Northern Classics
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 Square](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Hotel: 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.
![Jinshanling Great Wall](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Hotel: 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 Palace](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Hotel: 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 City](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Hotel: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 Courtyard](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Hotel: 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 Army](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Breakfast
The Hotel to Airport Transfer
Enjoy a cozy and relax time before you head back home. The hotel to airport transfer is arranged for you in good time to get your flight.
Good to know
Enjoy free time or visit the Shaanxi Museum before your international flight.
Price includes:
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Great time with Grandchildren
![]() Selinda Zhang was knowledgeable and intelligent. She knew her Chinese history and architecture very well, giving us and our Eurasian teenage grandchildren a comprehensive true and imaginative view of our rich and colorful Chinese past. The tour was a chance of a lifetime for our family. Thank you. more
Jun 2024, HarryCG9405X7
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One day in Beijing
![]() We spent a whole day in Beijing with Linda as a guide. It was my first Time in China, and it was so fantastic and amazing ! We saw so many things and each time she explained very well. I'm myself a big chinese history lover and, thus I asked a lot of questions. But she never got bored and answered every time with smile and passion combined ! She introduced us to Beijing way of life and suggested us local food that we shared together. Can't wait to come back again ! more
Jun 2024, Claire L
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Highlights Highteam
![]() This time we went to Beijing accompanied by the guide Li/Jennifer. I think our guide places the company name very high. He knew how to solve everything and create fun and good times. He chose excellent restaurants and walks. Also, this time, we need to go to a pharmacy and she took care of everything. more
Jun 2024, Horacio S
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