China Metropolis Tour from Imperial Beijing

Welcome to Beijing! Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China and a famous historical and cultural city. In 938 A.D., Beijing (then called Yanjing) was made the second capital of the Liao Dynasty. Later, in the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties and even in the early Republic of China, Beijing served as the capital for most of the period and occupied a prominent position in the development of Chinese civilization.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and taken to your downtown hotel. After your check-in at the hotel, you could enjoy the rest of the time on your own.

Travel Tips: Beijing has different scenery throughout the year. In terms of climate, spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October) are the best seasons to visit Beijing. In spring, flowers are in full bloom, and there are many parks with beautiful flowers to admire. Autumn is a great time to visit the city, as it is not as hot as summer. Also, we recommend the winter season (December-February). Although the outdoor temperature is a bit low during the off-season, the occasional romantic snowfall will add a romantic feel to your tour.

This morning we will first visit Tian’anmen Square. Located in the center of Beijing, Tian’anmen Square is at the southern end of the Forbidden City and across Chang’an Avenue. Tiananmen Square was the main gate of the Imperial City of Beijing in the Ming and Qing dynasties. On October 1, 1949, the opening ceremony of the People’s Republic of China was held here, and it was thus designed into the national emblem and became one of the symbols of China.

Because Tian’anmen Square is such a sacred place in the hearts of Chinese people, many people are willing to pay a high price for a retired square brick from Tian’anmen Square. It is said that a palm-sized concrete square brick can be bought for 1,999 yuan (equivalent to more than 300 US dollars). These squares were named with the dates of big events happened in the history of China. That is, from the date of the founding of the country on October 1, 1949, to the date of the 50th anniversary on October 1, 1999, a total of 18,251 collectibles were made. The numbers on those bricks are from 19491001 to 19991001. The square brick numbered 19491001 has been collected by the National Museum. The square brick 19990515 was collected by Mr. Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the first Chief Executive of the Macau SAR.

Passing through the tower and the Meridian Gate (Wu Men), you will see the Forbidden City (Closed each Monday). The Forbidden City is in the center of Beijing, where 24 emperors once lived. It was the palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912) and is known as the Palace Museum. Visiting the Forbidden City is a way to appreciate the rich and colorful architecture and art. Red walls, yellow tiles, black bricks, eaves, corner towers, carved beams, painted walls, dragons, phoenixes, lions, all these elements of Chinese architectural art are shown up in this unparalleled palace. Furthermore, many precious cultural relics are displayed here. The Palace Museum has a large number of valuable cultural relics in its collections, which total 1,052,653 pieces according to statistics, accounting for 1/6 of the total number of cultural relics in China, many of which are unique national treasures.

After lunch, we will visit the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is the head of classical Chinese gardens and one of the most extensive royal gardens. The complex of buildings in the foreground of Longevity Hill is the best part of the garden, and the 41-meter-high Tower of Buddhist Incense is the symbol of the Summer Palace. There is a bronze bull in the Summer Palace that is very famous. It was built in the 20th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1755) and is now 266 years old. Since its “birth”, it has been lying on a carved stone pedestal on the east embankment of Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace. It has undergone the ups and downs of history and become physical evidence of ancient Chinese bronze casting art.

After a Beijing city tour, the guide will transfer you back to the hotel.

Free Time Suggestion: If you want to go out for a stroll in the evening, you can go to the most famous shopping street in Beijing - Wangfujing Street. When you first hear the name, you may ask what does Wangfujing means. Wangfu means the residence of a prince, and jing means a well. You may also ask, which prince’s house is so famous for its wells? Then let me tell you a story. During the Ming Dynasty, there were many prince residences (Wangfu in Chinese pinyin) on this street, so this street was also known as Wangfu Street. In 1905, a sweet water well was found at the south end of this street. So when the street was renamed, the Chinese character “well (jing in Chinese pinyin)” was added and the name of the street was changed to Wangfujing. Nowadays, there are many department stores, shopping malls, restaurants, designer stores, and snack streets on Wangfujing Street. There is so much delicious food in the street. I recommend you try the sugarcoated haws on a stick and the old Beijing noodles with soybean paste. They are highly popular Beijing food and are also good value for money.

Tian’anmen Square

Forbidden City

After your breakfast, we will drive to Ding Tomb that is northwest of the Forbidden City. It will take around 1 hour (about 55 kilometers). The Ding Tomb was the first imperial mausoleum to be excavated in China by archaeological methods. The precious relics include the empress’s clothes and crown, as well as more than 3,000 pieces of gold and silver vessels, make it a rare source of research on the history of the Ming Dynasty. The unique architecture of the underground palace of the Ding Tomb makes the palace particularly deep and mysterious, and the dark atmosphere of the underground palace seems to take you back to ancient times.

After lunch, we will leave for the Mutianyu Great Wall in the northeast. It takes about 1 hour. The Great Wall of China is located in northern China, stretching from Shanhai Pass in the east to Jiayu Pass in the west, with a total length of about 6,700 kilometers. The Mutianyu Great Wall is the best part of it. On the way, you can enjoy the picturesque scenery of the Beijing countryside. There are three ways to climb the Great Wall after arriving at Mutianyu. If you want to walk, I have to say that you will have to climb nearly 700 steps (equivalent to climbing 50 floors) to reach the No. 6 beacon tower. Or you could choose to take a cable car up to the No. 14 beacon tower or a chairlift up to the No. 6 beacon tower. If you go up by chairlift, you could take the toboggan down. The toboggan goes down the mountain and is one kilometer long. You can control the speed and have some excitement and fun. The wife and daughters of former U.S. President Barack Obama enjoyed the exciting experience of the toboggan when they came to Mutianyu.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Ding Tomb

We will first visit the Temple of Heaven after your breakfast. Located at the south of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven was a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the gods of heaven and prayed for a good harvest. With its strict architectural layout, peculiar architectural structure, and magnificent architectural decoration, the Temple of Heaven is considered one of the most exquisite and beautiful groups of existing ancient buildings in China. As a place of worship, the Circular Mound Altar is a famous building in the Temple of Heaven. It is the place where the emperor held the ceremony of worshipping heaven. According to historical records, the ceremony was held on the Winter Solstice (22nd Chinese solar term), and it started before dawn. As you can imagine, in the early hours of the cold winter months, the emperor with the royal clan and the civil and military officials, shivering at the worship ceremony. Don’t laugh, but the worship ceremony is not a comfortable thing.

After that, we will visit Beijing Old Hutong by rickshaw. As a unique ancient alleyway to Beijing, hutongs have been used since the Yuan Dynasty. A ride on an old-fashioned rickshaw will make your hutong tour unique. Beijing Hutong is also the home of many famous people. Kung Fu stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li have their courtyards in the hutong. Aside from taking a rickshaw tour of Beijing’s hutongs, there are also homestays available in the hutong houses. If you’re interested, you can also choose to stay here and get a real feel for how the old Beijingers live!

After lunch, you will visit Beijing Zoo. Beijing Zoo was built during the Qing Dynasty and is now over 100 years old. It was the first zoo to be opened to the public in China and is said to be the birthplace of modern zoological gardens, botanical gardens, and museums in China. The Giant Panda Hall has always been a popular spot for Chinese and foreign tourists to visit. At present, there are already ten pandas in the Giant Panda Hall.

Free Time Suggestion: At the end of the day, you could enjoy a relaxing evening at Houhai Bar Street or go shopping at Nanluoguxiang. Houhai Bar Street is a popular bar gathering place with a strong ambiance of literature and art in Beijing. Compared to bar streets like Beijing Workers’ Stadium and Sanlitun, Houhai Bar Street is more artistic, and many Chinese singers used to sing here before they became famous. If you don't go to a bar, it's a good choice to just come here at night and stroll around the streets. The view is also quite good when you stand on the Yinding Bridge at night. Nanluoguxiang, with a total length of 786 meters, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Beijing. Today it is home to a wide range of individual shops and a variety of stylish restaurants with private home cuisines. The combination of old Beijing hutongs and petty chic has made Nanluoguxiang a fashionable landmark in Beijing.

Temple of Heaven

Beijing Zoo

Today, we will visit Lama Temple. It is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Beijing, and one of the most famous monasteries in China. The old site of Lama Temple was the official room for eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty. Although it sounds absurd, it is true. Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) ordered the construction of a residence and gave it to his fourth son, Prince Yongzheng. In the minds of the people, the Lama Temple is a place with good fortune. Because two emperors of the Qing Dynasty once lived here. One is the Emperor Yongzheng, and another is the Emperor Qianlong. In the ninth year of the Qianlong reign, the place was converted into a lamasery. Since then, the Lama Temple has always been very prosperous, attracting many faithful men and women to worship every year. Especially on the first day of the Chinese New Year, many worshippers even queue up overnight to burn the first incense.

