China with ‘Blondie in China’ 2.0

Dates

Nov 14–21, 2024

Group Size

8–20 Travelers

Duration

8 days, 7 nights

Activity Level

Exploration

About This Trip

Our journey will lead us through the vibrant streets and alleyways of Beijing, the modern-day capital, and Xi'an, the historic seat of thirteen ancient dynasties. Traverse a tapestry of delectable cuisines akin to emperors and empresses of old. Ascend the majestic Great Wall of China, and stand in awe before the Terracotta Warriors.
$2,195USD
$2,195USD
Nov 14–21, 2024
8 days
Trip Closed

Meet Your Host

Blondie in China
Blondie in China

Hi there! I'm Amy and I run the channel 'Blondie in China' where I share my adventures eating and travelling around China. When I'm not eating and travelling, you'll find my head in a fantasy book, walking, or watching reality TV!

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Trip Activities

  • Tian'anmen Square

  • The Forbidden City

  • Dumpling Making With a Local Family

  • Cable Car Ride & Toboggan Ride at Mutianyu Great Wall

  • Great Wall of China (Mutianyu)

  • Cycling on the City Wall

  • Terracotta Warriors

Optional Activities*

  • Muslim Street: Food Walking Tour

*Add-ons available at checkout for an additional fee.

Included in Your Trip

  • Double occupancy in 4-star hotels (limited single rooms available)

  • Local Guide throughout trip

  • All city transfers

  • Arrival airport transfer from PEK (until 5 pm on first day)

  • Departure airport transfer to XIY (morning of last day)

Not Included

  • Flights (except as noted)

  • Food & Alcohol (except as noted)

  • Visas & Travel Insurance

  • Airport Transfers Outside of Designated Times

  • Tips and Gratuity

What's included by Your Host

Hutong Walking Tour

Informal Gathering
Come for a walk through the hutongs with me! The hutongs are my favourite place to get lost in Beijing and I would love to share that with you. There will, of course, be stops and snacks along the way! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Beijing Food Adventure

Informal Gathering
Details TBD but I would love to do a good ol' fashioned Beijing Food Adventure for dinner! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Xi'an Food Adventure

Informal Gathering
Details TBD but let's make the most of our free afternoon to check out some yummy lunch options in Xi'an together! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Breakfast Market Adventure!

Informal Gathering
I LOVE breakfast markets, so lively and full of tasty food. I'll be getting up early to explore a local Xi'an breakfast market, so feel free to join! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Itinerary

*All durations are approximate

Day 1

Info

Welcome to Beijing! Settle in and get ready to experience the food and culture of this vibrant city.

Airport Transfer

45 Mins

TrovaTrip will provide 3 transfers from Beijing International Airport (PEK) between 8 am and 5 pm.

dinner

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant is included. You'll be getting a taste of the most famous dish in the city - Beijing Duck.

Beijing Sunworld Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations may vary based on availability or group size, but no matter what, you can expect the same comfort and quality.

Night 1/3

Overnight in Beijing.

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Day 2

Info

Today you will enjoy a city tour of Beijing's most iconic sites - Tian'anmen Square and The Forbidden City. After, you'll visit a local family house in Hutong, for a dumpling making class and lunch. Then you'll be transferred back to your hotel for a free afternoon.

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Tian'anmen Square

1 Hour

From the hotel, you'll take a 30 min ride over to Tian'anmen Square. At the heart of Beijing, China, is an expansive historic plaza with immense political significance and a backdrop to key moments in Chinese history. It's surrounded by iconic landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Hall of the People.

The Forbidden City

2 Hours

Make your way to Forbidden City - the palaces of ancient emperors in the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. You will explore the 600 year old great halls and courtyards with your local Guide explaining its historical significance.

Dumpling Making With a Local Family

1 Hour 30 Mins

During lunchtime, you'll have the opportunity to engage in a dumpling-making class at a local family's residence nestled within a Hutong. Hutongs are traditional residential areas found within the winding streets of the old city, attracting visitors seeking to immerse themselves in Beijing's historical ambiance and explore its narrow alleys.

lunch

Lunch is included with the dumpling making class. Learn how to make traditional dumplings with the hostess in the Hutong family.

Hutong Walking Tour

Come for a walk through the hutongs with me! The hutongs are my favourite place to get lost in Beijing and I would love to share that with you. There will, of course, be stops and snacks along the way! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Beijing Sunworld Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations may vary based on availability or group size, but no matter what, you can expect the same comfort and quality.

