14 Days - Beijing, Xi’an, and Hua Shan
The Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden City. These are the 3 “must sees” that any and every visitor to China will put on their
list when before they make the long journey. For those visitors that have a limited time but wish to view the “must sees,” in addition to getting a little hiking under their boots, and a little person-to-person contact through homestays, this trip is designed for you. Not only does this trip provide a chance to see the Big 3, but you will also get to take part in cultural activites that can range from cooking with loctals to practicing nunchucks with some of the masters. Additionally, we will be incorporating a homestay on this trip in the coal city of Tongchuan for those of you who want to get out of the major cities and see normal day-to-day nitty-gritty Chinese life. This is a great trip that hits the highs both culturally and topographically.
| Schedule of Activities | Meals Included | Accommodation | Transportation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Beijing. Check into hotel and rest for the evening. | Dinner (possibly lunch, depending on flight arrival) | Hotel in Beijing | Transportation from airport to hotel |
| Day 2 | Leisurely bicycle tour of hutong neighborhoods. (Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Houhai). Evening go to Jingshan park. | Lunch (homemade dumplings in resident’s house) and dinner | Hotel in Beijing | Bicycles/public transportation |
| Day 3 | Leave in the morning to go to Simatai section of the great Wall. Spend the good part of the day hiking on the Wall. Evening back in Beijing | Lunch (on the Great Wall) and dinner | Hotel in Beijing | Private car to Simatai |
| Day 4 | Morning visit to Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City. Afternoon and evening culture options (diabolo/nunchucks, etc). | Lunch and dinner | Hotel in Beijing | Public transportation |
| Day 5 | In the morning go to Summer Palace. Come back to hotel in afternoon, ready to board train to Xi’an. | Lunch (dinner on the train) | Sleeper on the train | Public transportation and train |
| Day 6 | Arrive in Xi’an in a.m. After arrival we take baggage to host family/hotel. Return to train station and head off to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. Back to Xi’an in the evening. | Lunch and dinner | Hotel/homestay | Public transportation/private car |
| Day 7 | In the morning go to Shaanxi museum of history. Afternoon head to Xi’an’s largest park. | Lunch and dinner | Hotel/homestay | Public transportation |
| Day 8 | Leave Xi’an in afternoon to arrive at Hua Shan as it is just getting dark. After dinner at foot of mountain, begin ascent towards peak. | Lunch and dinner | Inn near the summit | Public transportation/hiking |
| Day 9 | Wake up for sunrise on the peak. Spend day up in the mountain air. Take gondola down the mountain in the afternoon. Stay in one of the hotels at the foot of the mountain. | Lunch and dinner | Hotel at foot of Hua Shan | Hiking/gondola |
| Day 10 | Return to Xi’an, and then travel to smaller “Coal” city of Tongchuan. | Lunch and dinner | Homestay in Tongchuan | Train/bus/private car |
| Day 11 | After breakfast with host family, take a tour of Tongchuan. Visit one of the schools in the area. Spend time with students. | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner | Homestay in Tongchuan | Private car/public transportation/walking |
| Day 12 | Travel back to Xi’an. Visit one of the city’s many other parks. Free time to do more exploration of the city. | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner | Train sleeper | Train |
| Day 13 | Arrive in Beijing in the morning. Free time in the daytime to go to Silk Street, do last minute shopping if wanted. Party/English corner in the evening. | Lunch and dinner | Hotel | Train/public transportation |
| Day 14 | Return to airport. Safe travels! | Depending on departure time | N/A | Train to airport |
Price (2 people): US$4,400
Price includes:
- Transportation to and from airport
- Meals on schedule
- Transportation on the schedule
- At least one English speaking guide at all times
- Accommodation (hotels/homestays)
- Tickets to parks, etc, listed on the schedule
- Home-cooking lesson with local in Beijing
- Other cultural activities (i.e. nunchucks, diabolo)
- School visit (if convenient with headmaster)
- Map of Beijing
- Map of Xi’an
Price does not include:
- Meals not on the schedule
- Taxis taken individually
- Alcoholic beverages/cigarettes
- Tickets to and from China
- Insurance
Note that we have a rough schedule listed for this trip. Please keep in mind that China is a large, developing country, and schedules are subject to change. Flexibility is greatly appreciated.