12 Days Chengdu Xi'an Taiyuan Pingyao Datong & Beijing Cultural Discovery Tour
This 12-day itinerary covers six historic Chinese cities: Chengdu, Xi’an, Taiyuan, Pingyao, Datong, and Beijing. Experience the charm of the Giant Panda Base, the awe of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the well-preserved ancient walls of Pingyao, the stunning Yungang Grottoes in Datong, and iconic landmarks in Beijing like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall. Perfect for travelers interested in culture and history.
Book this Tour
Chengdu - Xi'an - Taiyuan - Pingyao - Datong - Beijing
11 nights (4+ stars Hotels)
Included with every escorted tour
Day 1: Chengdu
Arrival in Chengdu
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
After arrival in Chengdu, enjoy some free time to explore the city at your own pace. You may visit Kuanzhai Alley, a charming historical area with traditional architecture and cozy cafés. Then stroll along Chunxi Road, the bustling commercial street, perfect for shopping and tasting local snacks.
In the evening, visit Fuqin Night Market, where you can try authentic Sichuan street food and watch exciting performances such as Sichuan Opera’s famous face-changing and fire-spitting shows, showcasing local art and culture.
Evening Option:
Enjoy the spectacular Sichuan Opera performance featuring face-changing and fire-spitting, a unique cultural experience that highlights Chengdu’s vibrant traditions.
Day 2: Chengdu
Research Base of giant Panda Breeding–People’s Park (covered-bowl tea)–Jinli Ancient Street–Night tour of Jin River
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Begin the day with a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can see adorable giant pandas in a natural-like habitat. Afterwards, take a relaxing walk at People’s Park and enjoy a traditional covered-bowl tea experience at one of the tea houses.
Next, explore Jinli Ancient Street with its charming shops and local snacks. As night falls, take a serene cruise on the Jin River to admire the city’s illuminated skyline and bridges.
Evening Option:
Enjoy a peaceful night cruise along the Jin River, soaking in the beautifully lit scenery and vibrant night atmosphere of Chengdu.
Day 3: Chengdu - Xi'an
Wenshu Monastery–Transfer to station for Xi’an (high-speed train)
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Start your morning by visiting Wenshu Monastery, one of the best-preserved Buddhist temples in Chengdu. The monastery features elegant Tang dynasty architecture, peaceful gardens, and a bustling vegetarian market nearby. Explore the main halls and admire the exquisite statues and ancient scriptures.
Afterwards, transfer to the train station and board a high-speed train to Xi’an. The journey offers scenic views of China’s heartland. Upon arrival in Xi’an, check into your hotel and enjoy some free time. You may choose to explore the vibrant Muslim Quarter, known for its lively streets, unique blend of Chinese and Islamic culture, and famous local snacks like lamb kebabs and biangbiang noodles.
Evening Option:
Take an evening stroll through the Muslim Quarter, soaking in the colorful atmosphere with neon lights, street vendors, and aromatic food stalls. Don’t miss trying the famous roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and refreshing sugar-coated haws on a stick.
Day 4: Xi'an
Terracotta Warriors and Horses–Da Ci’en Temple–Giant Wild Goose Pagoda–Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Today, visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The thousands of life-sized statues of warriors and horses, buried with China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang, showcase remarkable craftsmanship and provide deep insights into ancient Chinese military history.
After lunch, explore Da ci’en Temple, built during the Tang dynasty, known for its serene environment and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a key Buddhist landmark where ancient scriptures were stored and translated.
In the evening, head to the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, a large cultural and commercial complex that recreates the glory of the Tang dynasty. Enjoy browsing shops, tasting traditional snacks, and watching street performers in an immersive historical atmosphere.
Evening Option:
Experience the vibrant nightlife of the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City with dazzling lights, cultural shows, and street art performances, perfect for photography enthusiasts and culture lovers.
