Tour Agency: DIANDA TRAVEL

Tour Code: DT-CT-008

Tour Type: Private Custom Tour (Flexible travel dates and traveler numbers)

Destinations: Xi'an

Core Route Highlights: 13 Dynasties Ancient Capital Chang'an, Ming City Wall Charm, Qin Underground Terracotta Army, Lishan Prosperous Tang Imperial Garden, Tracing Millennial Chinese Heritage

Core Landmarks: Xi'an Ming City Wall, Bell and Drum Tower Square, Muslim Quarter, Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army), Huaqing Palace

Tour Overview & Introduction

The "Xi'an Elegance" custom roaming tour seamlessly connects three core Xi'an landscapes: the ancient Ming City Wall charm, the epic Qin historical relics, and the Lishan Prosperous Tang imperial garden. It blends ancient city wall vibes, Qin-Han grandeur, Tang dynasty allusions, and Northwest local street life. Featuring dual coverage of historical relics and ancient capital culture with no mandatory transportation or accommodation bundles, this pure sightseeing custom model offers higher flexibility.

Deeply exploring Xi'an's core hinterland, your journey begins with a leisurely stroll along the Xi'an Ming City Wall, exploring the Bell and Drum Tower landmarks, and wandering through the Muslim Quarter to experience authentic local flavors. Head to Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum to face the shocking underground Terracotta Army of the Great Qin. Visit the Huaqing Palace imperial garden to read the wind and clouds of the Prosperous Tang Dynasty, fully unlocking Xi'an's dual ancient and modern charms. The route covers World Cultural Heritage sites, millennial ancient architecture, urban landmarks, and cultural street life. It provides only scenic tour supporting services, allowing free matching of food, accommodation, and transportation. Ideal for family trips, historical study tours, cultural photography, and light leisure vacations, this is a highly flexible boutique Chang'an in-depth custom tour.

Three Core Highlights

1. Roaming the Ancient Chang'an Cityscape: Ascend and leisurely stroll along the Xi'an Ming City Wall, visit iconic Bell and Drum Tower architecture, wander through the Muslim Quarter for authentic Northwest flavors, and experience the cultural fusion of ancient and modern in this 13-dynasty ancient capital.

2. Exploring World-Class Qin Dynasty Historical Miracles: Step into Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum to face the magnificent underground army formation, closely experience the majestic aura of the Great Qin Dynasty, and encounter a shocking World Cultural Heritage site.

3. Tracing the Past of the Prosperous Tang Imperial Garden: Visit Huaqing Palace, backed by Lishan Mountain and adjacent to the Wei River, read the legendary stories of the Prosperous Tang, enjoy the harmonious garden scenery of mountains and water, and unlock enduring Tang tales.

Itinerary at a Glance

Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Xi'an | Airport/Station Pickup & Hotel Check-in

• Tour Arrangement: Welcome to the ancient capital of Xi'an! Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and transfer you to your hotel for check-in and rest. After settling down, enjoy free time to stroll through the ancient city alleys and admire the dazzling night views of the Bell and Drum Towers, helping you recover from travel fatigue.

• Transportation Notes:

  1. Flight: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport offers massive international routes with direct flights from Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, Cambodia, etc.; domestic direct flights are available from Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, etc.

  2. Train: Xi'an's high-speed rail network is well-connected, with direct access to popular domestic tourist cities like Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, and Beijing.

• Recommended Dining: Local specialties (Roujiamo, Zenggao)

• Accommodation: Downtown Xi'an Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Relaxed & Leisurely

Day 2: Xi'an Day Tour: Ming City Wall + Bell Tower & Drum Tower + Muslim Quarter

• Daytime: Ming City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Muslim Quarter

  • A short morning private transfer brings you to the Xi'an Ming City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China today, built on the site of the Tang Dynasty imperial city. Dating back over 600 years, the wall surrounds downtown Xi'an with complete supporting features including a moat, watchtowers, arrow towers, and corner towers. Stroll along the blue-brick walkway, where ancient streets stand on one side and modern Xi'an high-rises on the other, creating a strong contrast between ancient and modern. You can also rent a bicycle to ride around the wall, fully experiencing the urban texture of this 13-dynasty ancient capital.

  • A 5-minute walk leads to the Bell and Drum Tower Square, where the Bell Tower and Drum Tower—two ancient buildings from the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty—face each other across the distance. Featuring double-eaved hip roofs and gilded bronze tiles, they look magnificent. When lights turn on at dusk, the ancient architecture shines radiantly as a core city landmark of Xi'an, surrounded by numerous intangible cultural heritage creative shops and Shaanxi snack stores.

• Afternoon: Muslim Quarter

  • In the afternoon, walk into the Muslim Quarter, a millennial food culture district and Muslim community street in Xi'an. It covers Northwest specialties such as mutton/beef Paomo, Roujiamo, Zenggao, Liangpi, and pomegranate juice. Hidden deep in the alleys are ancient mosques, blending folk street life with Islamic architecture for an immersive Chang'an street food culture experience.

• Recommended Dining: Local specialties (Biangbiang noodles, mutton/beef Paomo)

• Recommended Accommodation: Downtown Xi'an Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 3: Lintong Qin-Han Historical Sites Day Tour: Terracotta Army + Huaqing Palace

• Morning: Terracotta Army

  • Head to Lintong early in the morning for an in-depth tour of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army), the Eighth Wonder of the World and a World Cultural Heritage site. As the burial army site of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Pit 1 is magnificent and complete, featuring thousands of pottery figures neatly arrayed. Each figure is unique, with distinct facial features, hairstyles, armor, and expressions, preserving artisan fingerprints and carving details. Pit 2 displays a mixed formation of cavalry, archers, and chariots. Pit 3 serves as the ancient military command headquarters. A professional guide will explain Qin military industry, funeral customs, and military history throughout the tour, letting you closely feel the majestic aura of the Great Qin Empire from over 2,000 years ago.

• Afternoon: Huaqing Palace

  • A 10-minute private transfer in the afternoon brings you to Huaqing Palace (Huaqing Pool), the imperial detached palace and garden of four dynasties (Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang). Home to Lishan Hot Spring (the No. 1 Imperial Spring under heaven), the Tang Imperial Bath Museum preserves the exclusive hot spring pools of Yang Guifei and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Inside the scenic area, Jiulong Lake and Furong Lake feature interlocking pavilions, and Tang palace structures like the Feishuang Hall and Changsheng Hall are fully replicated. It is also the site of the Xi'an Incident, with historical relics preserved at the Five-Rooms site. Backed by Lishan Mountain—where "Lishan Evening Glow" is one of the Eight Views of Guanzhong—it combines landscape, royal history, and modern historical allusions. After the tour, a private transfer will take you back to downtown Xi'an.

• Recommended Dining: Local specialties (Liangpi, Saozi noodles)

• Recommended Accommodation: Downtown Xi'an Hotel

• Tour Intensity: Moderate Exercise

Day 4: Departure from Xi'an: Airport/Station Drop-off Service

• Daytime: After breakfast, we will conclude this wonderful journey. Our staff will transfer you to the airport or train station for your next destination. If you wish to extend this trip to explore more Chinese destinations such as Tibet, Yunnan, Guilin, Harbin, etc., please contact us to arrange it for you. Finally, thank you sincerely for choosing Dianda Travel to explore China with us. We look forward to welcoming you again in the near future. Have a safe trip!

What's Included

• Guide Service: Licensed bilingual (Chinese & English) custom tour guides throughout the journey, providing exclusive local commentary for each segment and planning optimal commuting routes and off-peak travel plans.

• Attraction Admission Tickets: First-entry admission tickets for all listed attractions in the itinerary, including basic show performance tickets.

• Local Transfer Transportation: Private vehicle / tourist bus for round-trip transfers between scenic spots in all cities throughout the trip (short local urban transfers only; cross-city high-speed rail and long-distance transportation tickets are not included), including driver, fuel fees, parking fees, and scenic area mountain entry fees.

• Itinerary Planning: Pre-trip exclusive itinerary fine-tuning, attraction route optimization, reasonable driving duration arrangement, and niche check-in spot recommendations.

