Skip to main content
nihaovisit

5-Day Beijing + Xi'an Itinerary 2026: Two Ancient Capitals by HSR

Beijing for 3 days, fast HSR to Xi'an (4.5h, $80 second class), 2 days in Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and city wall. The classic China first-timer route.

Last updated:

5-Day Beijing + Xi'an Itinerary 2026: Two Ancient Capitals by HSR cover photo

TL;DR

Five days covering China's two most iconic ancient capitals. Days 1-3: Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall, hutongs — see 3-Day Beijing itinerary). Day 4: morning Beijing → Xi'an by HSR (4.5h, $80 second class), check in near the Muslim Quarter, evening street food. Day 5: full-day Terracotta Army tour (1h drive from city), afternoon Xi'an City Wall bike ride, evening Tang Dynasty show. Day 6 (departure): Shaanxi History Museum + Big Wild Goose Pagoda, depart.
Duration5 days
Best forFirst-timers, History
Pricing$480 (backpacker) / $950 (mid-range) / $2400+ (luxury) per person

Day-by-day breakdown

  1. DAY 1

    Beijing arrival + Imperial Beijing

    • Arrive Beijing Capital or Daxing airport
    • Check into Wangfujing hotel
    • Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City (3-4 hours)
    • Peking duck dinner at Da Dong
    Stay
    Wangfujing or Qianmen
    Meals
    B: — · L: museum · D: Peking duck
  2. DAY 2

    Great Wall at Mutianyu

    • Morning drive to Mutianyu (1.5h)
    • Cable car up, walk the wall, toboggan down
    • Return by 4pm
    • Evening at Sanlitun
    Stay
    same Beijing hotel
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: wall village · D: Beijing noodles
  3. DAY 3

    Temples + HSR to Xi'an

    • Morning: Temple of Heaven
    • Lama Temple
    • Afternoon: G-train Beijing West → Xi'an North (4.5h, ¥623 second class)
    • Evening check-in to Muslim Quarter hotel, street food dinner
    Stay
    Muslim Quarter, Xi'an
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: hutong baozi · D: Muslim Quarter street food
  4. DAY 4

    Terracotta Army + City Wall

    • Full-day tour: Terracotta Army (1h drive, ¥120)
    • Afternoon: bike ride on the Ming-era Xi'an City Wall (¥45)
    • Evening: Tang Dynasty music + dance show (¥300)
    Stay
    same Xi'an hotel
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: Terracotta site · D: biang biang noodles
  5. DAY 5

    Xi'an history + depart

    • Morning: Shaanxi History Museum (free, but reserve online)
    • Big Wild Goose Pagoda (¥50)
    • Afternoon flight or HSR to Shanghai/Chengdu
    Stay
    —
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: ròujìa mó · D: —

What is included

Included

  • Hotels (4 nights)
  • Beijing-Xi'an HSR second class
  • Daily breakfast
  • All entrance fees
  • Terracotta Army guided tour

Not included

  • International flights
  • Inter-city transport from origin
  • Meals not listed
  • Travel insurance

Frequently asked questions

Should I do the Terracotta Army independently or with a tour?
A guided half-day tour from Xi'an is the easiest ($50-80 including transport and entrance). Independent is doable by tourist bus (¥30 round-trip) but requires a 1h drive each way. Most travelers prefer the tour.
Is the Tang Dynasty show worth it?
Yes if you have an evening in Xi'an — it is one of China's best dinner shows, 1 hour, ¥300-500 with dinner included. Skip if you have a tight schedule.
Can I add Shanghai to this trip?
Yes — add 2-3 days in Shanghai at the end. Fly or HSR from Xi'an to Shanghai (6h HSR, $130). Total trip becomes 7-8 days.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. The Great Wall has stairs but the cable car helps. The Terracotta Army has lots of walking. Xi'an City Wall bike ride is flat and easy.

References

  1. Beijing-Xi'an HSR booking (Trip.com)
  2. Terracotta Army official
  3. Xi'an City Wall official

Written by

NihaoVisit Editorial Team

Travel research team · Regular policy and price audits

Related guides & destinations