Day 5: Xi'an
Xi’an Museum–Small Wild Goose Pagoda–Ancient City Wall–Muslim Quarter
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Start your day with a visit to the Xi’an Museum, where you can see artifacts covering thousands of years of the city’s history. Next, explore the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a smaller but equally historic Buddhist structure surrounded by a peaceful park.
Then, take a walk or bike ride atop the Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved city walls in China. From this vantage point, enjoy panoramic views of modern Xi’an mixed with historical architecture.
Spend the afternoon wandering through the Muslim Quarter, shopping for souvenirs like handmade crafts or tasting Xi’an’s famous snacks such as yangrou paomo (mutton stew with bread).
Evening Option:
Attend a Tang Dynasty music and dance performance or enjoy a local dumpling banquet, experiencing the rich culinary and performing arts heritage of Xi’an.
Day 6: Xi'an - Taiyuan
High-speed Train to Taiyuan
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Catch a morning high-speed train to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province and a city steeped in coal-fueled industrial development and deep-rooted cultural heritage. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and take a short rest before heading out to discover the city.
Begin your exploration at Liuxiang Pedestrian Street, a lively area that reflects the blend of traditional Shanxi charm and modern urban life. The street is lined with historic architecture and quaint storefronts selling everything from handmade fans and lacquerware to local snacks and souvenirs. Walk along Bell Tower Street, where old alleyways reveal quiet temples and shops that seem frozen in time.
In the late afternoon, head to Food Street (Meishi Jie), where Taiyuan’s culinary soul truly comes alive. This is the place to sample Shanxi’s most beloved dishes—dao xiao mian (knife-cut noodles), suan tang jiaozi (sour soup dumplings), and local vinegar-based specialties that reflect the province’s unique flavor profile. The street also offers an excellent opportunity to observe the local lifestyle and evening markets.
Recommended Activities:
Explore the city’s temples and museums, such as Jinci Temple, located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain. This ancient temple complex, dating back over 1,400 years, features beautifully preserved Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasty buildings, intricate wood carvings, and ancient cypress trees. It’s not only a religious site but also a tranquil escape into history and art.
Day 7: Taiyuan
Ancient County City of Taiyuan–Pingyao Ancient City
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
After breakfast, pay a visit to the Taiyuan Ancient County City, a lesser-known gem that offers insights into the region’s history before modern redevelopment. Explore the remaining walls, gates, and pavilions, which reflect traditional Shanxi architectural styles. Walk through peaceful courtyards and learn how the city played a role in provincial governance centuries ago.
Then journey by car or train to Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved ancient walled cities in China. This living museum is a remarkable representation of a Han Chinese city from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Spend the afternoon walking along the ancient city walls, which stretch for over six kilometers and offer panoramic views of tiled rooftops and narrow alleyways. Explore the Rishengchang Draft Bank, established in 1823 and considered China’s first banking institution, and visit the City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao) with its colorful statues and incense-filled halls. Don’t miss the Ming and Qing Street, a bustling thoroughfare lined with teahouses, calligraphy shops, and lantern-lit inns.
Evening Option:
Enjoy a quiet evening stroll through the cobblestone streets, where red lanterns cast a warm glow over grey-brick buildings. For a deeper cultural experience, consider attending a Pingyao traditional shadow puppet show or sipping local plum wine at a historic teahouse.
Day 8: Pingyao - Datong
High-speed Train to Datong–Yungang Grottoes
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
In the morning, take a high-speed train to Datong, once a key military stronghold and Buddhist center during the Northern Wei dynasty. After check-in and a short break, set off to explore one of China’s greatest Buddhist treasures—the Yungang Grottoes.
Located just outside the city, this UNESCO World Heritage Site features 252 caves and over 51,000 Buddha statues carved into sandstone cliffs. Wander through these magnificent rock temples to admire the fusion of Indian, Persian, and Central Asian artistic styles that flourished along the Silk Road.
