Xian Chengdu Private Tour 2027: Independent or Private Guided Sample Route

This page is a sample private route from Xi'an to Chengdu: about 7 to 10 days, with the Terracotta Army and the Ming city wall in Xi'an, a high-speed train through the Qinling mountains, then pandas and Bronze Age museums in Chengdu. It is arranged only for your party, either as Independent or as Private Guided. Xi'an is the ancient imperial capital on the Shaanxi plains. Chengdu is the relaxed basin city of Sichuan. With only four or five days, choose one of the two cities rather than rushing both.

What does a sample 7–10 day itinerary look like?

Your specialist can adjust stops, add days, or reverse the order (start in Chengdu and finish in Xi'an) to suit your flights.

Days 1–4: Imperial depth in Xi'an

• Day 1: Arrival. Arrive at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport or Xi'an North Railway Station. Your private driver and English-speaking guide take you to your central hotel. Keep the day light; an evening walk on the South Gate square is an easy introduction to the walled centre.
• Day 2: Terracotta Army and the city wall. The morning at the Terracotta Warriors site east of the city, with a private guide to explain the formations and the preservation work. In the afternoon, walk or cycle the Ming Dynasty City Wall.
• Day 3: Museums and old quarters. The Shaanxi History Museum in the morning (or Han Yang Ling Mausoleum for a quieter look at Han burials), the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the afternoon, and a guided walk through the Muslim Quarter's lanes in the early evening.
• Day 4: Stelae. A morning at the Forest of Stone Steles Museum or the Small Wild Goose Pagoda grounds. The afternoon is free on Independent; on Private Guided you can add an excursion.

Day 5: High-speed rail through the Qinling Mountains to Chengdu

Your private driver takes you to Xi'an North Railway Station. Board a high-speed train crossing southern Shaanxi through the Qinling mountain tunnels into northern Sichuan (approx. 3.5 to 4 hours; confirm exact schedules on official 12306 channels at booking). At Chengdu East Railway Station, your Chengdu guide and driver meet you. Spend the afternoon at a tea table under the bamboo in People's Park.

Days 6–8: Chengdu, pandas and ancient culture

• Day 6: Pandas and Sanxingdui. Leave early for the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, to arrive while the animals are active at morning feeding. In the afternoon, the Sanxingdui Museum (or the Jinsha Site Museum) for Bronze Age masks, gold and jade.
• Day 7: Wuhou Shrine. Three Kingdoms history and classical gardens, then the grey-brick lanes next door. With extra days, add the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Taoist temples of Mount Qingcheng.
• Day 8: Departure. A slow morning, then your driver takes you to Chengdu Tianfu or Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

What do you need to book for Xi'an and Chengdu?

Both big sites use real-name tickets, so book ahead. Your specialist handles these on a LocalKey trip, but the rules are useful to know.

Terracotta Army (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum)

• All visitors, including foreign visitors, must reserve a real-name ticket online through the museum's official website or its WeChat accounts, "Qinshihuang Mausoleum Museum" or "Bingmayong Ticket Online".
• Ticket checking runs from 8:30 to 16:30 from 16 November to 15 March, and from 8:30 to 17:00 from 16 March to 15 November. Holiday hours follow the latest notice.
• Tickets are for time slots, so arrive half an hour before yours. Enter with the original ID you used to book. A passport is accepted.
• The ticket is valid on the day, with three ticket checks. A free shuttle bus links the Terracotta Warriors Museum and the Lishan Park area.
• The official adult ticket price is CNY 120. The person, the ticket and the ID must match. To cancel, do it before ticket checking, because a used ticket cannot be refunded.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

• All visitors book a real-name reservation online, up to 14 days ahead. Sales stop when the daily quota is gone.
• From March to October, morning entry is 7:30 to 12:00 and afternoon entry 12:00 to 17:00. From November to February, morning entry is 8:00 to 12:00 and afternoon entry 12:00 to 16:30.
• The official adult ticket price is CNY 55. Bring the original ID document you used to reserve.

Trains. The 12306 English site sells tickets from 5:00 to 1:00 the next day (5:00 to 23:30 on Tuesdays); hours can change.

Prices, hours and rules change, so your specialist confirms them for your dates. These figures were checked on 31 October 2026.

Independent or Private Guided?

Both are the same private trip, with 1:1 design, vetted hotels, confirmed station transfers and WeChat or WhatsApp support. The difference is how much is done for you:

• Independent: high-speed rail (2nd or 1st class) with private station transfers, central 4-star or boutique hotels, a private car and licensed English-speaking guide on the main sightseeing days, and open afternoons. It suits first-time visitors and active travellers.
• Private Guided: 1st or Business class rail with luggage help, 5-star or historic hotels, a private car and driver throughout, a guide on every scheduled day and a slower pace. It suits families and history enthusiasts who want longer at the museums. With young children or older relatives, see China Family Tours.

For a nationwide comparison, see Independent vs Private Guided China Tour.

Cost and what is included

There is no fixed price for this route. Cost depends on dates, party size, hotel level, vehicle days and guide days; see Private China Tour Cost 2026.

A proposal usually includes, as agreed: route planning with a specialist, hotels, private guides in both cities, private vehicles for sightseeing and transfers, high-speed rail tickets, admission tickets to the major sites, restaurant suggestions, and a day-by-day digital plan. International flights are optional and quoted separately. Not included: visa fees, travel and medical insurance, personal spending, and anything outside the agreed route.

How do you enquire?

1. Share your dates, group size, Independent or Private Guided, and any family or mobility needs on our contact page.
2. A specialist replies by email, WeChat or WhatsApp with routing and hotel advice.
3. You get an itemised proposal and refine it until it fits.
4. Once agreed, we book hotels, trains and guides, and you get your day-by-day plan before you leave.

LocalKey Travel is a licensed China travel agency since 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should we choose Independent or Private Guided for a Xian Chengdu private tour?

Independent suits travellers comfortable on high-speed trains, with 4-star hotels and guided mornings balanced by free time. Private Guided suits those who want a private car throughout, 5-star hotels, a full-day guide and a slower pace.

Can we add Chongqing, Jiuzhaigou, or Beijing to this itinerary?

Yes. Your specialist can add Chongqing by high-speed rail, an excursion to the valleys of Jiuzhaigou, or link the trip with our Beijing Chengdu private tour.

How much does a Xian Chengdu private tour cost?

There is no fixed price. The cost reflects season, hotel level, car days and guide days. Read our Private China Tour Cost 2026 guide, then contact us with your dates and group size.