00
Journey overview
A clear route through Beijing, with time to take it in.
Spend three days exploring the city from south to north. Then leave the centre for two quieter days at Huanghuacheng and the villages beneath the Wall.
Six days in Beijing · Private and customisable
Your first Beijing trip should leave room to notice the city.
Over six days, follow the old central axis through temples, palaces, hutongs and neighbourhood tables. Then spend two nights north of the city, beside the Great Wall and the villages below it.
6 daysin and around Beijing
3 + 2days in the city and mountains
Privateguide and dedicated transport
Flexiblepace, hotels and experiences
The design of the journey
Begin with the central axis. Finish beneath the Great Wall.
This route includes Beijing’s essential landmarks and gives each day a clear thread. You move from ceremony and imperial architecture into hutong life, then slow down for two nights in the mountains.
- Ritual city
- Imperial axis
- Hutong life
- Water and Wall
- Village craft
The route
Six days, from the old city to the mountains.
Each day shows the broad route and the thinking behind it. Exact visits, transfers and private arrangements are confirmed when we plan your trip.
01
Xiannongtan · Temple of Heaven · Qianmen · Niujie
Start with ritual Beijing, finish around the table.
Begin at Xiannongtan and the Temple of Heaven, where the city’s ceremonies followed the land and the seasons. Walk on through Qianmen, Dashilar and Liulichang, then end with the halal food of Niujie.
02
Imperial Ancestral Temple · Forbidden City · Jingshan · Guomao
See the imperial city from ground level—and from above.
Walk the Forbidden City’s central route with time to understand how the spaces were used. From Jingshan, see the full axis at once; after dark, look back towards it from the modern skyline.
Standard visitor entry to the Forbidden City is through the Meridian Gate; Donghua Gate is not presented as a regular entrance.
03
Drum Tower · Wudaoying and nearby hutongs · living craft
Spend a day in the hutongs, not just passing through them.
Start at the Drum Tower, then continue on foot through lanes, courtyards and neighbourhood streets. In the afternoon, choose one hands-on craft that fits your interests.
04
Beijing centre · Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall · Haoming Lake
Leave the ring roads behind for the Water Great Wall.
Drive north after breakfast and arrive with the afternoon still open. See the Wall from the lake, walk a suitable section and stay nearby for a quiet evening in the mountains.
05
Xishuiyu village · village walk · brick rubbing
Meet the village that lives beneath the Wall.
Walk through Xishuiyu for a closer look at local homes, stonework and daily life in the valley. Finish with a guided brick-rubbing activity using a prepared relief or replica.
06
Onward journey
Continue on with a clearer picture of Beijing.
Palaces, neighbourhoods and mountain villages belong to the same Beijing story. You leave having seen how they connect.Tell me about your trip →
Living traditions
Try a Beijing craft with your own hands.
Choose one or two practical sessions led by a local teacher or artisan. We match the activity to your interests, the route and current availability.
Colour · pattern · architecture
Painted murals
Work with a teacher to paint a small architectural panel. You will learn how the colours are layered, how patterns are built and what the main motifs mean.
Bamboo · paper · balance
Paper kite making
Build a traditional Beijing paper kite with an artisan. Shape the bamboo frame, decorate the paper and see how balance determines whether it flies.
Leaf · water · hospitality
Tea culture
Sit down for a guided tea session and compare how leaf, water and brewing time change the cup. You will also learn the gestures used when tea is shared at home and on more formal occasions.
Texture · memory · the Wall
Great Wall brick rubbing
Learn the basic rubbing process using a prepared relief or replica. Your guide will show you how paper, pressure and ink bring out the surface, and you can take the finished print home.
Where to stay
Choose a Beijing base that suits the way you travel.
A hutong hotel puts the old city outside your door. Wangfujing is convenient for a first visit, while Parkview Green offers a more contemporary stay. Once we know your dates, we narrow the options to two or three available hotels.
Houhai · Courtyard character
Blossom House Beijing Houhai
A serviced hutong stay for travellers who want the old city just outside the door.
Chaoyangmen · Human-scale design
Re-Construct · Chaodongli Cultural Hotel
A smaller property with courtyard scale and an easy link to the centre. The final property name will be confirmed before booking.
Wangfujing · European classic
Legendale Hotel Beijing
A full-service hotel in a central location, with a more traditional grand-hotel feel.
Wangfujing · Easy city access
Grand Hyatt Beijing
A practical base for reaching the central axis, restaurants and the rest of the city.
Dongdan · Calm and central
Regent Beijing
A quieter full-service stay within easy reach of the historic centre.
Parkview Green · Art and design
Hotel Éclat Beijing
A contemporary option for travellers who enjoy art, design and bold interiors.
How Beijing eats
Begin with roast duck. Beijing has much more to put on the table.
Tell us what you are curious to eat. We match restaurants to the day’s route, your appetite and any dietary needs, then confirm what is practical for your dates.
Roast duck · classic to contemporary
Choose the roast duck room that suits the evening.
We can book a busy local favourite, a polished dining room or a more contemporary interpretation, depending on the route and the mood you want.
Siji Minfu · Da Dong · Xiao Da Dong · GUI TEMPLE
After dark
Beijing still has plenty of energy after dinner.
Choose the kind of evening you enjoy—craft beer, live music or a quiet cocktail. We check current programmes and opening hours before recommending a place.
Guomao · after the skyline
Jing-A
A straightforward choice for a sociable drink after a city-centre dinner.
Hutong · courtyard evening
Great Leap
Beer, conversation and a courtyard that still feels connected to the lanes outside.
Baitasi · old-city setting
Peiping Machine
A good fit when you want craft beer without leaving the character of the old city behind.
Make it yours
Tell us what deserves more time.
Choose the subjects that matter to you. We use them to adjust the route, the pace and the people you meet.
Choose anything you would like us to spend more time on.
Start in writing
Tell me about the trip taking shape in your head.
No payment and no call. Just a short written brief.