Jun.21th-24th Xi'an | History+Mystery Exploration Tour

# CETtrips #

• 2019 Enshi | 4 Days Blue River and Green Mounts Highlight Tour

• 2019 Luoyang | 4 Days Longmen Grottoes+Shaolin Temple Tour

• 2019 Xiamen | 5 Days Gulangyu Island+Fujian Tulou In-Depth Tour

• 2019 Dunhuang | 5 Days Hexi Corridor+Mogao Caves Discovery Tour

• Discount Show for Weekends
  

Click the links to Get the details!

Xi'an | 4-Day History+Mystery Exploration Tour

In 221BC, a few years prior to the Roman Empire's engagement in the Second PunicWar with Carthage, Alexander the Great's Greek Empire had fallen apart, and theIndian Maurya Dynasty had faded leaving south Asia divided and at war, apowerful and prosperous dynasty was established in central China. This was the Qin, the first period of entire unification of China. 

At that time, the dynasty was the most powerful state in the world with apopulation of 20 million and annual revenue worth 2000 kgs of silver. The powerful military and economic strength of the nation enabledthe completion of such a great wonder--the huge funerary project with numerous terracotta warriors guarding the First Qin Emperor's mausoleum. This giant project was stopped and buried underground since 208 BC.

The determining factor of Qin State's transition from a small rather insignificantnation to the only power in the whole country was its strong army. The Xi'an Terracotta Army is a representation of the Qin State's troop formation with soldiers and chariots strategically arranged in the pits. 

About 8,000 warriors, 100 chariots, 400 horses, and more than 100,000 weapons have been unearthed from the three pits so far. To the front of the formation are threerows of crossbowmen able to launch a long-range attack. The main force formedby infantry and chariots follows after. On the two sides of this formation isthe troop of cavalry designed to out flank the enemies.

The history of Terracotta Army dates back over 2,200 years. It was built from 246BC to 208BC for the purpose of protecting Emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife. According to a history book named Shih Chi, the 13-year-old Qin Shi Huangdi (259BC-210BC) commanded his subjects to built his mausoleum along with the terracotta army in 246BC when he was crowned as the king of Qin State. 

The construction was finished in 208 BC, 2 years after Qin Shi Huang’s death. It is the first large scale, and relatively well-preserved, imperial mausoleum with exquisite layout in Chinese history. In 1974 this man-made wonder was discovered by local farmers when digging a well, then excavated and put under protection. 

When the Xi'an Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974, this enormous sculpture group amazed the world. The pits were found to hold about 8,000 exquisite figures and horses, including burly generals, resolute military officers, and vivid soldiers. The find was praised as the Eighth Wonder of the World by the former French Prime Minister Chirac early in 1978, in 1979 it was opened to the public and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Xian, located in central-northwest China, records the great changes of the country just like a living history book. It is the capital of 13 ancient China dynasties, is undisputed the perfect representation of Chinese dynastic history and culture. There used to be total of 73 emperors ruled here and have endowed the city with an amazing historical heritage. 

In the ancient time, Xian was the terminus of the Silk Road, and played as a melting pot of cultures and religions of both eastern and western world. There were a large number of traders and travelers from far and wide brought goods and ideas to exchange silk, Chinawares, teas and back their native counties. With so much history within the ground the city lies upon, it is no wonder that there are so many historical ruins, museums and cultural relics to be found here. It was already influencing the world outside of the Great Wall of China as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road.

Today the city has a pleasant cosmopolitan flair to it and it is worth visiting for the famed Terracotta Warriors alone. It has often been said that, "if you have not been to Xi'an, you have not been to China!" The most famous traveler was Marco Polo.

Highlights of this Tour

Xi’an, home to a lot of profound Chinese civilization, has a history of more than 3,000 years. Benefiting from the fertile land and comfortable climate in ancient times, the rulers of 13 successive dynasties have set up their capitals here. Therefore, a wealth of historical heritages has been left, such as Terra Cotta Army, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower and so on.

• Explorring the long lasting history of being the capital city of 13 dynasties in ancient China;

• Getting understand the syncretism with the outside world in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty;

• Discovering the incredible man-made wonder Terracotta Warriors;

• Making a close contact to the ancient military defense work on the Ancient City Wall;

• Visiting the World Heritage Site the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda;

• Experiencing the local living and enjoying local snacks at Muslim Quarter;

• Tracing back the 2500-year-old history of Xian in Shaanxi History Museum

Want to learn more history of Xi'an when you visit Xi'an? It is advisable to have a professional guide, who will share with you a lot of background information and stories about Xi'an. Encounter with your own Xi'an history in this 4-day vacation! You can travel the best highlights of ancient capital Xian by our professional guide!

