noted before you land; a professional English-speaking guide accompanies you on every touring day in both capitals.
Why you'll love this trip
- Two capitals, three nights each. The Great Wall, hutong lanes, a city wall you cycle and a dumpling banquet, with English-speaking guides in both cities.
- Stand where the empire ended before the week shows you where it began, two capitals closed in one loop.
- Walk Mutianyu tower to tower and read the ridge the way its builders did, mountains as half the defense.
- Read the first emperor's army as an order of battle, rank and formation still holding underground.
- Eat Xi'an twice in a day, a dumpling banquet at night and Sajinqiao's stalls by morning.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 3
· Beijing: arrival
Check in, rest and reset your clock; a first neighbourhood walk is optional.
· Beijing: the last palace
· Beijing: the wall in the mountains
High-speed rail
Xi'an · Day 4 - Day 7
· Beijing to Xi'an: the pages turn back
· Xi'an: the first emperor's army
· Xi'an: the wall and the food street
Keep the afternoon for rest, shopping or your own corner of Xi'an.
· Departure
Breakfast, a last walk or slow packing follows your departure time.
Departures
Hotels
Hotel pairings continue loading right after the upper journey sections.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehiclesAir-conditioned private vehicles for listed sightseeing and transfers in both cities, with airport and station pick-ups and drop-offs
- RailOne-way business-class high-speed train ticket, Beijing to Xi'an
- Hotels6 nights in selected four-star or five-star hotels, breakfast daily
- GuidesProfessional English-speaking guide service on all scheduled touring days
- Tickets and experiencesAll listed attractions, Mutianyu cable car or chairlift, Xi'an City Wall bike rental and the Chinese medicine introductory session
- MealsShaanxi lunch and the dumpling banquet on day 5
- AlsoBottled water on touring days and travel accident insurance for the journey
Not Included
- FlightsInternational and domestic flights to Beijing and onward from Xi'an
- MealsBeyond breakfast and the two included day-five meals, lunches and dinners remain flexible and on your account
- PersonalVisas, gratuities, single supplement, personal spending and optional treatments during the medicine session
- Beyond controlAdditional costs arising from severe weather, traffic restrictions, attraction closures or train delays beyond reasonable control
Special Notes
A few things on this route flex by design. Here they are, told straight.
- Mutianyu ascent — Cable car or open chairlift, chosen on the day; the walking route shortens or extends to match the group.
- City wall cycling — Distance and duration adjust freely; a walking option follows the same rampart.
- Chinese medicine session — The introduction is included; any physical treatment is optional and separately priced.
- Hotels — Named in your written confirmation; or similar means the same class and comparable location.
Is Seven Days Your Length?
Tell us your dates and who is coming: we will shape the week around you.
Have exactly a week?
This is the deep version: two capitals fully lived in, one train, no backtracking.
Fewer days?
Tell us what matters most; the two capitals compress in the same order.
More days?
We add a region after Xi'an rather than padding these two.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private; from 1 guest: no minimum
- Arrival
- Day 1 is the arrival day; airport meeting and private transfer are included, and touring begins on day 2
- Language
- English-speaking guide on all touring days
- Shopping Policy
- No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here.
- Tailoring
- Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay.
- Payment
- A 10% deposit, minimum £399, locks your dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure
- Flexibility
- Walking, cycling and museum time adjust to your group every day
- Season
- Spring and autumn are ideal for walking; in summer, start early, and in winter, wrap up warm on the wall.
- Ports
- Beijing In · Xi'an Out
- Gateway markets
- Lead country marker: GB. Gateway markets from inventory: UK, WEU. Xi'an outbound access may need a connection.
Your Private Concierge
LT
Jason Hu
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tailors the pacing, hotels and local hosts to suit each route style.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Bespoke, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 10%
When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
10%
Deposit to secure everything
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Free cancellation up to 30 days
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
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