9-Day丨Beijing, Xi’an & Zhangjiajie
A private 9 days journey through Beijing · Xi'an · Zhangjiajie · Fenghuang, with flexible planning and local support.
Itinerary Overview
- Duration:
- 9 days (Customizable)
- Destination:
- Beijing · Xi'an · Zhangjiajie · Fenghuang
- Travel Style:
- Private Car · Tailor-Made
- Departure:
- Arranged around your flights
- Ideal For:
- Couples · Families · Friends · Corporate
Tour Highlights
Route Map Overview
Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Beijing | Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Wangfujing Street Night Market |
| Day 2 | Beijing | Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, Kunming Lake Boat Ride |
| Day 3 | Beijing → Xi'an | Temple of Heaven, Dashilanr Ancient Street, High-speed train to Xi'an, Muslim Quarter Night Market |
| Day 4 | Xi'an | Terracotta Army, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum, Ancient City Wall Cycling, Big Wild Goose Pagoda |
| Day 5 | Xi'an → Zhangjiajie | Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an Museum, High-speed train to Zhangjiajie, Urban Area Exploration |
| Day 6 | Zhangjiajie National Forest Park | Yuanjiajie Avatar Floating Mountains, Tianzi Mountain, Ten-Mile Gallery, Golden Whip Stream |
| Day 7 | Tianmen Mountain & Grand Canyon | Tianmen Cave, World's Longest Alpine Cable Car, Glass Plank Road, Grand Canyon Glass Bridge |
| Day 8 | Zhangjiajie → Fenghuang Ancient City | Furong Town Waterfall Light Show, Fenghuang Ancient City, Tuojiang River Boat Trip, Border Town Night View |
| Day 9 | Fenghuang → Departure | Miao Costume Photoshoot, Dehang Miao Village, Aizhai Suspension Bridge View, Departure |
Day 1Beijing
Highlights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Wangfujing Street Night Market
Morning:
Arrive in Beijing, check into a downtown hotel near Tiananmen Square. Head to Tiananmen Square first, visit the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People, then enter the Forbidden City – the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden palace complex in the world. Explore the core palaces including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony, and learn about the 600-year imperial history of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Afternoon:
Exit the Forbidden City from the north gate, climb Jingshan Park directly opposite, and overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City's red walls and golden tiles from the Wanchun Pavilion, the highest point in the old city of Beijing. After descending the mountain, stroll along the central axis of Beijing, visit the traditional hutongs nearby, and experience the old Beijing urban culture.
Evening:
Head to Wangfujing Street, one of the most famous commercial streets in Beijing. Explore the Wangfujing Snack Street, taste authentic Beijing local snacks such as Peking duck, roast lamb skewers, and sugar figurines. After dinner, wander around the street to feel the bustling night atmosphere of Beijing's city center.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 2Beijing
Highlights: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, Kunming Lake Boat Ride
Morning:
Depart from the hotel and head to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall with fewer crowds. Take the cable car up to the wall, stroll along the well-restored brick and stone wall, enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery on both sides, and experience the grandeur of this world cultural heritage. You can also choose to take the toboggan down the mountain for a fun and unique experience.
Afternoon:
Head to the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. Explore the Long Corridor with thousands of colorful paintings, visit the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, and take a boat ride on Kunming Lake to enjoy the stunning view of the lake and the surrounding hills. You can also walk along the West Causeway, admire the famous Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and feel the classical beauty of Chinese imperial gardens.
Evening:
Stay to enjoy the night view of the Summer Palace (seasonal opening), where the palaces and bridges are lit up, creating a peaceful and romantic atmosphere. If the night view is not available, return to downtown Beijing, have dinner at a local restaurant, and experience the traditional Beijing opera performance at a nearby theater.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 3Beijing → Xi'an
Highlights: Temple of Heaven, Dashilanr Ancient Street, High-speed train to Xi'an, Muslim Quarter Night Market
Morning:
Visit the Temple of Heaven, the largest ancient imperial worship complex in China. Explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar, learn about the ancient worship rituals of the Ming and Qing emperors, and admire the exquisite ancient architectural design and acoustic principles of the complex.
