2-Day Beijing Group Combo Tour: Badaling Pass with Top City Attracions

Itinerary

Day 1: Emperor for a Day - Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

Stop At: Forbidden City-The Palace Museum, No.4 Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100009 China
Forbidden City, so called because it was off limits to commoners throughout the history of Imperial China. Commoners caught in the Palace during this period were executed. Only once a year was a ‘commoner’ allowed to pass through the central gate of the entrance to the city (reserved for the passage of the Emperor). From this Palace the emperors governed China, often rather erratically, as they tended to become lost in this self contained little world and rarely left it. A truly great monument to a great civilization.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Temple of Heaven, Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100050 China
The Temple of Heaven dates back to the same period as the Forbidden City--1406 and is ranked among the most famous structures in China. The temple was used several times annually when the emperor, bearing the hopes and sins of the Chinese people, humbled himself before heaven and performed rituals calculated to insure good harvests. Another very interesting part of any visit to the Temple of Heaven is the activity in the Park. Frequented by many Beijinger’s who have retired, you will find them playing Chinese chess, dancing, performing Peking Opera and doing Tai Chi among other popular activities. What was once the preserve of the Emperor is now a playground for the masses.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), No.19 Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100080 China
The Summer Palace is one of the finest landmarks in Beijing. The site has long been a royal garden and was considerably enlarged and embellished when Dowager Cixi began rebuilding in 1888 using money that was supposedly reserved for the construction of a modern navy academy. The lovely Kunming Lake occupies three quarters of the area, and weather permitting you will get to travel part of the lake by boat. After this walk back along the Long Corridor. Somewhat similar in style to the covered bridge in Lucerne, this 728-meter long open sided corridor is decorated with 8,000 scenes including many from the emperor’s travels around the country.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: The Classic – The Sacred Way, Ming Tombs and Badaling section of the Great Wall

Stop At: The Great Wall at Badaling, Badaling, Beijing 102112 China
The Great Wall originally functioned as a fortification. Qinshihuang, the first emperor of Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) unified the whole nation and began to build the Great Wall to protect China's borders from the intrusion of the northern nomadic tribes. Most parts of the preserved Badaling Great Wall were built and reinforced during the Ming Dynasty to defend the capital against the intrusion of these Mongolian people. The structure of the wall consists of huge bar-stones and bricks. The inside of the wall has been formed by tampering earth and small stones, which makes the wall very firm and strong.

The Great Wall is a symbol of Chinese civilization, and one of the wonders that the Chinese people have created. Badaling Great Wall, the most representative part, was promoted as a key national cultural relic. It was enlisted in the World Cultural Heritage Directory by UNESCO in 1988.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling), Ming Shisan Ling Area, Changling Town, Changping District, Beijing 102213 China
The Sacred Way: In total, 13 of the 16 Ming emperors are buried in the Ming Tombs. Leading up to the tombs though is one of the most beautiful relics left to us today, the Sacred Way. It’s a truly charming site. Participants will enter an arch and pass a giant tortoise (made in 1425). Rubbing the tortoise’s nose and tail is said to bring prosperity and good health. Then continue along the Sacred Way, a paved walkway with huge stone animals, warriors and court officials on either side designed to protect the emperors in the afterlife. Many legends surround these great sculptures which the guide will bring to life during the walk.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling), Ming Shisan Ling Area, Changling Town, Changping District, Beijing 102213 China
The Ming Tombs are an attractive destination as much for the natural scenery of the area as for the tombs themselves. The tomb area begins with an impressive marble archway, erected in 1540, and further on, the road is lined with stone renderings of animals and officials. Only three of the tombs are actually open for viewing. Changling, the earliest and largest of the tombs, dates from the year 1413. Another, Dingling, was constructed in the 16th century for the emperor Wan Li, who gave a party in his own funeral chamber to mark its completion. The tomb was excavated in 1958 and treasures found inside are now on display. Considerably fewer tourists visit Zhaoling. In addition to these, there are several more tombs-all unreconstructed. The area makes for a nice day trip from the city. Explore the old tombs and pick out a nice spot for a picnic. Nearby is the Shisanling Reservoir, built in 1958 by 400,000 workers in only six months.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.