3-Day Beijing: the Ming Tombs, the Sacred Way & the Dingling Palace

Beijing's imperial plan was drawn along a single north-south line, and the Ming emperors placed themselves at both ends of it. The Forbidden City sits at the centre, and the Ming Tombs lie at the northern end of the same axis, in a valley screened by mountains and approached along a processional way of stone animals.

This three-day programme reads that axis in order. The first day is the palace and the square; the second runs north to Badaling and then to the Sacred Way and the Dingling tomb, the only Ming imperial burial excavated in modern times; the third closes with the city museums and the departure.

• The Forbidden City, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1987, with 980 surviving buildings across 72 hectares

• Tiananmen Square and the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the focus of the city's north-south axis

• The Sacred Way at the Ming Tombs, lined with 18 pairs of stone animals and officials leading to the imperial burial ground

• The Dingling tomb of the Wanli Emperor, excavated between 1956 and 1958 and the only Ming imperial tomb to have been opened

• Wangfujing Street in the evening, with the snack street and the department stores of the old commercial quarter

• The Capital Museum, whose Beijing galleries set out the city's growth from a Mongol capital to the Ming and Qing court

• The Ming wall and watchtowers of the inner city, of which the two surviving sections at Dongbianmen survive

• Accommodation for 2 nights at a 4-star or equivalent hotel, twin share, with daily breakfast

• Meals as listed in the daily itinerary (breakfasts and lunches as shown)

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout

• English-speaking local guide (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian or Japanese on request)

• All entrance fees for the sites listed, including shuttle buses, eco-buses and cable cars where the site requires them

• Local handling and coordination service throughout the programme

• Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day) and audio headsets where group size requires them

• Travel accident insurance for the duration of the tour

• International air tickets and any domestic flights not listed in the itinerary

• China visa or visa-free entry documentation fees

• Meals not specified in the daily itinerary and all beverages/alcohol

• Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff (suggested USD 8-12 per person per day)

• Personal expenses: laundry, telephone, minibar, shopping

• Optional activities and any item not listed under Price Includes

• Single-room supplement if a traveller requires a room alone

• The cable car at Badaling is included in the site ticket; the funicular, if preferred, is payable locally

Please read these notes before booking. The Dingling tomb is visited underground and involves stairs; the site is not suitable for wheelchairs. Badaling is steep and busy in high season, and we can substitute the Mutianyu section if you prefer. Beijing's air is clearest from September to November and the summer months are hot and humid.

Q: Is this tour private or shared?
A: It is a private tour for your own party, with a dedicated English-speaking guide and vehicle.

Q: Are airport transfers included?
A: Yes. Arrival and departure transfers in Beijing are included, and your guide meets you with a name sign at the airport or rail station.

Q: Can the itinerary be customised?
A: Yes. Days can be added, removed or swapped, hotel categories upgraded, and business or school visits arranged, all before you confirm.

Q: How do we book and pay?
A: Send us your dates and group size for a same-day quotation. A deposit confirms the booking, the balance is due before arrival, and prices are guaranteed for 7 days.