Beijing 5-Day Smart Tour

Day By Day Itinerary

On arrival in Beijing airport or railway station, you are met by our English speaking tour guide with a sign in your name and comfortably transferred to your hotel - Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen) we have booked for you. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city on your own.

We suggest you go out in the late afternoon to walk off your meals you had on your long flights and relax yourself a bit. We recommend you walk to Silk Street Market for shopping (Opening Hours: 9:30 am-9pm). The seven-floor indoor complex, more than a street, is located just north of the subway station of Yonganli ( Subway Line 1 ). The Silk Street Market Mansion is about a 15-minute walk from your hotel.

Meals: No

Hotel: Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen)

Today you will visit the city area on your own. We recommend you visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and Back Lakes (Hou Hai).

You may walk to Tiananmen Square (4 km) or take subway line 1. For subway travel, walk from your hotel to the subway station of Jianguomen (建国门）of Subway Line 1 and head to the west and alight at the third station of Tiananmen East (天安门东) and exit from Exit D, and you will see Tiananmen Square. 

Beside the square itself, Tiananmen Square is mainly composed of the national flagpole (spectacular flag ceremony) in the north; the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong in the middle and the beautiful Zhengyang Gate in the south. Please check Tips for Visiting Tiananmen Square for more information.

Through a underground tunnel, you move on from Tiananmen Square to the Tiananmen Gate on the north of Tiananmen Square. Passing through Tiananmen Gate, you will get to the south gate to Forbidden City (entrance fee: RMB 65), also known as the Imperial Palace Museum. The Forbidden City was the seat of Imperial power for 500 years, and is now a major tourist attraction in China. There are two main entrances to the Forbidden City - the southern gate ( Meridian Gate – Wumen) and northern gate( Gate of Divine – Shenwu Men ). The southern gate is linked to Tiananmen Gate and Tiananmen Square to the south. You have to enter Forbidden City from its southern gate and exit from its northern gate, which is officially set as a one-way south to north travel route. Please check Forbidden City Travel Tips – The Palace Museum Travel Tips for more information. 

Jingshan Park just sits across the north gate to Forbidden City. After finishing your visit of Forbidden City from south to north, you exit from Forbidden City's north gate. Raising your head, you will find a pavilion with three layered eaves atop a hill. The hill is called Jingshan Hill ( Coal Hill or prospect Hill). The main road between the north gate area of Forbidden City and the south gate to Jingshan Park is full blocked. To get across to the south gate to Jingshan Park, you just turn left for 20 meters and take the underground pass. Line up for the tickets: RMB 2 per person (RMB10 per person during Peony Festival April and May). Opening hours: 6am – 9pm all year round. Enter the south gate and follow your nose climbing up to the top of the hill and get to the pavilion named Wanchun pavilion perched high on the hill for a panoramic view of Forbidden City. Please check Jingshan Park not to be missed and Sunset View at Jingshan Park for more information. Outside the west gate to Jingshan Park, you may find a local restaurant for a simple Chinese lunch. 

Move on to the east gate to Beihai Park opposite the west gate to Jingshan Park. Beihai Park (entrance fee: RMB 10), dubbed as Winter Palace by westerners, is the oldest imperial garden in the world as well as one of the largest in China. This huge imperial garden has a history of over 1,000 years. Originally built in 938 during Liao Dynasty(916 – 1125). The park was repaired and rebuilt in the successive dynasties including Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (1125 – 1644). It was first opened to the public in 1925. Beihai Park is well known for its beautiful gardens, the maze in the stone cave, temples and pavilions. Atop the Jade Island in Beihai Park, the White Dagoba becomes an important landmark of the city. Please check How to visit Beihai Park Beijing for more information.

Exit from the northern gate to Beihai Park and cross the Dianmen East Avenue (地安门西大街), you are in Shichahai Area (often referred as "Houhai", or "Back Lake" by foreign visitors who kill time in its bar area in the evening). Please check How to visit Shichahai for more information. 

After visiting and relaxing in Shichahai area, you may go back to the Dianmen West Avenue (地安门西大街) opposite the north gate to Beihai Park and turn right (west) and walk about 300m, you will get to the Exit B of Beihai Bei (Beihai North) Subway Station of Subway Line 6 ( 6号地铁北海北站), take the subway to the east direction and alight at the third station of Chaoyangmen (朝阳门), then interchange for Subway Line 2 south and get off at the next station of Jianguomen (建国门), exit from Exit B and walk to your hotel -  Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen). 

