Northern Classics
8-Day Beijing–Pingyao–Xi'an Private Tour By High-Speed Train
Private guide and driver offer thoughtful service during your stay and have an in-depth exploration by visiting imperial places: the Forbidden City, the political center; the Summer Palace, a fancy royal garden; the Temple of Heaven, used as place to worship the heaven. Modern art zone at 798 feast your eyes. Of course, hiking on the Great Wall is another highlight.
One week tour to visit three "bright pearls" in the north part of China. They are full of culture, history and enjoy personal touch with your guide in each city.
Suggested Itinerary
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (Superior Room) (TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2015)
Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Your guide, driver and private car will be waiting for you when you arrive in Beijing at the airport. They will help you with your luggage and check-into the hotel.
Your afternoon or evening is for you to relax and recover after your long international flight. Your guide will also help point out to you places to eat or what you can do nearby your hotel.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (Superior Room)
Breakfast & Lunch
Visiting Beijing's Classic Sights
After a hearty breakfast you will be ready to explore some of Beijing's classic sights. Your guide will be waiting in the lobby for you when you are ready to roam. A visit to Tian'anmen Square located in the center of the city, has great cultural significance. Head to the north gate, and you can get panoramic shots overlooking the Square.
Make your way through the Forbidden City an important and historical monument that will open your eyes to what life was once like in the Imperial Palace. Take a rickshaw to the Hutongs from the Bell Tower to the Drum Tower to capture the experience of this once ancient lifestyle. Visit a family who has lived in the Hutong for generations and hear their life story. Enjoy the lunch at a local restaurant.
Enter into a Chinese Village Kindergarten
Take a trip to Gaobeidian Village with a history of over 1000 years. You will have an opportunity to the village kindergarten to enjoy the children's performance and play games with them.
Did you know …
Tiananmen Square is named after the Tiananmen Gate meaning Gate of Heavenly Peace and is located north of the square – the entrance to the Forbidden City.
The Tian'anmen SquareHotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (Superior Room)
Breakfast & Lunch
Walking on the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a about 2.5 hours' drive from downtown Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains.
Good to know
If you are interested in hiking, we also offer a 3-4 hour hiking from Simatai west to Jinshanlin section.
The Mutianyu Section of the Great WallHotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (Superior Room)
Breakfast & Lunch
Visit more Cultural Classics and Royal Gardens
Today, your guide will take you to see some classical royal relics, including the Temple of Heaven which was used by the emperor to offer prayers to the highest God. We then head to the Summer Palace also known as the Museum of Royal Gardens, which was initially built in 1750. You can take a short boat ride on the lake to the Island Temple like the ancient royals in the Qing Dynasty. We will lunch at the Jardine Matheson Spring Restaurant.
If you are an art or antique lover, the choice is yours to see :
The 798 Art District, once an abandoned factory built in the 1950s now displays the largest and most popular art zone in China.
Good to know
Things to do in the evening – acrobatic shows, puppet theatre, or see a Beijing opera show!
The Summer PalaceHotel: Yunjincheng Folk Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch
Early Morning Train (HSR) to Pingyao
You will be transferred to the railway station for the morning train leaving Beijing at 07:58 and get to Pingyao at 12:09 in the morning. You will be met at the station in Pingyao and taken to your hotel.
Walk around the Pingyao Ancient Town
Go back in time as we explore Pingyao Ancient Town. Considered the best ancient walled city in China, it is off-limits to cars so you can walk along the cobbled streets. The buildings are delicately constructed and decorated in a Ming and Qing style, comfortable and easy for visitors to appreciate the authentic flavor of old times.
Pingyao Ancient CityHotel:Wyndham Grand Xian South
Breakfast & Lunch
Visit Wang Family Courtyard
After breakfast, your guide, driver and private car will be ready for you to visit Wang Family Courtyard, a North China Folk House during the Qing Dynasty. Folk residences are the earliest architectural types in the history of China. These residences are usually in diversified forms with no restrictions and built according to local conditions.
