4-Day Beijing Classic: Imperial Icons, the Great Wall & Hutong Living

Morning / Afternoon — Arrival & Hotel Check-in
Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing South Railway Station, your private guide and driver will warmly greet you and escort you to your hotel for check-in, allowing you to settle in and freshen up after your journey.

Lunch — near Wangfujing Street
Have lunch at a family-friendly restaurant near Wangfujing Street.

Afternoon — Wangfujing Stroll
Take a leisurely stroll along Wangfujing Street, one of Beijing's most famous pedestrian thoroughfares, lined with shops, department stores, and food stalls that capture the pulse of modern city life. For the adventurous, the nearby Wangfujing Snack Street presents a fascinating — and sometimes daring — array of local street food, from skewers to candied fruit. It's a lively, low-pressure first taste of the capital.

Dinner — Welcome Peking Duck
Savor Beijing's iconic Peking Duck, carved tableside and served with thin pancakes, scallions, and sweet bean sauce — a delicious introduction to northern Chinese cuisine.

Evening — at your leisure
The rest of the evening is yours to rest at your hotel after your arrival.

• Morning: Embark on a captivating journey into the heart of imperial China at the Forbidden City. As the world's largest palace complex, it was home to 24 emperors. Your guide will lead you along the central axis, sharing stories of court life that will engage both children and adults. Key stops include the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where emperors held grand ceremonies.

• Lunch: At a local restaurant conveniently located near the Forbidden City.

• Afternoon: Ascend the hill in Jingshan Park for a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire Forbidden City from above—a perfect photo opportunity. Afterwards, enjoy the serene atmosphere of Beihai Park, an ancient imperial garden centered around a large lake with a beautiful white dagoba.

• Dinner: A relaxed dinner at your hotel or a nearby restaurant.

Morning — the Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is the largest complex in the world built for the worship of heaven, finished in 1420 and used by the emperors of the Ming and Qing to pray for good harvests. The meaning sits in the shapes: the round halls stand for heaven and the square terraces beneath them for earth, and the whole axis is set out on a strict numerical order. Your guide will take you through the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a circular timber hall raised without a single nail, and along the Echo Wall, where a whisper at one end carries to the other. Coming in the morning you also see the park at its most local, with groups practising tai chi and calligraphy under the ancient cypresses.

Lunch — near the Temple of Heaven
Dine at a local restaurant near the temple, on Beijing dishes that suit both children and adults.

Afternoon — the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace began as the Qing imperial garden Qingyi Yuan and was rebuilt and expanded by Empress Dowager Cixi as a retreat where she received foreign envoys. Kunming Lake fills about three-quarters of its 2.9 square kilometres, Longevity Hill rises above the water, and the two are joined by the 728-metre Long Corridor that ends at the Marble Boat. You can climb Longevity Hill for sweeping views over the gardens and towards the Fragrant Hills, or stay low and follow the lakeside path past the Seventeen-Arch Bridge; after a full morning, the pace here is deliberately gentle.

Evening — at your leisure
Enjoy a relaxed dinner at your hotel or a nearby restaurant to close the day.

Morning — Hutong Tour by Rickshaw
Experience old Beijing on a relaxing Hutong Tour by rickshaw in the picturesque Shichahai area. Glide through the narrow alleys flanked by traditional courtyard homes, known as siheyuans, which date back centuries to the city's Yuan dynasty origins. Your guide will explain the historic lifestyle of these neighborhoods and the role the hutongs played in the daily life of old Beijing.

Lunch — Courtyard Restaurant
A farewell lunch is arranged at a charming restaurant set within a traditional courtyard.

Afternoon — Departure
Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport or railway station for your departure to the next destination, assisting with your onward arrangements.

Meals
Breakfast at the hotel; a courtyard farewell lunch; dinner during departure travel.