Essential Beijing 2-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great

Description

Day 1: Northward to the Capital, Climbing the Great Wall, Olympic Night Lights

Themes: High-speed Rail Experience, Great Wall Majesty, Olympic Spirit
Dining: Breakfast (Self-paid), Lunch (Self-paid), Dinner (Included – Specialty Beijing Roast Duck Meal)
Accommodation: Beijing (Fixed Arrangement)

【07:00 – 12:30】 Speeding via High-speed Rail across the North

• Itinerary: You will head to Shanghai Hongqiao Station/Shanghai Station on your own to take the pre-booked high-speed train (G-series Fuxing/Hexie Hao) to Beijing.

• Travel Tips: The Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway is 1318 km long, taking as little as 4.5 hours. It is recommended to order a meal box via the app on the train or bring some Shanghai specialty pastries as a simple lunch to ensure you have plenty of energy for the tour upon arrival.

• Arrival Service: Our dedicated guide will be waiting with a pickup sign at the Beijing South/Beijing Station exit to begin your capital city journey.

【12:30 – 14:30】 Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall

• Scenery: Approximately 1.5-2 hours drive. As the vehicle leaves the city center, you will see the landscape transition from plains to the Yanshan Mountains; the guide will share legends of the “Eight Great Sights of Yanjing.”

【14:30 – 17:00】 In-depth Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall —— The Beautiful Fortress

• Background: Mutianyu connects Juyongguan to the west and Gubeikou to the east. Built mainly during the Ming Dynasty (1368), it was supervised by General Xu Da on the ruins of the Northern Qi Wall. With 96% vegetation coverage, it is hailed as “The most beautiful section of the Great Wall.”

• Our Arrangement:

  • Cable Car Up: We arrange for a cable car ride directly to Watchtower 14 to save energy and enjoy the mountain views.

  • Highlight Hike: Head west from Watchtower 14, passing the “Loyal to Chairman Mao” inscription cliff, and challenge the steep Watchtowers 19-20 (Hero’s Slope). The walls here are built primarily with granite blocks, featuring unique architecture and dense watchtowers.

  • Photo Spot: Watchtower 20 is the highest point of the scenic area, perfect for panoramic shots of the Great Wall winding like a dragon through the green peaks.

• Note: After the tour, you can choose to take the cable car down or experience the famous **”Toboggan” slide** (Optional based on physical condition, self-paid approx. 100 RMB/person) for the thrill of gliding down from the ancient walls.

【17:00 – 18:30】 Return to City, Olympic Venue Exteriors

• Architectural Tour: The vehicle will stop near the Olympic Park.

  • 【Bird’s Nest】 (National Stadium): Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, built with 42000 tons of interlaced steel structures, symbolizing a “nest” that nurtures life.

  • 【Water Cube】 (National Aquatics Center): Featuring an ETFE membrane exterior, it looks like blue bubbling sugar cubes when lit up at night.

• Experience: The guide will help you find the best photo angles to capture memories of the grand legacy left by the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

【18:30 – 19:30】 Dinner: Authentic Beijing Roast Duck (Included)

• Culinary Experience: Dinner is arranged at an authentic Beijing-style restaurant.

• Details: Premium stuffed duck is roasted over fruitwood charcoal until it reaches a glowing reddish color.

  • Local Way to Eat: First, dip the duck skin in white sugar (it melts in your mouth); second, wrap the meat in lotus leaf pancakes with scallions, cucumber strips, and sweet bean sauce; third, enjoy the duck bone soup, which is fresh and cuts through the richness.

• Reference: This meal is included in the tour package.

【20:00】 Check in to Hotel

Day 2: Imperial Central Axis, Forbidden City, Summer Palace Gardens

Themes: Exploring the Imperial Palace, Majesty of the Heavenly Dynasty, Strolling Royal Gardens
Dining: Breakfast (Hotel included), Lunch (Included – Beijing home-style dishes), Dinner (Self-paid)
Accommodation: None (End of itinerary)

【07:00 – 08:00】 Enjoy Breakfast (Included)

【08:00 – 09:30】 Stroll through Tiananmen Square

• Background: The world’s largest city center square. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was the forecourt outside Chengtianmen (now Tiananmen), the main gate of the Forbidden City, evolving from a “T” shaped imperial square.