Night 2/3

Overnight in Beijing.

Show DetailsHide Details
Day 3

Info

Today you will take an hour and a half transfer out of the city to explore the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, the longest and most fully-restored section. You’ll take a cable car ride up the wall and take a toboggan ride down if you are feeling adventurous. With the greens of pines and cypresses covering over 90% of the surrounding area, the scenery there is beautiful all the year-round. After visiting the Great Wall, you’ll head to lunch at a local restaurant in a village about a half hour away. Remember to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes today!

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Transfer to The Great Wall

1 Hour 30 Mins

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

Cable Car Ride & Toboggan Ride at Mutianyu Great Wall

5 Mins

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.

Great Wall of China (Mutianyu)

4 Hours

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.

lunch

Lunch is included at a local restaurant in a town roughly 30 min from The Great Wall.

Transfer back to Beijing

1 Hour 30 Mins

You will take about an hour and a half private transfer from back to the hotel.

Beijing Food Adventure

Details TBD but I would love to do a good ol' fashioned Beijing Food Adventure for dinner! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Beijing Sunworld Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations may vary based on availability or group size, but no matter what, you can expect the same comfort and quality.

Night 3/3

Overnight in Beijing.

Show DetailsHide Details
Day 4

Info

Today, you'll take a 45 min transfer to the station, where you will then hop onboard a roughly 5 hour bullet train ride that will transport you from Beijing to Xi'an, the first capital of China.

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Hotel to Train Station

40 Mins

You will take a 40 min private transfer from your hotel in Beijing to the train station.

Bullet Train: Beijing to Xi'an

4 Hours 11 Mins

Hop on a bullet train in China and travel to Xi'an .

Train Station to Hotel

1 Hour

You will take an hour-long private transfer from the train station to your hotel in Xi'an.

Xi'an Bell Tower Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations may vary based on availability or group size, but no matter what, you can expect the same comfort and quality.

Night 1/4

Overnight in Xi'an.

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Day 5

Info

Today is your first full day exploring Xi'an. You'll start the morning with a half hour transfer to the old city walls where you will rent bikes and ride atop the rim! You'll then arrive back to the hotel around noon where you'll get to freshen up and explore the city at leisure. For dinner, the whole group will head out and enjoy a dumpling banquet.

breakfast

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Cycling on the City Wall

1 Hour 30 Mins

The city wall of Xi'an is the best preserved and popular ancient city wall that was built 600 years ago. This morning you'll be cycling on top of the city wall. The total length of the wall is about 14km (8.7miles), and 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.

dinner

A dumpling banquet dinner is included at a local restaurant.

Xi'an Food Adventure

Details TBD but let's make the most of our free afternoon to check out some yummy lunch options in Xi'an together! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Xi'an Bell Tower Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations may vary based on availability or group size, but no matter what, you can expect the same comfort and quality.

Night 2/4

Overnight in Xi'an.

Show DetailsHide Details
Day 6

Info

Other than being China's first capital, Xi'an is also most famous for being home to the Terracotta Warriors. Today, you'll take a one hour private transfer out to the site of the Terracotta Warriors, where you'll be able to learn the history and visit 3 different pits where the warriors were buried. You'll then head to a local village nearby for lunch before taking another hour transfer back to the hotel.

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Hotel to Terracotta Warriors

1 Hour

You will take an hour long private transfer to the site of the Terracotta Warriors.

Terracotta Warriors

2 Hours

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

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.

Terracotta Warriors to Hotel

1 Hour

You will take an hour private transfer back to the hotel.

Xi'an Bell Tower Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations may vary based on availability or group size, but no matter what, you can expect the same comfort and quality.

Night 3/4

Overnight in Xi'an.

Show DetailsHide Details
Day 7

Info

Today is your last full day in Xi'an. You can either spend the day exploring the city at leisure or signing up for an optional food walking tour at the famous Muslim Street to taste some delicious treats!

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

dinner

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant is included. You will be trying a variety of Xi'an cuisine tonight.

Muslim Street: Food Walking Tour (optional)

2 Hours

During the walking tour you will wander around the Muslim Food Street and have a chance to taste 4 different kinds of snacks on Muslim Street and learn about the history of this ethnic enclave.

Breakfast Market Adventure!

I LOVE breakfast markets, so lively and full of tasty food. I'll be getting up early to explore a local Xi'an breakfast market, so feel free to join! **Informal Gatherings are optional and not included in your trip cost or paid for by your host.