Trip Overview

Today's Xi'an is a world famous tourist city and an inexhaustible treasure house of cultural relics. Now heads of state from many countries and people from all walks of life come to the city to broaden their knowledge of Chinese civilization. This Classic History and Mystery tour will unveil the old capital for you by visiting Terra Cotta Army, Ancient City Wall, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower and so on.

• Day1 Beijing-Xi'an Leave from Beijing to Xi'an, Overnight on the train

• Day2 Terra Cotta Army-Giant Wild Goose Pagoda-Muslim Quarter-Bell/Drum Tower, Overnight in Xian City

• Day3 Shanxi History Museum-Ancient City Wall-Yongxingfang Snack Street Take the train Back to Beijing Overnight on the train

• Day4 Arrive Beijing around 7:00am

We arrange most visitors’ top recommendation and every must-visit highlight to the point to ensure you get all the essential sightseeing, culture, history, and fun with nice rest time. Discover the ancient capitals of China! You will experience the past dynasties of China, learn about the dynastic history and marvel at the great architecture of ancient China! 

CETtrip to Xi'an 2017

Basic Tour Information

Activity Place: Xi'an City, Shanxi Province

Activity Date:  Private Tour provided if you want to go with your family or friends!

• 30th Tour: Jun.21th-24th

• 31th Tour: Jun.28th-July.1st

• 32th Tour: July.12th-15th

• 33th Tour: July.26th-29th

• 34th Tour: Aug.9th-12th

• 35th Tour: Aug.23th-26th

• 36th Tour: Sep.6th-9th

• 37th Tour: Sep.13th-16th Mid-Autumn Festival

• 38th Tour: Sep.27th-30th
  

• 39th Tour: Oct.1st-4th National Holiday

• 40th Tour: Oct.2nd-5th National Holiday

• 41th Tour: Oct.4th-7th National Holiday

• 42th Tour: Oct.18th-21th
  

• 43th Tour: Oct.25th-28th
  

• 44th Tour: Nov.8th-11th

• 45th Tour: Nov.22th-25th
  

• 46th Tour: Dec.6th-9th
  

• 47th Tour: Dec.20th-23th

• For people who are not in Beijing, if you are interested in our trip as well, feel free to contact us Lei 18514204269/18518638514/ Usman 13269261647.
  

Leaving Date: Day 1 leave at 20:40 and arrive at Xi'an around 8:30 on Day2

Arriving Date: Day 3 leave at 19:20 from Xian and will arrive at beijing around 06:58 on Day4

Meeting point: BeijingXi Train Station(北京西站)，at the Flag Tower of Beijing Train Station (Find CET Green Flag)

Meeting time: 1.5 hours before the leaving time of your train tickets

Trip fee: Train tickets+Local Travelling Bus+Hotel+Meals+CET English Guide

• Normal Price: 1285RMB/pax, pay the deposit 285RMB/pax when you book the trip.

• Group Discount: 1255RMB/pax if 3 or more than 3 seats booked together, pay the deposite 255RMB/pax when you book the trip.

• VIP Price: 1255RMB  ( Buy CET VIP on our wechat offical Menu ), pay the deposit fee 255RMB/pax when you book the trip.

• Pleasr Note: The left 1000RMB trip fee will be collected when we start to buy the train tickets for you. The trip fee of holiday is 200RMB more than normal price.

Participants: If less than 8 participants, this trip will be cancelled

Travel Advisor: Lei 18514204269/18518638514 / Usman 13269261647 (English & Mandarin)

Book Your Tickets Online

Press this QR Code and Extract it to book your seat.

How to Rigister online

After you finish payment, add our coustmer service wechat to join in the wechat group

Statement about the Trip Fee

What is includes in the cost?

• Round Train tickets for this trip, both are hard sleeping bed train tickets.

• Accommodation: One night in 3-Star hotel

• Meals during this trip: D1 Lunch and D2 Breakfast and Lunch.

• CET Guide fee for the whole trip
  

• 4 Days outdoor insurance

• Local travelling bus with experienced driver

What is not included in the cost?

• Additional personal consumption

• Entrance ticket: The Ancient City Wall of Xi'an 40RMB（20RMB for students）

• Entrance tickets: The Terracotta Army 150RMB (70RMB for students）

• Entrance tickets:  Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 50RMB( 25RMB for student)

• Shanxi History Museum is Free

• Note: We want to have a positive effect everywhere we go, we don’t take commissions or kickbacks, and we don’t take you on detours for shopping.

Statement about the Refund

• If you cancel this trip more than 7 days before depature, we will fully refund but we will deduct the train ticket booking fee: 65RMB/ticket.

