Beijing-Life Discovery Walk
What is it like to be an ordinary person living in Beijing? The answer is not to be found in the hutongs, where tourists ride rickshaws.
Gain some insight into Beijing people's lives by visiting a Buddhist temple and a local market, and walking through a residential community, hutongs and a park.
This half-day walking tour will take you to places where there are no other tourists and help you understand the lives of ordinary people from their religious beliefs, daily food, hobbies, housing issues and retirement situations.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Discover the Religion Belief of Chinese in a Non-Touristy Temple
Visit Tianning Temple which has the oldest pagoda in Beijing. Listen to the temple's stories. Your guide will explain the religious activities that people like to take part in.
Shop Like a Chinese Housewife in a Market
Observe people doing their daily shopping in a market. Get to know the popular food for people's daily life in Beijing and senior people's hobbies.
Kick a Shuttlecock, Sing, or Dance, with Local Seniors
Visit a pretty park where senior citizens do exercises. Get a glimpse of the retired life in China. People are dancing, writing on the ground, playing Chinese chess, and having fun with grandchildren.
Taste a Popular Snack Loved by Locals
Try a popular pancake breakfast at a local breakfast stand. Learn about the cooking skill of Chinese people.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
|
Amazing and Effortless Experience Overall!
China Highlights is totally legit and they planned our visit in Beijing perfectly, they were also great with being flexible to meet our unique needs and timelines, with multiple changes on the fly. Our guide in Beijing, William, was amazing as well! William was friendly, kind, thoughtful, funny, and also was great at keeping us on track timing-wise (as we didn’t make this particularly easy for him lol). Cannot recommend both China Highlights and William to anyone else looking to visit China for the first time! more
Jun 2025, jamesrkable
|
A culture of hospitality and smiles
Beijing was prettier and far less crowded than anticipated. Colin aka Po Po, our guide, enhanced the experience with his knowledge and wicked sense of humour. He made every moment special for us.We spent about three days in Beijing and surrounds. China highlights offerings were high quality, including accomodation, car, driver, guide and selection of real local restaurants. Being vegetarian wasn’t an issue at all. Visiting historical quarter of Beijing along with Hutong walk and Confucius Beijing temple were unique experiences- which became more special with Colin’s interest in philosophy and wonderful global perspective. Despite language barriers- we were greeted by scores of locals with genuine smile and curiosity. We shall be back (hopefully with Colin) to explore this wonderful culture. more
Jun 2025, Inderjeet
|
Beijing group tour
We had a group tour for our clients and William was our guide. He was knowledgeable, kind and flexible throughout the tour. Our clients loved the way he explained diverse topics. We would recommend him for our future groups too.Thank you William and God bless! more
Jun 2025, Prima Rodrigues
|
Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests. The time frame is just for your reference. It could be adjusted accoring to your need and interest.
Your private guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby. An experienced driver with a comfortable and private vehicle (non-smoking, with air-conditioning) will be ready to drive you to the destination you will explore by walking.
Your discovery will start with the religious beliefs of local people. Your guide will show you around Tianning Temple, which has the oldest pagoda in Beijing, telling the temple's stories and explaining the religious activities that people like to take part in.
If your travel dates happen to coincide with a Buddhist festival, you will find it is quite busy in the temple and local believers chant the sutras together with monks.
The abandoned thermal power plant next to the temple will suggest to you something of the effort that Beijing has made to protect the environment.
Observe people doing their daily shopping in a market next to Tianning Temple. You will see the food that people like, the daily necessities, the fish and flowers that people like to have to decorate their homes. Your guide will explain how payment methods have been changing as China develops.
Then you will walk through a residential community built in the 1990s. Discover more about housing developments in Beijing. The bulletin board will show you how the local government advocates for its policies and values.
Cross the bridge on the city moat. If you like, try a popular pancake breakfast at a local breakfast stand.
Then you will visit a pretty park where senior citizens congregate to do exercises. Retired life in China might be quite different from that in your country, with dancing, writing on the ground, playing Chinese chess, and having fun with grandchildren.
You will end your tour by visiting a hutong, without any other tourists. This is a place where you can see authentic hutong life. Senior citizens stand or sit at the doorways, talking. Beer vendors make a living by hawking beer on a tricycle.
Drive back to the hotel after the tour.
Price Includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: bj-38