Explore Beijing. Today you will be met by your guide, where you will walk through Tiananmen Square and into the sprawling magnificent Forbidden City, the former residence of the Ming and Qing emperors. Entering through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you will find a complex full of imperial riches.
Later, soak up the harmonious ambiance of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape, before enjoying a traditional Peking duck dinner.
Sightseeing at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City will involve approximately 3-4 hours on foot. Please note: The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays. If this day of touring falls on a Monday, your touring in Beijing will be switched around so that the Forbidden City is visited on an alternative day. In an effort to preserve the Forbidden City, the number of entry tickets per day has been significantly reduced. Whilst every effort will be made to obtain the tickets, should this not be possible, then you will instead visit the Forbidden City from the outside and visit the nearby Prince Kung’s Palace Museum.
Destination Information
Tiananmen Square – Built under the guidance of Chairman Mao Zedong, Tiananmen Square is said to hold a capacity crowd of over one million and is one of the largest public squares in the
world. It houses not only the Monument to the People’s Heroes, it is also the final resting place of Chairman Mao himself in the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
Forbidden City – The sacred center of the Chinese empire for 500 years and home to the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City is a vast complex of over 900 buildings and covers an area
of 180 acres. Since 1987, the Forbidden City has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its palatial architectural style has been an influence on many imperial buildings throughout Asia Temple of Heaven – Set in a 267-hectare park surrounded by a long wall and with a gate at each compass point, the Temple of Heaven is unique. It is one of the most perfect examples of Ming architecture, created as a place of worship for the Emperors, who would ask for prosperity, longevity, and good harvest for the people.
Peking duck – A favorite of the Emperor’s court and the upper-class elite during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Peking duck quickly spread throughout Chinese society to become a national favorite and a symbol of China.
Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
