Explore Beijing with an Emperor's Tour
What do you expect from your first Beijing tour? What do you imagine imperial life in ancient China was like?
Explore the emperors' Forbidden City and visit the iconic Temple of Heaven. Walk along the Great Wall and relax at the emperors' summer residence, the Summer Palace. Take a rickshaw ride through the hutongs and savor the flavor of Beijing roast duck.
This 4-day Beijing itinerary includes all the must-see attractions for a first-time visitor but doesn't just show you the surface of them.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Unveil the Lives of China's Royal Family in their Hidden Halls
Get off the ordinary sightseeing route in the Forbidden City. Listen to the interesting stories of eight famous personalities that are not told by typical tour guides.
Climb up upon the Greatest Project of Ancient China
Explore the most beautiful section of the Great Wall, where there are fewer tourists.
Join the Local People for a Morning Excercise in the Temple of Heaven
Admire the incredible architectures of the Temple of Heaven where the emperors prayed for good harvests. But also feel the relaxing lifestyle of the local senior people here.
Learn Chinese Calligraphy with a Senior Hutong Resident
Walk among the traditional residential houses of old Beijing. Enjoy a Chinese cultural experience in a hutong courtyard and immerse yourself in the age-old lifestyle.
Understand Beijing by Tasting Its Traditional Food
Enjoy an authentic Beijing roast duck dinner in a time-honored brand restaurant.
Feel the Grand Layout of the Capital City with an E-bike Ride (optional)
Explore Beijing's newly listed World Heritage Site — the Beijing Central Axis. Discover why, among the urban central axes of cities around the world, only Beijing's has become a World Heritage Site.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Beijing trip 2025
Great tour! Jennifer, our tour guide, was outstanding. She always made sure we understood everything related to each monument we visited. more
Jun 2025, Beatriz C
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Great trip
Lily was an amazing guide, knowledgeable and friendly and the trip was easy and stress free. We had a great time in Beijing, thank you! more
Jun 2025, YL
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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
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Your private guide will meet and greet you at the arrival hall of the airport or at the train station's exit. A comfortable private car (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel, where your guide will help you to check-in.
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and drive to the historic Tian'anmen Square. After going through the middle gate of the Tian'anmen Rostrum, start to enjoy the highlight of the day, the Forbidden City.
Besides admiring the splendid palaces on the central axis, your guide will take you off the touristy route to explore some spots that are related to some famous figures from the two dynasties. The stories about them will make the Forbidden City come alive for you.
After lunch, go to the old hutong area with your guide. A visit to a local family offers a local perspective on the area's history and is a highlight for most visitors.
Enjoy an authentic Beijing roast duck dinner in a time-honored brand restaurant
Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning. The Circular Mound Altar, Echo Wall, and the spectacular Imperial Vault of Heaven are the highlights. Additionally, your private guide will show you an area in the park where the local people do their morning exercises, such as tai chi or dancing.
In the afternoon, you'll hike the Great Wall at Mutianyu. This section is ranked top among all parts of the Great Wall on TripAdvisor due to its picturesque scenery and beautifully restored architecture.
On the wall, you can hike along "the most beautiful and interesting part of the Great Wall", which is between the 14th and 23rd watchtowers.
Drive to the famous imperial garden in China, the Summer Palace. It is where the emperors used to retreat when fleeing the summer heat.
You will have a chance to view all of the beautiful palaces at the lakeside during a boat ride on Kunming Lake.
Your guide will handle your luggage and transfer and will accompany you to the train/bus station or the correct check-in desk at the airport for your departure.
Alternative option: If you have one more night in Beijing or are leaving Beijing at night, exploring the city along the Central Axis by e-bike could be an interesting activity, especially when traveling with teenage kids.
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Price Includes: