From imperial palaces to hutongs
The Forbidden City, Prince Gong's Mansion and Shichahai connect palace architecture with city life. Key visits depend on ticket reservations and opening arrangements.
Pure Beijing: 5 Days
Price on request
Overview
This 5-day, 4-night route covers Beijing. Three core sightseeing days link the Forbidden City, princely residence, Great Wall, imperial gardens and Temple of Heaven, with transfers and free time at either end. It suits first-time visitors seeking Beijing's historic landmarks who can manage extensive palace and wall walking, possible early starts for the flag ceremony and reservation-dependent admission.
Highlights
Walk the Great Wall at Badaling
Badaling adds mountain walking and Great Wall scenery to the Beijing journey, alongside the flag-raising ceremony and Olympic Park.
Imperial gardens and the Temple of Heaven
The Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven contrast landscaped gardens with ceremonial architecture; Fragrant Hills or Yuanmingyuan is added depending on your dates.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Beijing | Airport or Station Pickup
Travel independently to Beijing by air or train from your departure city. A dedicated vehicle meets you and takes you to the hotel; depending on arrival times and group size, the wait may be up to about 40 minutes. Check in and enjoy free time. No meals are included today. Confirm the exact pickup point and service area in advance.
Day 2Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Prince Gong's Mansion and Shichahai
After breakfast, visit Tiananmen Square, see the Great Hall of the People from outside and enter the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, or view it from outside if it is closed or at capacity. Climb Tiananmen Gate Tower; if a reservation cannot be secured, visit Jingshan Park instead. Spend about three hours in the Forbidden City, with a complimentary visit to Yanxi Palace when it is open. Lunch is roast duck at Quanjude or Bianyifang, followed by about 1.5 hours at Prince Gong's Mansion and an hour walking the Shichahai hutongs. If reservations or policy restrictions prevent entry to the Forbidden City or another site, a comparable attraction or a refund of the actual ticket cost may apply; confirm before departure. Expect a lot of walking today. Dinner is at your own expense.
Stops: Tiananmen Square · Chairman Mao Memorial Hall; exterior visit if closed or capacity-limited · Tiananmen Gate Tower; Jingshan Park if reservations are unavailable · Forbidden City · Prince Gong's Mansion · Shichahai · Yanxi Palace; complimentary visit subject to opening
Day 3Flag-Raising Ceremony, Badaling Great Wall and Olympic Park
Collect a packed breakfast and depart early for the flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square; if a reservation is unavailable, attend the flag-lowering ceremony instead. Explore Badaling Great Wall for about three hours, enjoy a Beijing-style lunch, then spend about one hour in Olympic Park, viewing the Bird's Nest and Water Cube from outside. Confirm before booking whether Great Wall cable cars or slide rides require additional payment. Dinner is at your own expense.
Stops: Flag-raising ceremony; flag-lowering ceremony instead if reservations are unavailable · Badaling Great Wall · Olympic Park · Bird's Nest and Water Cube; exterior views
Day 4Summer Palace, Fragrant Hills or Yuanmingyuan, Temple of Heaven and Qianmen
After breakfast, spend about three hours at the Summer Palace. Arrivals from 29 October to 15 November also visit Fragrant Hills for the autumn colours; arrivals from 16 November visit Yuanmingyuan instead. Check the arrangement for your departure when booking. The route includes a complimentary drive past Tsinghua or Peking University (no campus entry). After a royal-style spring pancake lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven on a combined ticket for about 1.5 hours and Qianmen Dashilan for at least an hour. Dinner is at your own expense. Return to your Beijing hotel.
Stops: Summer Palace · Fragrant Hills for arrivals on set dates; Yuanmingyuan from 16 November · Tsinghua or Peking University (drive-by only) · Temple of Heaven; combined ticket · Qianmen Dashilan
Day 5Free Time in Beijing | Departure
After breakfast, enjoy free time according to your departure schedule, then leave Beijing on your booked flight or train. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense. Confirm before booking whether departure transfers are included, along with the exact station or airport and transfer time. No additional hotel night is included.
Included and not included
Included
- Four nights in Beijing: category A is a chain hotel near the Third Ring Road, and category B a upscale hotel with a three-diamond rating in the same general area. Choose when booking.
- Local air-conditioned tour vehicle with one seat per person; dedicated arrival pickup, with the exact point confirmed in advance.
- Four breakfasts and three lunches: roast duck, Beijing-style dishes and a royal-style spring pancake banquet.
- Main admission to the included attractions, with a combined ticket for the Temple of Heaven. If a reservation fails, a site closes or capacity is reached, the arrangements in the daily plan apply.
- Complimentary Forbidden City audio headset and shuttle, bottled water and group photo, subject to availability.
Not included
- Flights, trains and other long-distance travel to and from Beijing.
- Single-room supplement, all dinners, meals not listed as included, personal expenses and any additional activities you choose.
Cost and booking conditions
Confirm before booking whether departure transfers, Great Wall cable cars or slide rides and other internal transport are included in the tour price.
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