5 Days Classic Beijing Tour with In-depth Great Wall Experience

Full Itinerary Day by day

Day 1 Beijing Arrival

Ni Hao, welcome to Beijing, the iconic city as well as the capital of China!

You will be met by your local tour guide at the arrival hall of your arrival airport or train station, then be escorted to check in to your hotel in downtown by a private comfortable vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to relax. If you want to explore nearby, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide.

Arrival Ideas: At present, there are many international and domestic flights to Beijing. Besides, you can take a high speed train to this capital city from Shanghai (4.5-6 hrs), Xian (4-6 hrs), Guangzhou (7.5-8 hrs), Chengdu (7.5-10 hrs), Chongqing (7-9 hrs), Hong Kong (8 hrs), etc.

Day 2 Beijing (B, L)

After breakfast, you will start a journey through Beijing's storied past with a brief visit to Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public plaza. This iconic site is where Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China from the imposing Tiananmen Gate.

Step through Tiananmen Gate and into the heart of imperial China - Forbidden City (Palace Museum). This vast palace complex of nearly 10,000 rooms, once home to 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties, stands as a marvel of architectural brilliance and historical grandeur. Admire the intricate details, from the dazzling yellow-glazed tile roofs to the refined white marble bases. As you explore the myriad rooms and courtyards, envision the lives of emperors, empresses, and their courtiers.

After leaving the Forbidden City, take a short walk to Jingshan Park, where you can ascend to its summit for a panoramic view. From here, marvel at the sweeping vistas of the Forbidden City to the south and the serene landscapes of Beihai Park, Shichahai Lake, and the iconic Drum Tower to the north. For unforgettable photos, make your way to one of the palace's corner towers, a favorite spot among photography enthusiasts.

Following lunch, drive to the outskirts of Beijing to experience the enchanting Summer Palace. Once the exclusive summer retreat of the imperial family, this site is renowned as China's largest and most well-preserved royal garden. Discover a stunning array of ancient pavilions, grand mansions, serene temples, and elegant bridges. The Long Corridor, stretching along the peaceful shores of Kunming Lake, is adorned with thousands of vibrant paintings that tell captivating stories of history and mythology.

Lastly, be escorted back to your hotel.

Optional Night Activities:
1) Watch a wonderful acrobatic performance at the Chaoyang Theater;
2) Or enjoy the classic Chinese art performance of Beijing Opera at Liyuan Theater.

Day 3 Beijing - Jinshanling Great Wall (B, L)

In the morning, your tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Jinshanling Great Wall, which is about a 2.5-hour drive (160 km). Known as one of the best-preserved and most picturesque sections of the Great Wall, it features in steep mountains and dense, ornate towers. This section is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts and photographers.

From the entrance of the scenic area, you'll walk about 20 minutes to Zhuanduo Tower. Then, start your hike eastward along the undulating wall winding through stunning and remote mountainous terrain. The entire hiking route from Zhuanduokou to Eastern Wuyan Tower typically spans 4-5 hours. During your hike, you’ll encounter several notable towers: General Tower, Small Jinshan Tower, Big Jinshan Tower, Flower Tower, and Corner Tower. Each of these towers features distinctive architectural elements and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the wall itself. This journey promises not only a physical challenge but also a deeply immersive experience into the grandeur of the Great Wall, providing countless opportunities for stunning photographs and moments of awe.

Customizable Hiking Route: There are multiple exit points for descending the Wall during your hike, allowing for a tailor-made itinerary based on your physical condition. You have the option to take a cable car (additional fee required) to descend from Xiaojinshan Tower, or walk down from the Houchuankou Tower to shorten your route. Feel free to share your preferences with your travel guide during the trip.

After descending the Wall, take a shuttle bus back to the tourist center. From there, you'll drive approximately 30 minutes to Gubei Water Town for your accommodation.

Day 4 Simatai Great Wall - Beijing (B, L)

This morning, you'll begin your hike from Watchtower No. 2 to Watchtower No. 10 on the Simatai Great Wall. The climb is challenging, but the sight of the majestic walls winding up the mountain ridges, resembling a giant axe's cut, is truly spectacular. As you walk, you'll enjoy views of the Jinshanling Great Wall stretching to the west and a bird’s-eye view of Gubei Water Town. Watchtower No. 10 is the highest point of the scenic area of Simatai Great Wall. Reaching this summit requires traversing unrestored paths without sidewalls, adding to the adventure. After taking in the views, you'll hike back to Watchtower No. 8 and then walk to the cable car station, where you can take a cable car to descend the Wall to avoid retracing your route.

After the hike, drive back to your hotel in Beijing, or catch your train and flight to your next destination.

Extensive Trip Idea: We highly recommend an optional visit to Gubei Water Town, located at the base of the Simatai Great Wall. This charming area offers scenic highlights such as picturesque lakes, elegant bridges, and delightful boat rides. If you're interested and your schedule allows, let your travel consultant know in advance. This way, you can experience the enchanting beauty of Gubei Water Town both by day and by night during your 2-day hiking trip.