• Itinerary Coordination: Full-journey attraction reservations, staggered off-peak scenic tour arrangements, and show seat coordination.

What's Not Included

1. Cross-City Long-Distance Transportation: All high-speed rail tickets and long-distance bus fares needed for city transfers are at your own expense; booking assistance can be provided.

2. Scenic Area Optional Transportation: Bicycle rentals.

3. Full-Journey Accommodation: Hotel and homestay fees are not included; separate booking services can be provided as needed.

4. Meals: All breakfast, lunch, and dinner are at your own expense; the tour guide can recommend local specialty restaurants.

5. Personal Expenses: Scenic area cultural & creative products, snacks and drinks, Hanfu rentals, self-funded characteristic upgraded projects.

6. China Visa Application Fees: At your own expense.

7. Single Room Supplements, Luggage Storage, Hotel Laundry, Scenic Audio Guide Rentals, etc.

8. Tipping for Tour Guides and Drivers: At your own expense.

9. Extra Expenses Caused by Force Majeure & Price Differences from Temporary Itinerary Changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How to book a private tour?

  • Step 1: Choose a route and consult for free: Pick your favorite tour route and inform us of your travel dates, number of companions, and personalized preferences. No payment is required at this stage.

  • Step 2: Professional custom plan: Within 0.5 to 24 hours, our dedicated travel consultant will contact you to tailor an exclusive itinerary and provide professional travel advice.

  • Step 3: Confirm itinerary and pay deposit: If you are satisfied with the plan, you can complete the booking and pay a deposit to lock in all travel service resources including vehicles, guides, and hotels.

  • Step 4: Seamless communication throughout: You can contact your dedicated consultant at any time before the trip to adjust the itinerary, ask questions, or make special requests.

• How to extend your China trip?

  The above itinerary is just an example, and most travelers choose this route. If you wish to extend your trip, please choose a private custom tour and simply tell us your favorite destinations and desired activities. Our professional travel consultants will redesign the itinerary for you and your team at the best price.

• Tour Transportation

  You will travel to various scenic spots in the city via private vehicle. The vehicles we choose are spacious, comfortable, and equipped with air conditioning, driven by experienced drivers. For transportation between cities, we typically choose domestic flights (economy class) or high-speed rail (second class, usually under 6 hours). Local guides and drivers will meet you at the airport/train station and escort you to your hotel.

Accommodation Standards for Custom Tours

During your trip in China, ensuring sufficient sleep every day is very important. This route is a private custom tour, and accommodation is not included in the tour fee, but we can provide booking services for you. The standards are as follows:

• Room Type: Standard twin room (twin beds) for basic room types; natural single rooms (king bed rooms) are not guaranteed. Children without a bed do not include breakfast.

• Location Standard: We carefully select hotels with prime locations in each destination, adjacent to commercial streets or tourist attractions.

• Quality Assurance: We maintain long-term cooperative relationships with these hotels to ensure they meet comfortable sleeping standards.

• Facilities & Services: All booked hotels are equipped with windows, air conditioning, hot water, showers, and Wi-Fi (accommodation conditions near Mount Everest are simpler). Hotel staff can communicate in English and are committed to providing quality service. Feel free to contact the front desk for assistance at any time.

• Note: Hotel booking services incur additional charges, and actual prices are subject to real-time reservation rates. If you need to upgrade your room type (such as king rooms, suites, etc.), please let us know so we can check prices and arrange it for you.

Itinerary Suitability Description

• Crowd Suitability: Elderly / family groups can pause for rest midway, shorten long-distance items, and increase leisure sightseeing experiences; outdoor enthusiasts can increase hiking duration.

• Duration Extension: Can add visits to Luoyang, Dunhuang, Yunnan, Qingdao, and other destinations as needed, with corresponding cross-city transportation duration and transfer plans added synchronously.

• Dietary Suitability: Advance notice of vegetarian, halal, allergy, or other dietary requirements allows the guide to plan and recommend corresponding dining districts in advance, with rest stop recommendations along long-distance drives.