 If you miss the train due to your happy time in Houhai, you take a taxi back to your hotel from Shichahai area ( taxi fare around RMB40 for 10km ).

Meals: Hotel Breakfast

Hotel: Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen)

Today you will have a private half day tour to visit Mutianyu Great Wall ( On the evening before your half private day tour departure early next morning, you will get a call or message from your tour guide to reconfirm your next morning's pickup time). In the late afternoon, we recommend you shop at Panjiayuan Market.

Mutianyu Great WallPick up at your hotel around 8:00am. Head to the Mutianyu Great Wall. The Mutianyu Great Wall is known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year. This section of the Great Wall is located in Huairou District 80km on the north of Beijing. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. If you want to reach the highest point, cable car is a good choice (optional). Walk at Mutianyu Great Wall (2.5 hours). Return to your hotel around 1:30pm.

You are free to explore the city on your own in the afternoon.

We recommend you shop at Panjiayuan Market in the afternoon on your own. Take subway line 1 from Jiangomen Station and head east to Guomao Station, then interchange for Subway Line 10 and head three stops south to Panjianyuan Station, exit from Exit B and walk to Panjiayuan Market.

Meals: Hotel breakfast and Chinese lunch

Hotel: Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen)

Today you explore the city on your own till a pre-arranged private transfer from your hotel to Beijing airport or Beijing railway station for your next destination.

We recommend you visit Temple of Heaven.

After breakfast, take subway line 1 from the station of Jianguomen (建国门) to the west direction and alight at the next station of Dongdan (东单), then interchange for Subway Line 5 south and and get off at the third station of Tiantan Dongmen (天坛东门), exit from Exit A1 and you will see the east gate to the Temple of Heaven 天坛 (entrance fee: RMB15). It was first constructed in 1420, the 18th year of the reign of Ming emperor Yongle. It was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship the god of heaven and pray for good harvest. Check How to visit the Temple of Heaven for information. 

After visiting Temple of Heaven, return to the subway station of Tiantan Dongmen (天坛东门), take the subway line 5 to the north direction and alight at the second station of Chongwenmen (崇文门) and interchange for subway line 2 to the west direction and get off at the next station of Qianmen (前门) and exit at either B or C. The Qianmen Subway Station is sandwiched by two towers - Zhengyangmen Tower in the north and Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower in the south. The northern entrance to Qianmen Street (前门大街) is just behind Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower. North of Zhengyangmen Tower is Tiananmen Square. Check How to Visit Qianmen Area Beijing for more information. Qianmen Street is dotted with eateries of various tastes. Just grab a bite for your lunch here.

Again return to the subway station of Qianmen (前门) and take the subway line 2 to the west direction and alight at the second station of Xuanwumen (宣武门), then interchange for subway line 4 to the north direction and get off at the 16th station ( the last but one ) of Beigongmen (北宫门) and exit from Exit D and walk to the west, soon you will see the north gate ( Beigongmen Gate 北宫门 ）to Summer Palace 颐和园 (entrance fee:RMB30) on your left side. There are three main gates to Summer Palace. Beigongmen Gate is the north gate. 

Check How to Visit Summer Palace for more information. At the end of your Summer Palace tour, return to the north gate to take subway line 4 to the east direction and alight at the 15th station of Xidan (西单), then interchange for subway line 1 east and get off at the 5th station of Jianguomen （建国门), exit from Exit B and walk to your hotel.

Meal: Hotel Breakfast


Hotel: Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen)

Today you are free to arrange your tour plan in Beijing. After your self-guided tour, go back to your hotel. You will be comfortably transferred from your hotel to Beijing airport or railway station for your next destination ( Pick-up time will be settled by your trip advisor from our tour company ) and end of your pleasant trip to Beijing!

Below are the Chinese and English names and addresses for Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen). Just print it and convenient for you to get to the hotel.

Below are the Chinese and English names and addresses for Hotel Ibis (Beijing Jianguomen).
Just print it and convenient for you to get to the hotel.

Price List for this tour (Price per person in US dollars)

Price inclusion: 1. Double Occupancy or Single Occupancy at our selected hotels (4 nights) with breakfast. 2. Free travel consulting service for your self-guided tours via email or on phone ( service time: 09:00 - 17:00 ) 3. Transfers and one organized tour as listed above.

Price exclusion: 1.International airfares  2.Gratuities to drivers and guides.  3.Travel insurrance for your coverage of injury or accident

Reservation Notes

Questions & Answers:

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