Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Meet your guide upon arrival and be transferred to your comfortable hotel. Then, visit the Tian’anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world, and visit Jing Shan Park (Prospect Hill Park), which is also known as Coal Hill, because they say the emperor used to keep emergency coal stores inside the mound. Jing Shan offers a great view out over the Forbidden City complex. (D)

Begin the day’s activity with a visit to the Imperial Palace, also known as the “Forbidden City”, the biggest palace complex in the world. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Heaven, the place where the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped heaven and prayed for good harvest. (B-L-D)

Today’s highlight is your visit to the Great Wall, one of the “Seven Wonders of the World” and a symbol of Chinese civilization. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across mountains. A short drive away is the statue-lined Shenlu (Spirit Road) leading to the Ming Tombs, here you can see some marvelous stone sculptures. The Ming Tombs area is for deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty. A Peking Duck Dinner concludes your full day’s activities. (B-L-D)

In the morning, you will pay a visit to Beijing Zoo to see the giant panda. Then, you will visit the Yonghe Lama Temple, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing, and the most renowned in China (outside Tibet itself). Then, move on to visit the Confucius Temple where people paid homage to Confucius during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty. Now the temple houses the Beijing Capital Museum. (B-L-D)

Today is free for you to explore the city or go shopping. (You can visit Wangfujing Street, one of the busiest shopping centers in China, and later YaXiu Shopping Hall or SanLiTun Supermarket.) (B)