5 Days | Shaanxi: Memorable Mount Hua Tour

Tour Overview 

Shaanxi is a three-dimensional epic of China. Mount Hua's "World's Most Dangerous Hiking Trail" tests adventurers, Hukou Waterfall roars with the Yellow River's primal power, the Terracotta Warriors whisper imperial ambitions through clay formations, while Datang Everbright City resurrects Tang Dynasty splendor with neon lights. As for Hancheng Ancient Town? It stands like a scribe chronicling civilization with blue bricks and black tiles.

"During this five-day tour, we'll take you up close with the beaten path through these beautiful and magical destinations. You'll travel along the stunningly picturesque Yanhuang Highway, explore two ancient cities with multiple gourmet hotspots, experience the majestic peril of Mount Hua, feel the awe of the Terracotta Warriors, and discover the historical relics of Huaqing Palace. Regardless of adventurers, history buffs, and art enthusiasts, you all find your own pilgrimage sites and harvest the joy of the journey.

 

Highlights of this tour:

1. Visit the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin Shihuang, one of the Eight Wonders of the World, and admire the invincible imperial army composed of over 8,000 mighty terracotta soldiers and tens of thousands of bronze weapons.

2. Explore the Ancient City of Hancheng, experience the charm of Sima Qian's hometown, and appreciate its reputation as "the cradle of Chinese historiography with Sima Qian's legacy and the most culturally rich site in Guanzhong."

3. Visit Huaqing Pool, nestled at the foot of the picturesque Mount Li, and immerse yourself in the elegant ancient charm of one of China's four great imperial gardens.

4. Travel along the Yellow River Scenic Byway, hailed as China's "No. 1 Highway", offering breathtaking views of the Yellow River.

5. Marvel at the Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River, witnessing the awe-inspiring spectacle of "a thousand miles of the Yellow River pouring into one gorge."

6. Tour Mount Hua, renowned as "the most precipitous mountain under heaven", and experience its towering cliffs and breathtaking landscapes.

 

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Xi'an

After departing from Shenzhen, upon arrival in Xi'an, the "ancient capital of thirteen dynasties", you will be accompanied by professional local guide and driver and then transferred to your hotel for check-in and rest. If time permits, you can arrange free activities on your own. (Including dedicated car transfer within the station and accommodation for the night)

Meal: N/A

Hotel: Xi'an Hotel

 

Day 2: Unforgettable Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace Experience

Routes: Xi'an → Terracotta Army → Huaqing Palace → Lishan Mountain

→ Mount Hua

After breakfast, you will take a guided tour of the Terracotta Army Museum. Hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", the Terracotta Army is an unmissable classic destination in Xi'an. For the westerners, this spectacular wonder is their most desired "cultural chamber" to explore China and the first stop to understand and decipher Chinese culture. Over 8,000 majestic terracotta warrior statues and tens of thousands of bronze weapons—these invincible imperial troops have lain underground for 2,000 years, ultimately becoming a colossal heritage of human civilization. Here, one can not only witness splendid ancient history and culture but also see a true representation of China's first unified empire. After visiting the Terracotta Army, you will enjoy a special meal themed "Unifying the Country".

After lunch, you will be transferred to visit Huaqing Palace and the Lishan Mountain Scenic Area. Nestled at the foot of the picturesque Lishan Mountain, Huaqing Palace is one of China’s Four Great Imperial Gardens. This site carries millennia of history and conceals countless legendary tales. According to myth, the goddess Nüwa tempered stones here to mend the heavens, ensuring peace for all living beings. King You of Zhou famously lit beacon fires on Lishan Mountain to amuse his concubine Bao Si, tricking his nobles—an act that led to the downfall. Also, the timeless romance of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Yuhuan began here, immortalized in the verse: "In heaven, may we be birds flying side by side; on earth, may we be branches intertwined." Beyond love stories, pivotal historical events unfolded here, including Emperor Yang of Sui’s flag-planting and the Xi’an Incident (1936), a turning point in modern Chinese history. With unparalleled beauty and endless historical depth, Huaqing Palace stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. Only this place could bear such historical weight and revive the splendor of China’s golden age.

