Ancient Architecture and Marvelous Altars | Beijing + Forbidden City + Mutianyu Great Wall + Hutongs + Temple of Heaven Essence 3-Day Tour

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China. Our guide will meet you at the exit of the airport/train station and take you to a downtown Beijing hotel to check in and rest. After that, you will have free time. You can rest at the hotel to ease jet lag or take a stroll nearby. Suggested Ways to Arrive 1. By plane: Beijing has two airports, Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport. Both airports have many international and domestic routes. You can fly to Beijing from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Cambodia, and also from most cities in China, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, and Wuhan. 2. By train: Beijing's rail transit is extremely developed. You can take high-speed trains to Beijing from cities such as Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Harbin.

This morning, you will visit the Temple of Heaven. [The Temple of Heaven], originally named the Temple of Heaven and Earth, was the place where ancient emperors worshipped heaven, prayed for good harvests, and prayed for rain. It is also the largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings in China, famous for its unique and magnificent architecture and its long, fascinating culture. Here you can learn about the ancient sacrificial rituals and visit structures such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall, and the Three Echo Stones. Afterward, you will drive 73 km (about 1.5–2 hours) to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. [Mutianyu Great Wall] is the longest and best-restored section of the Great Wall of China, and is known as "the most spectacular section of the Great Wall." You can first take the cable car up to Tower 14, then hike westward while enjoying the magnificent mountain scenery and the winding, majestic views of the Great Wall, before reaching the highest point at Tower 20 to complete your Great Wall journey. After visiting the Great Wall, return to downtown Beijing and pass by the [Bird's Nest] (Beijing National Stadium) and the [Water Cube] (Beijing National Aquatics Center) for exterior views and photos.

After breakfast, you will visit the world-famous Tiananmen Square. [Tiananmen Square] is located on Beijing's central axis and is the largest city-center square in the world. It holds an important place in Chinese history and has witnessed countless major historical events. Here you can see the majestic Tiananmen Gate Tower and learn about China's long-standing culture. Afterward, cross the square to visit the Palace Museum in Beijing. [The Forbidden City], also known as the Purple Forbidden City, is located at the center of Beijing's central axis. It was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is the world's largest and best-preserved complex of wooden palace architecture. Here you can visit the important palaces along the central axis in sequence, admiring the splendid and exquisite ancient palace architecture while following the guide's explanations to learn more about the historical stories of the Forbidden City. Afterward, you can also visit the nearby [Jingshan Park] (about a 15-minute walk) to overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and the magnificent scenery of Beijing. In the afternoon, you can visit the [Drum Tower] to overlook the hutong scenery. If the timing is right, you may also have the chance to see a drum performance at the Drum Tower. Afterward, you can take a walking tour of Yandai Xiejie. [Yandai Xiejie] is the oldest commercial street in Beijing, with a history of about 800 years, and is also one of the oldest and most popular hutongs in Beijing. Here you can see all kinds of tobacco pipes made of porcelain, jade, and wood, taste local hutong specialties, and also take a rickshaw tour of the hutongs and Shichahai. After the tour, our guide will take you to your hotel/airport/train station. Thank you for choosing our China tour service. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more highlights of Beijing or other destinations in China, you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.