Beijing Stopover

Welcome to Beijing! After clearing immigration and custom, meet your guide at the arrival gate and transfer to the hotel in the city.

If time permits, your guide will take you for a short trip of the city and Temple of Heaven -an imperial complex with religious buildings. The temple reflects early Buddhist and Taoist beliefs. The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties used to perform annual rituals and prayers to heaven for a good harvest of the year! The temple is known for its architectural simplicity and rich symbolism, reflecting early Buddhist and Taoist beliefs. It was here that emperors would forge the link between the ‘round sky’ and the ‘square earth’ through sacrificial rituals, based on the founding principles of this ancient civilization.

Begin the first full day of this Beijing city tour with a visit to the iconic Forbidden City. Most Chinese buildings face south, which according to ancient beliefs, symbolized the barbarian threat and potential invasion from the north. This explains why the main entrance to the Forbidden City faces south towards Tiananmen Square, the third-largest city square in the world.

During the reign of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle in 1420, the construction of the City was completed. And it served as the Imperial administrative center throughout the Ming and Qing Dynasties until the fall of the Empire in 1911. 

Beautifully restored for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Forbidden City has regained its youthful, vivid colors. For such an unforgettable destination, it’s essential to take one’s time exploring all the ins and outs of the site. Ample time is set aside for visiting all the surrounding courtyards and rooms. After exploring the interior, ascend the artificial coal hill just behind the Forbidden City for a spectacular view of the entire site and layout of the whole of Beijing. 

After spending a few hours exploring the City, spend the remainder of the day walking around romantic Beihai Lake, and hutongs encircle the more lively Houhai Lake. Hutongs are the famous Beijing alleyways home to traditional courtyard style homes. Many of which have now been converted into pedestrianized streets boasting charming little restaurants and bars. 

Continue the walk onwards to the Drum Tower. Here there will be a demonstration held of how, during the Ming Dynasty, they marked the passing of each hour with a drum roll. From the peak of the tower, it’s also possible to admire the rooftops of the neighboring Hutongs and the Clock Tower just opposite.

Option: Enjoy an evening Kung Fu show in Red theater! The Red Theater is known initially as Chongwen Worker's Cultural Palace Theater. After the renovation, there has been a dramatic improvement in stage facilities, and now the theater specializes in traditional Chinese performances, such as "The Legend of Kung Fu.

Please Note:

- Forbidden City access to visitors will be limited to 80,000 persons per day. Passport copies must be provided at least 11 days advance for personal registration (preferably two weeks to assure a successful booking). Modifying the date, later on, is not possible.

- Visitors are required to bring their passport for a security check upon their visit to the monument.

- Forbidden City remains on Mondays, except July and Aug.

Contrary to the popular myth, you cannot see the Great Wall from the moon. It is, nonetheless, still one of the most famous symbols of China, and you should not miss it. Traces of the wall date back over 2000 years ago, while the more significant restoration project of the Ming Dynasty created the Wall, we know today. The wall stretches for over 6000 km and spans from ancient Manchuria to the edge of the Gobi desert in the west. 

Begin the day with an early departure for the Wall; arriving in the morning light provides excellent photo opportunities of the Great Wall.

After exploring the Wall, for those who aren’t interested in walking descent, there are alternative options to choose from. Either take a cable car back to the bottom or, for the more adventurous, take a toboggan ride back down.

Depending on time, there will be an option for a picnic lunch on the Great Wall while admiring the stunning, rugged scenery all around. 

Bringing the Beijing city tour back to the capital, spend some time exploring the beautiful Summer Palace. At one time, a simple imperial garden, the site was redesigned by Emperor Qianlong in the 18th Century, becoming one of the capital’s major sites. The Imperial Court used to relocate to the Summer Palace during the summer months to escape the stifling heat of the Forbidden City. A mix of temples, pavilions, lakes, pagodas, and gardens make up this harmonious representation of Chinese culture and architecture. 

Transport will be provided back to the hotel after exploring the Summer Palace. 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for a flight to your next destination.