Beautiful Beijing & the Wall

Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), where your local guide waits holding a name sign. Transfer directly to your hotel in the city center for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and recover from jet lag, or you may choose to explore the nearby Wangfujing area and enjoy an authentic local meal at your leisure.

Start the day at Tiananmen Square, viewing landmark structures like the Monument to the People's Heroes and Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum. From here, enter the Forbidden City via the South Gate to explore the vast grounds and palaces that once served as the absolute seat of imperial power.

In the afternoon, cycle through the historic Hutongs, ancient alleyways dating back to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Visit a local family home to chat with residents and gain insight into daily life in these traditional lanes. Continue to the Drum Tower for a bird’s-eye view of old Beijing and, if timing permits, watch a live drum performance. Enjoy a traditional Peking Roasted Duck dinner in the evening before returning to your hotel in Beijing.

Drive approximately 1.5 hours this morning to the Mutianyu Great Wall, a scenic and less crowded section of the ancient structure. Take a cable car up to the wall and spend one to two hours walking along the historic ramparts before riding a toboggan down for the descent.

Return to the city after lunch to visit the Summer Palace, a tranquil royal retreat and UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour continues to the Olympic Green to view the unique architecture of the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, and the Water Cube before returning to your hotel.

Today, you visit the Temple of Heaven in the southern part of the city, where locals gather for morning exercises like fan dancing and Beijing opera. This architectural masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage site covers an area significantly larger than the Forbidden City.

The afternoon continues at a local cooking school for a hands-on culinary lesson. A professional chef guides the preparation of four traditional dishes, teaching techniques from chopping ingredients to stir-frying. You then sit down to enjoy your handmade creations for dinner. This evening, attend an optional acrobatics show for an additional fee or explore Beijing on your own.

The morning begins at the Beijing 798 Art Zone in the northeast part of the city. This expansive area serves as a landmark of urban culture, famous for its unique art exhibitions and creative workshops. A walk through the zone reveals a striking contrast between the past and present, where mottled red-brick walls and historic slogans stand alongside scattered industrial plants and pipelines. The afternoon offers free time to continue exploring Beijing at your own leisure.

Your guide meets you at the hotel lobby to assist with check-out. A private transfer brings you to Beijing Capital International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination.