Circuit privé de 5 jours : L'essentiel de Pékin et Xi'an

All-day airport pick-up with name sign by private driver, transfer to upscale downtown Beijing hotel (Qianmen/Wangfujing/Chongwenmen area, near subway). Free time after check-in for rest and jet lag recovery. All meals on your own; recommended local food includes Peking duck, zhajiangmian and traditional Beijing snacks. Keep your phone available as the guide will reconfirm pick-up 1 hour before landing; late arrival is acceptable and you can join the tour normally the next day.

Hotel pick-up (time confirmed in advance), visit UNESCO World Heritage Temple of Heaven, the ancient imperial worship site with iconic blue-roof Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and acoustic wonders of Echo Wall. Self-paid lunch with one free traditional Chinese cultural experience to choose from: paper-cutting, dumpling making, Peking Opera mask painting or Chinese knot weaving. Afternoon visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City (world's largest preserved ancient wooden imperial complex), then climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City. Real-name reservation required for the Forbidden City; wear comfortable walking shoes.

Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall (the most beautiful, less-crowded Ming Dynasty section with 96% green coverage, optional cable car/slideway access). Self-paid farm lunch near the scenic area. Afternoon transfer to Beijing West Station for 4.5-hour high-speed train to Xi'an, enjoying North China plain and Yellow River views along the way. Local guide and driver will pick you up at Xi'an North Station and transfer to your upscale downtown hotel near Bell Tower/Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Bring ID for train check-in and arrive at the station 1 hour early.

Hotel pick-up, visit 3000-year-old Huaqing Palace imperial hot spring resort, famous for the Tang Dynasty love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei and site of the 1936 Xi'an Incident. Self-paid lunch with authentic Shaanxi food including Biangbiang noodles and roujiamo. Afternoon tour UNESCO World Heritage Terracotta Warriors Museum, the "Eighth Wonder of the World" with thousands of life-sized Qin soldiers and bronze chariots. Evening visit Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City for immersive Tang culture, street performances and famous night views.

Hotel pick-up, visit Ci'en Temple and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (UNESCO Silk Road World Heritage site built in Tang Dynasty for Monk Xuanzang's Buddhist scriptures). Self-paid lunch, then private transfer to Xi'an airport or railway station according to your schedule, marking the end of the tour. Pack luggage in advance; arrive at airport 2 hours early or train station 1 hour early for departure.