Xian

If you want to learn the past 2000 years of China history, you should visit Xian.

1. Terracotta Army
It was discovered in 1974 by a farmer. The pottery army figures were made to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, first emperor of China. There are 3 pits to visit. Pit one has the most light thus it's the best to photograph. They are all still being excavated, It's a amazing to witness the history in the making.
It is estimated there is about 7000 warriors buried with Qin Shi Huang in 210BC, over 2000 years ago.

2. Xian City Wall
We biked around the City wall, it's 9 miles total. The juxtaposition between the old and the new buildings is not to be missed. It was built in 14th century Ming Dynasty, over 600 years ago.

3. Where to stay. We stayed at Wyndham Grand Xian
It's feels like a huge apartment, I've never stayed at a hotel that's so huge. Definitely recommended!
Great breakfast as well.

4. Big wild goose Pagoda
Nice place to walk around, you can pay to climb up the pagoda to see nice view.

5. What to eat
Soupy dumplings

Biangbiang noodles

 Pomegranate juice

6. Shaaxi History Museum
Come here to learn about China dynasties

7. Xian Muslim quarter- located inside the city wall.
food and shopping street

Beijing

If you want to learn 1000 years of Chinese history, Beijing is the place to go, it's location as the imperial seat of several dynasties, including the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing.

1. Tiananmen Square
There is a line to get in the square. Police are everywhere to ensure no public protests. This is the world's largest public square, where communist buildings and monuments hold court.

2. Forbidden City
At the heart of Beijing is the Forbidden City, I didn't realized how big it is, it's like a maze, it took 4 hours to walk from one side to the other, full of temples and shrines, after awhile, they start looking the same.

3. Jinshan Park
North of Forbidden City, it's a man made mountain that has a great view of forbidden city.

4. Wangfujing Street
Beijing's premier shopping street, and it has a night market with live scorpions there.

5. Mutianyu Great Wall
The highlight of Beijing! We took the ski lift up and toboggan down just like Michelle Obama :)

6. Temple of Heaven
One of the largest temple in China, completed in Ming dynasty. It's a big park! You can see people play chess here.

7. Eat Peking duck

8. Walk on the street of Beijing you see lots of cars and bikes

9. Summer Palace
It's a famous UNESCO site. Formally summer retreat for imperial family in Qing dynasty. It has huge lake, garden, famous for it's long hallways. We also took a boat ride.

10. Hutong (alleyway)
We took a rickshaw ride along the old Beijing alleyway, it was fun!

11. Where to stay? We stayed at Crown Plaza which is located on the 2nd ring, it has a shopping mall next door which is very convenient for food and shopping. Also, it has a very nice breakfast selection.