Return to Datong and explore Datong Ancient City Wall, an impressive structure reconstructed to resemble its Ming-era form. Continue to the famous Nine Dragon Screen, a vibrant glazed-tile wall built over 600 years ago, originally part of a royal residence. Its vivid colors and dragon motifs make it one of the largest and most elaborate screens of its kind in China.
Evening Option:
Relax in one of Datong’s local tea culture venues, or take in a folk performance at a small theater where you can enjoy Shanxi opera or traditional Chinese instrumental music, providing a reflective close to your cultural day.
Day 9: Datong - Beijing
High-speed Train to Beijing
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Take a high-speed train to Beijing, the capital of China and one of the world’s most historic and cosmopolitan cities. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore Beijing’s diverse cultural offerings at your own pace.
Consider visiting the Lao She Teahouse, named after the famous Beijing writer. Here, you can experience a traditional tea service while enjoying performances of Peking Opera, crosstalk comedy, martial arts, and shadow puppetry. Alternatively, catch the Golden Mask Dynasty show at the Beijing OCT Theatre—an epic visual spectacle combining acrobatics, dance, and elaborate sets to portray ancient Chinese legends.
You might also attend the Chaoyang Acrobatics Show, a world-class performance featuring gravity-defying stunts and masterful choreography that captivates audiences of all ages.
Recommended Activities:
Join a cultural workshop that introduces China’s intangible heritage. Options include Chinese paper-cutting, traditional dumpling-making classes, shadow puppet crafting, or learning the basics of Chinese calligraphy from a local artist. These interactive experiences offer a hands-on way to connect with Beijing’s rich traditions.
Day 10: Beijing
Tian’anmen Square–Forbidden City–Summer Palace
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Begin your day at Tian’anmen Square, the symbolic center of the People’s Republic of China. Flanked by monumental buildings such as the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum, this vast square has been the site of many significant historical events.
Walk directly north into the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Explore its opulent halls, golden-roofed pavilions, and elaborately painted beams, and learn how emperors ruled from this seat of power for nearly 500 years. Highlights include the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Empress’s Garden, and the Clock Exhibition Hall.
In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace, a tranquil imperial retreat centered around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Stroll through the Long Corridor, take a boat ride on the lake (optional), and admire the fusion of natural and man-made beauty in one of China’s finest classical gardens.
Evening Option:
Watch a Peking Opera performance at a traditional venue like the Liyuan Theatre, where performers in elaborate costumes tell stories through song, gesture, and acrobatics. Alternatively, choose a dazzling acrobatic show to witness the agility and artistry that define Chinese stage traditions.
Day 11: Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall–Temple of Heaven
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
After an early breakfast, head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, a well-preserved and less crowded portion of this world-famous structure. Ride a cable car up or hike through watchtowers, enjoying panoramic views of forested mountains and snaking wall segments that stretch into the distance. Learn about the Great Wall’s defensive significance and how it was constructed over centuries.
On the return journey, stop at the Temple of Heaven, a harmonious complex used by Ming and Qing emperors to offer prayers for good harvests. The central Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a masterpiece of wooden architecture built without nails. Around the park, you’ll find Beijing locals engaged in Tai Chi, fan dancing, and instrumental jam sessions—a lovely window into daily life in the capital.
Evening Option:
Spend your last evening in Beijing at Wangfujing Snack Street, where exotic street food, vibrant lights, and historic shops make for a colorful experience. Alternatively, relax at a peaceful traditional tea house, reflecting on the journey over a fine cup of jasmine or pu’er.
Day 12: Beijing
Departure from Beijing
4+ stars Hotels
Breakfast & Lunch
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and, depending on your flight schedule, take some time for last-minute souvenir shopping or a walk around your hotel’s neighborhood. Then transfer to the airport for your departure.
As your journey comes to a close, reflect on the diversity you’ve encountered—from ancient Buddhist caves and Ming dynasty walls to vibrant food markets and modern performances. This 12-day adventure offers a deep dive into China’s cultural tapestry, leaving you with memories of both grandeur and intimacy.