Xi'an Bell Tower Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations may vary based on availability or group size, but no matter what, you can expect the same comfort and quality.

Night 4/4

Overnight in Xi'an.

Show DetailsHide Details
Day 8

Info

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transported back to the airport. Zàijiàn to China for now!

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is included.

Airport Transfer

1 Hour

TrovaTrip will provide 2 transfers to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) between 10 am and 12 pm.

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Physical Activity Level:Exploration

These trips require some movement, but slow and steady is the name of the game. Maybe a mid-length walking tour or at-your-pace sightseeing. No rush.

Cancellation Policy

We get it—life happens. Here's how cancellations work depending on where you're at in the process:

Spot Pending

100% refundable
Not confirmed yet? No worries. You can cancel at any time for a full refund.

Spot Confirmed With 91 or More Days Before Your Trip

Partially refundable + credit towards a future trip
You'll receive a future trip credit for the amount of your down payment (minus a $100 cancellation fee per Traveler). This trip credit is valid for one year from the date it is issued. Additionally, any payments made beyond the original 25% down payment will be refunded to your original form of payment.

Spot Confirmed With 90 or Fewer Days Before Your Trip

Non-refundable
At this point, all payments are non-refundable because your experience is already in motion behind the scenes. By this time, our operating partners will be working with local businesses to secure your accommodations and finalize your activities.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Protect Your Adventure-Invest in Peace of Mind

We strongly encourage purchasing travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage to safeguard your investment. With travel insurance, you're covered in case of unexpected events—from illness to emergencies—that could affect your plans. Life is unpredictable, but your dream trip doesn't have to be.

After booking, you'll receive a personalized recommendation for coverage tailored to your trip. For full details on our cancellation policy, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.

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Flexible Payment Options

Reserve your spot with just 25% down, pay in full, or apply for a payment plan at booking. Your dream trip, your way.

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FAQ

Traveling with TrovaTrip

What's it like to travel on a Trova Trip?

Trova Trips are curated group travel experiences designed to help you see the world, meet new people, and connect over shared interests. Each trip is hosted by a community leader you know and trust, and run by professional local Operators who handle the logistics. Expect meaningful experiences, authentic activities, and a like-minded group to share it all with.

What's the difference between the Host, the Operator, and Trova?

Great question! Each plays a key role in bringing your experience to life:

  • The Host is your community leader who brings the group together, fosters connection, and perhaps leads a workshop or two. They're there to bring the vibes, not the logistics. That's the Tour Operator's job.
  • The Operator is the professional travel company that runs the trip on the ground. They handle it all—accommodations, local Guides, activities, and safety. Every Operator we partner with is licensed, insured, and vetted to deliver high-quality group travel.
  • TrovaTrip is the platform who connects it all. We help design the trips, partner with Hosts with Operators, and support you before and during your journey to ensure everything runs smoothly.

In short: The Host brings the vibe, the Operator runs the trip, and we make it all happen. Read more about who does what here.

I'm nervous to book. How can I feel more confident?

First, let us say—it's totally understandable, and you're not alone! Travel can feel intimidating, but we built Trova to take the guesswork out of group travel and earn your trust every step of the way:

    • Every trip is run by licensed Tour Operators with vetted local Guides.
    • Hosts are there to foster connection, meaning you'll arrive solo but never feel alone.
    • Itineraries are clearly outlined so you know what to expect, including activity level, example accommodations, and what's included.
    • Our team is available to support you pre-departure, and Operators—plus your local Guide—are on the ground to assist during the trip. And rest assured, all our Operating partners are trained in crisis management.
    • We always recommend travel insurance for extra peace of mind, whether you're traveling with Trova or solo. It can cover medical issues, lost luggage, or even cancellations.

We know it takes trust to book a trip with new people, and we're here to make sure you feel ready, supported, and excited!”

Can I book solo?

Absolutely! As of 2025, almost 84% of TrovaTrip Travelers go solo. (And yes, we may be a little biased, but we think group travel is one of the best ways to meet new people!) You'll have your own bed and the option to book a private room on most trips. Plus you'll be traveling with others who are just as excited to explore and connect.

What if I need to cancel?

