Beijing, where China's imperial past and vibrant present collide, is the gateway to both ancient and modern China. It is where you can most impressively experience China's glorious history and brilliant culture.
Besides experiencing the famous must-sees, people traveling with China Highlights can do much more: discover hidden halls in the Forbidden City, sleep under the stars on the Great Wall, savor a royal court afternoon tea, and connect with everyday life in a non-touristy hutong.
"Vincent was one of the best ones we have had. He took us to the main attraction, maneuvered us through the crowds, and share what daily home life is like for Chinese people." —Susan G, traveled to Beijing in July 2024.
Whether you seek a multi-day exploration, a customized layover tour, or a themed day trip, we're here to craft the perfect Beijing itinerary for you.
Beijing Private Tours
These are some popular itineraries, meticulously crafted to suit different interests and travel companions. For example, we select interesting Forbidden City side halls for families with kids instead of the crowded central ones frequented by most tourists.
Beijing Great Wall Tours
Looking for adventure, breathtaking scenery, a romantic escape, or a deep dive into the Great Wall's architecture? We've explored every section and designed the following tours to cater to your specific interests.
Beijing Layover Tours and Tours from Tianjin Cruise Port
Drawing on our experience with over 500 layover tours annually from Beijing's airports or Tianjin Cruise Port, we've created these recommended itineraries. We're happy to tailor a Beijing layover tour to your exact schedule, ensuring you maximize your time in this captivating city.
Beijing City Day Tours
For Beijing first-timers with one day, we recommend the two must-sees (the Forbidden City and Great Wall) with some local culture immersion: stroll through a traditional hutong, taste Beijing cuisine at a time-honored restaurant, or go offbeat to experience everyday life — the choice is yours!
Top China Tours including Beijing
Easy connections via flights and bullet trains makes Beijing the perfect starting point for your China adventure. The sample itineraries below are meticulously crafted to showcase the most popular destinations, catering to a variety of travel timeframes.
Beijing Side Trips
Looking for a quick getaway? These tours offer fantastic short breaks near Beijing. We've selected destinations easily accessible from the city, ensuring a convenient and hassle-free escape. Ready to craft your perfect short holiday or Beijing tour extension? We're here to help!
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

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Beijing trip
![]() Ethan was a great guide. Who was very kind and helpful. We had a great time in Beijing. He deserves a five star, thank you china highlights more
Mar 2025, Lucrecia
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Mark. The Best Beijing Guide!
![]() He met our every need above and beyond our expectations. My family of 6 had such a wonderful and memorable holiday.He is patient, well-versed and eloquent in both English and Mandarin. My Chinese-speaking parents and my English-dominant children clearly understood all that was explained. He included insights and aspects at each attraction that is not commonly known expanding our appreciation of the places we went. No questions too big and requests too small.. Every meal he arranged over the 5 days was very thoughtfully planned and had such variety that we were spoilt and well fed indeed. We will certainly look for Mark again on our next trip to Beijing and strongly recommend him to all and sundry if they plan to visit Beijing. more
Mar 2025, Ng yik kelly
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Beijing and sights with a local guide
![]() Amazing city with bucket list sights to visit. DO use a travel company and get a guide with transportation! We used Tom at China Highlights and can not recommend him highly enough. He went way above and beyond what we normally get from a guide (our resume is over 50 countries visited, and use guides in most). Very knowledgeable in history and current China, and is attentive to any needs or requests. Sight seeing while negotiating your way around the crazy Beijing driving scene and to the must see sights: Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, etc... is virtually impossible for most travelers. Tom also brought us to places to eat determined by what kind of food we were interested in. We were very surprised at how delicious the food was, and experiencing local's eateries was great for people watching in a very affordable city. I look forward to going back! more
Mar 2025, Mark
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