Day 1 Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Beijing Old Hutongs

08:00: Your Beijing driver and guide will arrive at Tianjin port in advance and wait for you at the side gate to the very east of the port. Greeted by your guide, you will head for Beijing directly. Please have breakfast beforehand.

10:30 a.m: Arrive in Beijing, your first sight will be Tiananmen Square, also called the Gate of Heavenly Peace. There is not much to see in the square itself, except that it’s the largest inner city square in the world. You are here because of several significant historic events that occurred here, the most important of which was Chairman Mao proudly announcing the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Following your guide, you will learn about the other significant events that took place here.

11:00 - 13:30: Bordering Tiananmen Square is the Forbidden City, the main sight of the day. It served as the home for Imperial Families for over 500 years and has survived both natural disasters and man-made damage. Being the largest and best preserved palace compound in the world, it has symbolized the imperial power, simply because common people are prohibited access. Now, it’s more like a cultural symbol, telling the old stories.

13:30 - 14:30: Enjoy a local Beijing lunch at your own expense.

14:30 - 16:00: Head for the Temple of Heaven. Ringed by the lush vegetation, the Temple of Heaven was a sacred place where the ancient emperors prayed for a good harvest and offered sacrifices. The temple itself was built entirely of wood with no nails, which is a unique architectural achievement originating from China. Comprised of two parts, a rectangular foundation and a semi-circular top, the Temple represents the typical Chinese concept of a circular heaven and rectangular ground. Nowadays, the grounds are a public park where you can see local people doing their morning exercise.

16:20 - 17:00: Stroll in the old Beijing Hutongs where old Beijingers live. A few decades ago, almost all people in Beiijng lived in Siheyuan in Hutongs. There may be a couple of families in one yard who have been living together for a long time and they know each other well. You can imagine the hustle and bustle of old times. Nowadays, there are still some people living there, but most Hutongs are vacant. You may be interested in joining some groups for activities like opera mask making, paper cutting, rickshaw riding, kite flying, calligraphy or learning to paint.

17:00: Hotel drop-off at the end of your tour.




    

Day 2 Mutianyu Great Wall

07:30: Start your day tour by meeting the tour guide in the hotel lobby.

09:00 - 12:00: Time to walk along the top of the Mutianyu Great Wall which has only recently become popular and attracts more visitors every day. Take a cable car up and enjoy the most breathtaking views. Walk along the Great Wall, while learning about the history and function of the towers and parapets. After walking for about 1-2 hours, take a thrilling toboggan ride down.

12:00 - 13:00: Enjoy an authentic rural lunch at one of the many local farms at the foot of the Great Wall.

15:30: Drop off at the Tianjin port. Your Beijing two day expedition tour ends here.