01
Overview
Step onto the Beijing Central Axis and wander into the Forbidden City, then climb Jingshan Hill to look back over the palace rooftops. Before leaving Beijing, visit the National Museum and the Temple of Heaven, then take a high-speed train to Xi'an; there, explore the Terracotta Army and build a Qin crossbow model. Continue via the Big Wild Goose Pagoda on a high-speed train to Chengdu. Spend the final days at the Panda Breeding Base, a teahouse in People’s Park, a local market and a Sichuan cooking class, plus the Kuanzhai Alley and a Sichuan opera performance.
— LyrikTrip Travel Designer
Please let us know your travel dates, group size, and the specific needs of your travel companions. We will use this information to check on connecting rooms, venue reservations, and the mode of Great Wall sightseeing, and we will outline the arrangements and costs in a formal written quote.
Why you'll love this trip
- Three cities, two train journeys. The Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, pandas and a Sichuan opera stage, with English-speaking guides in each city.
- 12 days from the Forbidden City to a family kitchen bench. Understand the whole line.
- Spend the morning exploring the Forbidden City, then head straight up to the small hill on its north side and look back at the rooftops you walked beneath an hour ago.
- At Mutianyu Great Wall, you can take a cable car to the top and, once on the wall, tailor the walking distance to your family's stamina.
- Stand at the edge of the Terracotta Army pits and observe the rows of warriors, their armours and postures.
- In Xi'an, we’ll assemble a model of the Qin crossbow, then head to a market in Chengdu to pick out fresh ingredients and cook Sichuan cuisine together.
- Head early in the morning to the Panda Base, when the pandas are typically active rather than asleep.
- Shop for fresh ingredients in Chengdu's bustling markets, prepare a three-generation legacy of authentic Sichuan cuisine for dinner, and savour the fruits of your culinary labour.
- Watch a face-changing performance in an intimate community theatre rather than a hotel ballroom, coming close enough to see masks shift instantly—yet the secret remains an enigma.
Things to do
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Landmark
Heritage
Viewpoint
City
Great Wall
Museum
Culture
Transport
Heritage
Hands-on
City
Pagoda
Transport
Nature
City
Hands-on
City
StageLandmarkHeritageViewpointCityGreat WallMuseumCultureTransportHeritageHands-onCityPagodaTransportNatureCityHands-onCityStageLandmarkHeritageViewpointCityGreat WallMuseumCultureTransportHeritageHands-onCityPagodaTransportNatureCityHands-onCityStageItinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 5
· Arrive in Beijing
Proceed from the airport to the city centre, and rest upon arrival. No sightseeing is scheduled for this day.
· One axis through the palace
Enter the Forbidden City through Tiananmen Square and follow the central axis to the Imperial Garden and the North Gate.
· Jingshan Park and Shichahai
Overlook the Forbidden City you walked through yesterday from Jingshan Park, then follow the hutongs to Shichahai.
· Mutianyu Great Wall
Proceed from Beijing to Mutianyu; take the cable car up the mountain and then walk along the walls to a distance suited to your fitness.
· National Museum, Temple of Heaven and High-Speed Rail
Spend the morning in Beijing, visiting the National Museum and Temple of Heaven; then take a high-speed train to Xi'an.
High-speed Train
Xi'an · Day 6 - Day 8
· Terracotta Army Pit
Witness the formation and intricate details of the terracotta warriors beside the pits, tailoring your exploration pace to your energy levels.
· Qin Crossbow Models and Bell & Drum Tower District
Assemble your model at the workshop, then stroll the lanes around the Bell and Drum Towers in the evening to explore local food stalls.
· A pagoda, then south
Spend the morning in Xi'an visiting the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, then travel to Chengdu by high-speed rail; stay overnight in Chengdu.
High-speed Train
Chengdu · Day 9 - Day 12
· Panda Base & People's Park
Spend your morning watching giant pandas, then relax in the afternoon with tea at a traditional teahouse in the People's Park.
· Market Visit & Sichuan Cuisine Lesson
Browse the market for fresh ingredients, then head to the kitchen to cook them yourself.
· Wanizhai Alley and Sichuan Opera
Walk through the grey-brick courtyards and alleyways, then head to the theatre for a Sichuan opera performance.
· Return to Chengdu
After breakfast, proceed to the airport according to flight time, concluding the twelve-day itinerary.
Departures
Free PDF
Read it on your own time
We'll send this itinerary guide to your inbox for free.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
With its superior location, it is a desirable place to stay in Chengdu.
Xi'an
Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel
Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
With its superior location, it is a desirable place to stay in Chengdu.
