Tour Code: bj-3
Departure Date: Daily
Features: 
Private Tour Guide 
Private Car & Driver 
Authentic Local Restaurants
In 2008, Beijing was at the center of the international spotlight since it was the host and home of the Summer Olympics that year. The world media and audiences delighted in the scenes and stories of China's culture, history, cities, and other charms. Today, the nation and the city of Beijing continue to be proud of its strong identity, something which you will see and feel on this 5 day journey throughout the capital with us.
Welcome to China! As soon as you arrive into Beijing airport, we will transfer you to your hotel where you can rest and relax, or even go out and explore as you prefer for the rest of the day.
| Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel 
| Dongfang Hotel Beijing 
Your first stop with us will be to the Temple of Heaven which is one of the most striking and impressive examples of Chinese architecture in the country. This is a Taoist set of buildings whose legacy began in the Ming Dynasty, serving as the place where emperors only (since it was not open to the public) came to pray for national blessings, particularly for healthy and full harvests.
Highlight comes afterwards. One's Beijing tour is not complete without the Great Wall. The site of your visit will be the Mutianyu which is a less visited and still very impressive section of the infamous barricade. Take a picture by one of the Great Wall's countless watchtowers, or learn about the many human sacrifices and stories that led to its creation.
Enjoy a fine lunch at a local restaurant near the Mutianyu Great Wall and today's cultural experience will take place at a Cloisonne Factory afterwards.
| Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel | Dongfang Hotel Beijing Beijing's Tiananmen Square has withstood the test of time and continues to serve as a very important and significant gathering place in China. The immense square was designed and built in the year 1651 during the Ming Dynasty, about 200 years after the foundation of the Forbidden City. It has since been expanded and used for many purposes including political demonstrations. Depending on the time, you can witness the flag raising and lowering ceremony and other cultural events. Nearby are the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), various museums, government buildings, and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
The natural continuation of your tour will be to the Forbidden City, just next to Tiananmen Square. This imperial palace complex is a source of national pride, demonstrating the height of Chinese architecture and culture from the Ming Dynasty. There seems to be no end to the collections of artwork and artifacts from the royal years, which is not a surprise since the Forbidden City was the home to 24 emperors in total. Be sure to visit the highlight named Treasure House. The site has undergone 4 renovations over time. Today, it takes up 220 square meters and more than 400 rare items are on display for the public to see, mostly from the Qing Dynasty.
Take in some delicious food at a local restaurant afterwards. For some exposure to daily Beijing life, save your energy for enjoying a tour through a typical huton. A hutong is a traditional living area with many ancient homes with courtyards, single story structures, and authentic aspects of unfettered living. You can explore on foot or via rickshaw with us. You will also get to meet a local family and hear about their stories and thoughts on living in Beijing.
| Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel | Dongfang Hotel Beijing Experience the new and the old today. Start with a journey through the Olympic Stadium, the headquarters of the action in Beijing in 2008. You will pass by the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) as well as the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube). Seeing these sites in person is many times more impressive than on the TV or in printed media!
After visiting the Olympic Stadium, your guide will take you to Lama Temple also known as Yonghe Lamasery (a monastery for monks of this religion). Built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty, Lama Temple pertains to Tibetan Buddhism and has survived many hardships throughout history. In 1735, the Yongzheng Emperor was buried here. Three especially important highlights should not be missed at Lama Temple: 3 bronze statues of the Buddhas of the Three Ages, Five-Hundred-Arhat Hill, and a 26 meter tall white sandalwood statue of the Maitreya Buddha (the world’s largest wooden statue). The temple is still very active with worshippers.
Head to our last stop - the Summer Palace after lunch. The palace complex is actually more water than land, found about 12 kilometers northwest of the center of Beijing. It is the best preserved and largest imperial garden in China. Most people come here to see the manmade Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake with their own eyes, taking in their beauty at an easy pace.
| Beijing New World Centre Tongpai Hotel | Dongfang Hotel Beijing Thank you for exploring the amazing Beijing with us! When you are ready, we will take you to Beijing airport for your trip back home.
We use different hotels for different tour classes while the itinerary is the same. Deluxe Class is usually staying at a 5-star hotel, Superior Class at a 4-star hotel and Tourist Class at a 3-star level hotel. The prices for one person are based on sharing twin hotel rooms with another guest. A supplement is necessary if you want to book single rooms. And the prices may rise during national holidays, such as the National Day (September 30th to October 6th) and Chinese New Year (late January or early February)
All of our tour guides are certificated and experienced. They are local experts with detailed knowledge about attractions, history, culture and more. They know the best places to visit, can give you advice on restaurants that serve great local food, the best places to shop, or theaters for the best shows in town.
We use the modern air-conditioned luxury cars for families or 2-3 persons and small buses for small groups of 4-7 persons.
We ensure that all of the vehicles that we use are well-maintained (not over 4 years) and always very clean. Our drivers are very nice and careful with over 5-year drive experience.
Sally Guo
Travel Advisor
86-773-2865632(Int'l)
service@chinatravel.com