Pingyao to Xi'an by HSR
Leave the hassles of transfer to your guide, as you will be taken to the railway station to Xi'an – hometown to the Terracotta Soldiers.
Wang Family CourtyardHotel: Wyndham Grand Xian South
Breakfast & Lunch
Visit Xi'an's Historic Site – The Terracotta Warriors
Visit the Terracotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty. This magnificent army of Emperor Qin dates back to 210 B.C. Enjoy a lunch at A Wa Shan Zhan Restaurant before you turn back to the city center.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and enjoy a walk around the park. The pagoda was built around 400 AD and offers a view of the city as you ascend to the top.
Biking on the Ancient City Wall is also a highlight of Xi'an to take a birds'-eye view of the whole city.
Good to know
In the evening, you can visit the Muslim Quarter, walk around the many stalls and sample some of their local delicacies. The Bell Tower is nearby which is lit up at night.
The Terracotta ArmyPrice includes:
What Our Customers Said
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Fantastic
What an epic day we had with or guide “Ivy” from the tour company “China Highlights” visiting Tianamen Square, Forbidden City, having a local Chinese meal and walking on the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu!! Ivy was informative, personable, fun, caring and delivered a great experience for us. Her guide experience was evident in her management and pace of our day and making sure we went to great picture locations that created lasting memories of our trip!! Highly recommend you asking for Ivy. moreMar 2023, Drew Walker
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Adorable trip to Beijing with China Highlights
Such an amazing time spent together with my husband and our guide Nancy in Beijing. We recommend booking the tour with China Highlights as that was an incredibly smart idea and trip we have had over past few days. Visiting the Great Wall of China, the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven etc., getting more close to the history of China, having the delicious food - that was all done by the CH. We won’t be having such wonderful time without you guys. Still being so amazed and impressed by the historical progress of the country. Much appreciated for your support, help and time, Dear Nancy and China Highlights. Kind Regards, Kenneth&Assel Gillan moreMar 2023, Assel G
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Great Wall Day Trip with Ivy
She answered our questions thoroughly and she also provided us with recommendations for food and things to see outside of our Great Wall day trip. The driver was also a very safe driver and made it a comfortable drive from the city center. We hope to use China Highlights again for future trips. And if you’re in Beijing, you can request for Ivy as your guide. moreFeb 2023, kattaubry
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Great Wall Tour with Ivy
Ivy was a wonderful guide! We took a day trip to the Great Wall and she made our time enjoyable and customized to what we wanted. She was obviously very knowledgeable and passionate about the city. We also avoided tourist traps and she took group photos for us! moreFeb 2023, Customer
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Great Wall Tour with Ivy
We recommend booking with China Highlights! They were able to create a custom trip for us with just a day’s notice. They’re very responsive on WeChat and very professional. moreFeb 2023, Customer
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Fantastic Beijing Tour with Tour Guide - Angela
Had a great time visiting Beijing over Chinese New Year! The city was quiet, but that made it easier to see everything that we wanted to. Our tour guide, Angela, was very knowledgeable and friendly. We found a local brewery, Slow Boat, that we went to twice it was so good. Amazing beer and best burger of my life! We can't wait to book another trip with China Highlights. moreFeb 2023, Kate P
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Beautiful experience in Beijing
The Forbidden City was a highlight of the tour. With Christina's knowledgeable and engaging commentary, we learned about the history of the imperial palace and its role as the center of Chinese politics for over 500 years. The complex is massive, and it was impressive to see the intricate details of the architecture and gardens. moreFeb 2023, Valeria RP
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Amazing 2 day trip to Beijing
Our guide Lily and driver Leo were amazing and super conscious that we were traveling with a toddler. Lily was knowledgeable about all of our stops and was very conscious of our time. She even took special time to relate and connect with our daughter which made the trip even more enjoyable for all of us. moreJan 2023, Jessica T
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