We understand that life happens. Our cancellation policy is designed to provide flexibility while balancing the logistics of group travel:

  • Spot pending100% refundable. Not confirmed yet? No worries. You can cancel at any time for a full refund.
  • Spot confirmed with 91 or more days before your tripPartially refundable + credit towards a future trip. You'll receive a future trip credit for the amount of your down payment (minus a $100 cancellation fee per Traveler). This trip credit is valid for one year from the date it is issued. Additionally, any payments made beyond the original 25% down payment will be refunded to your original form of payment. 
  • Spot confirmed with 90 days or fewer before your tripNon-refundable. At this point, all payments are non-refundable because your experience is already in motion behind the scenes. By this time, our operating partners will be working with local businesses to secure your accommodations and finalize your activities.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Protect Your Adventure–Invest in Peace of Mind
We strongly encourage purchasing travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage to safeguard your investment. With travel insurance, you're covered in case of unexpected events–from illness to emergencies–that could affect your plans. Life is unpredictable, but your dream trip doesn't have to be.

After booking, you'll receive a personalized recommendation for coverage tailored to your trip. For full details on our cancellation policy, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.

What's included in the trip cost?

Most trips include accommodations, daily activities, ground transportation, some meals, and a dedicated local Guide. Because Travelers are coming from all around the world, flights to and from your destination are not included. Each trip page breaks it all down for you.

Will I have free time?

Yes! While we pack in incredible experiences, most itineraries include built-in free time so you can relax, wander, or check out personal must-sees.

What do the activity levels mean?

Every trip has a physical Activity Level from 1 to 5 so you can find the right fit for your travel style:

  • Level 1 – Relax + Unwind: Minimal movement (spa days, beach lounging, local markets)
  • Level 2 – Low-Key Movement: Light, easy-paced activity (snorkeling, boat tours, gentle hikes)
  • Level 3 – Moderate Activity: Ready to move (multi-day hikes, skiing, camping)
  • Level 4 – Get Your Heart Rate Up: More intense movement (long hikes, biking, active days)
  • Level 5 – Extreme Adventure: High-adrenaline travel (challenging hikes, dives, technical climbs – experience may be required)

You'll find the Activity Level clearly listed on each trip page, and a more in-depth explanation of each level here.

Who can I contact with more questions?

Our support team is here to help! Visit trovatrip.com/company/contact-us to reach out. You can expect to hear back within 2 business days, but probably sooner—our Trova elves are pretty speedy!

Accommodations

What does "or similar" mean next to the accommodations?

When we say “or similar,” it means the hotel listed is an example of what you can expect—not always the exact spot you'll be staying. Sometimes Operators adjust accommodations due to seasonal availability or group size. But rest assured: the quality and comfort will match what's shown.

Why would the accommodations change from time of booking?

Flexibility allows Operators to choose the best-fit accommodations closer to your trip—based on availability, logistics, and what works best for the group (like the number of Travelers and room configurations). This ensures a smooth experience without sacrificing comfort or quality.

Finalized hotel info is typically shared about 30 days before departure in your Traveler Portal, along with your final itinerary.

Trip Operations & Compliance

Who actually runs my trip, and how does Trova keep things safe?

Your trip is operated by licensed, certified Tour Operators who manage all trip logistics and safety—from accommodations and local Guides and day-to-day logistics. All trips comply with local legal and regulatory standards. We vet each Operating partner carefully so you can travel with confidence.

Who do I talk to if I have questions about safety or compliance?

If you have any questions about safety protocols or trip compliance, reach out to us at safety@trovatrip.com. We're here to help.

General Travel Questions

Do I need any documentation to travel?

It depends on where you're headed. Though it is not a universal requirement, many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date. This ensures Travelers have sufficient time to return home even if their visas are extended or if unexpected circumstances arise. 

Some destinations may also require a visa. Check our visa page to consult your country's travel resources.

Do I need any vaccines?

It's always best to check with your healthcare provider or a travel doctor before your trip. You can also visit the CDC website (or your local government's travel health resource) for destination-specific vaccine guidance. Health and safety first!

Are flights included in the trip cost?

Because our Hosts and Travelers are coming from all around the world, flights to and from your destination are not included. Some trips include internal flights (like a short domestic hop), and those details will always be listed on the trip page if applicable.

Can you accommodate my dietary needs?

We’ll do our very best! Our Operators aim to accommodate dietary restrictions, though availability varies by destination. For example, some places offer plenty of vegan and vegetarian choices, while others might be quite limited. The earlier you let us know—through your trip form or by contacting our support team—the better we can prepare. Once you arrive, be sure to remind your local Guide about any allergies or restrictions so they can help you enjoy your meals safely and comfortably.