Day 5 Beijing Departure (B, L)

After breakfast, you will visit Temple of Heaven, a historic site once used by emperors for sacrificial ceremonies. As you explore this grand complex of buildings and gardens, you'll discover the rituals and beliefs of the Ming and Qing emperors, who sought divine blessings for good harvests through intricate ceremonies. Beyond its historical importance, you'll observe vibrant local life, with residents practicing Tai Chi, dancing, and engaging in various exercises among the lush pine woods.

Then get back to the central city to hop on a rickshaw to experience the Beijing Hutongs - narrow alleys lined with historic quadrangle dwellings. This journey will immerse you in the traditional Beijing lifestyle, where you can explore charming antique shops, boutique stores, and witness the city's historical evolution. You'll also visit a local family's home in the Hutongs, offering a glimpse into everyday life.

Optional Activity: If time permits, you may join a class on Traditional Chinese Paper Cutting in the Hutong area. Learn to create beautiful designs and motifs with the guidance of a skilled teacher.

Your Beijing tour is now about to end. Your tour guide will escort you to catch your flight/train to next destination.

The quotation for this trip is from Request Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. It will drop greatly if your group has 4 or more members.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, month and date. There may be huge price increasing during public Chinese holidays, school summer vacations, tourism peak seasons or some special dates. (China Public Holiday 2025 Schedule Released)
3. Other factors that may change the final tour price include group size, hotel class, tour activities, fluctuation of currency exchange rate, etc.
4. This price is based on exchange rate USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final price will be based on the exchange rate in effect at the time of agreement with our quotation.
5. This price is only valid to March 31, 2026.
6. This price is not the final price until the Confirmation Letter is sent.
7. The items included and excluded in this price are for reference only. The final services included, please refer to the confirmation letter sent to you by the travel consultant.

How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Jack,

Please meet my friend Darrell.

I have been telling Darrell what a great trip we had in Dunhuang and Xian. Also how wonderful our guides and drivers were when we were there.

Darrell is interested to do a family trip to China. I will leave you and him to connect.

Best,

Karen

Karen‚ Australia, April 30, 2025

Hi Elk,

We had a wonderful experience during our trip, and much of that is thanks to the excellent service provided by your guide and driver.

Guide:

• The guide was professional, and personable.

• She provided insightful background at each site, which greatly enriched our understanding and of the places we visited.

• Itinerary was handled smoothly and flexibly.

• The support throughout the trip, made the experience enjoyable and worry-free.

Driver:

• The driver was punctual, and ensured a safe and comfortable journey throughout.

Overall, both the guide and driver were professional and helpful. A special thanks to you whose support went above and beyond expectations. From the early planning stages to the end of our journey, your attentive and quick responsiveness gave us peace of mind. We especially appreciated the thoughtful gesture that truly made a difference. We would be happy to recommend CD to others.

Jessica

Jessica‚ Singapore, April 30, 2025

Dear Leo,

Frank and I have arrived safely in our respective homes and it will take us some time to digest our 4-week trip “Kashgar to Beijing”.

But I wanted to quickly email you to thank you for organising this trip for us. The whole thing ran like clockwork, your logistics were spot-on with guides and drivers always available and on-time. Inevitably – with the knowledge of hindsight – we would make some changes: some days were a bit short on activities, some attractions somewhat underwhelming,...but these details are always part of travel and we write them down to experience.

I think we certainly picked the right time for our visit; except for the grand total of 2 hours, we had sensational weather. And we have been very fortunate with relatively small crowds of tourists – the only exception was at the Mogao Caves, where we spent 2 hours queuing in a chaotic crush.

Once again, Leo, we thank you for your efforts and producing a wonderful custom-tailored trip. I will have no hesitation in recommending your great services and feel free to use this email as a reference.

All the very best

Dirk

PS I may well consider another trip in the next couple of years; if you could recommend an itinerary (South and East China), I would be happy to study it.

Dirk‚ Australia, April 30, 2025

Hi Shirley, for sure!

We appreciate very much all the attention and excellent service provided from every local partner! It was a great experience!

Kawai

Kawai‚ Britain, April 30, 2025

Dear Shirley,

Thank you for your message. Everything on the cruise was excellent — the staff were kind and professional, the activities well organized, and the meals very enjoyable. I had a great experience throughout.

Best regards,

Jonathan

Jonathan‚ Fance, April 29, 2025

Check What our customers are saying about us on Tripadvisor.com

We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years!

Richard

"This is my 3rd group trip with China Discovery planned by Jack Li. A wonderful itinerary of 19days/18days from Guilin, to Guizhou and Hunan..." read more »

Reviewed on April 30, 2025

Richard

"This is my 3rd group trip with China Discovery planned by Jack Li. A wonderful itinerary of 19days/18days from Guilin, to Guizhou and Hunan..." read more »

Reviewed on April 30, 2025