CN-PEKBLT38 – Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Beijing Zoo (Panda), Summer Palace and Beijing Evening Opera Show – Private

Your day begins with a hotel pickup between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM by your local English-speaking tour guide and private driver.

First, visit Tiananmen Square, one of the top ten largest city squares in the world and a site of profound historical and cultural significance. Though entry is restricted, your guide will provide a detailed overview of its landmarks from a respectful distance, including the Tiananmen Gate, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall.

From there, step into the legendary Forbidden City—a vast imperial palace complex covering 961 meters north to south and 753 meters east to west. Enclosed within Beijing’s historic Imperial City, which itself lies inside the ancient Inner City, the Forbidden City served as the cosmic and political heart of China for over 500 years. While legend claims it has 9,999 rooms, modern surveys confirm 980 surviving buildings with 8,886 bays of rooms.

The entire layout follows Beijing’s sacred central north–south axis—tilted just over two degrees—which stretches from the Bell and Drum Towers in the north, through Jingshan Hill, across the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Gate, all the way to Yongdingmen in the south. Traditionally divided into two realms, the Outer Court (southern section) hosted grand ceremonies, while the Inner Court (northern section) was the private residence of the Emperor and his family. The most important halls—such as the Hall of Supreme Harmony—stand proudly along the central axis, reflecting the harmony of heaven, earth, and imperial power.

After this deep dive into imperial history, enjoy a delicious authentic Chinese lunch at a beautiful local restaurant.

Next, head to the Beijing Zoo to meet China’s most beloved ambassadors: the giant pandas. The highlight is the Panda Hall, built in 1989 and spanning 2.5 acres (10,000 sq m). Designed to mimic a traditional Chinese garden and shaped like a Tai Chi diagram, the hall provides both an aesthetically pleasing and functional home for these gentle giants.

Continue to the enchanting Summer Palace—a 2.9-square-kilometer (1.1 sq mi) imperial retreat where three-quarters of the area is water. Centered around Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, this UNESCO World Heritage Site blends architecture, poetry, and nature into one harmonious landscape. Explore its six scenic zones: the Halls, Longevity Hill (front and back slopes), Kunming Lake—with its three islands (Nanhu, Zaojiantang, Zhijingge)—the Farming and Weaving Picture Scenic Area, the legendary Long Corridor, and the Central Axis lined with pavilions and temples.

As night falls, cap off your day with a mesmerizing Beijing Opera performance—a national treasure with over 200 years of history. Born in 1790 when the Four Great Huiban Troupes merged with other regional styles in Beijing, Peking Opera evolved into a dazzling art form featuring elaborate costumes, striking makeup and masks, ear-piercing arias, and acrobatic martial arts. Unlike Western opera, it tells stories through symbolic gestures, vibrant colors, and short, dynamic scenes—each bringing legendary characters to life.

After the show, you’ll be comfortably transferred back to your hotel, carrying memories of imperial grandeur, panda charm, lakeside serenity, and the timeless art of Chinese opera.