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Overview
从北京中轴线走进故宫，再从景山回望宫殿屋顶。离开北京前到国家博物馆和天坛，乘高铁前往西安；在那里看兵马俑、做秦弩模型，再经大雁塔乘高铁到成都。最后几天留给熊猫基地、人民公园茶馆、菜市场与川菜课，还有宽窄巷子和川剧。
— LyrikTrip 旅行设计师
请告诉我们出行日期、人数和同行者的需求。我们会据此核对连通房、场馆预约和长城游览方式，并在书面报价中说明安排与费用。
Why you'll love this trip
- Three cities, two train rides. Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, pandas and a Sichuan opera stage, with English-speaking guides city by city.
- 12 days from the Forbidden City to a family kitchen bench. Understand the whole line.
- Start your morning by passing through the Forbidden City, continuing straight ahead, then climb the small hill on its northern side to look back at the rooftops you were standing among just an hour ago.
- At the Mutianyu Great Wall, you can take a cable car up the mountain and then walk along the wall for as far as your family’s energy allows.
- Stand at the edge of the Terracotta Warriors pit and take in the arrays, armor, and postures of the clay soldiers.
- In Xi'an, assemble a miniature Qin crossbow; then head to Chengdu's local market to pick out fresh ingredients and cook authentic Sichuan dishes together.
- Head to the panda base early in the morning, when the pandas are typically active rather than resting.
- Shop for fresh ingredients in a Chengdu market, then cook and taste a Sichuan dinner recipe passed down through three generations.
- In an intimate community theater rather than a hotel banquet hall, witness a face-change performer's masks transform in an instant, yet remain utterly baffled by the secret of the art.
Things to do
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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
· Arrival in Beijing
Travel from the airport to the city center and rest upon arrival. No sightseeing is scheduled for this day.
· One axis through the palace
Enter the Forbidden City through Tiananmen Square and walk along the central axis to the Imperial Garden and the north gate.
· Jingshan Park & Shichahai
Overlook the Forbidden City, which you walked through yesterday, from Jingshan Park, then wander along the hutongs to Shichahai.
· Mutianyu Great Wall
Head from Beijing to Mutianyu; you can take the cable car up the mountain and then choose how much of the city wall to walk, based on your energy.
· National Museum, Temple of Heaven & High-Speed Rail
In the morning, remain in Beijing to visit the National Museum and the Temple of Heaven; then take the high-speed train to Xi'an.
高铁
Xi'an · Day 6 - Day 8
· Terra Cotta Warriors Pit
Observe the formations and pottery details from the pits' edge, and adjust your viewing range to your stamina.
· Qin Crossbow Model and Bell and Drum Tower District
Assemble your model in the workshop, then walk to the area around the Drum Tower in the evening to explore the lanes and food stalls.
· A pagoda, then south
In the morning, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, then take a high-speed train to Chengdu; overnight in Chengdu.
高铁
Chengdu · Day 9 - Day 12
· Panda Base and People's Park
In the morning, see the giant pandas; in the afternoon, take a seat at a teahouse in People's Park.
· Market Visit & Sichuan Cooking Class
Browse fresh ingredients at the market first, then head into the kitchen to cook.
· Kuanzhai Alley & Sichuan Opera
Wander through the grey-brick courtyard and narrow streets, then catch a Sichuan opera performance at the theater.
· Return Journey from Chengdu
After breakfast, proceed to the airport in time for your flight, bringing this twelve-day journey to a close.
Departures
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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 high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
Located near Jianshe Road and the Eastern Suburb Memory Park, its prime location makes it a desirable choice for accommodation in Chengdu.
Xian
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 high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
Located near Jianshe Road and the Eastern Suburb Memory Park, its prime location makes it a desirable choice for accommodation in Chengdu.
Xian
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 high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
Located near Jianshe Road and the Eastern Suburb Memory Park, its prime location makes it a desirable choice for accommodation in Chengdu.
Xian
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 rate covers local sightseeing transport in Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu, as well as the same-day round-trip transfer from central Beijing to the Mutianyu Great Wall; high-speed rail tickets and airport/station transfers are quoted separately in the written order.
- HotelItinerary includes 11 nights of accommodation: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 in Xi'an, and 4 in Chengdu. Specific hotels, room types, breakfast arrangements, and fees are subject to the order confirmation.
- Tour GuideEach sightseeing day in all three cities includes a licensed English-speaking guide, featuring an evening walk in Xi'an's Bell and Drum Tower area.
- Your booked itineraryReservations are required for the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China based on your travel dates; assistance is available, with specific time slots and fees subject to confirmation from the venues and your booking.
- Tickets & Experiences, BeijingTiananmen Square · The Forbidden City’s central axis and its north entrance · Jingshan Park · The hutongs and Shichahai · Mutianyu Great Wall · Temple of Heaven · National Museum of China. Inclusions for tickets and the Mutianyu cable car are subject to written quotation confirmation.
- Tickets & Experiences, Xi'anTerracotta Army pits · Qin crossbow workshop · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and vicinity · Nighttime stroll through the Bell and Drum Tower district. Specifics regarding workshop classes, tickets, and carry-out requirements for finished pieces will be confirmed based on actual arrangements.
