Forbidden City

Your 8-hour tour begins with a pick-up at your hotel between 7:00 AM-7:30 AM, followed by a 1-hour drive to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. You will have 2 hours at the Great Wall to hike by yourself or you can choose the cable car option to get to the highest point. After your visit to the Great Wall, you’ll continue on to a restaurant near the Ming Tombs for a traditional Chinese lunch. Next, head to Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world. Marvel at its expanse before heading on to the Forbidden City, the final stop on the tour. The Royal Palace at the Forbidden City is the world’s largest royal palace. Spend around 2 hours exploring this vast site before the transfer back to your hotel. During the day, there will also be opportunities to visit jade factory shops and Chinese medicine shop with a foot massage. When the tour is finished you will be transferred back to your hotel from 5 PM-6 PM.

Day 1: Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing - Tiananmen - Forbidden City (L) Once the cruise ship docks in Tianjin International Cruise Port, your private guide will welcome you at the exit of the arrival hall, assist you with your luggage, then begin the 2.5-hour journey to Beijing. On the way, your guide will keep you entertained with fun facts and trivia about the city and its countless sights. Once arrival in Beijing, your tour will start from the Temple of Heaven. The magnificent and colorful Temple of Heaven was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would make offerings to heaven and pray for full harvests.  Then, you will stop at a local restaurant for a traditional Chinese lunch. Afterwards, you will explore the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City area. Spend about 2 to 3-hours to explore the palace and learn the detailed history and stories with your knowledgeable tour guide. After that, your will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing.  Day 2: Summer Palace - Great Wall - Tianjin International Cruise Port (L) Check out of your hotel in the morning to begin your tour. Your first stop will be the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is the best-kept existing royal garden in Beijing. With a concentration of the best of ancient buildings as well as styles of gardening, it is a virtual museum of traditional Chinese gardening. Then after about a 1-hour drive to the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section, stop at the local village for a delicous Chinese lunch. Then, set off on a 30 minute journey along the scenic mountains and villages to the Great Wall as your guide explains the stories and histories of the the Great Wall. Have plenty of time to enjoy the surrounding mountains and ride in a cable car or ski lift with toboggan at your discretion. Your shore excursion will then conclude back at Tianjin International Port in time for your cruise departure. The journey back will take approximately 3.5-hours. Your tour guide and driver will ensure your timely return back to the ship at Tianjin International Cruise Port.

Day 1: Pick-up service from Tianjin Port, Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City(L) Your Beijing English-speaking guide will be holding a sign with your name on it and waiting in the lobby of Tianjin Port at 08:00. After 2.5-hours of driving, you will visit Tiananmen Square to observe monuments created from Mao's influence on China's modern history. From there, proceed to the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palace with 600 years of history in the world. Visit the Forbidden City along the central axis from south to north for approximately 2-hours. Then, you will have a chance to visit a Silk Museum and learn about traditional silk culture. After having a short stop, have a typical Chinese lunch for about 40 minutes in a local restaurant. Later, go back to your hotel. Day 2: Great Wall and the Summer Palace(L) On the second day, you will experience China's No.1 highlight attraction, the Badaling Great Wall through Juyongguan entrance side. This is the less crowded and quieter part of the Great Wall. After your visit, enjoy a Chinese lunch at the authentic Jade Gallery Restaurant, then you can also experience interesting ancient Chinese Jade culture there, later on visit the most impressive and beautiful Summer Palace, the largest and most beautiful Chinese imperial garden. Stay for about 1.5-hours before you leave to enjoy an amazing Chinese tea ceremony at a local tea house. Then, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Please note the hotel is not provided.