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Day
1
Beijing Arrival
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Then you will spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby streets, or resting and catching up on your jet lag.
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Day
2
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Beijing-Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing. In the park nearby local people practice Tai Chi or sing and dance relaxingly. They will invite you to join in with these activities which will become a very worthwhile and unforgettable experience.
After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.
From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. (Also Bertolucci's film "The Last Emperor" was produced here). Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.
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Day
3
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way
After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Badaling Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk one of the best preserved sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!
In the afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13 Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the 13 Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors. Finally, you will encounter the marble tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors and visit one of the spectacular tombs, indeed an underground palace.
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Day
4
Beijing (B, L)
Transfer via: soft sleeper train arranged by us
Sightseeing: Hutong Rickshaw Tour, Xiushui Street, Summer Palace
We will experience a unique Hutong tour by taking a men-driven rickshaw this morning. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane and are very typical for Beijing. Most of them can be found close to the Forbidden City, and were built during the three dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today, the Hutong is a living museum of Beijing history showing the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people. We will make stops to visit a local family and experience how the people of Beijing live.
Then we will visit the Xiushui Street, which is a market located nearby the embassy area where you can find a number of duplicates of clothing in traditional Chinese style. Here you will mingle with Beijing people, overseas and local art dealers as well as farmers who import goods from the countryside. Therefore you may find some interesting things and enjoy your bargaining with shopkeepers.
After having lunch at a local restaurant, you can spend the whole afternoon to visit the famous royal garden-Summer Palace. In 1888, the notorious Empress Cixi used the money intended for the Chinese Navy to build this opulent summer retreat for herself. Have a lakeside cruise on the lovely Kunming Lake and enjoy the magical views of the temples, pavilions and covered corridors around.
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Day
5
Beijing to Chengde (B, L)
Transfer via: soft seat train arranged by us
Sightseeing: Mountain Resort
In the morning, you will be transferred to the railway station and take the train to Chengde directly.
Chengde, originally called Rehe, was once the summer resort capital of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Mountain Resort and Eight Outer Temples are listed as world cultural heritage sites. This led to Chengde becoming one the most famous cities in the world.
Upon your arrival in Chengde, you will be met and visit the Mountain Resort, which is situated in the northern part of Chengde. Also called the “Temporary Imperial Dwelling Palace”, it was built by the Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D-1911 A.D) for the sake of stabilizing the frontier region and maintaining the unity of multi - nationalities. The large resort is considered the most remarkable imperial garden still existing in today’s China. The mountain resort possesses scenery featuring those of both north and south China.
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Day
6
Chengde to Beijing (B, L)
Transfer via: soft seat train arranged by us
Sightseeing: Putuo Zongcheng Temple / Puning Temple
In the morning you will depart from your hotel to visit the Putuo Zongcheng Temple. Built in 1771, the Putuo Zongcheng Temple is a very splendid one. It covers an area of 220,000 square meters and was built similarly to Potala Palace in Lhasa Tibet in architectural style. That is why it is also called the lesser Potala Palace. (It is a temple of Tibetan Buddhism)
Then we will visit the Puning Temple. The Puning Temple (with its popular name Big Buddha Temple) is located in the north-west of Chengde city. It was built in 1759, and was one of the most important places for the emperor to worship Buddha. It houses the biggest sculpture of the Goddess Kwan-yin in the world
After lunch in a local restaurant, you will be transferred to the railway station and take your train back to Beijing. Arriving in Beijing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
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Day
7
Beijing Departure (B)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Today, you will enjoy some more leisure time, until our guide will escort you to the airport for the flight to your next destination.