5 Days Beijing Group Tour with Jinshanling Great Wall

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Upon your arrival at Beijing airport / train station, our driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name. Drive around 1 hour to Beijing downtown hotel for your check in. Free and easy on your own arrangement for rest of the day.

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Jinshanling Great Wall

   AM: At around 7am, our English speaking guide and driver will pick you up from the downtown hotel (if your hotel is NOT within second ring road of Beijing city, please come to the appointed meeting place to meet the guide and driver). Jinshanling Great Wall is located 130 kilometers away from Beijing downtown with the ride of 2.5 hours from Beijing downtown area. It connects to Simatai Great Wall in the east and Gubeikou Great Wall in the west, zigzagging its way up and down the mountains for 10.5 kilometers. This part of the Great Wall has 3 unique features, barrier walls, bricks with characters, and horse obstructing walls. Barrier walls and horse obstructing walls are two important parts that make the great military defensive system more impregnable. Bricks were engraved with characters of the troop’s names when they were made, which helps to trace the history of the Great Wall. Another difference with other sections of the Great Wall is that you will not go backwards on Jinshanling section, while for other sections the farther you go the longer the return way is.

   You will explore the Great Wall for about 3.5 hours. If hiking is too much for you, cable car is available and optional (you can pay cash on spot).

   Noon: We will have a simple lunch.

   PM: Transfer back to Beijing downtown and drop you off at Dongzhimen, or Wangfujing, or Qianmen Sanjiao. You can freely explore the city on your own and get back to your hotel by yourself.

   

3. Day 3: Beijing
   Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace (Lunch)

   AM: Between 7:00-8:00 am, our guide and driver will greet you at your hotel in Beijing downtown area. First we drive to Tiananmen Square, the heart and symbol of Beijing and the largest city square in the world. The spacious square has been used for many public celebrations, ceremonies, and demonstrations for over a hundred years. Next you will pay a visit to Forbidden City, one of the largest and most completely preserved palace complex built of wood. It functioned as the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912). There were 24 emperors of the two dynasties once lived here.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, we will go to Temple of Heaven. Located at southern part of Beijing, it serviced as a complex of sacrificial building where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest. Today’s last scenic site will be Summer Palace. It is located at the west skirt of Beijing and covers an area of 290 hectares. In the Qing Dynasty during the Qianlong Era, the Summer Palace was built by imitating the layout of the West Lake in Hangzhou. Now it is the largest and most completely preserved imperial garden in China.

   Notice: Today you will also pay visit to the Chinese Herb Medicine shop (about 45 mins) and to Pearl Factory (about 45 mins). There are opportunities to learn the Chinese Traditional Medicine culture, pearl arts and also purchase fine prodcuts here.

   Finally, you will be transfered back to your hotel.

   

4. Day 4: Beijing
   Beijing Zoo, Yonghe Temple, Beijing Hutong, Bird’s Nest, Water Cube (Lunch)

   AM: Around 6:30-7:30, the guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby (if your hotel is beyond the 2nd ring road of Beijing city, please come to the appointed downtown place to meet the group).Firstly come to Beijing Zoo for its Panda House where you will visit the lovely pandas and learn the knowleage of their habits from our tour guide. After that, head to the largest Lama Temple of Beijing — Yonghe Temple (also called Lama Temple), the birthplace of the Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. In the middle and late period of Qing dynasty, it was transformed into a Buddhist temple with the highest level throughout the country.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, have a short visit to a Silk Market where you will apprecaite some fine silk article, learn Chinese silk culture and have opportunity to pruchase some as souvenirs. Next, move to Beijing Hutong Alley to closely experience local’s life and you will also take a rickshaw to explore Hutong with another angle. Last, come to the National Stadium – the  Bird's Nest  and National Aquatics Center – the Water Cube. You will have an outer visit here and take some pictures while listening detailed explanation from tour guide.

   After the tour, return to your hotel.

   

5. Day 5: Beijing Departure

   At confirmed time, our driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby and transfer to Beijing airport / train station for your departure.