Join this four-day tour to discover the essence of Beijing, a city that seamlessly blends culture and history with modernism and innovation. Visit the Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex, and hike along the best-preserved section of Great Wall: the Mutianyu section, which boasts breath-taking scenery. This tour offers you the flexibility you need to spend some free time wandering the streets of vibrant Beijing by yourself or choosing from a range of optional tours.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Forbidden City: The largest and best-preserved palatial complex of the imperial era, the Forbidden City once served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties
Great Wall: One of the eight wonders of the world, this immense wall was built both to keep out invaders and to retain the inhabitants. Stroll along the most beautiful part of the wall: the Mutianyu section
Day 1: ARRIVAL BEIJING
Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and accompany you on the transfer to the city. The private transfer will take you directly to your hotel in Beijing. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure in the city. Take the opportunity to rest and recover after the flight or head out into the city for your first glimpse of life in China’s sprawling capital city
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 2: BEIJING (Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall Tour)
After breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up at about 8:00 in the morning to visit the Forbidden City. After a 30-minute-to-1-hour-long ride, we’ll spend an hour and a half exploring the halls and gardens of the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, the best-preserved imperial palace in China and a site of great historical importance. Then, travel northeast for a couple of hours until reaching the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Contemplate the stunning views of the Yanshan Mountains before enjoying lunch and a walk along the Great Wall. You can spend about two and a half hours taking in the spectacular scenery and roaming the walls. The Mutianyu Great Wall is one of the best-preserved and best-known Great Wall sections, with breathtaking scenery and fewer tourists than other parts of the Wall (cable car is not included). Afterwards, you’ll be driven back to your hotel, where you’ll be dropped off at around 19:00, just in time for dinner (not included) and to further explore the surroundings at leisure.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 3: BEIJING
After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, get ready to enjoy a full day at leisure in the city of Beijing. You can either set out to visit the sites most interesting to you or simply relax at the hotel and enjoy the available services. Alternatively, you can choose from one of the optional tours.
Optional Tour A: Visit the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most sacred imperial sites, where emperors once prayed for peace and good harvests. Continue to a tea house to enjoy a traditional tea ceremony and learn about Chinese tea culture. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, explore Beijing’s historic hutongs on a rickshaw ride through the old neighborhoods, with a visit to a local family to gain insight into daily life in traditional courtyard homes.
Optional Tour B: Visit Yonghegong Lamasery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Beijing and a former residence of a Qing dynasty crown prince. Continue to the nearby Confucius Temple and Imperial College, once China’s highest educational institution and a key center of Confucian learning. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, travel to the Summer Palace and explore its magnificent imperial gardens and historic buildings.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 4: DEPARTURE BEIJING
Wake up to breakfast at your hotel. Then prepare to check out of your room at the scheduled time and transfer to the airport for your onward or return flight. Although this is the last day in Beijing, we are sure that your memories of this fascinating city will last you a lifetime.
Breakfast included.
Comfortable and light clothing is best suited to travel in the warm months and warm clothing in the colder months in China. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or sparse clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat can be very useful during your stay.
Please bring comfortable shoes for walking along the Great Wall.