• If you cancel this trip 3 days before depature, we will refund 50% deposit to you and we will deduct the train ticket booking fee: 65RMB/ticket.

• If you cancel this trip within 3 days before depature, no refund.

Quick Weather Info: Xi'an weather is mild with four distinct seasons - a warm but variable spring, a torrid summer, a cool autumn, and a dry and chilly winter. The highest temperature occurs in July, 35 – 40C, while the coldest month is January, with the temperature low to -10–5C.

About the Local Food: If you ask a local to recommmend Xi’an food, the first one they recommend most of the time is Crumbled Flatbread in Mutton Stew, which is also known as Yangrou Paomo. It is a soup dish that involves torn wheat flour flat bread, mutton and bean vermicelli. 

CETtrip to Xi'an 2016

Statement about the Train Ticket

• CET will buy hard sleeping bed train tickets for you, once we get your tickets, we will inform you in our group or text you.

• The train from Beijing to Xian is Z19 leaving at 20:40 and arrive at 08:31 on the next day

• The train back to beijing is Z20 leaving at 19:21 and will arrive at beijing 06:58 on the next day.

• We will try to arrange all of the participants in the same train firstly, but if there is no tickets available, we have to take different train, please be cooperative.

• All the train tickets are sold randomly, so it is a little difficult to get the sequential tickets during holiday, hope you can understand and book the trip in advance.

 2019 Inner Mongolia | 3 Days Grassland+Desert Exploration Tour

Click the pic get the details about the trip

Itinerary Day by Day

Day1 Beijing-Xi'an Leave from Beijing to Xi'an, Overnight on the train

Transfer: By train, berth train tickets.

Meals: None, prepare some snacks before you get on the train.

Accommodation: Overnight on the train.

Please Note: Dont forget to take your passport and student book to get on the train, Pic doesnt work at sometimes, Cold-proof clothing is needed as well.

Leaving from Beijing to Xian, Find our trip leader at the Flag Tower of BeijingXi Train Station (Find CET Green Flag)  to get your train ticket. and then get together to check inside and take the train. It will take 19 hours on the train. So remember to bring some food with you.

Transport ideas: Actually most of CETtrips are planed for foreign students, so in order to make our trips more affordable, most transports of our trips are by train. But in fact, there are many flights and high-speed trains available for this trip. So if you need, please feel free to consult our travel advisor.

Day2 Terra Cotta Army-Giant Wild Goose Pagoda-Muslim Quarter-Bell/Drum Tower, Overnight in Xian City

Transfer: By local travelling bus

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight in Xian City, 3-Star Hotel

Please Note: It costs an extra 30 RMB if you want to climb up the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Welcome to Xi'an! Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our tour guide in the train station who is holding a sign on which CETtrip. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with experienced driver will transfer you about 40km directly to discover one of the greatest man-made wonders in the world – the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, built by the first emperor of China Qin Shihuang to protect him in his afterlife. Over 8,000 life-size warriors, horses and chariots, buried in 3 pits for more than 2,000 years until uncovered by a local farmer in 1974, form an ancient military army with complete battle units of infantry, cavalry, etc. Standing in front of these figures, one can’t help being amazed not only by the ambition of Emperor Qin Shihuang but also by the fabulous artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans.

After Lunch, return back to Xian to head to Da Cien Temple, a famous Buddhist sutra translation site during the Tang Dynasty. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the most famous building in the temple. The pagoda, rising to a height of 64.5 meters, was built by the famous Buddhist master Xuanzang to preserve classic scriptures he bought back from India during the early Tang Dynasty. Xuanzang was the prototype character for Tang Seng in the famous Chinese novel “Journey to the West”. 

After Dinner, we will go to Muslim Quarter and Bell+Drum Tower. Just as its name implies, the Muslim Quarter, also known as Huimin Jie in Pingyin, is the hub of the Muslim community in Xi'an City. Located to the north of the West Street in the city center, the quarter covers several blocks inhabitated by over 20,000 Muslims. Muslim food and souvenir market is another feature of the area. This street is paved with dark colored stone with green trees providing heavy shade during summer; the buildings on both sides of the street are modeled on the styles of both the Ming and the Qing Dynasties. Some of the constructions are restaurants; while others are stores. But here there is one thing in common: the owners are all Muslims.

After visiting the Muslim Quater, we can have a night city walk from Durm Tower to Bell Tower. Both of them are called the 'sister buildings' or 'morning bell and dark drum'. In ancient China, especially from the Yuan Dynasty, the drums were used to signal the running of time and on occasion were used as an alarm in emergency situations. The Bell tower was built by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a way to dominate the surrounding countryside and provide early warning of attack by rival rulers. 