After the Huaqing Palace visit, we will drive to Huashan Mountain for dinner and check into the hotel for rest.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Hotel: Huashan Mountain Hotel

Day 3: Unforgettable Mount Hua and Hancheng Ancient City Experience

Routes: Mount Hua (West Sacred Mountain) → Yellow River Scenic Byway → Ancient Hancheng City

After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will take you to explore Huashan Mountain. As a sacred mountain of the Chinese nation, the character "华 (Hua)" in "中华 (Zhonghua, meaning China)" originates from Huashan, hence Huashan is known as the "Root of China". It is also one of China's famous Five Great Mountains and reputed as "the most perilous mountain under heaven" (the entire trip takes about 5-6 hours). Huashan stands towering against the sky, standing defiant as if carved by divine blades on all sides. Also, it is home to extremely dangerous spots such as Qianchi Zhuang (Thousand-Foot Building), Baichi Xia (Hundred-Foot Gorge), Canglong Ling (Black Dragon Ridge), Yaozi Fanshen (Sparrow Hawk Turn), and Changkong Zhandao (Skywalk). Compared with mountains in southern China, Mount Hua's peaks appear vigorous and powerful, with majestic momentum. Standing at the summit of Huashan, one truly feels the sensation described in the line "When you reach the top, you'll see all other mountains are small". 

The sheer steepness, perilous cliffs, and breathtaking beauty of Mount Hua inevitably evoke the awe of Li Bai's verses in The Hard Road to Shu: 'Peaks upon peaks, less than a foot from the sky—withered pines hang upside down, clinging to the precipice!

After exploring Mount Hua, you will return to the foot of the mountain for lunch and gather at our exclusive VIP lounge at the foot of the mountain. It is an exclusive free resting area set up by our company for tourists. It aims to solve the problem of tourists having different times in descending the mountain due to differences in physical fitness and climbing routes, and the lack of comfortable gathering and resting places at the foot of the mountain. The lounge consists of two main sections: a themed movie hall and a leisure hall. It provides free soft seats, air conditioning, boiled water, mobile phone charging, luggage storage, and small puzzle games. In addition, it offers free affordable ice drinks, mineral water, and hot coffee (to address the common issue of overpriced goods in scenic areas).

After lunch, we will drive through the Yellow River Scenic Byway, known as "China's No.1 Highway", to Hancheng Ancient City. Hancheng is the hometown of Sima Qian, the author of Records of the Grand Historian. As the best-preserved ancient city in Shaanxi, there is a folk saying: "If you don't visit Shaanxi, you won't know how ancient China is; if you don't visit Hancheng, you won't know the past of Shaanxi". Once entering Hancheng, you step back a thousand years—its silent streets, towers, and temples whisper tales of the past. The ancient city of Hancheng is the soul of the region, home to Ming-Qing dynasty lanes, historic architecture, and traditional courtyard residences. With its impeccably preserved layout and timeless charm, it ranks among China’s six best-conserved ancient cities from the Ming and Qing eras. Often mentioned alongside Pingyao, and celebrated as one of China’s "Eight Great Ancient Cities" (with Dali, Lijiang, and others), Hancheng long remained "a hidden gem, like a bride awaiting her unveiling," overlooked for years due to late development. Yet this obscurity has become its strength. For travelers weary of over-commercialized destinations, Hancheng offers a sanctuary—a haven for slow living, unspoiled authenticity, and escape from modern clamor. Its vibrant food street dazzles with local flavors, inviting visitors to feast freely. After exploration, retreat to Hancheng’s Five-Diamond Hotel for rest steeped in luxury.

Warm Reminder: Currently, Mount Hua Scenic Area operates two cableways (North Peak Cableway and West Peak Cableway). Due to differences in visitors' ages, physical conditions, interests, and route accessibility, cableway and shuttle bus fees are not included in the base tour package.

Optional self-paid items for Mount Hua cableway:

Option 1: Round-trip North Peak Cableway + Environmental Protection Vehicle: CNY 190/person

Option 2: West Peak(up) and North Peak(down) + Environmental Protection Vehicle: CNY 280 /person

Option 3: Round-trip West Peak Cableway + Environmental Protection Vehicle: CNY 360/person

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Hotel: Hancheng Hotel

 

Day 4: Unique Hukou Waterfall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda Experience

Routes: Hukou Waterfall → Yellow River Highway Crossing → Big Wild Goose Pagoda → Datang Ever-Bright City

After breakfast, we will drive to Hukou Waterfall. While traveling along the Yellow River Highway, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way (about a 2-hour drive). Upon arrival, you will get a chance to visit the famous Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River. As China's second-largest waterfall and the world's largest yellow waterfall, the Yellow River rushes here, with steep cliffs on both banks and the river mouth narrowing like a kettle's spout—hence its name "Hukou" (Kettle Mouth). In the upstream of the waterfall, the Yellow River spans 300 meters wide, but in a stretch of less than 500 meters, it is compressed to a width of 20–30 meters. With 1,000 cubic meters of water per second pouring down from a 20-meter-high cliff, you can experience the breathtaking view of "a thousand miles of the Yellow River funneled into a kettle" from a 360° perspective.

