Beijing & Xi\'an: China\'s Two Great Ancient Capitals
Seven days split between Beijing\'s imperial grandeur and Xi\'an\'s Silk Road history — less rushed than the full Golden Triangle, with time for the details.
Route Overview
The full Golden Triangle is the standard recommendation, but 8-10 days is a lot of time. This 6-7 day version drops Shanghai and goes deep on China\'s two greatest ancient capitals. Beijing brings the Ming and Qing dynasties, Xi\'an brings the Han and Tang — together they cover 2,000 years of Chinese imperial history.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Days 1-3: Beijing
Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and a hutong evening. See the Beijing In Depth page for full details.
Days 4-6: Xi'an
Take the 4.5-hour high-speed train from Beijing West to Xi'an North. Terracotta Warriors, city wall bike ride, Muslim Quarter food crawl. If you have a 7th day, add Huashan. See the Xi'an In Depth page for full details.
Planning This Route
Train Booking
Book high-speed trains on Trip.com (English) or 12306.cn (Chinese-only, cheaper). Beijing West → Xi\'an North takes 4.5 hours, ~¥550 second class. Book 2-3 days ahead — trains rarely sell out except during holidays.
Best Season
April-May and September-October. Avoid Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Chinese New Year — trains sell out weeks in advance and attractions are shoulder-to-shoulder.
Want a custom China itinerary?
We work with a licensed Guangzhou travel agency to build personalized routes — whether it's your first time in Beijing, an off-the-beaten-path Silk Road trip, or a Xinjiang small-group tour with a local guide.
No obligation. Just tell us your dates and interests — we'll send you a free proposal within 48 hours.
Ready for the next step?
Here's what to sort out next for your China trip.