Xi'an
Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel
Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
With its superior location, it is a desirable place to stay in Chengdu.
Xi'an
Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel
Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleThe base fare includes local tour vehicles in Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu, as well as same-day round-trip transport from central Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall; high-speed rail journeys for two segments, and airport and station transfers are quoted separately per written order.
- Hotel11-night accommodation included: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 in Xi'an, and 4 in Chengdu. Specific hotels, room types, breakfast, and costs are subject to your order confirmation.
- GuidesCertified English-speaking guides are provided on each city's tour day, including an evening walk through Xi'an's Bell and Drum Tower district.
- Your ItineraryThe Palace Museum and the National Museum of China require advance booking based on your travel dates; we can assist with the reservation, with specific time slots and fees subject to venue policies and order confirmation.
- Admissions & Experiences, BeijingTiananmen Square · The Central Axis and North Gate of the Forbidden City · Jingshan Park · Hutongs and Shichahai · Mutianyu Great Wall · Temple of Heaven · National Museum of China. Please note that the actual items included, specifically regarding tickets and the Mutianyu cable car, are subject to written quotation confirmation.
- Admissions & Experiences, Xi'anTerracotta Army Pit · Qin Crossbow Model Workshop · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and surroundings · Nightly Stroll through the Bell and Drum Tower District. Workshop courses, tickets, and requirements for carrying finished products are subject to actual arrangements.
- Admissions & Experiences, ChengduChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Tea houses in People's Park, Wet market & Sichuan cooking class, Kuanzhai Alley, and Sichuan opera performance. Inclusions for tea seats, classes, performances, and backstage access will be confirmed in writing based on your travel date.
- Bookings & SecurityAllow extra time for security checks at Tiananmen Square; on Day 5, verify the connections between the museums, Temple of Heaven, and high-speed train against your actual booked time slots and train schedule.
- MealsThe itinerary includes hotel breakfasts from Day 2 to Day 12; tea house beverages, dishes prepared during the Sichuan cooking class, and associated fees are subject to the order confirmation.
- InsuranceTravel Accident Insurance
Not Included
- International flightsFlights into Beijing and out of Chengdu. Onward connections out of Chengdu are also outside the base price: see Special Notes
- Inter-city high-speed railHigh-speed rail tickets from Beijing to Xi'an on Day 5 and from Xi'an to Chengdu on Day 8 are not included in the base rate starting from USD 4,060; specific train services, seat classes, and fares will be quoted separately based on your travel dates.
- Airport and station transfersAirport pickup in Beijing, airport drop-off in Chengdu, and station transfers at both ends of the two high-speed rail segments are not included in the base fare; they can be arranged separately according to flight and train schedules and quoted in writing.
- VisaVisa fees and processing are not included in the itinerary; please verify whether a visa is required based on your passport, travel dates, and official policies.
- MealsIn addition to the breakfast and experience meals confirmed in the order, lunch and dinner are self-arranged. Requests for restaurant recommendations or reservations may be made; Xi'an night market snacks are settled on-site.
- Park transport and on-site purchasesInclusion of shuttle buses, sightseeing cars, mini-trains, Mutianyu cable cars and on-site consumption depends on the order quote; photography, audio guides and souvenirs are charged at personal discretion.
- Optional Add-onsSelected add-ons are priced separately; the base plan does not include any optional items
- IndividualTips, single room supplement, extra bed supplement, laundry fees, and personal expenses
Special Notes
A few things on this route follow the calendar, the season or a supplier's confirmation. Here they are, told straight.
- Family Room — This itinerary can be arranged on a per-booking basis. If connecting or family rooms are required, please provide travel dates, guest count, and room requirements; available room types and prices across the three cities will be verified for each booking and specified in the confirmation. No room type is guaranteed prior to final confirmation.
- Departure dates — Please provide your travel dates. We will check the opening and reservation schedules for sites such as the Forbidden City, holiday visitor flows, and the two high-speed rail services. Should any site be closed, we will adjust the itinerary sequence and confirm with you.
- Winter at the Great Wall — The Mutianyu cable car may be suspended due to weather or maintenance. Please verify the actual operating status and the scope of walking routes on the city wall before your visit; should the cable car be unavailable on the day, any itinerary adjustments and the handling of unused tickets will be governed by the terms confirmed in your booking.
- Tiananmen Square Security Screening — Please allow time for security checks when entering Tiananmen Square. Entry time slots for the Forbidden City must also be reserved and confirmed for your chosen travel date.
- Two rail legs — High-speed rail is planned for the Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Chengdu legs. Train tickets and transfers at both ends are quoted separately; specific train numbers, seat classes, and costs are determined by travel dates and stated in the written quote.
