Highlights
- Discover Beijing's rich history on a guided walking tour of the city's temples
- Visit the Lama Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, and see the Maitreya Buddha
- Explore the Confucius Temple and see the stone steles of successful scholars
- Learn about the imperial examination system and the Guozijian Imperial Academy
- End your tour at Wudaoying Hutong, a trendy neighborhood with shops and cafes
Description
Meet your guide at the Yonghegong Lama Temple Metro Station and begin your journey through the historic northern limits of Beijing’s ancient core. Learn about the Ming and Qing dynasties and receive a premium wireless audio headset so you never miss a word of the immersive storytelling.
Step inside Beijing's largest and most historically significant Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Originally built as an imperial palace for Prince Yongzheng, this magnificent complex was later converted into a high-ranking lama monastery, resulting in a unique architectural fusion of Han Chinese, Tibetan, and Mongolian styles.
Wander through courtyards filled with drifting incense and active worshippers, observing daily rituals up close. The journey culminates at the awe-inspiring Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses, home to a Guinness World Record holder: an 18-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha carved entirely from a single, majestic trunk of white sandalwood.
Cross the street into one of Beijing's most peaceful and photogenic cultural quarters. Walk beneath ancient stone archways to reach the Confucius Temple, where emperors paid homage to China’s greatest philosopher. Here, you will stroll past hundreds of massive stone steles engraved with the names of thousands of successful scholars who passed the grueling imperial civil service examinations.
Immediately adjacent is the Guozijian, the supreme imperial academy where the empire's brightest minds were trained. Stand before the stunning Biyong Hall, a masterwork of imperial architecture surrounded by a circular moat, where the emperor himself would sit on a dragon throne to deliver lectures on statecraft and morality.
Your guided historical journey concludes at the entrance of Wudaoying Hutong. Once a garrison for soldiers during the Ming Dynasty, this historic alleyway has transformed into one of Beijing’s trendiest creative lifestyle hubs. Your guide will provide personalized lunch and exploration recommendations before leaving you to enjoy this vibrant neighborhood at your leisure.
Includes
Pre-booked Yonghe Lama Temple Admission Ticket
Pre-booked Confucius Temple Admission Ticket
Pre-booked Guozijian Imperial Academy Admission Ticket
Licensed, professional English-speaking cultural guide
Excludes
Hotel pickup
Private tour upgrade
Important Information
- The tour starts at a centralized meeting point at Yonghegong Lama Temple Metro Station – Exit F.
The tour is approximately 4 hours long.
Hotel pickup is not included unless booked as a Private Tour upgrade.
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
