Private China Tour: 12-Day Beijing-Datong -Pingyao-Xi'an-Shanghai by Train & Flight

Be picked up at the Beijing Capital Airport & transfer to the hotel located in the downtown Beijing (just transportation).

After checking in, relax and explore Beijing at your own pace. Unwind in your room or take a casual stroll nearby to feel the city's vibe.

In the evening, enjoy Beijing's lively nightlife. Older guests may love traditional tea‑house shows like opera and acrobatics, while younger travelers can visit cool bars and cafes. Top night spots include Panjiayuan Antique Market, Wangfujing, Houhai and Niujie, perfect for local snacks and night views.

Pick up at the hotel at 8:30am to 9:00am

Tour Tian'anmen Square - one of the world's largest public square. Explore the sites around the square with opportunities to take some amazing pictures.

Forbidden City - the world's largest public square. Explore the sites around the square with opportunities to take some amazing pictures.

After lunch, drive to the hutong (old residential area). Walk around old Beijing hutong nearby Shichahai Lake.

We will then take a 30-minute ride to the Lama Temple, it's the largest and most well-preserved Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Beijing.

As an optional excursion, you may choose to include the deliciously famous Perking Roast Duck Dinner and the Acrobatic Show Performance at the Chaoyang Theatre. Please notify us if would like to take advantage of this special, exciting addition.

Pick up at the hotel (7:30am to 8:00am)

Mutianyu Great Wall - the most perfect famous and ideal section of the Great Wall. Take the cable car or chair lift up the wall and spend 1- to 2 hours hiking up and down from one section to another, seeing the Watch Towers and marveling at the construction and beauty of the Great Wall.

Lunch in a local Chinese restaurant or at the subway restaurant down the Mutianyu Wall.

Olympic Stadiums - have a stop to exterior view the unique architecture of the "Bird Nest" and "Water Cube“, just for taking photos.

Temple of Heaven: the largest Imperial place of worship from ancient times. This special place becomes a park where the local community utilizes this beautiful and enormous space for social activities such as singing, dancing, and Taiji practice.

Pearl Market: Here you can find those fun knock-off brand bags, shoes, and watches as well as pearls. There is a little bit of everything here, and you will surely find some great souvenirs to bring home to family and friends.

We then take a 40-minute drive to Summer Palace, a summer resort for Imperial Family Members - considered the best preserved Imperial Park.

Transfer to the railway station for taking the high speedy train (departures from Beijing south railway station) from Beijing to Shanghai (5 to 5.5 hours)

Be picked up at the Shanghai or Shanghai Hongqiao railway station & transfer to the hotel in downtown Shanghai.

Hotel in Datong pick up in the morning.

Yungang Cave - one of the largest stone caving art treasury famous both home and abroad, which was listed as a world heritage site in 2011. It is located at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain, the grotto area was excavated along the mountain, imposingly stretching 1 kilometer with rich contents. Covering over 18,000 square meters engraving area, there are existing 45 main caves, 209 subsidiary caves, more than 1,100 niches, and more than 51,000 stone statues, among which the largest statue measures 17 meters and the smallest only 2 centimeters.

Hanging Temple - it is a 5th-century temple built into the side of a cliff, then move on to the Wooden Pagoda, the oldest and largest wooden Buddhist pagoda in existence in the world. Seeing it from the distance, you could find it hanging in the mid air miraculously, hence the name "Hanging Temple”.

Be picked up at your hotel in Datong, then be transferred to Pingyao (approximate 4 hours driving distance). You can leave earlier in the morning maybe 8:00am and arrive at the Pingyao city at 12:00pm and our tour guide in Pingyao can meet you at your hotel then start your afternoon tour.

Pingyao Ancient Town - has the 2700-year-old, which is one of the most well-preserved ancient towns in China. It is a typical example of a Ming and Qing Dynasty Chinese town. Also, the town provides a complete overview of the cultural, social and religious development of Chinese history.

Afternoon to visit the the Pingyao Ancient Town, Ancient City Wall, and the Rishengchang Draft Bank and Ming & Qing Dynasty Street.

Full day tour to visit Family Wang Courtyard Complex and Zhangbi Castle.

Family Wang Courtyard Complex - it is a large ancient building complex which occupies a total area of 250,000 square meters. Wang Family Courtyard was the private residence of Wang Lan, with 123 courtyards and 1118 houses in an antique flavor.it is the largest folk residence among all the well-known grand courtyards. It has been said that it is the first folk house in China, the Forbidden City in Shanxi Province and the imperial palace in folk residence.

