Day 1 Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Beijing Hutongs

09:00: Commence your day tour by meeting your friendly tour guide in the hotel lobby.

09:30: Your first sight will be Tiananmen Square, also called 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 whole world. Several significant historic events occurred here, the most important of which was that it was here that Chairman Mao proudly announced the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Following your guide, you will learn about the other historical events that happened here.

10:30 - 13:00: The Forbidden City borders Tiananmen Square, and is the highlight of your day tour. It served as the home for Imperial Families for over 500 years and has survived both natural and manmade disasters. Being the largest and the best preserved palace compound in the world, it has symbolized the Imperial Power, simply because common people are prohibited access. Now, it’s a cultural symbol revealing old stories.

13:00 - 14:00: Enjoy a local Beijing lunch at your own expense.

14:20 - 15:00 p.m: Filled with energy, you set out for Jingshan Park which is also one of the Imperial Parks of old times. Nowadays, it’s just a place where local people enjoy their leisure time. The park presents a commanding view of the whole Forbidden City and if you are lucky to be visiting on an autumn day, the red maple forest presents a splendid scene fit for royalty.

15:30 - 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, Summer Palace

7:30: 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.

14:30 - 16:00 p.m: After lunch, you will set out for the Summer Palace. It was a summer resort for royal families to escape from the heat in the capital. Like other palaces in Beijing, there are man-made hills, artificial lakes, bridges, pavilions, trees and beautiful gardens with various flowers blooming every season. If time permits, we recommend you take a boat ride on the lake. (This is an extra charge for your own account).






16:30 p.m: Transfer back to your hotel.






    

Day 3 Temple of Heaven, Yonghe Palace, Beijing Zoo, 798 Art District

09:00: Meet your local guide and set off for the day tour.

09:30- 11:00: 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.

11:00 - 12:30 p.m: Visit the Yonghe Palace (Lama Temple) situated in northeast Beijing. Originally built as a palace for the fourth prince Yong by the Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, it became an Emperor’s Palace after the prince ascended the throne. During the rule of Emperor Qianlong (Emperor Yongzheng’s son), the palace was changed into a Buddhist temple, also called the Lama Temple with the objective of showing kindness to southwest minority groups such as the people of Tibet.

12:50 - 13:50: Have lunch in a local restaurant under the guidance of your tour guide.

14:30 - 16:00: Head for the Beijing Zoo and see the cute Giant Pandas. Beijing Zoo has a history of 200 years. It’s the earliest zoo in China and the one host the most diversified animal species in China. Besides the common animals either domestically or from overseas, importantly, you will see Giant Pandas. It has a special house particularly built for panda breeding program. You will have a chance see those furry bears without going to Chengdu.

17:00 - 17:30: Visit the 798 Art District, named after the old Beijing state-controlled electronic industry plant. With mottled red tiles, well-arranged industrial buildings, interlaced pipes, and slogans from different eras, workers in uniforms walking on the street contrasted with fashionably-dressed tourists create quite a unique scene. Here, history and reality, industry and art are perfectly integrated together. This is  the perfect example of a plant transformation.

17:00: Your three day Beijing trip comes to an end.