Tiananmen, Forbidden City & Mutianyu Exclusive Exploration Day Tour

Your personal guide will meet you at your hotel to kick off a memorable one-day excursion, ensuring you get the most out of each moment with insightful commentary and seamless arrangements.​

Tiananmen Square
You’ll enter Tiananmen Square to explore this iconic public space up close, with your guide providing commentary on site—though you won’t enter any of the surrounding buildings. Standing in the square, you’ll have direct views of its key landmarks.​
The Monument to the People's Heroes rises solemnly at the center; your guide will share stories of the revolutionary martyrs it honors and explain the historical relief carvings that adorn its base. To the west, the grand Great Hall of the People—venue for major national conferences like the National People’s Congress—showcases striking classic architectural features. To the east, the National Museum of China, a repository of millennia of cultural heritage, will be highlighted for its role in preserving China’s past. Your guide will also outline the square’s layout, historical significance, and its role in national events as you take in the sweeping views.​

Forbidden City
A relaxed walk through Tiananmen Gate will take you into the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Your exploration will focus on the central axis, the symbolic heart of the complex, where you’ll discover its most significant landmarks:​

• Meridian Gate (Wumen): The grand southern entrance, marked by its imposing tower and five arched gateways, once reserved for imperial processions.​

• Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian): The largest wooden structure in China, serving as the imperial throne room where emperors hosted coronations, weddings, and major state ceremonies. Admire its intricate gold decorations and towering pillars.​

• Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe Dian): A smaller hall where emperors rested and prepared before major ceremonies, featuring elegant imperial artifacts and architectural symmetry.​

• Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe Dian): Used for imperial banquets and later as the venue for the final stage of the imperial examination, showcasing stunning roof designs and historical significance.​

• Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing Gong): Once the emperor’s living quarters, this grand palace later served as a ceremonial space, with its golden throne and imperial motifs.​

• Hall of Union and Peace (Jiaotai Dian): Symbolizing the union of heaven and earth, it houses the imperial seals and features exquisite interior decor.​

• Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Gong): Originally the empress’s residence, later used for ceremonial purposes, with distinct architectural elements reflecting royal life.​

• Imperial Garden (Yu Hua Yuan): A serene conclusion to the axis, featuring ancient trees, pavilions, and rockeries—where emperors and their families once relaxed.​

Your guide will bring each site to life with stories of imperial rituals, architectural symbolism, and the secrets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. After exploring the palace, you’ll savor a delicious local meal at a restaurant handpicked by your guide, where you can taste authentic Beijing cuisine and reflect on the morning’s discoveries.

Mutianyu:
Post-lunch, you'll head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. To make your ascent easy and efficient, you can choose between a cable car or ski lift—saving energy for the exploration ahead. Once on the wall, hike at your own speed: pause to snap photos of the stunning scenery, or simply stand and soak in the awe-inspiring views that have endured for centuries. When it's time to descend, you have two options: glide down via cable car, savoring the panoramic vistas one last time, or add a thrill with an exciting toboggan ride, feeling the wind in your hair as you race back to the ground—an exhilarating end to your Great Wall adventure.

To wrap up the day, your guide will accompany you back to your hotel, sharing additional insights about the remarkable sites you visited throughout the day.

B: Excluded, L: Included, D: Excluded