CN-PEKBLT42 – 3 Days Great Wall – Mutianyu, Great Wall Mutianyu and Ming Tombs – Private

Day 1: Imperial Heart of Beijing – Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace

Meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby at around 7:30 AM. Begin at Tiananmen Square, one of the top ten largest city squares in the world and a site of profound historical significance. Though entry is restricted, your guide will explain its landmarks from a distance: the Tiananmen Gate—a symbol that has witnessed China’s rise and resilience—the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. For generations, climbing Tiananmen Gate to gaze upon the Square has been a cherished dream.

Step into the legendary Forbidden City—the largest and best-preserved imperial palace in China. Designed as the cosmic center of ancient Beijing, it lies along the city’s sacred central north–south axis (tilted just over two degrees), stretching from the Bell and Drum Towers in the north to Yongdingmen in the south. Explore halls where emperors ruled and rituals shaped a nation.

After a local lunch, visit the sublime Temple of Heaven—a UNESCO masterpiece where the Emperor, as the Son of Heaven, performed solemn rites to pray for peace and bountiful harvests. Marvel at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, supported by four dragon pillars (for the seasons) and symbolic inner/outer pillars representing time and cosmic order.

Conclude your day at the enchanting Summer Palace—China’s largest imperial garden. Spanning 2.9 square kilometers (1.1 sq mi), with three-quarters covered in water, it centers on Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. Stroll through six scenic zones, including the Long Corridor, the Marble Boat, and tranquil islands like Nanhu and Zhijingge.

Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall & Ming Tombs (Dingling)

Your guide and driver will pick you up between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM for a journey to the breathtaking Mutianyu Great Wall. Unlike crowded Badaling, Mutianyu offers a serene, forested escape—96% of the area is covered in woods. Enjoy seasonal beauty: spring blossoms, summer greenery, autumn fruits and golden leaves, or winter snow. For panoramic views, take the optional cable car to the summit.

After a local Chinese lunch, visit the Ming Tombs—China’s best-preserved imperial burial complex. You’ll explore Dingling, the only excavated tomb among the 13 Ming mausoleums. Known as the “Underground Palace,” it features a stone vault 27 meters underground. Please note: the path involves a 15-minute walk from the entrance followed by 8 flights of stairs—not recommended for wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties.

Day 3: Hutong Life, Lama Temple, Pandas & Olympic Icons

Pickup between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM for a deep dive into Beijing’s living culture. Begin in the historic Hutongs—narrow alleyways originating in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). The word “hutong” comes from Mongolian, meaning “water well,” and these lanes remain the soul of local life.

Enjoy a heartfelt home-hosted lunch with a Beijing family in a traditional courtyard—a rare glimpse into daily life.

Next, visit the serene Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple), one of Beijing’s most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, famed for its towering Maitreya Buddha and incense-filled halls.

Then, head to the Beijing Zoo to meet the beloved giant pandas in the Panda Hall—a 2.5-acre space designed like a traditional Chinese garden and shaped as a Tai Chi diagram.

Continue to Olympic Green for photo stops at two architectural marvels: the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium and the “Water Cube” National Aquatics Center. The latter blends ancient Chinese cosmology—“square Earth, round Heaven”—with cutting-edge design, built on the “soap bubble” theory with a polyhedral steel frame.

End your tour at Jingshan Park, where five man-made peaks—each crowned with a pavilion—mark the historical central axis of Beijing. From the summit, enjoy a final panoramic view over the Forbidden City.

After this rich three-day journey through imperial grandeur, natural wonder, and living culture, you’ll be comfortably transferred back to your respective hotels.