After the night walk, our guide will help you check in the hotel and good sleep!

Day3 Shanxi History Museum-Ancient City Wall-Yongxingfang Snack street Take the train Back to Beijing Overnight on the train.

Transfer: By train, berth train tickets.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight on the train

Please Note: Shaanxi History Museum may be replaced with other activity or attraction because of crowding tourists during holiday.

After Breakfast, You will take an educational visit to the Shanxi History Museum , regarded as 'the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures', gives a miniature overview of the thousands of years of Chinese history and the splendid ancient cultures of olden times. The exhibition halls of Shaanxi History Museum are generally divided into four main groups; the Preface Hall, the permanent exhibition halls, the temporary exhibition halls, and an exhibition hall for Tang Mural Paintings.

Once you enter the central hall, you will be in the Preface Hall, where stands a replica of a stone lion from the Shunling Tomb of the Tang Dynasty and a huge picture of a loess plateau and the Yellow River. Behind the picture you will find the permanent exhibition halls. Permanent Exhibition Halls shows the Shaanxi's culture in the timeline in three exhibition halls seperately. You can ramble in the modern exhibition halls to appreciate historic relics such as porcelains, paintings, and currencies dating from the Zhou to the Tang dynastic periods.

After visiting Shaanxi History Museum, we will head to Xi'an City Wall which is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

Since the ancient weapons did not have the power to break through a wall and the only way for an enemy to enter the city was by attacking the gate of the city wall. This is why complicated gate structures were built within the wall. The wall includes four gates and they are respectively named as Changle (meaning eternal joy) in the east, Anding (harmony peace) in the west, Yongning (eternal peace) in the south and Anyuan (forever harmony) in the north.

Each city gate has three gate towers: Zhenglou, Jianlou and Zhalou. The most outside is Zhalou, which stands away and is opposite to Zhenglou. It was used to raise and lower the suspension bridge. Jianlou with small windows in the front and flanks was used as a defensive outpost. Zhenglou, in the inner, is the main entrance to the city. The wall connects Jianlou and Zhenglou Towers. The area between them was called 'Wong Cheng', in which the soldiers stationed. From Wong Cheng, there are sloped horse passages leading to the top of the wall.

Take a wonderful stroll on the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. Enjoy panoramic views of modern Xian while you leisurely examine this well-maintained city wall which is 12 meters high and 18 meters wide with a total circuit of nearly 14 kilometers. Try biking on the Wall, you will have an enjoyable and interesting experience. To cycle round the wall for a whole circle takes 1.5 to 2 hours at a medium speed. The bicycle deposit is CNY 200. The single bicycle costs CNY 45/2 hours. The tandem bicycle costs CNY 90/2 hours.

This visit is followed by a relaxing wander around bustling and lively Yongning Snack Street, a place where you can try different local snacks and explore Guangdong culture. Dont forget to taste the most famous snack of Xi'an Yangrou Paomo. The interesting part of eating Yangrou Paomo is that customers can take participate in making the dish by tearing the flatbread into small pieces and usually, the smaller, the better. If some sugared garlic and thick chili sauce added, the taste of Yangrou Paomo will be more delicious.

The rest of the day is free for you until be escorted to catch the train to leave Xian, service ends.

Day4 Arrive Beijing around 7:00am

Additional Information:

• Please be advised that there will be approximately 10-45 travelers per group

• The above itinerary is for reference only, and is subject to change due to the weather conditions

• Please inform us of any dietary restrictions and allergies if you booked our tour. Please remember to bring any medication that you need with you

• Pregnant women, guests with heart attacks, high blood pressure, respiratory diseases, severe colds, and those who are not suitable for outdoor hiking are advised to carefully decide whether or not to travel according to their own conditions or doctor's advice

• We will contact you between 8:00pm-10:00pm a day before you travel to reconfirm the pick up time and place. Please keep your contact lines or channels available. If you have not received any confirmation after 10:00pm, please contact customer service.

• In case of severe inclement weather or other environmental problems beyond control that causes the tour to be unable to proceed, participants can opt for a reschedule.

CET Past Trip to Xi'an

# CETtrips to Explore China#

• 2019 Enshi | 4 Days Blue River and Green Mounts Highlight Tour

• 2019 Luoyang | 4 Days Longmen Grottoes+Shaolin Temple Tour

• 2019 Xiamen | 5 Days Gulangyu Island+Fujian Tulou In-Depth Tour

• 2019 Dunhuang | 5 Days Hexi Corridor+Mogao Caves Discovery Tour

Click the links to Get the details!