Palaces, Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Old Lanes, And Neon Skyline Fun For All Ages

A 9-day private trip designed for families, linking Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai with child-friendly experiences in each city. You move from palace courtyards and Great Wall watchtowers to underground armies of clay soldiers and finally to tunnels of colored lights and a glass sky deck above Shanghai. Along the way, kids play, taste, and create—not just “follow the adults.”

Key Info

• Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
• Destinations: Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai
• Style: Private, family-focused, fully customizable
• Best For: Families who want a first China trip that balances big icons with hands-on activities for children

Family Highlights

• Forbidden City For Kids: Explore beyond the central halls with stories about dragons and mythical animals, and play a small “treasure hunt” style game to keep young minds engaged.
• Beijing Roast Duck Feast: Enjoy a classic roast duck meal where children can learn how to roll their own pancakes with meat, scallions, and sauce.
• Great Wall With Toboggan Ride: Visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, ride up by cable car or chairlift, then—when conditions allow—slide down on a fun toboggan track.
• Hutong Playtime: Step into a traditional courtyard home in the old lanes. Kids can try simple calligraphy, spin a Chinese yo-yo, and sample snacks local children love.
• Terracotta Warriors + Make Your Own Figurine: See the famous army up close, then head to a countryside workshop where the whole family can create a small clay warrior to take home.
• Shadow Puppets And Storytelling: Visit a shadow-puppet studio, dye or decorate a puppet, and act out a short story together behind the screen.
• Xi’an Street-Food Adventure: Wander the Muslim Quarter and try family-friendly favorites like “Chinese burgers”, noodles, kebabs, and sweet treats.
• Shanghai Tower And Glass Deck: Ride one of the world’s fastest elevators to a sky deck with sweeping city views, including a glass floor section for those who dare.
• Bund Sightseeing Tunnel: Cross under the Huangpu River through a tunnel of shifting colors and sound effects that feels like a short “light show ride” between old and new Shanghai.
• Flexible Free Day In Shanghai: Keep a day open for whatever suits your family best—shopping, a theme park day, or a relaxed visit to a nearby water town.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive In Beijing

Your private guide and driver meet your family at the airport and escort you by non-smoking, air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest, adjust to the time zone, or explore a little around the neighborhood.

Day 2 — Beijing · Forbidden City And Hutong Life

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

• Walk across Tian’anmen Square and enter the Forbidden City, following a child-friendly route that mixes major halls with quieter courtyards.
• Hear stories about emperors, dragons, and lucky creatures, and play a simple game based on the “nine sons of the dragon” and other mythical animals hidden in the details of the buildings.
• Enjoy lunch at a well-known roast duck restaurant, where everyone can practice rolling their own duck pancakes.
• In the afternoon, visit a traditional courtyard home in a hutong district. Children can try basic calligraphy, play with a Chinese yo-yo, and taste classic local sweets while learning how families live in these old neighborhoods.

Day 3 — Beijing · Temple Of Heaven And The Great Wall

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

• Start at the Temple of Heaven park, where older Beijingers gather to sing, dance, play cards, and practice tai chi. Walk into the circular altar and halls where emperors once prayed for good harvests.
• After lunch, drive to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Take a cable car or chairlift up to the ramparts and walk between watchtowers, with plenty of photo stops and time to rest.
• For a fun finish (weather and operations permitting), ride a toboggan down a long track to the bottom—usually a big hit with kids and teens.

Day 4 — Beijing · Summer Palace And High-Speed Train To Xi’an

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

• Spend a relaxed morning at the Summer Palace, a lakeside royal retreat of pavilions, corridors, and small temples.
• Take a boat ride across the lake (weather permitting) and walk parts of the long painted corridor, spotting scenes from old stories and landscapes painted on the beams.
• In the afternoon, transfer to the station for a bullet train to Xi’an. Your Xi’an guide meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel.