Then we will visit the Temple of Confucius in Beijing which was the place where Confucius was worshipped during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties in China, and is the second-largest Confucian temple in China after that in Qufu. The main building of the Temple of Confucius in Beijing uses the noblest yellow glazed tile roof that is the highest architectural regulation of the feudal society, highlighting the royalty. The Temple of Confucius in Beijing has a longer history than the Forbidden City. When visiting Beijing, the Confucius Temple is a must-visit place.

After lunch, we will visit the 798 Art District. The 798 Art District is located on the site of a former factory and is built in the Bauhaus style. Since 2002, due to the low rent, many studios and contemporary art institutions began to gather here, gradually forming an art community. Today, it has become one of the cultural landmarks of Beijing.

Option: In the evening, you could enjoy an excellent kung fu show at Red Theatre. The length of the show is about60-70 minutes. And the show usually starts at 7:00 every day. The large-scale kung fu show "Legend of Kung Fu" combines various artistic elements of Chinese martial arts, acrobatics, and dance. It is not only the main performance of the Red Theatre but also a regular commercial production of the White House Theatre in the United States. The Deputy Ambassador of Ireland once exclaimed, "This is a more uplifting show than Riverdance"! If you've never seen a kung fu show, this is a great opportunity!

Temple of Confucius

Lama Temple

This morning you will take the estimated flight CA8162 12:20/14:45 to Shanghai. With a total population of 23 million, Shanghai's growing external population brings a vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere to the city. Shanghai is the city that has the highest English-speaking population in China. In most public places, you can find English-speaking locals who are often happy to help. Since the reform and opening of Shanghai, the economy has grown rapidly, and thousands of skyscrapers rose straight from the ground. Three of the world's ten tallest buildings stand proudly in Shanghai - the Shanghai Tower, the World Financial Center, and the Jinmao Tower. Shanghai has hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters. The spring and fall seasons are short but refreshing, making it a great time to visit.

After arrival in Shanghai, our guide will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel directly. After check-in, you can have a good rest or you could take a walk around the neighborhood.

Option: ERA Intersection of Time is a very famous show in Shanghai. It combines acrobatics, dance, music, and world-class multimedia technology. It has a unique way of performing that is comparable to a Broadway musical. One of the highlights is that as soon as the audience enter the theater, they will see a big glass wall on the stage. It is 6 meters high and 11 meters in diameter. When the hall turns dark, a glimmer of light appears in the center of the glass wall. With the songs and fantastic images from ancient times, you will be brought into a magical time and space. Most audiences still being immersed when the show already finished even though it lasts for 100 minutes. The show usually starts at 19:30.

This morning you will first visit Yu Garden (Closed each Monday). It is the only remaining Ming Dynasty garden in the old Shanghai city. The garden is known as “the most beautiful garden in the south of the Yangtze River”. In Yu Garden, there is a pair of iron lions with vivid postures and exquisite castings. Most visitors usually stop and take pictures with them. This pair of iron lions were made in Henan Province, and have a history of more than 700 years. They are more than 200 years older than the Yu Garden. The Yu Garden and the Old Street are adjacent. Shanghai Old Street is the best place to experience old Shanghai life. If you are tired of seeing the bustle of Shanghai or want to know the lifestyle of Shanghai people, you can come to Shanghai Old Street for a walk. There are no glamorous buildings or large shopping malls here. It is the original Shanghai street. Many people will come to the old street to dig for treasures and buy some old things. Besides, you can also taste some local Shanghai food here, such as Xiao Long Bao (soup buns), sweet green rice dumplings, and green bean cake.

And then we will drive to the east side of Huangpu River to see the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai Tower is located in the heart of China’s economic zone - the Lujiazui Financial Area. From China’s tallest skyscraper, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Shanghai! You can even see the wonderful view of the Huangpu River from here! Lujiazui Financial Area is a rare feng shui treasure in the mouth of feng shui masters. It is said that the Shanghai Tower was built to change the feng shui layout of the Lujiazui Financial Area.

After lunch, we will go to another landmark in Shanghai-Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is divided into two sections, Nanjing East Road and Nanjing West Road. Both roads have been under construction since as early as 1850 and are now over 150 years old. Now Nanjing Road is a pedestrian street with modern and old European-style buildings. There are many large shopping centers, century-old stores, boutique stores, and specialty stores in the street. You can find anything you want here. Therefore, Nanjing Road is considered Shanghai’s shopping paradise. 