After lunch, we will drive back to Xi'an and enjoy authentic Shaanxi cuisine at Yuanjia Village Food City.

As night falls and the lights come on, it is the perfect time to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square and Datang Ever-Bright City in the evening. Datang Ever-Bright City is one of China's top ten high-quality cultural pedestrian streets and the most beautiful night spot in Xi'an. When night falls and all the lights are lit, this 1,500-meter-long pedestrian street opens its doors to visitors through 9 themed exhibition areas. Here, you can feel the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and also encounter historical figures, which may bring you an illusion of stepping into the golden age of the Tang. Under the glow of magnificent lights, the world presented in front of you is a splendid feast—not just a visual shock, but a profound touch to the heart.

Through Tang-style architecture, light shows, and performances, Datang Ever-Bright City allows visitors to experience the grand scene of "a night sky filled with fiery trees and beautiful flowers" as if traveling back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The classic example includes the interactive performances like The Secret Box of the Flourishing Tang and dance shows like The Governance of Zhenguan, they vividly recreate Tang cultural scenes, therefore enhancing the sense of immersion. The street also integrates innovative elements such as poetry mazes and poetry-themed interactive activities, where visitors can participate in recitals and quizzes as well as combine cultural experience with social interaction. Summer nights amplify the magic with light shows and immersive theater, making it ideal for families and friends to enjoy evening leisure.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Hotel: Xi'an Hotel

 

Day 5: Departure

Routes: Xi'an Museum → Small Wild Goose Pagoda → Bell and Drum Tower Square → Muslim Quarter → Return to Shenzhen (with dedicated car transfer)

After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided tour to Daci'en Temple. As the most famous and magnificent Buddhist temple in Tang-era Chang'an, it was commissioned by the Li-Tang royal family. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda—a seven-tiered Buddhist monument that has stood guard over Chang'an (Xi'an) for over 1,300 years—stands majestically here. Since the Tang Dynasty, literati and scholars, after passing imperial exams or being promoted, often came to Daci'en Temple to worship Buddha. Over generations, this practice evolved into a tradition: people pray here for success in careers and officialdom, and it has become a place to pray for good fortune and send blessings to loved ones, carrying their heartfelt concerns.

Next, we will visit Xi'an Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Xi'an Museum is a modern building housing the treasures of Chang'an, while the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a Tang-dynasty tower that has stood quietly for 1,400 years. As an ancient capital, Xi'an was the capital of 13 dynasties starting from the Western Zhou Dynasty, leaving countless cultural heritage sites. Today, thousands of years of history are condensed in Xi'an Museum, which holds the brilliant memories of this thirteen-dynasty capital.

After visiting the Xi’an Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, you will head to Xi’an’s iconic Muslim Quarter (Huimin Street) at noon—a bustling retro-style street in the city center. This internet-famous food paradise includes vibrant alleys like Xiyangshi Market and Dapiyuan, where you can sample over 300 local delicacies, such as Willow-skewered lamb kebabs, Jia San’s steamed soup dumplings, Old Mi Family’s lamb paomo (bread soup), Southeast Asian glutinous rice cake (Zhen’gao), Cold noodles with sesame sauce (Majiang liangpi), Persimmon cakes with osmanthus (Huanggui shizibing), Lamb soup with flatbread (Shuipeng yangrou), Cold tofu with savory gravy (Luzhi liangfen) etc. These time-honored eateries, brimming with authentic flavors, are a true pilgrimage for food lovers. Later, your dedicated driver and guide will escort you back home at your preferred time, ensuring a seamless end to your journey.

Meal: Breakfast

Tour Price ($=USD)

From $ 954 P.P, which is based on a private tour for 2-6 people.

The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel.

 

Price Includes

√ Reference Flights: Round-trip economy class tickets from Shenzhen to Xi'an, including taxes;

√ Transportation: Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

√ Accommodation: 4 nights' accommodation in well-selected hotels;

√ Meals: 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches/dinners listed in the itinerary;

√ Children: For children aged 2-12, the package includes round-trip air tickets, local transportation fees, and tour guide service fees.

 

Price Excludes

√ Any optional activities inside the attractions;

√ Single room supplement;

√ Fees for luggage storage or overweight luggage;

√ Meal and transportation expenses during free time;

√ Any item not mentioned in the itinerary.