Zhangbi Castle - Zhangbi Ancient Village is a rare well-preserved miniature castle with military, residential and religious functions in Pingyao.  It focuses on the Xia and Shang dynasties' historical cultural sites, Sui and Tang dynasties' ancient tunnel, Yuan Dynasty's stage, Jin Dynasty's tomb, Ming and Qing dynasties' residential culture and a series of Chinese culture essence, having a very high academic research value and tourism ornamental value.

Take the afternoon high speed D train from Lingshi station to Xi'an.

Once you reach Xi'an north railway station, the driver will hold a welcome sign with your name on it to meet you at South Square, Sign B1, Meeting Point 1, then transfer to your hotel located at Xi'an downtown area.

Terra-Cotta Warriors - One of the most significant archaeological finds in the world, this 16,300-square-meter excavation reveals more than 7,000 life-size terra-cotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations.

Big Goose Pagoda - is a Buddhist pagoda built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty and originally had five stories. The original construction of rammed earth with a stone exterior fade eventually collapsed five decades later to be rebuilt by Empress Wu Zetian in 704AD who added five more stories. A massive earthquake in 1556 heavily damaged the pagoda and reduced it by three stories, to its current height of seven stories.

Muslim Street - located within the shadow of the Drum Tower, Huimin Jie is a 500-meter street lined with restaurants whose proprietors are almost exclusively Chinese Muslims.

City Wall - the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Drum Tower & Bell Tower - the Drum Tower was built in 1380 during the early Ming Dynasty, and got its name from the huge drum located within the building. In contrast to the Bell Tower, where bell was stricken at dawn, drum was beat at sunset to indicate the end of the day.

Great Mosque - is the oldest and one of the most renowned mosques in the country, founded in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Hangyang Tombs Museum - is the historical site designated for state protection. This mausoleum which combines modern technology, ancient civilization, historical culture and garden scenery, is built at the base of the joint tomb of Emperor Jingdi and his Empress. It is the largest museum in China.

Drop off at the Xi'an airport & take the evening domestic flight from Xi'an to Shanghai (2.5 hours, economic class).

Be picked up at Shanghai airport by your local driver & transfer to Shanghai center city hotel.

Pick you up after breakfast at your hotel at 8:30am or 9:00am.

Long Hua Temple & Pagoda - is located on the Longhua Road at the south of the city, famous for the ancient Longhua Temple and its pagoda. It was built in 242 AD which is during the period of the Three Kingdoms, Longhua Temple is the oldest temple in Shanghai for its long history of over 1700 years. Besides its long history, Longhua Temple is also the largest temple in Shanghai city.

Old Town area - visiting famous Yu Yuan Garden and Bazaar - Yu Yuan Garden is the largest and best known of the historic gardens of Shanghai (Built in 1559). The bazaar - is a market with lots of small shops / vendors selling souvenirs, hand-made crafts, folk crafts, and packed snacks.

Xintiandi - is composed of an area of restored traditional "stone gate" (Shikumen) houses on narrow alleys, a modern shopping mall with a cinema complex, and some adjoining houses which now serve as book stores, cafes and restaurants. Most of the cafes and restaurants feature both indoor and outdoor seating. A Stone Gate House Museum there is the place for you to pay a visit to the inside of a house to experience the life in the "Stone Gate" house.

Local Flower & Bird Market Experience-experience the local people's life.

The Bund area - is one of the top ten Shanghai attractions. Just like a gallery of international architectures - historic European style buildings located on the Bund. It's the showcase of the city's colonial past and its transformation in the new year. Known as “the Wall Street in the Far East" in the colonial period. We will visit the original HSBC bank and the Peace hotel including the history gallery in the hotel.

Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone - is the place not only being the finance and trade center of Shanghai, even China, but also full of the high skyscrapers.

Local Park in the Former French Concession Area - have an idea of the morning activities of the Shanghai locals, experience the life style and be a local here.

Old Alley / Lane in Former French Concession Area - walking along the old alley / lane to explore the local life in the old house / lane. Best way to get away the hustling urban life and relax in that area.

Little White House - is a spectacular mansion which was one of the most opulent houses in former French Concession. It was home to a high-ranking official of the French Municipality at that time. Now is Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum.

Water Village (Zhujiajiao) - is crisscrossed by rivers and canals, with 9 long streets running along the rivers and thousand of buildings of Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture flanking both sides.

After the tour, drop you off at the hotel in Shanghai in the end of the entire trip.

Shanghai hotel pick up & transfer to Shanghai airport for your departure flight.  (transportation only with Chinese speaking driver)

Please note: 

1. If there are any children join the tour, please email us to check the detailed update price accordingly, thanks. 

2. If you have any other different ideas, please email us to customize the personalized tour for you.