- Tickets & Experiences, ChengduChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · People's Park teahouse · Wet market & Sichuan cuisine class · Kuanzhai Alley · Sichuan opera performance. Inclusions for teahouse seating, class, performance, and backstage tour will be confirmed in writing based on travel dates.
- Reservations & Security ChecksPlease allow extra time for security checks at Tiananmen Square. On day five, check the museums, Temple of Heaven, and high-speed rail connections against your actual booking time slots and train schedules.
- DiningThe itinerary includes hotel breakfast for days 2 through 12; tea house beverages and the dishes prepared in the Sichuan cooking class, including their 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 for Day 5 (Beijing to Xi'an) and Day 8 (Xi'an to Chengdu) are not included in the base price starting at $4,060; specific trains, seat classes, and fees will be quoted separately based on the travel dates.
- Airport and train 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; these can be arranged separately based on your flight and train numbers, with a written quote provided upon request.
- VisaVisa fees and processing services are not included in the itinerary. Please verify visa requirements based on your passport, travel dates, and official policies.
- Meals & diningExcluding the confirmed breakfast and experiential meals included in your booking, lunch and dinner are self-arranged. We can provide restaurant recommendations or make reservations upon request; Xi’an night market snacks are billed on a pay-as-you-go basis at the venue.
- In-park transportation and on-site dining/retailWhether scenic-area shuttle buses, sightseeing trams, small trains, the Mutianyu cable cars, and on-site purchases are included depends on the quoted price in your order; photography, audio guides, and souvenirs are at your own expense.
- Optional Add-onsPriced separately at selection; the base plan does not include any optional items
- PersonalGratuities, single room supplement or extra room charges, laundry fees, 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 Type — This tour can be customized per booking. If connecting or family rooms are required, please provide your travel dates, number of guests, and room preferences. Available room types and prices across the three cities will be verified for each order and noted on the confirmation sheet. Room types are not guaranteed until confirmed.
- Departure dates — Please provide your travel dates. We will verify opening hours and reservation availability for venues such as the Forbidden City, holiday crowd conditions, and schedules for two high-speed rail segments. In the event of a closure day, we will adjust your daily itinerary and confirm the changes with you.
- Winter at the Great Wall — The Mutianyu cable car may be suspended due to weather or maintenance. Before traveling, verify the actual operating status and the scope of the walking tour on the Great Wall; if it cannot be used on the day of your visit, itinerary adjustments and the handling of unused tickets will be governed by the terms confirmed in your booking.
- Tiananmen Square Security Check — Please allow time for security screening when entering Tiananmen Square, and confirm your entry slot to the Forbidden City in advance based on your travel date.
- Two rail legs — High-speed rail travel is planned for the Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Chengdu segments. Ticket costs and transfers at both ends are extra; specific train numbers, seat classes, and fees will be confirmed in a written quote based on your travel dates.
- Return Flight from Chengdu — Your itinerary ends in Chengdu. Whether your return flight requires a connection depends on your departure point and date. If you'd like us to book it for you, please mention this in your inquiry; flight details and costs will be confirmed separately.
- Visa window — Visa and visa-exemption requirements depend on your passport, entry method, duration of stay, and travel dates. Please verify official policies before booking and before departure.
- US passports — Travelers holding a U.S. passport should also verify the entry requirements applicable to their specific itinerary and allow sufficient time for any visa applications.
- Group — Private itinerary, exclusively for your group. Bookable from 1 guest; group size confirmed upon booking.
- Confirmation and changes — Booking confirmation deadlines, modification, and refund terms are subject to the written quotation and order terms.
Is Twelve Days Your Length?
Fewer than twelve days?
Fewer than twelve days?
The three cities come apart cleanly: Beijing and Xi'an stand on their own, and the Chengdu stretch can shorten by a day without losing the pandas or the cooking class. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we cut days rather than cut the pace.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private itinerary, exclusive to your group. Minimum of 1 guest; group size confirmed per booking.
- Pace
- 12 Days, 3 Cities: 4 nights in Beijing, 3 nights in Xi'an, and 4 nights in Chengdu. Days 5 and 8 are intercity high-speed rail days; the walking pace and activity level for each day can be adjusted based on the energy levels of your travel companions.
- Effort
- Reaching the summit of Jingshan Park involves climbing steps, and you'll also need to walk once you reach the Great Wall; for Mutianyu, adjust your plans based on cable car availability and your family's energy levels. Actual walking distances to the Terracotta Warriors, temples, and parks, as well as theater seating, depend on the route you select and your booking details.
- Cities of Departure & Arrival
- Arrive in Beijing and depart from Chengdu; pickup in Beijing and drop-off in Chengdu can be arranged separately and quoted on request.
- Transport
- Local sightseeing vehicles are included; pricing for the two high-speed rail segments and transfers between the airport and station will be quoted separately, with actual schedules and pickup times confirmed upon booking.
- Visas
- Verify official visa and visa-exemption policies based on passport, entry method, duration of stay, and travel dates.
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking local guides throughout, city by city
- Payment
- This route is available for booking. Deposit, balance, changes, and refund terms are subject to the order quote and confirmation terms.
- Season
- Check venue openings, scenic area status, train schedules, and hotel room types against your travel date.
Your Private Concierge
Jenessa
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around 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%
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 traveler 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 traveler.
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 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 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.
