zBeijing Insider

On arrival at the airport, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted by private car to your choice of deluxe or luxury hotel in the heart of town: The Park Plaza, Regent or Fairmont Beijing. Depending upon your arrival time, you might join your guide for a private walking tour in the neighborhood around your hotel; it’s the perfect way to get acquainted with the life and rhythms of the city.

After a sumptuous buffet breakfast at your hotel, your private car, driver and guide will be waiting to show you Beijing’s most important Imperial treasures. Starting at the Temple of Heaven c, you’ll gain fascinating insight into ancient Chinese beliefs in numerology and symbolism which were prevalent during the Ming Dynasty and which are revealed in the overall layout and architecture of the temple’s vast park-like grounds and buildings. At this hour of the day, you’ll see also local residents who gather here for their morning Tai Chi, to meet with friends, and to play Mahjongg or other games – it’s a fascinating contrast of modern day life in an ancient and timeless setting.
 
Then step aboard a rickshaw to explore through a Hutong; winding your way along the narrow lanes of this ancient, city-center neighborhood, you’ll experience a way of life which is rapidly vanishing amidst the skyscrapers and 21st-century pace of the city. After lunch with a resident family in their traditional courtyard home, you’ll continue your sightseeing in Tiananmen Square, one of the largest and grandest public plazas in the world. Then enter within the imposing walls of the Forbidden City c for an extensive tour through this vast complex of palaces, pavilions and courtyards – once the exclusive enclave of China’s all-mighty Emperors.  Meals B+L

The oldest sections of the magnificent Great Wall c date back more than 2,000 years ago when various states and dynasties built defensive walls to guard their kingdoms. A few centuries after these earliest sections were constructed, Emperor Qin Shihuang consolidated them into a single massive fortification to guard his empire against Hun invaders. Today, the Great Wall stretches for nearly 4,000 miles across a vast expanse of Northern China.
 
Traveling with your own private car, driver and guide, you’ll set out this morning to explore the Great Wall – tailoring your sightseeing to your personal style and taste for physical adventure. Many of our guests choose to visit the Great Wall at Juyong Pass. This picturesque mountain pass was recognized very early in China’s history as a site of great strategic importance and indeed this particular section of the Great Wall is one of only three that were considered by military leaders as being practically impregnable. As you walk atop this ancient defensive structure at Juyong Pass, your expert guide will be at your side to enrich the experience with dramatic stories and legends of the great battles that were waged here.
 
Instead of Juyong Pass, travelers with a taste for a bit more adventure can choose instead to visit a more remote sector of the Great Wall. Tourist facilities here are less developed and the terrain can be rugged and steep. But hiking this wilder section with your private guide offers a truly authentic experience and an exciting perspective on the history of the Great Wall.
 
Next up is a tour of the resplendent Summer Palace c, first settled more than 1,000 years ago by feudal lords who had discovered the tranquility and abundant natural beauty of the area. By the 1600’s, Qing Dynasty emperors were firmly established here with inviting palaces and lovely gardens that provided the Imperial family with rest and entertainment. From April to November, weather permitting, you’ll also enjoy an excursion on Kunming Lake. After exploring this erstwhile seasonal retreat of China’s Emperors, you’ll return to your hotel in the heart of the capital.  Meals B+L

You’ll be chauffeured to the airport today for your onward journey.  Meals B