Beijing City Join-in Group Tour

Pick up at your hotel between 7:20am and 8:30am. First visit Tiananmen Square. Located in the heart of Beijing City, it is the site for massive parades and rallies, which is the largest square of this kind in the world. This was the site when in 1949, from a rostrum on Tiananmen (the Gate of Heavenly Peace), Chairman Mao proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

For security reason, Tiananmen Square is a fenced square circled by low iron grids with main four entrances – east, west, south and north. The square is now open to the public till midnight, but all the tourists have to pass a security check before they enter the square. So check points have been set up at all the entrances leading to the square.

The half-hour visit allows you to have a glimpse at the outside of Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the magnificent Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, the ancient Zhengyang Gate and Arrow Tower as well as the Tiananmen Tower which leads to the well-known Forbidden City.

Then move on to the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palaces group with 500 years history in the world. Visit the Forbidden City along the central axis from south to north for 2 hours.

1. Forbidden City is closed for the entire day every Monday , except the Chinese national public holidays and the summer vacation from Jul 01 to Aug. 31;

2. Forbidden City Ticketing Purchase is based on real name policy;

3. You need to show your passport to buy your entrance tickets;

4. Free of charge for children under 1.2 meters, each required to be escorted by an adult;

5. There are some exhibits within Forbidden City that require additional tickets to access such as the Treasure Gallery and the Clock and Watch Gallery.

Treasure Gallery : RMB 10;

Clock and Watch Gallery: RMB 10

Forbidden City Opening Hours

April 1st – October 31 ( 8:30 – 17:00 )

Last Entry at 16:10

Tickets sold until 16:00

November 1st – March 31 (8:30 – 16:30)

Last Entry at 15:40

Tickets sold until 15:30

On the way to Temple of Heaven, you will have a chance to visit a Silk Factory, where you can bargain for silk products and China's traditional silk arts (40 minutes).

After having a short rest, we'll visit Temple of Heaven - the largest ancient imperial worship architecture group in the world where the ancient Emperors prayed for peace and harvest. The visit to Temple of Heaven takes about 1 hour.

The park is so huge. You are advised to wear your most comfortable shoes. It's a long walk! For summer time, be ready to bring an umbrella for sun protection, and bottles of water. Inside the huge park, there is a lovely temple complex, which is composed of three main parts – Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and Circular Mound Altar sitting along an axis from south to north.

Don't miss the Cypress Grove. Old cypress trees are worth having a close look. Some of the cypresses are more than 600 years old. Dr Henry Kissinger, when he visited the temple, stated that while the USA could recreate the Temple of Heaven if it desired, it could not create the trees!

Temple of Heaven Opening Hours

The park opens at 6am and closes at 8pm.

The main buildings inside the park：

From March 1 to June 30： 8：00 – 17：30

From July 1 to October 31： 8：- 18：00

From November 1 to February 28： 8：00 – 17：00

Kindly reminder: Through tickets selling is stopped at 16:00

After Chinese lunch ( 40 minutes ), enjoy a short visit to a Pearl market where you'll have the chance to shop for gifts and souvenirs and get o know pearl culture. (40 minutes).

Driving (30 minutes) to Summer Palace, the largest and most beautiful Chinese imperial garden. It is regarded as a museum of gardens in China. The visit takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Normally it takes 2 hours to walk around Summer Palace. Visiting Summer Palace needs a bit strong legs with a lot walking since Summer Palace is huge.

Dress for the hot or cold weather. The summer in Beijing could be humid and close, sometimes extremely hot. Also winter could be very cold. So well prepared for the uncomfortable weather both in winter and summer. You are advised to wear your most comfortable shoes.

Summer Palace presents itself with different views for different seasons. Winter sees people skiing on the Kunming Lake; Spring time finds people breathe under fresh trees and flowers; Summer time often sees Summer Palace in a foggy day like a beautiful "water and mountain" Chinese scroll painting. Autumn is the best time walking around Summer Palace, clear and blue sky with comfortable weather.

Summer Palace even at different times of a day allows you to see the different views under sunrise in the morning and sunset in the later afternoon.

Additional Price Information

1.Children under 1.2m high are free of charge.

2. Taking a boat ride starting from the Marble Boat across the lake to the beautiful 17-Arch Bridge is a fun way to have more stunning views.

Boat Ride: 10 yuan.

Summer Palace Opening Time

High Season (From April 1 to Oct. 31)

Open: 6:30

Tickets stop selling at 18:00;

Close: 20:00

Low Season (From Nov. 1 to Mar. 31 next year)

Open: 7:00

Tickets stop selling at 17:00;

Close: 19：00

After the day tour, return to your hotel in Beijing.