5-Day Beijing Post-Olympic Tour

Destinations & activities: Airport to hotel transfer (Beijing Capital International Airport), Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, you will be received and transferred to your hotel.

Destinations & activities: Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall (with roundtrip cable car ride), Shahe Cloisonne Factory

- Temple of Heaven: This outstanding complex of Taoist buildings was the main palace of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties. Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, various Ming and Qing emperors have since visited for annual ceremonies in order to pray for good harvests and more. Located in the south of Central Beijing, the Temple of Heaven covers more than 675 acres, and in 1998, the UNESCO foundation recognized the location as a World Heritage Site.
- Mutianyu Great Wall (with roundtrip cable car): This less-crowded section of the infamous Great Wall is about a 2.5 hours' drive from downtown Beijing. A scenic cable car ride allows visitors to enjoy the views in comfort, taking you up to a good section of the wall while avoiding a very steep climb. At the top, you can walk along China's iconic wall, waft through the watchtowers, and enjoy unbelievable vistas as the structure meanders across the hills and mountains. You may then return via cable car, simply walk down, or walk along the wall about 1 hour to descend by chairlift. Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes and bring protection against the weather.

- Shahe Cloisonne Factory: Shahe Cloisonne Factory manufactures high quality Cloisonne ware. These intricate works of art made of a copper body and wire inlaid enamel are the result of fine handiwork and complicated processes (which you will see on an exclusive China tour) that include hammering, filigree welding, enamel filling, surface polishing, and gilding. They certainly make for unique, quality souvenirs.
- Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant: Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant is located conveniently just nearby to the Mutianyu Great Wall. This classical garden style restaurant serves farmhouse dishes, specializing in rainbow trout, sturgeon, and salmon. The exquisite meals will no doubt have you longing for more.

Destinations & activities: Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Treasure House Museum, Hutong Tour in Xicheng District, Lihengtang Pearl Store

- Tiananmen Square: The world's largest city square is an enduring symbol of China's national pride and a symbol of China all over the world. This immense square is located in the very heart of Beijing and is the key site for a number of significant events in China's history. Its name, Tiananmen (literally, Gate of Heavenly Peace), comes from a city of the same name located to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City. This grand site is surrounded by a number of imposing buildings both ancient and modern, including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), various museums, government buildings, and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
- The Forbidden City: It can be said that the Forbidden City is one of China's most important and valued destinations due to its unparalleled role throughout history. The palace and temple complex was once home to 24 emperors between the years 1368 and 1911. So large is the property that its nickname is "the city within a city." Its significance has been recognized by the international UNESCO organization, who considered The Forbidden City a World Heritage Site. Indeed, the largest and the best preserved ancient imperial architecture complex in China if not the world--with a dominating square, intricate halls and gates, luscious gardens, courtyards, and quarters--is perhaps the country's most important ancient treasure. Today, a variety of cultural exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, showcase the glories and treasures of China's magnificent eras and dynasties.
- Treasure House Museum: Treasure House Museum is a premier site home to more than 440 precious relics from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) royalty. The museum is more than 220 square meters and has undergone more than 4 renovations in its time. About half of the current exhibitions available to the public today have never been shown before.
- Hutong tour in Xicheng District: A hutong is a set of historic maze-like alleyways, forming grand neighborhoods, often with many classic single story traditional courtyard houses dispersed within. In this 1 hour tour, take an exciting rickshaw ride through the dramatic narrow alleyways, visit a local family, and walk on the famous Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) to learn about the different thresholds of the courtyards.
- Lihengtang Pearl Store: Lihengtang Pearl Store is a state-run enterprise that specializes in the traditional technique and art of cultivating, processing, manufacturing, and of course selling all types of fresh water and sea pearls. China is the world’s largest freshwater pearl producer, and the country’s epicenters for these attractive beads are Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The store offers a wide range of prices and qualities with full guarantees to cater to every budget and desire, including beautiful seawater pearls such as the Tahitian Black Pearl and Nanyang Golden Pearl. As part of China Travel, you will be able to watch the live planting of seeds inside a live mussel as well as how to differentiate between the quality and validity of pearls from real to fake, and there is no pressure to buy.
- Jing Mian Da Wang Restaurant (Di'anmen branch):This traditional Chinese restaurant serves healthy portions of local favorites (mostly noodles here) in an Old Peking atmosphere. It is a fun experience with waiters clad in the old styles shouting around the room to announce customers arriving and leaving; it is very noisy! Enjoy the simple but beloved noodle dishes of China, usually enjoyed with a thick sesame and soy sauce based broth. At this restaurant, you will experience one very authentic aspect of Old Beijing life.

Destinations & activities: Exterior visit of Beijing Olympic Stadium (Bird's Nest and Water Cube), Lama Temple, Summer Palace (aka Garden of Virtue and Harmony, with boat cruise)

- Exterior visit of Beijing Olympic Stadium (Bird's Nest and Water Cube): These 2 structures from the 2008 Summer Olympics were perhaps the most photographed of them all by the media and visitors alike. Their imposing and visually impressive structures are certainly eye-catching. Both are located in the north of the city’s central axis. The entire Beijing Olympic Stadium covers more than 3,000 acres and includes the National Museum, wide exhibition area, Olympic Village, and 31 Olympic competition avenues including the Bird's Nest and Water Cube (aka Beijing National Aquatics Center). We will not enter any of the venues.
- Lama Temple: China and Tibet’s histories have always been intimately intertwined due to their close proximity and mixture of cultures. The colorful Yonghe Lamasery, as it is also known, is the largest and most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. To this day even after so many centuries, Lama Temple is still very active where endless crowds of worshippers come to give their respects or seek good luck among the property’s beautiful halls and courtyards. Here also is the world's largest wooden statue (the Matreiya Buddha) and various Tibetan historical, cultural, and religious exhibitions.
- Summer Palace (aka Garden of Virtue and Harmony, with boat cruise): The Summer Palace, with its well preserved and largest imperial garden in China, is considered by many throughout history and visitors as one of the most stunning architectural complexes in the country. Is it located about 12 kilometers northwest of the city center and is just as significant as the Forbidden City. This premier Beijing attraction is not to be missed. It is also possible to cruise on the scenic lake, a 10 minute journey by ferry boat.
- Xibei Restaurant: Xibei Restaurant brings Northernwestern Chinese cuisines to Beijing. The intricate meals include influence from the Manchu, Mongolian, Chinese Muslim, and Chinese Han cultures.

Destinations & activities: Hotel to airport transfer (Beijing Capital International Airport).

Today, we will transfer you to the Beijing Capital International Airport in time for your flight home. Take all the memories of the glorious Chinese capital city with you!