01
Overview
Seven days, two capitals, and the story told in reverse. You begin in Beijing, where China's last two dynasties ruled from the Forbidden City, and finish in Xi'an, capital of the first emperor who unified the country. One afternoon on a business-class high-speed train joins them, with no airport in between. Three nights in each city means you unpack twice and each capital gets the time to be more than its postcard. You come home with China's imperial story in working order: an ending you stood inside, and a beginning you met face to face.
LyrikTrip travel designers
Your route is planned and noted before you land; a professional English-speaking guide is with you on every touring day in both capitals.
Why you'll love this trip
- Two capitals, three nights each. The Great Wall, hutong lanes, a city wall you cycle and a dumpling banquet, with English-speaking guides in both cities.
- Stand where the empire ended before the week shows you where it began, two capitals closed in one loop.
- Walk Mutianyu tower to tower and read the ridge the way its builders did, mountains as half the defense.
- Read the first emperor's army as an order of battle, rank and formation still holding underground.
- Eat Xi'an twice in a day, a dumpling banquet at night and Sajinqiao's stalls by morning.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 3
· Beijing: arrival
Check in, rest and reset your clock; a first neighborhood walk is optional.
· Beijing: the last palace
· Beijing: the wall in the mountains
High-speed rail
Xi'an · Day 4 - Day 7
· Beijing to Xi'an: the pages turn back
· Xi'an: the first emperor's army
· Xi'an: the wall and the food street
Keep the afternoon for rest, shopping or your own corner of Xi'an.
· Departure
Breakfast, a last walk or slow packing follows your departure time.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
xi'an
Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an
A comfortable serviced-apartment option in Xi'an, suited to travellers who like extra space and a more residential feel.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
xi'an
Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an
A comfortable serviced-apartment option in Xi'an, suited to travellers who like extra space and a more residential feel.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
xi'an
Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an
A comfortable serviced-apartment option in Xi'an, suited to travellers who like extra space and a more residential feel.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehiclesAir-conditioned private vehicles for listed sightseeing and transfers in both cities, with airport and station pick-ups and drop-offs
- RailOne-way business-class high-speed train ticket, Beijing to Xi'an
- Hotels6 nights in selected four-star or five-star hotels, breakfast daily
- GuidesProfessional English-speaking guide service on all scheduled touring days
- Tickets and experiencesAll listed attractions, Mutianyu cable car or chairlift, Xi'an City Wall bike rental and the Chinese medicine introductory session
- MealsShaanxi lunch and the dumpling banquet on day 5
- AlsoBottled water on touring days and travel accident insurance for the journey
Not Included
- FlightsInternational and domestic flights to Beijing and onward from Xi'an
- MealsBeyond breakfast and the two included day-five meals, lunches and dinners remain flexible and on your account
- PersonalVisas, gratuities, single supplement, personal spending and optional treatments during the medicine session
- Beyond controlAdditional costs from severe weather, traffic restrictions, attraction closures or train delays beyond reasonable control
Special Notes
A few things on this route flex by design. Here they are, told straight.
- Mutianyu ascent — Cable car or open chairlift, chosen on the day; the walking route shortens or extends to match the group.
- City wall cycling — Distance and duration adjust freely; a walking option follows the same rampart.
- Chinese medicine session — The introduction is included; any physical treatment is optional and separately priced.
- Hotels — Named in your written confirmation; or similar means the same class and comparable location.
Is Seven Days Your Length?
Tell us your dates and who is coming: we will shape the week around you.
Have exactly a week?
This is the deep version: two capitals fully lived in, one train, no backtracking.
Fewer days?
Tell us what matters most; the two capitals compress in the same order.
More days?
We add a region after Xi'an rather than padding these two.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private; from 1 guest: no minimum
- Arrival
- Day 1 is the arrival day; airport meeting and private transfer are included, and touring begins on day 2
- Language
- English-speaking guide on all touring days
- Shopping Policy
- No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here.
- Tailoring
- Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay.
- Payment
- A 10% deposit, minimum $399, locks your dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure
- Flexibility
- Walking, cycling and museum time adjust to your group every day
- Season
- Spring and autumn suit walking; summer asks for earlier starts and winter for warm layers on the wall
- Ports
- Beijing In · Xi'an Out
- Gateway markets
- Lead country marker: GB. Gateway markets from inventory: UK, WEU. Xi'an outbound access may need a connection.
Your Private Concierge
Jenessa
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveler.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
No. Three nights in each city make room for the palace, wall, Temple of Heaven, museum and hutongs in Beijing, then the warriors, rampart and food traditions in Xi'an without rushing.
The order is the design. Beijing gives you the vocabulary and middle chapters before you face the first emperor's army, while one westbound train keeps the logistics clean.
Moderate and adjustable. Mutianyu uses a cable car or chairlift, and the city-wall cycling always has a walking option.
Breakfast daily, plus the Shaanxi lunch and dumpling banquet on day five. Other meals remain flexible and on your account.
