4-Day Beijing Essence Tour & Tianjin Xingang Cruise Terminal Transfers

• Lunch

As your international cruise ship arrives at Tianjin Xingang Port, your guide will meet you at the exit of the arrivals hall.

You will then be transported to Beijing in a private vehicle to tour the Summer Palace.

Nestled in the northwest of Beijing, the Summer Palace lies 9 miles (15 kilometers) from the city center. As the largest and most impeccably preserved royal park in China, it has long been celebrated as 'The Museum of Royal Gardens'. 

Today's lunch is set at a Beijing venue, 'Smart' Restaurant—Haidilao, where you can delve into advanced technology. The waiting area resembles a theater, offering cooking-themed video games for you and other guests to enjoy, ensuring constant entertainment.

Your guide will then introduce you to the restaurant’s automated kitchen. There, you’ll witness mechanical arms in action, replacing human efforts. The guide will demonstrate how the automated systems customize soup to your desired tastes. Place your order, and robotic servers will deliver your dishes within just three minutes. Savor your hot pot meal amidst captivating scenes displayed on the LED screen wall.

Following lunch, you'll be transported to Beijing’s CBD. There, you can admire the new skyline and capture images of iconic modern architectural marvels like the CITIC Tower, CCTV Headquarters, and the China World Trade Center Tower 3. 

After today's tour concludes, the guide and driver will escort you back to the hotel for some rest, with dinner at your own arrangement. 

• Breakfast, Lunch at Beijing Roast Duck

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on today's itinerary, visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in the morning.

Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city square, resides at the heart of Beijing, with the Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) to its north, demarcating it from the Forbidden City.

Encircled by formidable structures, it includes the Heavenly Gate, numerous museums, government edifices, and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.

The Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors from 1368 to 1911, is a World Heritage Site. It stands as the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial architectural complex globally.

Upon concluding your visit to the Forbidden City, you will enjoy a lunch featuring Beijing Roast Duck, with your local guide recommending a suitable restaurant based on your itinerary.

Beijing Roast Duck, originating from the Qing Dynasty, is famed for its thin, crispy skin. Authentic versions primarily emphasize the delicate skin with succulent meat, expertly sliced at your table by the chef. It embodies the essence of Beijing cuisine.

After lunch, the guide will lead you to the Hutongs in Beijing's Dongcheng district for a walking tour, where you'll also have the opportunity to learn about applying Peking Opera facial makeup.

Hutongs are historic alleyways flanked by traditional single-story courtyard houses, relics of old Beijing that are rapidly fading. As you wander through these narrow paths, you can visit local residents to experience the traditional lifestyle and learn about the preservation of these unique homes and their culture.

In a workshop within the hutongs, you'll also learn how to create Peking Opera masks. Additionally, you can ascend the Bell Tower to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the hutongs.

At the end of today's tour, you will return to the hotel to rest.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Following an enjoyable breakfast at the hotel, you will proceed to visit the Temple of Heaven.

Constructed in 1420 during the Ming dynasty, the Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist structures where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties conducted annual ceremonies to pray for abundant harvests.

The park surrounding the Temple of Heaven is vibrant with life. In the morning, numerous local elderly residents gather to sing, exercise, and practice tai chi. 

After visiting the Temple of Heaven, you will depart for the Mutianyu Great Wall, where today's lunch is arranged at a nearby local restaurant. 

The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is ranked top on TripAdvisor among all the Great Wall sections, for its picturesque scenery and beautifully-restored architecture. It is about 1.5 hours' drive from downtown Beijing.

In order to save time for you, we arrange a round-trip cable car to ascend and descend the Wall, instead of spending about 40 minutes climbing steps. At the Wall, you have free time to walk around, after your guide does some introductions. The cable car ascends to and descends from tower 14.

Hike “the most beautiful and interesting part of the Great Wall” — between the 14th and 23rd watch towers — acknowledged by hikers as "the golden route".

Following your tour of the Mutianyu Great Wall, you will be escorted back to your hotel for some rest.

• Breakfast

The guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and transport you to Beijing Capital International Airport.

They will assist you with check-in as you depart from Beijing.