Ancient China: Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi’an in 10 days
Beijing · Datong · Pingyao · Xi'an
Photo: severin.stalder · CC BY-SA 3.0
Buddhist grottoes, a temple hanging on a cliff, a walled Ming town and the Terracotta Army, for history lovers.
Not for 240-hour visa-free transit: Pingyao is outside the areas where transit visitors may stay (in Shanxi only Taiyuan and Datong). You need 30-day visa-free entry or a visa.
The route
- High-speed train · about 2 h
- High-speed train · about 3–4 hUsually with a change at Taiyuan.
- High-speed train · about 3 h
Journey times are typical. Check 12306 or Trip.com for trains on your date.
Day by day
- Day 1Beijing
Arrive. Shichahai hutongs.
- Day 2Beijing
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan.
- Day 3Beijing
Badaling Great Wall by train, Temple of Heaven on the way back.
- Day 4Datong
Train to Datong. Walk the restored city wall.
- Day 5Datong
Yungang Grottoes in the morning, Hanging Temple in the afternoon.
- Day 6Pingyao
Train to Pingyao. Stay in a courtyard hotel inside the walls.
- Day 7Pingyao
Old town combined ticket: Rishengchang bank, the city wall, old yamen.
- Day 8Xi'an
Train to Xi’an. City Wall and Muslim Quarter.
- Day 9Xi'an
Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace.
- Day 10Xi'an
Big Wild Goose Pagoda, then fly out.
Book before you go
- Tiananmen Square Booking requiredFree real-name booking, 1–7 days ahead, released daily at 12:00, on the 天安门广场预约参观 WeChat mini-program or the official booking website (yuyue2026.tamgw.beijing.gov.cn in 2026; the address changes yearly). Book with your passport. No walk-ins.
- Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Booking requiredBook on the official English site intl.dpm.org.cn with your passport, 1–7 days ahead. New tickets go on sale at 20:00 each evening and peak dates sell out in minutes. No same-day tickets. Beijing’s government says foreigners can book there without a Chinese phone number.
- Terracotta Army Booking requiredReal-name tickets with your passport on the official site bmy.com.cn, its WeChat account, or Trip.com. Timed entry; book several days ahead in summer and holidays.
- Jingshan Park Booking recommendedListed on bjgyol.com.cn (English option), which accepts passports. Beijing’s government also suggests phoning 010-66055431 a day ahead.
- Badaling Great Wall Booking recommendedReal-name booking with your passport up to 7 days ahead on ticket.badaling.cn (Chinese only), the official WeChat account, or Trip.com and Klook. A 2024 Beijing government page says tickets can also be bought on site, but book ahead for weekends and holidays.
- Temple of Heaven Booking recommendedBook 1–7 days ahead with your passport on bjgyol.com.cn (English option) or the 畅游公园 WeChat account.
- Xi’an City Wall Booking recommendedBuy online (official WeChat, Trip.com) or at the gate with your passport.
- Huaqing Palace Booking recommendedOfficial ticketing site hqpalaceglobal.com (English) or Trip.com, with your passport.
Similar routes
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Good first tripBeijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → ShanghaiChina highlights in 12 days: palaces, pandas and karst peaksThe classic five: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai. Busy but doable with trains and two short flights.
Xi'an → Zhangye → DunhuangThe Silk Road: Xi’an, Zhangye and Dunhuang in 8 daysFrom the old capital to the desert: rainbow mountains, Buddhist cave art and sand dunes around an oasis lake.