After that, you will visit the Bund. The Bund is one of the most symbolic spots in Shanghai. The international architectural complex and the night view of the Huangpu River are the most charming sights here. At night, the neon lights on both sides of the river will make you feel the charm and romance of the “magical city”. The romance of the Bund is also enhanced by the chimes of the Customs House, which was completed in 1927 and became the tallest building on the Bund at the time. The clock in the Customs House was designed after the Elizabeth Tower clock in London and was manufactured by a British company. The clock remains intact till today, and it still rings every hour on the hour.

In the evening, you will take a Huangpu River Night Cruise. Taking a night cruise on the Huangpu River, you can see many landmarks of Shanghai along the way and enjoy the prosperous city of Shanghai. When night falls, you can watch the tall buildings and lights on both sides of the river. You could also stand on the deck and drink a glass of wine while enjoying the view. I believe that the beauty of Shanghai will shock you in another way.

Yu Garden

The Bund

In the morning, we will start to visit Shanghai Museum (Closed each Monday). The Shanghai Museum is a large museum of ancient Chinese art, reflecting the glorious development of China’s 6,000 years of ancient art. The museum has a collection of 120,000 pieces of precious cultural relics, featuring bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings. With other tour operators, they may give you free rein to visit the museum. Our guides are very knowledgeable, and they will show you the best of the museum.

Then we will visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Jade Buddha Temple was founded in 1882 and is a renowned Buddhist temple both at home and abroad. It was named after the two jade Buddhas enshrined in the temple. As one of the top ten tourist attractions in Shanghai, it is located in the bustling downtown area, but it is quiet inside. While tourists visit the Jade Buddha Temple, they mostly come for a bell in the temple. It is said that if a person burns incense and prays under the bell, it will make a sound. But no matter how you ring it, the magical bell will not ring.

After the visit, we will drive to Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town. Known as the Venice of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town is the best-preserved ancient water town in Shanghai. Zhujiajiao has a long history and many buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties stand on both sides of the river.

Free Time Suggestion: In the evening you could visit Tianzifang. Tianzifang is a fashionable and creative area formed after the reconstruction of Shanghai’s unique Shikumen building complex. The best feature of Tianzifang is that there are still many residents living here. In addition to the clothes that you can see Shanghainese hanging out to dry, you can also see the green mailboxes from the 80s.

When you walk around these alleys, the unique character of Tianzifang will amaze you.

Shanghai Museum

Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town

You will have a free morning and the guide will transfer you to take the estimated flight CX367 13:45/16:45 to Hong Kong. Described as a barren place more than 150 years ago, Hong Kong has developed into an international financial and trade center. Hong Kong is known as the most popular Asian city for tourists. It has retained its traditional Chinese culture while being heavily influenced by Western culture. Some of the famous attractions in Hong Kong are Victoria Peak, the Big Buddha, Repulse Bay, and Wong Tai Sin Temple. In addition to tourism, Hong Kong's food is also a highlight. When you come to Hong Kong, you must try the authentic food of Hong Kong. No matter where you are in Hong Kong, there are surprises.

After arriving in Hong Kong, the guide will meet you at the arrival hall and then take you to your hotel. The rest of the time is free on your own.

After breakfast, let’s start exploring Hong Kong together! We will first visit Victoria Peak. Victoria Peak is one of Hong Kong’s iconic attractions. Taking a peak tram is the most interesting way to the top of Hong Kong. The vintage red peak tram is the oldest tram system in Asia and is 1,350 meters long. The Peak Tram runs every 15 to 20 minutes from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily between the Central Garden Road Terminus and the Peak Terminus. Sky Terrace 428 is the viewing platform in Peak Tower. Here you can overlook Lantau Island and have a panoramic view of Hong Kong. Don’t forget to take some fabulous pictures and share them with your friends and family. There is a Peak Post Office in the Peak Tower. You can also send a postcard to your friends and family at the post office with a special postmark on it. 

Then we will visit the Aberdeen Fishing Village by sampan. As one of the traditional tourist attractions in Hong Kong, taking a sampan to tour this fishing village is something that even local Hong Kong people may not have experienced before. You will have a panoramic view of both sides of the harbor. Aberdeen’s fishermen were previously living on boats. However, due to safety concerns, boats are no longer allowed by law to be used for residential purposes. By 2015, there were only four liveaboards left in Hong Kong. Now there are still many private yachts moored here.

After that, we will visit Stanley. Activities in Stanley range from the must-see Stanley Market to the historic Murray House. The Stanley Market is the liveliest place in Stanley. It has a variety of small stores and stalls selling leather, silk, cotton clothing, Chinese handicrafts, and other souvenirs, which are very popular among Hong Kong people and tourists. Murray House is a 160-year-old colonial-style building. Murray House was originally located in Central, Hong Kong, and after its relocation to Stanley, the Bank of China Tower was built on the site. Considering the huge historical value of Murray House, the Hong Kong government sent people to take careful measurements first and then arranged experienced workers to dismantle it brick by brick. A total of 3,000 granite bricks have their own "archives", recording in detail their form and position in the building. In addition to shopping, you could take a stroll along Stanley’s waterfront with the sea breeze, or enjoy a beer at one of the many alfresco restaurants on Stanley Street. 

Option: Before going back to the hotel, you could watch A Symphony of Lights on Aqua Luna in the evening. A Symphony of Lights is the world’s largest light and music show, with over 40 buildings on both sides of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor participating. Countless spotlights, lasers, LED screens and lights set the stage in the sky, creating an outdoor visual and audio feast. The best way to see the show is to take a cruise in Victoria Harbor. You can enjoy the dazzling light show while sipping a glass of wine.

Stanley Market

Murray House

Today you will take the Ngong Ping 360 to visit Lantau Island. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car is the most convenient way to get to Ngong Ping Village. It only takes about half an hour. In addition to the short time, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery along the way, including the Hong Kong International Airport, the Giant Bronze Buddha, etc. If you take the crystal cabin, you can even see the outside through the glass under your feet, which is fun and perfect for visitors who like excitement. Step out of the cable car and you will be greeted by Ngong Ping Village. You can walk around, buy some souvenirs or taste some local snacks here. Then we will walk straight ahead to see the Big Buddha. The Big Buddha is the second-largest outdoor Buddha in the world. After reaching the Big Buddha, you can climb 268 steps to the top to visit. Once on the terrace, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lantau Island and the Po Lin Monastery, which has been flourishing for hundreds of years. In Chinese culture, people believe they can pray to the Buddhas through incense to help them fulfill their wishes. So many people come to pray every day. If you are interested, you can also make a wish to Buddha with a stick of incense.

After visiting Lantau Island, the guide will take you back to the hotel and you can enjoy the free time.

Free Time Suggestion: Temple Street Night Market. Hong Kong's night markets sell all kinds of affordable and unique goods, so you can't help but pick up a piece or two. Shopping at the night market is a great way to buy things for yourself or as a gift, and you can enjoy bargaining with the vendors. The best part is that you can experience the unique local life of Hong Kong! After 6 pm, Temple Street Night Market is bustle and hustle and known as the "night club for the common people". There are also many Hong Kong-style snacks in the night market. Stephen Chow's famous movie " God of Cookery " was filmed here.

Ngong Ping 360

Po Lin Monastery

In the morning, we will first visit Chilin Nunnery and Nanlian Garden which are located amidst towering skyscrapers. Chi Lin Nunnery is a Buddhist temple built in 1934. Nanlian Garden is ranked as the fourth best tourist attraction in Hong Kong and is a better place to visit than Disney and Ocean Park. Both scenic spots are designed in the Tang Dynasty architectural style. Every stone, every tree, every fountain, and every corner of the site is designed strictly in the Tang Dynasty garden style.

Then we will visit Wong Tai Sin Temple. The Wong Tai Sin Temple enshrines the three religions: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and is the most famous temple in Hong Kong. Wong Tai Sin, a Taoist deity, is known for curing illnesses and injuries, providing aid, and advising the virtuous. The locals believe that Wong Tai Sin will always answer their prayers, thus the place is always prosperous.

After that, we will take a ferry to Lamma Island. Lamma Island is a very diversified and all-embracing place, with authentic souvenir shops, exotic restaurants, bars, seafood delicacies, artisan shops, cafes, Hung Shing Yeh Beach, hiking trails, etc. After enjoying a leisure afternoon, we will take a ferry back to Central. In the evening, you could experience the fantastic nightlife at Lan Kwai Fong on your own.

Nanlian Garden

Lamma Island

This morning is free on your own. The guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to the airport. The 13 days China metropolis tour will end here. We hope you had a great time in China and look forward to serving you again.

Editor: Carrie Zhang

Proofreader: Liz Lee