Private Day Tour: Juyongguan Pass, Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, Plus Dragon Boat Ride at Summer Palace

Meet your guide at 9:00am and drive about one hour to see the Great Wall at Juyongguan. It is one of the three greatest passes of the Great Wall in China which is roughly circular with a perimeter of 4,142 meters. There is an 18 kilometers long valley called “Guangou” from south to north in Changping district, with 4 passes along the valley named “Nankou, Juyongguan, Shangguan and Badaling”. They were of great strategic importance in defending Beijing. Juyongguan is one of the important passes along the valley, and also the most famous one. It was built in a gap between two mountain peaks with only one road leading to Beijing. The name Juyong in Chinese means a place for gathering laborers, while Guan means passes. It takes only two minutes from the parking lot to get on the actual Wall and there is no cable car at Juyongguan. 

There is a 7 km Sacred Way leading to the Ming Tombs, which served as the way leading to heaven. The coffins of deceased Ming emperors used to be carried along it, indicating their souls are rising to heaven. You will walk half an hour to see part of the way with 36 exquisitely sculptured human and animal statues who served as guardians of the emperor’s afterlife

Lunch will be served in Dazhaimen, the best restaurant in Changping district. It is a place with traditional Chinese decoration and flavor. Typical Chinese performances are staged every day between 12:30pm-1:30pm. . 

Drive back the city to see the Summer Palace, and pass by the Olympic Village to have a glimpse of the famous Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Instead of walking around the working and living quarters of the emperor, you will take a dragon boat to the Marble Boat, the iconic architecture in the Summer Palace representing the stability and eternity of the Qing Dynasty. Most of the important sceneries like the Longevity Hill, 17 Arch Bridge, South Lake Island and Kuoru Pavilion could be seen when you are relaxing on the boat. After walking for 10 minutes, you will take a small boat to the Suzhou Street, which was used by the emperor to enjoy shopping. The street is an imitation of the famous water towns in the south of China.

Then relax on the way back your hotel.