Baker Gu
China Travel Specialist
The north-China arc I sell most often: Great Wall and Forbidden City, then west to the Terracotta Army — with visa-free notes and October departures.
I’m Baker Gu. Beijing and Xi’an are the pairing I use when someone says, “I want the story of China, not every province on the first go.” North for emperors and the Wall, west for the Terracotta Army — the high-speed train in between is part of the experience I want you to enjoy, not stress over. I sell this arc because it answers the “bucket list” questions Kiwis actually ask without turning the trip into a marathon.
You get Han-through-Qing imperial scale in Beijing, then ancient-capital depth in Xi’an — the Silk Road echo, Tang context, Muslim Quarter street food. The contrast is pedagogical: you feel *why* the capital moved and how China’s centre of gravity shifted over millennia. On a practical level, both cities have strong English-speaking guide networks I trust — important when you are visa-free and want confidence at stations and hotels.
I build in serious walking: palaces, hutongs, Wall sections with steps. I push early starts so you are not melting in midday queues. Your guide is my proxy for language at meals and stations — I pick teams I have worked with for years. If you have mobility limits, tell us at enquiry — I note it for station walks and Wall options.
The warriors are the headline, but I always leave room for the city wall, Muslim Quarter flavours, and Tang context so Xi’an does not feel like a single museum stop. The train from Beijing should feel like a breather between chapters — about four hours in a comfortable seat, countryside scrolling past.
I walk every Kiwi through my visa-free checklist — policy dates, return tickets, and hotel proof still apply.
This is my Discovery line for this arc:
Beijing guide · Xi’an guide · Great Wall · Terracotta Warriors.
Enquire or see China tours from New Zealand — I still read the enquiries on China routes.
A practical day-by-day guide to 10 days in Beijing and Xi'an — the Forbidden City, Great Wall, high-speed train, and Terracotta Warriors — designed for New Zealand travellers doing China for the first time.
The Terracotta Army is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. Here's what to expect, how to make the most of your visit, and why it deserves a full day.
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