The Best of Beijing For Independent Travelers or Groups
Proposed Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Never been to Beijing before? Perhaps you only have a limited amount of time and don't want to miss any of the important attractions. Whatever your reason, a packaged tour might be just right for you. We offer a three day tour, which takes you to the most famous sights in Beijing. If you have less time in Beijing, or you are just interested in one day of the tour, we can also arrange that.
We believe in providing exceptional service. Because of this, we only use experienced, English-speaking tour guides, who are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He/she will tour the attractions at your pace.
One thing the Chinese take great pride in is their food; so we take you to small, authentic, and well-known restaurants that are also frequented by the local Beijingers. We are sure you will like our choices.
Our goal is to make your time in Beijing a journey of a lifetime.
Tour Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lunch is included.
We will visit the Temple of Heaven early in the morning to see the local people doing their morning exercises. People from all walks of life go here to do tai chi, to fly kites, to sing Beijing Opera and even do some matchmaking for their children. The Temple of Heaven is an imperial temple and was built in 1420. The emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties went here to worship the God of Heaven for a good harvest and rainfall. It is a truly enjoyable park, and it should not be missed. Afterwards, we will stop at the Hongqiao Pearl Market to give you a chance to practice your bargaining skills.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the world's largest square, Tian'anmen Square. Tian'anmen Square is located in the very center of Beijing and is the political heart of Beijing. Here you will see the Great Hall of the People (China's National Congress), the China National History Museum, and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. Right to the north of the Tian'anmen Gate Tower is the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the residence of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, who ruled China from here for 491 years. (1420 to 1911) It is a magnificent maze of palaces and courtyards. No longer forbidden territory, this vast imperial palace gives insight into the lives of those who lived here. This is a must-see for any visitor to Beijing.
Tour Day 2
Tour time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lunch is included
Travel to the Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass, which is about 40 miles to the northwest of Beijing. Along the way we will see the countryside outside of Beijing. The Great Wall is an imposing sight. Approximately 4000 miles long, and construction beginning over 2000 years ago, the iconic Great Wall is the greatest tourist attraction in China. We will spend time walking the top and admiring the views that extend in every direction.
After lunch at a local restaurant we will visit the Ming Tombs where thirteen of the sixteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty are buried. Here we will see an amazing selection of treasures buried with the emperors 500 years ago. On our way back to Beijing, we will stop at a cloisonné factory to see skilled artisans still practicing this ancient art form.
Tour Day 3
Tour time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lunch is included
We will drive to the northwestern suburbs of Beijing to visit the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace was the pleasure garden for the Qing emperors for more than 150 years. As we walk through the Summer Palace, we will see the stunningly beautiful Kunming Lake, and the impressive Longevity Hill. To fully enjoy this splendid place, we will take a boat ride on the lake.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we will drive back into the center of Beijing and visit theHutong area. The Hutong is the oldest part of the city, where we can still see clusters of old residences for the ordinary people scattered among modern glass buildings. We will go to visit a local family and learn about the regular people's daily life. To get around the narrow alleys of the Hutong, we will be taken by pedicab. Getting to know the people is the most enjoyable part of the Hutong tour.
