Exclusive In-Depth 2-Day Private Tour

Highlights

• Explore the Forbidden City and the hidden-gem Treasure Gallery
• Visit the Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car access and toboggan descent
• Ride a rickshaw through traditional hutongs and visit a local courtyard home
• Try hands-on activities like dumpling making, calligraphy, or paper cutting
• Watch locals practice tai chi, dance, and play chess at the Temple of Heaven

Description

Leave the crowds behind and experience Beijing through its history, traditions, and everyday life. After hotel pickup, begin your morning inside the Forbidden City, where your private guide brings the imperial palace to life with fascinating stories beyond the main halls. Explore grand ceremonial spaces before discovering the quieter Treasure Gallery, where exquisite imperial collections reveal another side of China's royal history. Continue into one of Beijing's oldest hutong neighborhoods. Instead of simply walking through narrow lanes, slow down and experience local life. Ride a traditional rickshaw past historic courtyard homes, step inside a family courtyard to learn how generations of Beijingers have lived, and choose from hands-on cultural experiences such as Chinese calligraphy, paper cutting, or making dumplings with local residents (activities vary by option and availability). For lunch, your guide recommends one of the neighborhood's favorite local restaurants based on your tastes, whether you're looking for authentic Beijing cuisine or something familiar. In the afternoon, stroll through the Summer Palace at a relaxed pace. Walk the famous Long Corridor, admire Kunming Lake, and discover the stories behind China's best-preserved imperial garden while enjoying beautiful lakeside scenery away from the busy city center. Day 2 Start the day with a comfortable drive to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most scenic and family-friendly sections near Beijing. Ride the cable car up to the Wall and enjoy plenty of free time to walk, photograph the mountain scenery, and explore at your own pace. For an extra thrill, choose the famous toboggan ride back down the mountain. After lunch at a local restaurant recommended by your guide, return to Beijing to visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon, when the surrounding park comes alive with local residents. Watch people practicing tai chi, dancing, singing, playing chess, exercising. Beyond its magnificent imperial architecture, the Temple of Heaven offers one of the city's best opportunities to experience everyday Beijing life and understand how tradition continues to shape the community today. Your private guide adapts the pace throughout both days, allowing plenty of time for meaningful conversations, local discoveries, and memorable experiences before returning you comfortably to your hotel.

Includes

Professional tour guide Private driver Air-conditioned vehicle Hotel pickup and drop off Forbidden City admission Treasures Gallery ticket Summer Palace ticket Temple of Heaven ticket Mutianyu entrance ticket Mutianyu round trip Cable car or chairlift/toboggan Bottled water

Excludes

Gratuities Lunch Optional cultural activities, such as rickshaw rides, dumpling making, calligraphy, paper cutting, or visiting a traditional courtyard home, can be arranged on the day at an additional cost.

Important Information

• Passport Required for Entry All major attractions in Beijing, especially the Forbidden City, require real-name advanced bookings. Forbidden City tickets are released 7 days in advance and often sell out quickly online. If online Forbidden City tickets are sold out during peak season, your guide will assist with purchasing onsite tickets. Visitors must present their original passport and queue at the official ticket office. The tour is fully private and customizable, and you can discuss your interests and energy levels with your guide to adjust the pacing or schedule.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund