China Visa Free Tour from Beijing

When you get off the plane, you can see your private tour guide waiting for you at the exit with a smile on the face, holding a pick-up sign with your name on it. After picking you up, the driver will take you to your hotel. You do not have to worry about the hotel check-in and heavy luggage because your guide will arrange them for you. Then you will have a good rest.

On the second morning, we will go to the Temple of Heaven first. The Temple of Heaven is a place where ancient Chinese emperors worshipped heaven and prayed for good harvests. It has a history of more than 600 years. There are many attractions here such as Circular Mound Altar, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Imperial Vault, Echo Wall, and so on. The Circular Mound Altar was the place where the emperor held ceremonies to worship heaven. If you stand in the center of the altar and speak, you will find that the sound is loud, like a hundred people response to your call. The Echo Wall is the enclosure of the Imperial Vault and a very famous place in the Temple of Heaven.

If you speak against the wall at different positions of the echo wall, people standing by the wall in the distance can hear it clearly. 

Next, we will come to Tian’anmen Square. Tian’anmen Square, with an area of 440,000 square meters, is noted for its outstanding architectural art and special political status. Located in the center of Tian’anmen Square, the Monument to People’s Heroes was built by the government of the People’s Republic of China to commemorate the heroes who died in struggles against internal and external enemies, striving for national independence, freedom, and happiness since 1840. To the west of Tian’anmen Square is the Great Hall of the People. It is the place where the National People’s Congress (NPC) is held, and where the members of the Standing Committee hold their offices. It is also an important place for the Chinese party, state leaders, and people to hold political, diplomatic, and cultural activities. The National Museum of China is in the east of Tian’anmen Square, which is symmetrical with the Great Hall of the People. It boasts a famous collection of Chinese ancient, modern, and contemporary precious cultural relics.

After visiting Tian’anmen Square, we will come to the Forbidden City (closed each Monday). As the representative of ancient Chinese architecture, the Forbidden City gives people the first feeling of solemnity. It covers a large area and has a rigorous layout. The architectural styles of the outer court and the inner court are quite different. The architectural style of the outer court is magnificent, symbolizing the supremacy of the emperor. The architectural style of the inner court is deep, compact, and full of life. When you enter the Forbidden City, in front of you is the famous Hall of Supreme Harmony, which is resplendent. Two vivid red-crowned cranes stand beside the golden throne. There are also four large pillars surrounded by golden dragons on both sides, which can only be circled by two adults holding hands. Many people would like to wear the ancient costumes and take photos while touring. Give it a try if you have any interest.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will go to the Summer Palace. As one of the four famous gardens in China, the Summer Palace was a place for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1636 - 1912) to spend the hot summertime. Covering 293 hectares, it is mainly composed of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. There are more than 3,000 palaces and gardens in various forms, which can be generally divided into three parts: administration area, living area, and sightseeing area. The administrative area, with Hall of Benevolence and Longevity as its center, was the place where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu handled government affairs and met foreign guests. Behind Hall of Benevolence and Longevity are three large quadrangles, where Cixi, Guangxu, and his concubines lived. Walking along Kunming Lake, you will enjoy the flowers on the shore, and feel very comfortable. If you have time, you can also climb Longevity Hill to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Summer Palace.

Option:

If you like to have a drink in your spare time, Houhai Bar Street is a good place for you. Most of the bars are full of literary and artistic atmosphere. Many of them have regular singers or bands performing every night, and some bars also set up tables and chairs by the lake. It is pleasant to drink and chat outside on summer nights.

The Forbidden City

The Summer Palace

On the morning of the third day, we will go to the Ding Tomb of the Ming Tombs. It is located northwest of downtown Beijing and takes about an hour (50 KM) by car. The Ming Tombs are at the southern foot of Tianshou Mountain in Changping District, Beijing. Since the seventh year (1409) of the reign of Emperor Yongle, the Chang Tomb of the Ming Tombs had been built. After that, thirteen magnificent emperor tombs, seven concubine tombs, and one eunuch tomb were built over a period of more than 230 years. The Ding Tomb we are going to visit is the tomb of Emperor Wanli (1563 - 1620). It took six years to build the tomb and it is one of the three largest tombs among the Ming Tombs. The general layout of the tomb is round in the front and square in the back.

After lunch, we will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is 41 KM, or one hour’s drive from the Ding Tomb. The Great Wall is an ancient defense project with the longest construction time in China and the world. The section we will visit today is the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is the essence of the Great Wall. The total length of Mutianyu Great Wall is 5,400 meters and the section open to the public is 2,250 meters long.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Ding Tomb of the Ming Tombs

We will say goodbye to Beijing and take the estimated flight HX337 11:55/15:55 to Hong Kong. Hong Kong, with the full name of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, is located in the south of China. It has the reputation of “Pearl of the Orient” and it is considered the paradise for foodies and shoppers. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, your guide will meet you at the airport and take you back to your hotel for a rest. If you want to go out for dinner or shopping, your guide will give you some suggestions.

On the morning of the fifth day, the first place we will go to is the Victoria Peak. It is located in the northwest of Hong Kong Island and is one of Hong Kong’s iconic attractions. We will take the antique red Peak Tram to the peak. Here we can overlook Lantau Island and have a panoramic view of Hong Kong. The Peak Tower is a conspicuous building on the top of the hill with a unique shape. The 360-degree viewing platform on the top floor is a good place to overlook Victoria Harbour. There is a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in the Peak Tower. The distinctive features are the wax figure of Andy Lau (a Chinese singer), whose heartbeat can be heard, and the wax figure of Miriam Yang (an actress and singer) that can make a big laugh. At the Peak Post Office on the basement floor, you can send a postcard to your friends or relatives. 

After leaving Victoria Peak, we will come to Aberdeen Fishing Village. There are many intangible cultural heritages in Aberdeen Fishing Village.

The village was once the home of fishermen. They lived in their boats and established unique cultures and customs of people on the water. When taking a traditional sampan, you can see many moored fishing boats and private yachts. Some fishermen will cook on their boats. If you are just in time for lunch or dinner, you may even smell the aroma of the meal.

Then we will go to Stanley Market. Located on the south coast of Hong Kong Island, Stanley not only has sunny beaches, but also has a traditional market, Stanley Market, which is quite famous among tourists and locals. This market is the busiest place in Stanley. There are all kinds of small shops and stalls selling leather, silk, wool, and cotton clothes, as well as Chinese handicrafts, watches, and souvenirs. You must love to come here to look for treasures.

Aberdeen Fishing Village

Stanley Market

We will go to Lantau Island after breakfast. Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong, with an area equivalent to two Hong Kong Islands. We will take the cable car to the top of the mountain, and then visit Po Lin Monastery and Giant Bronze Buddha, which are the symbols of Lantau Island. The Giant Buddha is 34 meters tall and has a solemn appearance. It is the largest outdoor bronze seated Buddha statue in the world. Po Lin Monastery, a century-old ancient temple, is known as the Southern Buddhist Kingdom. There are many buildings with Chinese characteristics in the temple, which are worth visiting. You can also enjoy Buddhism cuisine here. After you come out of the temple, you can step into the Wisdom Path. This is a large outdoor woodcut group composed of 38 wooden pillars. Along the way, you can also enjoy the scenery of the South China Sea. After the tour of Lantau Island, your guide will take you to the hotel.

Po Lin Monastery

Lantau Island

A beautiful seven-day China visa free tour is coming to an end today. Your guide will transfer you to the airport according to your flight schedule. We hope this tour will bring you good memories and look forward to serving you next time.

Author: Wang Qian

Proofreader: Carrie Zhang