- Return flight from Chengdu — The itinerary concludes in Chengdu. Return flights and whether a layover is required depend on your departure point and dates; if you require assistance with booking, please specify this when requesting a quote, with flight details and costs to be confirmed separately.
- Visa window — Visa and visa-exemption requirements depend on your passport, mode of entry, length of stay, and travel dates. Please verify the official policy before booking and before departure.
- US passports — Travellers holding a US passport should also verify the entry policies applicable to their specific itinerary and allow sufficient time for any visas they need to obtain.
- Group — Private itinerary, reserved exclusively for your group. Minimum of 1 guest; group size confirmed at booking.
- Confirmation and changes — Booking confirmation deadlines, change and refund terms are subject to the written quotation and order conditions.
Is Twelve Days Your Length?
Fewer than twelve days?
Fewer than twelve days?
The three cities separate cleanly: Beijing and Xi'an stand on their own, and the Chengdu leg can be shortened by a day without losing the pandas or the cooking class. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we'll cut days rather than cut the pace.
Good to Know
- Group
- A private itinerary, exclusively for your group. Minimum of 1 guest; final group size confirmed at booking.
- Pace
- 12 Days Across Three Cities: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 in Xi’an, 4 in Chengdu. D5 and D8 are intercity high-speed rail days; the daily pace of walking and activities can be adjusted to suit the stamina of your travel companions.
- Effort
- There are steps to the summit of Jingshan and further walking is required once you reach the Great Wall. For Mutianyu, adjust your plans according to the cable car's operational status and the energy levels of your family. The actual walking distances between the Terracotta Warriors, temples, and parks, as well as theatre seating, will be confirmed based on your selected itinerary and booking arrangements.
- Departure & Arrival Cities
- Arrive in Beijing, depart from Chengdu; separate airport transfers for arrival in Beijing and departure from Chengdu can be arranged and quoted on request.
- Transport
- City sightseeing transport is included; two high-speed rail journeys and airport/ station transfers are quoted separately, with actual schedules and transfer times confirmed per booking.
- Visas
- Verify official visa and visa-exemption policies according to passport, mode of entry, length of stay, and travel dates.
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking local guides throughout, city by city
- Payment
- This itinerary is available for booking. Conditions for deposits, final payments, changes, and refunds are governed by the order quotation and confirmed terms.
- Season
- Verify venue openings, scenic area operations, rail schedules, and hotel room types against your travel dates.
Your Private Concierge Service
Jenny
China Private Travel Route Consultant
“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”
Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.
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%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
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
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
That is the question this route was built around. Days two through eleven each carry at most two listed items, and two of those days are easy days. The only climb is the Great Wall and it is done by lift in both directions. The terracotta pits are viewed from flat walkways, the crossbow workshop and the opera are seated, and the teahouse afternoon has no next stop in it. Where a site is large, as the Forbidden City is, the route is cut to one line with places to sit.
Not yet, and we will not pretend otherwise. We have not secured a bookable connecting or family room type in Beijing, Xi'an or Chengdu, so bookings are not open: no orders, no deposits, and no connecting room is promised anywhere on this page. What you can do now is tell us your dates, and we will write to you the day the room types are confirmed and the route opens.
By the lift section, which is included in your price in both directions, this route has no walking climb anywhere. What we cannot promise for those months is which lift runs. Part of the service at Mutianyu is open-air; open-air service stops in high wind, snow and ice, and the operator has not yet given us this season's operating days in writing, so we will not sell you an enclosed cabin we cannot guarantee. Your quote states in writing which way up your order uses. If the lift is not running on the day, your guide re-plans the day and the ticket cost of the unused section is refunded, and the Beijing days around it are unaffected.
It is usually easier. Both legs run in the afternoon after an easy morning, both are around three and a half to four and a half hours with a seat number on every ticket, and your own vehicle runs the hotel and station ends at both cities. Nobody queues for a bag drop and nobody is moved through an airport after a full day out. Your seat class is being finalized, so it is written into your quote; second, first and business class are all quotable.
Most guests on this route do not. UK, most European and Canadian passports enter visa-free for stays of up to 12 days, and so do Australian and New Zealand passports. We check your 12 days plus any extra days in China against that window before you pay. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026, so departures on or before December 19, 2026 finish inside it with a day of margin. US passports are different: the US is not on that list and 12 days is longer than the 10-day transit policy allows, so US guests hold a Chinese tourist or business visa and need to allow processing time. We confirm visa status before any payment, and if the dates do not fit, we say so instead of selling.
