8-Day Beijing Xi'an Zhangjiajie Private Tour
Travel across 3 iconic Chinese destinations in 8 days: Beijing imperial landmarks, Xi’an Terracotta Army and Zhangjiajie Avatar mountain peaks, with private car & English guide.
Day 1: Arrival & Airport Pick-up
- Private airport transfer: Driver and guide greet you at Beijing Airport, assist luggage and transfer to downtown hotel.
- Free leisure time to rest and recover from long flight after hotel check-in.
- Tips: Exact pick-up schedule will be confirmed 24 hours in advance via phone, email or hotel front desk.
Day 2: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
Guide waits in hotel lobby; pick-up time confirmed the previous evening. Departure may be advanced during peak seasons to avoid heavy traffic.
08:00–11:00 Temple of Heaven (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Ming & Qing imperial heaven worship altar with classic ancient Chinese ritual architecture.
- Key spots: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Danbi Bridge, Echo Wall, Circular Mound Altar with unique acoustic and astronomical design.
11:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch
Local restaurant recommendations: Peking duck, Zhajiangmian noodles, traditional imperial pastries; diverse catering choices around the scenic spot.
13:00–16:00 Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
- 30-minute landmark photo time at Tiananmen Square, the core symbol of Beijing’s central axis.
- Forbidden City: World’s largest intact ancient wooden imperial complex covering 720,000㎡ with 9999.5 rooms, symmetrically divided into Outer Court and Inner Court with golden glazed roofs and red walls.
16:00–17:00 Jingshan Park
Classic imperial garden on Beijing’s central axis; climb Wanchun Pavilion for full panoramic overlook of the entire Forbidden City.
17:30 Transfer back to hotel, end of Day 2 itinerary.
Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park & City Streets
07:00–08:30 Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall
73km from downtown Beijing, Mutianyu is one of the best-preserved Ming Great Wall sections surrounded by dense forest.
08:30–12:00 Mutianyu Great Wall Sightseeing
- 96% vegetation coverage, fresh mountain air and fewer crowds, praised as the most picturesque Great Wall section.
- Round-trip cable car available; Zhengguan Platform delivers layered mountain and tower panoramic views with year-round stunning scenery.
12:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch
Farmhouse dishes nearby: mushroom braised chicken, wild vegetable pancakes and local tofu specialties.
13:00–15:00 Beijing Olympic Park
- 2008 Olympic core venue cluster including Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Center.
- 413,000㎡ dragon-shaped artificial lake runs through the park, combining modern architecture and natural landscapes.
15:00–17:30 Dashilan & Wangfujing Pedestrian Street
- Dashilan: 500-year-old ancient commercial street with time-honored brands and old Beijing folk snacks.
- Wangfujing: Centuries-old shopping street; recommended treats: candied hawthorns, fried chestnuts and Beijing yogurt.
17:30 Return to hotel, end of Day 3.
Day 4: Beijing Zoo, Dumpling DIY & High-Speed Rail to Xi’an
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
Pick-up time fully confirmed one day in advance.
08:00–11:00 Beijing Zoo
Holds over 430 animal species, core highlight: national treasure giant pandas, plus flamingos, golden monkeys and rare wild animals.
11:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch + Handmade Dumpling Cultural Experience
Taste northern/Sichuan dishes nearby; join a dumpling-making workshop to create exclusive authentic Chinese travel memories.
13:00–17:00 High-Speed Train to Xi’an
4.5-hour comfortable high-speed rail trip to Xi’an, the ancient Silk Road starting city. Private hotel transfer upon arrival.
Day 5: Huaqing Palace, Terracotta Army & Datang Everbright City
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
08:00–11:00 Huaqing Palace (5A Scenic Spot)
Tang Dynasty royal hot spring resort 30km east of Xi’an, adjacent to Terracotta Army, featuring imperial gardens, hot spring relics and Xi’an Incident historical sites.
11:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch
Shaanxi local specialties: biangbiang noodles, roujiamo, cold noodles and crispy meat buns.
13:00–15:30 Terracotta Army (UNESCO World Heritage)
Eighth Wonder of the World, massive archaeological site with thousands of life-sized unique pottery warriors restoring Qin Dynasty grand military formation.
15:30–17:30 Datang Everbright City
Immersive Tang cultural pedestrian block with ancient-style architecture, street performances and gorgeous night light shows recreating prosperous Tang Dynasty scenery.
17:30 Return to hotel, end of Day 5 itinerary.
Day 6: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda & Flight to Zhangjiajie
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
08:00–11:00 Ci’en Temple & Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Famous Tang Dynasty Buddhist landmark built for Monk Xuanzang’s scripture translation, core Silk Road heritage symbol with elegant ancient pagoda architecture.
11:00–11:30 Self-Paid Lunch
Quick local Xi’an snacks available near the temple scenic area.
12:00–17:00 Flight to Zhangjiajie
Fly to Zhangjiajie, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage famous for unique quartz sandstone peak forests and the prototype Avatar floating mountains. Private hotel transfer after landing.
Day 7: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
08:00–09:00 Hotel Pick-up
09:00–16:00 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Yuanjiajie: Hallelujah Avatar Mountain, First Bridge Under Heaven, Soul-losing Terrace cliff viewpoints.
- Tianzi Mountain: Panoramic peak forest valley views named after ancient Tujia chieftain.
- Jinbian Stream: Gentle tree-lined riverside hiking trail with crystal clear mountain water.
- Bailong Elevator: World’s tallest outdoor cliff elevator for panoramic mountain views.
12:00–13:00 Self-Paid Lunch Inside Park
Hunan & Tujia ethnic dishes: cured wild vegetable pork, local mountain fish and handmade rice cakes.
16:00 Return to hotel for rest after mountain hiking, end of Day 7.
Day 8: Tianmen Mountain & Departure Transfer
07:00–08:00 Hotel Pick-up
08:00–14:00 Tianmen Mountain 5A Scenic Area
- Ride the world’s longest 7.5km mountain cable car to the summit.
- Thrilling cliff glass skywalk with 1400m altitude valley views.
- Majestic Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate) natural arch and symbolic 999 Heaven Steps.
- Ancient Tianmen Temple and winding 99-Bend Heavenly Road overlook.
14:00–15:00 Self-Paid Lunch & Departure Transfer
Final Hunan spicy local lunch before private transfer to Zhangjiajie airport or railway station, marking the end of this 8-day three-city China private tour.
Important Notice
This itinerary is for reference only; minor adjustments may apply due to weather, traffic or scenic area regulations. Thank you for your understanding.