Day 5 — Xi’an · Terracotta Army, Workshop, And City Wall

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

• Visit the Terracotta Army, exploring the main pits filled with rows of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots. A short film and your guide’s stories help bring the site to life for younger travelers.
• Continue to a family-run workshop in the countryside, where you can see how clay figures are still made and shape your own small warrior or figurine as a souvenir.
• Back in the city, head up onto Xi’an’s city wall. Walk or cycle along the wide top of the wall, stopping at gate towers and corners for views of both old streets and modern buildings.

Day 6 — Xi’an · Pagoda, Shadow Puppets, Street Food, Fly To Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

• Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, an important landmark connected with monk Xuanzang and his journey to India. The temple complex introduces children to another chapter of China’s history and Buddhism.
• At a shadow-puppet studio, learn how this traditional art form works. Dye or decorate a carved puppet and then step behind the screen to tell a short story together using lights and silhouettes.
• Dive into the flavors of Xi’an in the Muslim Quarter, where you can try lamb skewers, “Chinese hamburgers”, noodles, and other street snacks, choosing the level of adventure that suits your family.
• In the late afternoon or evening, fly to Shanghai, where your local guide meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel.

Day 7 — Shanghai · Towers, Tunnel, And Traditional Garden

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

• Begin in modern Shanghai, riding an elevator to the high observation deck of Shanghai Tower (or a similarly tall landmark) for sweeping views over the city and river. A section of glass floor gives brave family members a chance to look straight down.
• Cross the river via the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, a short underground ride where changing lights and sound effects make the journey feel like a mini attraction.
• In the afternoon, step back into old Shanghai at Yu Garden, a historic Jiangnan-style garden of ponds, bridges, and carved pavilions.
• Wander the nearby bazaar streets, where stalls sell snacks, toys, souvenirs, and local crafts—perfect for a bit of gentle bargaining and small treats.

Day 8 — Shanghai · Free Day For Your Own Family Plans

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day to shape as you like. Popular options include:

• A full day at Shanghai Disneyland or another theme park
• A half- or full-day visit to a nearby water town with canals and stone bridges
• Time for shopping in modern malls or local markets
• Extra cultural activities such as a cooking class, bike ride, or art museum

Your guide can help you arrange activities in advance based on your family’s interests.

Day 9 — Shanghai Departure

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, your guide and driver take you to the airport in good time for your departing flight, helping with check-in before saying goodbye.

Accommodation

Family-friendly hotels are chosen in convenient neighborhoods, usually in the 4-star or boutique 4–5 star range unless you request a different level. Where possible, we aim for:

• Spacious rooms or interconnecting options for families
• Central locations near shops and simple dining
• Reliable Wi-Fi and modern amenities

If you prefer family suites, apartment-style stays, or specific hotel brands, the route can be adjusted.

Cuisine

Breakfast is served daily at your hotels. Most sightseeing days include lunch at local restaurants chosen for both flavor and child-friendly options. You’ll have the chance to try regional dishes from Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, while still being able to find milder flavors and simple staples for younger eaters.

Dinners are often left free so you can choose what suits your family each night. Common dietary needs—vegetarian, halal, gluten-free, etc.—can usually be accommodated with advance notice.

What’s Typically Included

• 8 nights’ accommodation in selected family-friendly hotels
• Private, air-conditioned vehicle and driver in each city
• Local English-speaking guides
• High-speed train Beijing–Xi’an and domestic flight Xi’an–Shanghai (or vice versa, depending on routing)
• Entrance fees and main activities listed in the itinerary
• Daily breakfasts and most lunches during guided touring
• Airport and station transfers in all cities

What’s Typically Not Included

• International flights to and from China
• China visa fees and related paperwork
• Dinners and any meals not clearly listed as included
• Optional extra activities (e.g., Disneyland tickets, special evening shows)
• Personal expenses (drinks, snacks, laundry, shopping, etc.)
• Tips for guides and drivers (according to your preference)