Secrets of Beijing
4-Day Beijing Highlights and Great Wall Night Tour
The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest sights in the world. Most tourists see the majestic Great Wall by day. Can you imagine, however, what is it like to catch the night views of the Great Wall?
Walk on the most picturesque Great Wall at Jinshanling. Stay overnight in a beautiful water town at the Simatai section of the Great Wall. Try out a Chinese cultural experience. Appreciate the stunning views of the Great Wall by night.
This 4-day Beijing tour combines the city highlights and a Great Wall night tour to give you a special experience during your stay in Beijing.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Explore the Hidden Halls of the Palace
Get off the ordinary sightseeing route in the Forbidden City. Listen to the stories of royal family life in the quiet and exquisite halls. Discover what the ancient Chinese emperors' lives were like
Witness the Most Picturesque Section of the Great Wall
Walk on the spectacular Great Wall at Jinshanling. See both a restored section and a wild section of the Wall.
Enjoy Dreamy Night Views of the Great Wall
See the Simatai Wall lit up along a mountain ridge at night. Sense its history in a new light. The tasteful illumination is both romantic and atmospheric.
Learn to be a Traditional Chinese Craftsman
Try out a handpicked cultural experience (tie-dyeing, kite making, or Buddhist text tracing).
Time Travel back to the China of Old
Take pictures of an authentically recreated Ming-Dynasty-style resort in Gubei Water Town.
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
About China Highlights
Since 1998 we've guided everyone ranging from US presidents, Australian Geographic and retired backpackers. Our goal is to create unique trips that take you off-the-beaten path, helping you discover China in a more authentic way. Our motto: "Discovery Your Way!"
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. more
Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Your private guide will be ready to 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.
After breakfast, visit the historic Tian'anmen Square. Then enjoy the highlight of the day – the Forbidden City – which was home to 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1420 to 1912.
In addition to giving you a background introduction on the Forbidden City's architecture, history, and art, your guide will take you to 12 selected places in the complex to discover the deep secrets of the royal families, while other group tours only visit six spots briefly.
Listen to the stories about eight famous royal figures in the two dynasties. Your guide will present a "living" Forbidden City to you.
After lunch, your guide and driver will take you to the Temple of Heaven - a place where emperors used to pray for a good harvest. The Circular Mound Altar, Echo Wall, and the Imperial Vault of Heaven are rated as key sights there, and you will see them all.
After breakfast, travel to the Great Wall at Jinshanling. It takes about 2½ hours to get there from central Beijing.
At the Jinshanling section, you can see both restored and wild parts of the Great Wall. A cable car ride will be arranged for you to get to the middle point of this section. Then you can choose whether to turn right for the restored section or left for the wild section. Both parts are great although the wild section is a bit more challenging.
You will have a late lunch at the foot of the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall and then drive for about 20 minutes to reach Gubei Water Town where you will stay overnight.
Have a rest or walk around the pretty town to enjoy the sunset's glow shining on the Chinese roofs and the Great Wall at Simatai.Take the cable car up to the wall and see the stunning night views. Simatai is the most recommended section of the wall which is lit up and open to tourists at night.
Enjoy your time at Gubei Water Town, which is in a traditional courtyard style. If you are an early bird, it is nice to walk around the water town when there are fewer people in the morning. Your guide will be happy to show you some selected places in Gubei Water Town that highlight the authentic Chinese style. Take the most pictures there, if you'd like to.
Afterward, we can arrange for you to have a "one out of three" experience in Gubei Water Town (lasting for about 45 minutes): tie-dyeing, kite making, or Buddhist text tracing. Try one of these Chinese cultural experiences to make your own unique souvenir.
The tour will end after lunch and it is better to choose a flight that departs after 5 pm as it will take about 2 hours to get to Beijing Capital International Airport.
Your guide will handle your luggage and transfer, and will accompany you to the correct check-in desk at the airport or to the train station for your departure.
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Price Includes:
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
