1-Day Beijing Essence and Chinese Cooking Learning Tour
This day tour mixes history and local living. In the morning, you'll see Tiananmen Square and hear stories from the Forbidden City. Then, spend the afternoon with a Hutong family. Learn how to cook traditional meals in their home and enjoy eating together. The package includes transportation, a guide, and fees. It's a great mix of famous places and trying out local food.
Tour Duration: Maximum 8 hours
Price Per Person in US Dollars
- 1. Book now and benefit from our free cancellation policy: receive a full refund if you cancel up to three days prior to the experience start time (local time).
- 2. You will receive your booking confirmation email within 24 hours of our receipt of your payment.
Highlights
- Dive into History: Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to hear about Beijing's olden days.
- Cooking Fun: Make authentic dishes with a Hutong family and enjoy a meal for a peek into local living.
- Easy Planning: It includes transportation, a guide, and fees for a smooth trip exploring famous places and local culture.
Tour Itinerary
A comfortable private vehicle with an English-speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel at 8:30 AM, ensuring a prompt start to your day.
Arrive at the grand Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares. The guide will share its historical significance, from important national ceremonies to its role in modern Chinese history. You can take photos with the iconic Tiananmen Rostrum and the Monument to the People's Heroes in the background.
Step into the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, the imperial palace of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. Discover its grand halls, like the Hall of Supreme Harmony, for significant ceremonies, and the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the emperor's former home. Listen to the guide's lively tales about imperial life, architecture, and historical moments, bringing the ancient palace to vivid life.
After the Forbidden City tour, head to a nearby local restaurant for a quick lunch. You can taste some simple yet authentic Beijing snacks to replenish energy.
Beijing Food
Nestled in a traditional hutong, this experience provides a chance to immerse yourself in the local culture and community. Your host will guide you through the art of dumpling making using basic ingredients and seasonings, involving everyone in mixing fillings, crafting dough, shaping wrappers, and assembling dumplings. Additionally, You'll get hands-on experience in selecting ingredients, cutting techniques, and mastering the heat. After cooking, enjoy the dishes you made, savoring the fruits of your labor.
Learn How to Make Dumplings
The vehicle will take you back to your hotel, marking the end of this fulfilling day.
What's Included
- Entrance fees
- Fee of Cooking Class
- Lunch
- Private transfers
- Private English-speaking guide
- Service charges & taxes
Important Info
- Operates: This tour is not available on Mondays due to the closure of key attractions like the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace on that day. Visitors planning to take this tour should consider alternative days to ensure they can fully experience these.
- Departure point: hotel in Beijing
- Return details: returns to the original departure point
- Guide languages: English
- The price of this tour will rise during the China National Day holiday (September 30th to October 7th) and the Chinese New Year holiday.
Good to Know
- This is a private tour. The local private English-speaking guide will serve your group only.
- You will receive a confirmation letter within 24 hours of making your payment.
- Your guide will contact you in the evening (Your guide will call you at around 18:00. If you missed your guide’s phone call, he or she will send you a short message) before your tour and confirm the exact pick-up time according to your preference.
- Your guide will pick you up in your hotel lobby on the tour date at the appointed time.
- The meal (if included) is in a Chinese restaurant, and your guide will help you order the dishes according to your taste.
- There is absolutely no forced shopping.