Royal Culinary Journey – From Pastry to Banquet

Highlights

• Discover the art of royal pastry-making at the Royal Pastry Museum
• Learn about the history of Chinese imperial cuisine from your guide
• Make your own imperial pastry using traditional molds and recipes (Optional)
• Enjoy a multi-course feast that recreates a Qing dynasty imperial banquet
• Watch a live performance with court musicians and dancers in costume

Description

Begin your journey on Beijing's historic Central Axis at the Royal Pastry Museum, China’s first museum dedicated to imperial pastry culture. Housed in a quiet courtyard just steps from the Drum Tower, this two-story museum is free to enter and requires no reservation. Inside, find over 1,500 rare artifacts, including more than 2,000 intricate pastry molds, imperial kitchen records from the Qing dynasty’s internal archives, and ceremonial dining vessels that once graced the emperor’s table. Your guide will walk you through the museum’s collection, explaining how the imperial pastry kitchen operated, what the emperor ate for breakfast, and why certain pastries were reserved for specific seasons or ceremonies. But this isn’t just a museum – it’s a living workshop. Here, roll up your sleeves and make your own imperial pastry under the guidance of a master baker who carries on centuries-old techniques. Using traditional molds and recipes passed down through generations, create a pastry that looks and tastes exactly like something once served in the Forbidden City. After baking, enjoy it with a cup of tea in the museum’s courtyard or take it home as a unique souvenir. From the quiet charm of the pastry museum, travel west to the Royal Cuisine Museum, a National AAA-rated tourist attraction that brings imperial dining to life on a spectacular scale. Located in a grand building in Haidian District, this museum is both a historical exhibition space and a working imperial kitchen. Begin with a guided tour of the museum’s 3,250-square-meter exhibition halls, which trace the 5,000-year evolution of Chinese royal cuisine, from ancient rituals to the opulent banquets of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The collection includes over 1,000 priceless artifacts: ancient cookware, imperial menus, ceremonial vessels, and detailed records of state banquets. Then comes the main event. Be seated in the museum’s grand dining hall for the 'Zhonghua Yipin Banquet,' a multi-course feast that recreates the splendor of a Qing dynasty imperial banquet. The menu features dishes prepared using authentic imperial recipes, from crispy Peking duck to delicate soups and braised delicacies. Every course is presented with the ceremonial precision once reserved for the emperor himself. But the food is only half the experience. As you dine, be surrounded by a spectacular live performance directed by Chen Weiya, the renowned choreographer behind the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. The show unfolds in three acts – 'Ritual and Grace,' 'Feast of Delicacies,' and 'Grand State Banquet' – featuring court musicians, dancers in period costume, and dramatic re-enactments of imperial dining rituals. It’s part dinner, part theater, and entirely unforgettable. After the meal, explore more of the museum, visit the on-site costume experience center (where you can dress as an emperor or empress for photos), or simply linger over tea in the courtyard.

Includes

Visit to the Royal Pastry Museum Hands-on pastry-making workshop Guided tour of the Royal Cuisine Museum Zhonghua Yipin Banquet Live performance during the banquet

Excludes

Transportation to and from the museums Personal expenses

Important Information

• The Royal Cuisine Museum visit is optional The Royal Pastry Museum is free to enter and requires no reservation The hands-on pastry-making is optional

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund