China with Aleese Lightyear

TrovaTrip will provide 3 transfers from Beijing International Airport (PEK) between 8 am and 5 pm. Exact transfer time within this window will be determined closer to your arrival based on provided traveler flight information. Travelers arriving outside of the requested flight guidelines will need to make their own arrangements to meet the group at the hotel.

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant is included. Tonight you will be enjoying some famous Beijing Duck. Dinner will typically be a spread of dishes shared family style. Additional food and beverages will be at your own expense.

A hutong is a neighborhood full of hundred-year-old traditional Chinese courtyard homes, most commonly found in Beijing. In the hutong there a lots of trendy, low-key bars that are somewhat hidden from plain view. I'll take you on a little tour of some of my fave spots where we can get to know each other before our China adventure begins! NOTE: Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Overnight in Beijing.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Beijing Sunworld Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Chinese and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

From the hotel, you'll take a 30 min private transfer over to Tiananmen Square. Tiananmen Square is a monumental public square in the heart of Beijing, known for its historical and political significance. Spanning 109 acres, it is one of the largest city squares in the world. The square is surrounded by key landmarks such as Chairman Mao Mausoleum, National Congress Hall, and National Museum - all visible from the outside during your visit.

Then take a 15 minute private transfer to The Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is a vast imperial palace complex that served as the home of Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years, from the Ming to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Enclosed by impressive walls and a large moat, it is a remarkable example of traditional Chinese palatial architecture. Featuring over 9,000 rooms, the Forbidden City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is renowned for its intricate wooden structures, grand halls, and stunning courtyards. Today, it stands as the Palace Museum, allowing visitors to explore its rich history, imperial artifacts, and the symbolic significance of each meticulously designed section.

Then hop on a 15 minute private transfer to the Beijing Hutongs. Hutongs are narrow alleys or lanes, typically lined with traditional courtyard residences known as siheyuan, offering a glimpse into the city's historical architecture and way of life. These ancient, maze-like neighborhoods form a unique part of Beijing's cultural landscape, showcasing a traditional urban lifestyle that dates back centuries. Nestled within the narrow alleys, you’ll participate in a dumpling making class allowing you to learn the art of crafting traditional Chinese dumplings. Under the guidance of the local family, you'll discover the secrets behind preparing the perfect dough, creating various dumpling fillings, and learn various dumpling pinching techniques. As modernization continues, efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize hutong areas, balancing the city's development with the conservation of its rich heritage.

Lunch is included with the dumpling making class. Enjoy the dumplings of your labor that you have helped craft.

Overnight in Beijing.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Beijing Sunworld Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Chinese and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

You will take about a private transfer from the hotel to the Mutianyu section of The Great Wall.

Take a cable car ride to the top of the Great Wall and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains. When you come down, you will have the options to either take the cable car or an exhilarating toboggan ride downhill.

This morning you’ll drive out to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and spend some time exploring, taking photos and learning about the history of the 6000km wall which snakes through the hills almost endlessly into the distance. It's up to you how far you walk once up on the wall. Note that steps could be inconsistent in sizing and steep.

Take a 30 minute private transfer to a town close to the Great Wall. Lunch at a local restaurant is included. Your meal is typically a set menu shared family style. Additional food and drinks at your own expense.

You will take a private transfer from lunch back to the hotel in Beijing.

I want you to experience the diversity of Chinese food! So together we will go try some dishes from Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangzhou and Henan provinces! Details are still TBD. NOTE: Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Overnight in Beijing.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Beijing Sunworld Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Chinese and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a 20 minute private transfer from the hotel in Beijing to the train station. Then board the bullet train on a 2nd class fare from Beijing to Xi’an. Once you arrive at the Xi’an station, it is a 40 minute transfer to the hotel. Restrooms are available on the train.

This will be my second 1st time in Xi'an (the first time was cut short due to Covid-- so it doesn't count) and I want to explore!! Let's spend the first night discovering the city together! I've read online that there is a Topless Hot Pot restaurant, where all the wait staff are men and don't wear shirts AND if you throw them some extra ¥¥ then they will even feed you! 🤣🤣🤣 Let's go find it! More details TBD. NOTE: Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Overnight in Xi'an.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Chinese and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

The city wall of Xi'an is the best preserved and most popular ancient city wall. Cycling on Xi'an City Wall offers a unique perspective of the ancient capital, enjoying panoramic views of the city's historic architecture and surrounding landscapes. The well-preserved wall, dating back over 600 years, provides a leisurely and immersive way to experience the rich cultural heritage of Xi'an.This morning you'll be cycling on top of the city wall. The total length of the wall is about 8.7 mi (14km), and it takes about 1 hour and 30 min to cycle the whole wall. The wall is mostly flat, but has some bumps, and moderate difficulty. There is also an option to rent a golf car on top of the wall at your own cost if you do not want to bike.

Dinner at a local restaurant is included. Your meal will typically be a dumpling banquet shared family style. Additional food and drinks at your own expense.

Overnight in Xi'an.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Chinese and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

You will take a private transfer to the site of the Terracotta Warriors.

The first emperor in China history built an incredible tomb for himself and made an artificial army to protect it, known as the Terra-cotta Warriors. The clay warriors were discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well, after being buried for 2000 years. Three main pits are open for you to view, where over 6000 warriors – each individually sculpted from clay, with a different costume, height, and even facial expression – stand in battle formation.

Lunch is included with a local family by the Terracotta Warrior Museum. You will visit one of the families in the village and enjoy a farmer style home-cooked lunch shared family style.

You will take a private transfer back to the hotel in Xi'an.

I ride a bike in China nearly every day! I also LOVE to join the neighborhood aunties in their nightly square dancing routines. We can either ride around and find an auntie crew to join for the night OR I can bring my loudspeaker, find a square and teach you all some traditional moves myself! Either way is gonna be a blast! NOTE: Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Overnight in Xi'an.

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant is included. You will be trying a set menu featuring variety of Xi'an cuisine shared family style. Additional food and beverages at your own expense.

During the walking tour you will wander around the Muslim Food Street and have chance to taste 4 different kinds of snacks on Muslim Street and learn about the history of this ethnic enclave. Some examples of some street food you'll try at Muslim Street are rou jia mo (seasoned shredded meat, usually beef or lamb, stuffed inside a flatbread), liang pi (cold noodles made from wheat or rice starch), and yangrou chuan (grilled lamb skewers. Street food may vary and are subject to change based on the groups preferences, seasonality, and availability.

The only thing our trip is missing is a bit of song and dance-- so let's go see a live performance together! Immerse yourself in China’s imperial history—and enjoy both cultural and culinary offerings—with this Xi’an dinner show. Set during the Tang Dynasty and the rule of Wu Zetian, China’s only female leader, the performance includes colorful costumes, elaborate sets, song and dance, and more. I'll reserve tickets for everyone in advance! NOTE: Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Overnight in Xi'an.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Beijing Sunworld Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Chinese and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

TrovaTrip will provide 2 departure transfers from the hotel to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) between 8 am and 12 pm. Exact transfer times within this window will be determined closer to your arrival based on provided traveler flight information. Travelers arriving outside of the requested flight guidelines will need to make their own arrangements to the airport.