Afternoon:
Stroll to Dashilanr Ancient Street, one of the oldest commercial streets in Beijing. Explore the traditional Chinese medicine shops, time-honored brand stores, and ancient bookstores along the street, and experience the original old Beijing folk culture. After that, head to Beijing South Railway Station to take the high-speed train to Xi'an, a 4.5-hour comfortable ride with scenic views of the North China Plain along the way.
Evening:
Arrive in Xi'an, check into a hotel near the Muslim Quarter. Head to the Muslim Quarter immediately, explore the bustling night market with hundreds of food stalls, taste authentic Xi'an specialties such as Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), Biangbiang noodles, and cold skin noodles. Wander around the ancient alleys, feel the lively night atmosphere of Xi'an's old city.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 4Xi'an
Highlights: Terracotta Army, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum, Ancient City Wall Cycling, Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Morning:
Head to the Terracotta Army, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world and a world cultural heritage. Explore the three pits of the Terracotta Army, admire the life-sized terracotta warriors and horses, learn about the military system and funeral culture of the Qin Dynasty, and visit the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum to understand the grandeur of the first emperor of China's mausoleum.
Afternoon:
Return to Xi'an city center, rent a bike to cycle on the Ancient City Wall of Xi'an, one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in China. Cycle along the 13.7-kilometer wall, overlook the panoramic view of Xi'an's old city and modern urban area, and feel the historical thickness of this ancient capital. After cycling, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a landmark of Xi'an, learn about the history of Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang's journey to India and the translation of Buddhist scriptures.
Evening:
Head to Datang Everbright City, a pedestrian street themed on the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Enjoy the magnificent light shows, traditional Tang-style performances, and street art shows along the street. Immerse yourself in the grand and romantic atmosphere of the golden age of the Tang Dynasty, and take photos with the ancient-style buildings and lanterns.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 5Xi'an → Zhangjiajie
Highlights: Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an Museum, High-speed train to Zhangjiajie, Urban Area Exploration
Morning:
Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-preserved ancient pagoda from the Tang Dynasty, and explore the surrounding Jianfu Temple. Then head to Xi'an Museum, one of the best museums in China, to admire the rich collection of cultural relics from the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties, and deeply understand the 3000-year history of Xi'an as an ancient capital.
Afternoon:
Head to Xi'an North Railway Station to take the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie, a 6-hour ride with scenic views of the Qinling Mountains and the Yangtze River plain along the way. Arrive at Zhangjiajie West Railway Station, check into a hotel in Zhangjiajie's urban area, rest and relax to recharge for the subsequent mountain tour.
Evening:
Taste the characteristic Tujia dinner in Zhangjiajie's urban area, stroll along the local characteristic commercial street, initially feel the ethnic culture of Western Hunan, and rest early to adapt to the climate and environment of the mountainous area.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 6Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Highlights: Yuanjiajie Avatar Floating Mountains, Tianzi Mountain, Ten-Mile Gallery, Golden Whip Stream
Morning:
Head to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, take the scenic area environmental protection bus to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. Visit the prototype mountain of the movie Avatar – Yuanjiajie Floating Mountains, check in at core attractions such as the world's first bridge and Qiankun Pillar, walk on the gentle plank road throughout the process, and easily appreciate the shocking landscape of quartz sandstone peaks.
Afternoon:
Take the environmental protection bus to Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area, visit Tianzi Pavilion, Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Flower and other classic attractions. Then head to Ten-Mile Gallery, take the sightseeing train for a tour to easily check in at the panoramic view of Ten-Mile Gallery, or choose to hike along Golden Whip Stream to feel the serenity of the canyon and mountain streams.
