Day 1/Arrival in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Transfer to the hotel for rest. (No meal)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 2/Beijing
Begin the day's activity with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. Tian'anmen was built in 1417 and served as the entrance gate to the Imperial Palace. Move on to visit the Imperial Palace, well-known as Forbidden City which is the large scale construction of the palace extended from 1406 to 1420. It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. 24 emperors lived and ruled China from here. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D., which was originally the platform to offer sacrifices to Heaven during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The buildings and parklands reflect an ancient Chinese thought of "the Heaven is round and the earth is square". Enjoy Peking Duck for Dinner. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 3/Beijing
Today's highlight is the visit to the Great Wall, one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" and a symbol of Chinese civilization. Climb Mutianyu Great Wall (excluded Cable Car) to avoid the crowds. Then, drive to visit the statue-lined Shenlu (Spirit Road) leading to the Ming Tombs, here you can see some marvelous stone sculptures. The Ming Tombs area is for 13 deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Visit the Changling Tomb which is the largest of the 13 as you can imagine it is quite impressive. (B,L)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 4/Beijing  
Visit the enchanting Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. As a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, it integrates the natural landscape of hills and open water with manmade features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges into a harmonious and aesthetically exceptional whole. In the afternoon, you will visit the Yonghe Lama Temple, the largest and most perfectly preserved Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple outside Tibet. It was built in 1649 as the residence of Prince Yong of Qing Dynasty, and was converted to a temple after he became Emperor moving to Forbidden City. Enjoy Peking Opera after dinner. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: ***Ping An Fu Hotel

Day 5/Beijing-Pingyang
After a relaxed breakfast at hotel this morning, you will walk through some old "Hutongs", lanes or alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard). The rest of day is free. Take overnight train to Pingyao with soft sleeper (the 1st class in china, 4 persons sharing one cabin). (B,L)
Accommodation: on the train

Day 6/Pingyao
Arrive in Pingyao, boasting the famous Pingyao Old City which was enlisted in the United Nations World Cultural Heritage in 1997. Transfer to historic hotel/guesthouse on arrival. The whole day is at leisure. (B)
Accommodation: **(*)Yi De Hotel
Pingyao Destination Guide Pingyao Old City is like a huge historical museum. In the center of the Old City, the nearly 200 years old Rishengchang Exchange Shop is the first 'bank' in Chinese history. The well-preserved County Government Office shows a complete picture of the solemn law court and prison of the Qing Dynasty while in Chenghuangmiao Street. The Temple of the City God and the Confucius Temple reveal a glimpse of local folk life. Along the Ancient Ming and Qing Street, the old buildings in antique architecture styles may bring you back to the old China of that time.
Outside the Old City, there are two temples worth visiting: Shuanglin Monastery and Zhenguo Temple. Shuanglin Monastery, 7km from Pingyao, is renowned not for its architecture, but for its painted statues executed during Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, spanning a period of over 1,000 years. Zhenguo Temple, 12km from Pingyao, was first built in the period of Five Dynasties and was renovated in Ming and Qing Dynasties, but still keeps its original styles.
What's more, most of the famous residences of Shanxi Merchants are clustered around Pingyao: Qiao Family Residence, Wang Family Residence, Qu Family Residence, and etc.
Information Link The culture of the Shanxi Merchants
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, many merchants from Taigu, Qixian and Pingyao of the Jinzhong area began to develop their businesses in China's big cities and overseas. Their piaohao (firms for the exchange and transfer of money) once monopolized money exchanged and the monetary lifelines of the whole country, accruing them great fortunes. They came back to heir home villages to build homes to honor their ancestors and show their social status. Now these residences have become historic buildings. These rich merchants and their residences comprise the "Culture of the Shanxi Merchants". Among the homes, the Qiao Family Residence has become the Museum of Folk Customs, and the Qu Family Residence is the Museum of Culture of the Shanxi Merchants.  

Day 7/Pingyao-Xi'an
Day is free to explore the city. Transfer to the railway station in the evening, and take overnight train to Xi'an. (B)
Accommodation: on the train

Day 8/Xi'an
Arrive in Xi'an, a city with incredible history, as well as a prosperous modern city. Transfer to the hotel on arrival and have breakfast. In the afternoon, climb the ancient City Wall, actually built on the fortifications of Tang Forbidden City, standing 12 meters high, 12-14 meters across the top, 15-18 meters thick at the bottom, 13.7 meter in length with a deep moat surrounding it. It is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. (B,L)
Accommodation: ****Bell Tower Hotel

Day 9/Xi'an
Begin the day's activity with an once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors and Horses, 2,200-year-old underground army of he first feudal Emperor, Qin Shihuang. Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. Stop to visit a mountain village on the back way. After lunch, pay a visit to the Great Mosque, built primarily in the Ming Dynasty when Chinese architectural elements were synthesized into mosque architecture, and it is the largest and best-preserved one of the early mosques of China. (B,L)
Accommodation: ****Bell Tower Hotel 

Day10/Depart Xi'an
Transfer to the railway station or airport, TOUR ENDS! (B)

Hotels (or the same standard):
Beijing: *** Ping An Fu (Low Season, overnight in Dong Fang Hotel)
Pingyao: **(*) Yi De Guesthouse
Xi'an: **** Bell Tower Hotel