• Our Arrangement:

  • Pay Respects: Visit the Monument to the People’s Heroes (the largest monument in Chinese history), view the solemn Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (subject to opening policy), and overlook the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum.

  • Sense of History: Stand in the center of the square to feel the majesty of Beijing’s central axis, which witnessed countless historical moments like the 1949 Founding Ceremony.

• Practical Tip: Security checks are very strict; please be sure to carry your original ID/Passport.

【09:30 – 12:30】 Through the Forbidden City: In-depth Palace Museum Tour

• Background: The imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, built in the 4th year of Emperor Yongle (1406). it is the world’s largest and most complete ancient wooden structure complex.

• Tour Route (Central Axis Highlights):

  1. Meridian Gate: Commonly known as Wufenglou, the main entrance of the Forbidden City; feel the historical weight of the gate.

  2. Three Main Halls (Supreme, Central, Preserving Harmony): Observe the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the symbol of the highest rank in ancient Chinese architecture, featuring 10 unique roof beasts found nowhere else in the world.

  3. Inner Court: Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and Palace of Earthly Tranquility to learn about the daily lives of emperors and empresses.

  4. Imperial Garden: Admire the Hill of Accumulated Elegance and Hall of Imperial Peace to feel the elegance of the royal garden.

• Cultural Details: The guide will point out the bronze lions, scratches on the gilded water vats (evidence of the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion), and the craftsmanship of the Nine-Dragon Wall (subject to route).

【12:30 – 13:30】 Lunch (Included)

• Recommended: A local Beijing-style group lunch featuring Northern favorites like Zhajiangmian (noodles with bean sauce), Kung Pao Chicken, and Shredded Pork in Sweet Bean Sauce.

【13:30 – 16:00】 Summer Palace —— The Museum of Royal Gardens

• Background: Built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, originally named Qingyi Garden. It uses Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as its foundation and Hangzhou’s West Lake as a model, incorporating Jiangnan garden techniques to create a large-scale landscape garden.

• Our Arrangement:

  • Long Corridor: Stroll along the 728-meter [Long Corridor], with over 14000 color paintings on the beams depicting stories from the Four Great Classical Novels like “Journey to the West” and “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”

  • Tower of Buddhist Incense (Exterior): Look up at this landmark building perched on Longevity Hill.

  • Kunming Lake: Admire the elegant curves of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. If the weather is clear, you can choose to take a boat ride at your own expense (approx. 40-60 RMB/person) to experience the lake from Empress Dowager Cixi’s perspective.

  • Marble Boat: View the famous “Qingyan Fane,” a Western-style marble boat symbolizing “Peace and Prosperity.”

【16:00 – 16:30】 Transfer to Railway Station

【After 17:00】 Conclusion of Journey

• Drop-off: The guide will escort you to Beijing South/Beijing Station.

• Return Advice: It is suggested to book a train returning to Shanghai after 17:30 or 18:00. You can enjoy dinner on the train, arriving in Shanghai around 23:00, concluding your unforgettable Beijing trip.

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Palace Museum — Practical Information

Where to Stay · Room Type · Nearby

• Wangfujing/Donghuamen (Dongcheng district) | Reference price Chinese-style/mid-to-high-end hotels, reference about CNY 300–800 per night | Room tip: King room or twin room; prefer hotels along Metro Line 1 | Nearby add-ons: Tian’anmen Square, Jingshan Park, Nanluoguxiang^[src]
• Qianmen–Dashilan (Xicheng district) | Reference price Budget 2-star about CNY 260–300 per night; comfortable/3-star about CNY 460–480 per night (OTA reference) | Room tip: Standard twin/king room; note that some room types have no window | Nearby add-ons: Tian’anmen Square, Qianmen Street, Dashilan, Temple of Heaven^[src]

Typical Climate & Packing (Past Years)

• January: -9.4–1.6 °C, Cold and dry; down jacket, hat and gloves needed; guard against wind
• February: -6.9–4.0 °C, Still cold; large day-night temperature difference
• March: -0.6–11.3 °C, Warming but windy; occasional dust
• April: 7.2–19.9 °C, Comfortable in late spring; most attractions switch to peak-season p
• May: 13.2–26.4 °C, Pleasant climate, good for walking tours
• June: 18.2–30.3 °C, Rainy season begins with frequent afternoon showers; some attraction