Evening:
Return to the downtown hotel in Zhangjiajie, enjoy a characteristic Tujia dinner, and stroll around the night market in the urban area at night to taste the specialty snacks of Western Hunan and relax.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 7Tianmen Mountain & Grand Canyon
Highlights: Tianmen Cave, World's Longest Alpine Cable Car, Glass Plank Road, Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
Morning:
Head to Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, take the world’s longest alpine passenger cable car to the top of the mountain. Visit Tianmen Cave, experience the mountain-crossing escalator and glass plank road, check in at the 99-bend mountain road of Tianmen Mountain, and immerse yourself in the shocking scenery of the "Sky City".
Afternoon:
Head to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, visit the internet-famous glass bridge – Yundian Du. Stroll on the 430-meter-long glass bridge to overlook the panoramic view of the grand canyon, then explore the streams and waterfalls at the bottom of the grand canyon, and feel the serenity and grandeur of the canyon.
Evening:
Return to the downtown hotel, enjoy free activities after dinner, stroll along the local characteristic commercial street, buy specialty souvenirs of Western Hunan, and rest early to recharge for the subsequent itinerary.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 8Zhangjiajie → Fenghuang Ancient City
Highlights: Furong Town Waterfall Light Show, Fenghuang Ancient City, Tuojiang River Boat Trip, Border Town Night View
Morning:
Depart from downtown Zhangjiajie, take a 2-hour bus to Furong Town, the thousand-year-old ancient town hanging on waterfalls. Explore the Five-Li Stone Street, visit the ruins of the Tusi Palace and the Hand-Waving Hall, and feel the historical heritage of the Tujia ethnic group.
Afternoon:
Take a 1.5-hour bus from Furong Town to Fenghuang Ancient City, check into a stilt house homestay by the Tuojiang River. Stroll around Fenghuang Ancient City, walk across the stepping stones of the Tuojiang River and Hongqiao Bridge, visit the former residences of Shen Congwen and Xiong Xiling, and feel the charm of the Border Town literature.
Evening:
Watch the light show of the 60-meter waterfall in Furong Town (if visiting in the evening), or take a night tour of the Tuojiang River in Fenghuang, take the Tuojiang River awning boat, enjoy the night view of the stilt house lights on both sides of the strait, stroll around the night market of Fenghuang Ancient Town, and taste the specialty snacks of Western Hunan.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
Day 9Fenghuang → Departure
Highlights: Miao Costume Photoshoot, Dehang Miao Village, Aizhai Suspension Bridge View, Departure
Morning:
Experience Miao costume photo shoot in Fenghuang Ancient Town, visit the intangible heritage workshops of Miao silver forging and Miao batik, and learn about the traditional Miao craftsmanship. Then take a 1-hour bus to Dehang Miao Village, experience the Miao Gate Wine welcome ceremony, watch the Miao drum dance performance, and stroll around the Miao stilt houses and Miao embroidery workshops.
Afternoon:
Experience the Miao long-table banquet, taste authentic Miao food, then head to the viewing platform of Aizhai Suspension Bridge to overlook the magnificence of the world’s first suspension bridge. Depart from Dehang Miao Village afterwards, head to Jishou/Zhangjiajie Airport/High-Speed Railway Station, and end the itinerary.
Evening:
End of the trip, arrive at the departure destination.
Scenic Spots & Highlights of the Day
✓ What's Included
- Private vehicle & professional dedicated driver
- English-speaking local expert tour guide
- All attraction entrance tickets & cable car fees in itinerary
- Hotel accommodation selected according to your preferences
- Our local ground support & 24/7 assistance
✕ Not Included
- International round-trip flights
- Passport & visa fees
- Personal expenses (dining, shopping, drinks)
- Optional activities not listed in itinerary
- Gratuities / tips for guide and driver
Specific inclusions and exclusions will be confirmed based on your customized itinerary and clearly listed in your final proposal.
Hotel Accommodation Options
We recommend suitable hotel options based on your budget, style and preferences.
ⓘ Hotel photos for reference only; actual stays arranged based on your preferences (family rooms, twin beds, etc.).
