Beijing Winter Downtown Day Tour

Pick up from your hotel in downtown Beijing and head to Tiananmen Square, the largest city square of such kind in the world. 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.

After visiting Tiananmen Square (40 minutes), move on to the Forbidden City (2 hours), also known officially as the Imperial Palace Museum. The Forbidden City was the seat of Imperial power for 500 years, and is now a major tourist attraction in China. For almost 500 years, it served as the seat-bed of the Emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government.

Then drive to Shichahai Area. In a private and traditional Siheyuan (courtyard), you are arranged to have a home-style lunch.

After lunch, ascend the 67-meter high and two-story Drum Tower dating from 1420, bringing you back to the old Beijing by seeing the big drum tower and having bird's eye view of the surrounding communities of hutongs and siheyuan - existing traditional courtyards in Beijing.

Then walk south to Dianmenwai Dajie ( north of Drum Tower), turning onto Yandai Xiejie (Tobacco Pipe Lean Street ), a quaint 800-year-old hutong located directly north of Yinding Bridge between Qianhai Lake and Houhai Lake, used to be well-known for sellers of long-stemmed pipes, hence the name. Standing on the Silver Ingot Bridge ( Yinding Bridge ), a narrow channel joining Qianhai Lake and the Houhai Lake, the hub of Shichai area with surrounding quiet hutongs.

Finally have some fun skating or sliding around in improvised ice-chairs and ice-bicycles at Shichahai Skating Rink (popularly know as Houhai Skating Rink). Shichahai Lake is one of favorite outdoor ice skating rinks for many local skaters.

Shichahai Lake is composed of three connected lakes, namely Qianhai Lake ( fronk lake), Houhai Lake (back lake) and Xihai Lake ( West Lake). Now only Qianhai lake is open to ice skaters close to the lotus market and public bar area along the lake. The fees for Skating activities at Shichahai Skating Rink are not included. After skating at the rink, you are transferred back to your downtown hotel in Beijing.