- Tiananmen Square – Forbidden City – Hutongs – Summer Palace
- 4+stars Hotel
- Breakfast/Lunch
Welcome to Beijing, where imperial grandeur meets modernity. Begin your day at Tiananmen Square, the heart of China’s political history. Arrive by 8:00 AM to witness the flag-raising ceremony, a solemn ritual where soldiers march in perfect unison. Marvel at the 38-meter-tall Monument to the People’s Heroes and the portraits of Mao Zedong before proceeding through the Gate of Heavenly Peace into the Forbidden City.
This UNESCO-listed palace complex, home to 24 emperors, spans 980 buildings. Highlights include the Hall of Supreme Harmony (where coronations took place), the Meridian Gate with its intricate brackets, and the Imperial Garden with its ancient pine trees. Pro Tip: Rent a multimedia guide (¥40) for interactive stories about eunuchs and concubines.
After lunch at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (order the "Peking Duck Feast" for two), pedal a rickshaw through Nanluoguxiang Hutong. Narrow alleyways reveal courtyard homes adorned with red lanterns and stone lions. Stop at Caoqi Musician’s Courtyard to watch folk artists craft shadow puppets.
Cap the day at the Summer Palace, a lakeside retreat where empresses escaped summer heat. Stroll the Long Corridor (728 meters of painted ceilings), climb Longevity Hill for panoramic views, and glide across Kunming Lake in a dragon-shaped boat. As dusk falls, the marble 17-Arch Bridge glows under lantern light—a photographer’s dream.