Beijing-Life Discovery Walk
Half-Day Beijing Walking Tour in a Neighborhood
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.
Why Choose Us
Your Wellbeing is Our Priority.
- 1-to-1 travel expert
- Vaccinated guides
- Private Rides
Your Trip is Perfectly Planned.
- No crowds
- Exclusive Exciting Experiences
Your Booking is Risk-Free.
- No cancellation fee
- Free changes
Finish Your Booking in as Quick as 1 Day
1. Tell us your dream travel idea
2. Work out your unique plan with 1 to 1 expert advice
What Our Customers Said
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GREAT Forbidden City tour!
We took a guided tour with Ivy through the Forbidden City. She had everything perfectly organised, knew all the amenities and explained the most important facts around history and design of the palace in an enticing manner. Can absolutely recommend her as a guide, we had a great day! moreOct 2022, Adam A
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Beautiful Day at Great Wall in Mutianyu
We had a wonderful day visiting the Great Wall together with our guide, Ivy. The organisation - from the pick up to the return - was excellent, we had nothing to worry about. So It was a lovely and relaxed day profiting from the experience to the fullest without having to trouble about transport or tickets. Ivy explained well the history and knew about all nice parts of the part of the wall that we visited. She is very nice company. We had a very good experience. moreOct 2022, Nina
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Excellent time in Beijing
Ivy was a true professional who spoke excellent English and engaged us with stories of the very rich Chinese cultural heritage and history. We went away with so much more knowledge with her as our guide giving us a live commentary as we walked around. She brought us to the off the beaten track spots, less crowded corners of the attractions and very importantly, knew which toilets were clean and more foreigner friendly. Highly recommend Ivy to any future visitors to Beijin moreOct 2022, JCCEBJ
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Excellent service
Our travel planner Monica is kind, very attentive, and there is no pressure or "hard sale". Great service and highly recommended! moreSep 2022, Julia
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A great tour
Our trip to Beijing was brilliantly organised and stress free. As usual with China Highlights our guide Ivy was really well prepared, knowledgeable and dealt with all the security, covid checks and tests etc. It made the trip really easy. moreAug 2022, Peter F
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Trip to Beijing
I spent a couple of excellent days in Beijing thank to this agency and my private guide Ivy! An adorable journey, I swear! If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of historical Beijing, here’s the place to address! I can’t recommend it enough. Ivy was just adorable, she woke up my curiosity with her methods of leading me through the historical time line by challenging my imagination and rationality at the same time. All the facts were given in the context which I especially appreciate, she had the answers to all of my questions, and moreover she knew what made me ask them! The service was 10/10. The driver and the guide were both very patient, resourceful and attentive to their clients problems and little suggestions. It literally took them 1 day to organize everything for me as I decided to go to Beijing at the very last moment; every single member of the China highlights team was attentive to my needs and wishes. moreAug 2022, Take_the_money
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Successful Trip to Beijing from Shanghai Shortly after Lockdown
As always, Monica has helped us with all the travel arrangements, planned our trip and followed up with us during the whole travel. It was challenging coming from Shanghai to Beijing shortly after the massive lockdown so we appreciated this attention a lot. It was too hot, so first day in the Forbidden City was a challenge but Ivy was helping us find as much shade as possible. We also visited Mutianyu Great Wall section, Temple of Heaven, Universal Studios, Summer Palace, Olympic Site and went on Hutong tour. Even though it might seem a lot, our small children managed well and loved everything about this trip. Ivy was very flexible with the length of explanations and rerouting our travel depending on temperate and tiredness. Overall, it was a success and we will for sure travel again with China Highlights. moreJul 2022, ondrej1980
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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.
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
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
