Beijing & the Great Wall Extension

Fly from Chengdu to Beijing, China's fast-paced modern capital, where your guide meets you on arrival. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Summer Palace, a popular gathering place for people in Beijing. Originally a sprawling imperial garden during the 17th-century Qing Dynasty, this vast ensemble of lakes, landscaped gardens and more than 3,000 palaces, temples and pavilions has a storied history; it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Then check in to our luxury hotel in the city's most upscale district. After dark, wander through a lively night market with our guide, taking in a cacophony of sights, smells and sounds as we walk among local people through a maze of food stalls.

Our first stop today is the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and masterpiece of architecture and landscape design. Constructed in the early 15th century, the temple's individual structures and overall layout of the building complex, set among gardens and surrounded by pine forest, reflect the mystical relationship between heaven and earth. The complex was visited by emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a plentiful harvest. Then we drive outside the city to a section of the Great Wall of China, the 2,000-year-old edifice built to protect Chinese civilization from encroaching northern tribes. After a classic dumpling lunch at the foot of the wall, we walk along the ancient stone fortification as it undulates over the mountain ridges and ravines, perhaps climbing into one of the watchtowers to capture panoramic photos of the surrounding landscape. Return to Beijing for dinner at a local restaurant featuring savory Chinese specialties.

Spend a full day exploring some of Beijing's most impressive monuments. Our first stop is Tiananmen Square. As we traverse its sprawling expanse, our guide recounts the many turning points in Chinese history, including the well-known demonstrations of 1989, that have occurred on this site. Immediately opposite is the Forbidden City, the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, with 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings and more than 8,700 rooms. It was off-limits to visitors from its completion in 1420 until the reign of the last emperor ended in 1911. Home to the Ming and Qing rulers, this complex houses some of the finest architecture and cultural treasures in China.  Return to our hotel with time to freshen up before a classic Peking duck dinner at a popular nearby restaurant.

Please note that the Chinese government recently changed the entrance ticketing system for the Forbidden City. On occasion, it may be impossible to secure tickets for our scheduled visit. In case of that scenario, we will attempt to visit another date or substitute an alternate activity.

After breakfast at the hotel, a transfer to the airport is included to meet your departing flight.