FLEXIBLE ROUTE IDEA
Beijing — Xi'an · 15 days
Fifteen days move west in historical order from Beijing to Datong, Pingyao, Luoyang and Xi'an, comparing capitals, cave temples, walled towns and Buddhist art.
This is a planning framework, not a fixed group tour. Stops, transport and daily pace can all be changed.
Duration
15 days
Best season
Spring / autumn
Travel pace
Balanced
Suggested route rhythm
The day ranges below show a comfortable starting rhythm. Exact trains, flights and driving time are arranged after your dates are confirmed.
Main interests
- Days 1–4
Beijing
Use the imperial central axis, hutong neighborhoods and public parks to compare historic and present-day Beijing.
Continue to: Datong · High-speed rail
- Days 5–6
Datong
Give the Yungang Grottoes and historic city separate time, with optional temple visits chosen by distance.
Continue to: Pingyao · High-speed rail
- Days 7–8
Pingyao
Walk the walls, banks, courtyards and lanes as one preserved commercial city rather than isolated ticketed sights.
Continue to: Luoyang · High-speed rail
- Days 9–11
Luoyang
Separate the Longmen Grottoes from the old capital's museums and city remains, leaving time for cross-city travel.
Continue to: Xi'an · High-speed rail
- Days 12–15
Xi'an
Give the Terracotta Army its own day and keep the city wall, mosque, food streets and museum appointments in logical clusters.
Arrival and departure
Arrive in Beijing and move west by rail through Datong, Pingyao and Luoyang. Depart from Xi'an airport or railway station, keeping the entire historical route one-way with no backtracking.
Why this route works
The corrected order removes backtracking. Datong and Pingyao are concise two-night stops, while Luoyang and Xi'an receive enough time for sites outside their city centers.
Build your version of this route
Tell me your dates, preferred pace, must-see places and what you would rather skip. I will prepare a free first version for us to review together.
Start with this route