2014 China Immersion: Beijing

Day One - Mar 13 (Thursday) - Meet our local guide, Martin at Beijing Airport

Martin our Beijing Guide

Martin's Cell Phone: +86 13366082492

Arrive at Beijing Airport 5:55 pm local time, collect bags and pass through immigration and customs then meet our guide Martin and travel together to our hotel for the evening.

Day Two - Mar 14 (Friday) - Coach tour to the Mu Tian Yu Great Wall

Dawson 2012 Winterim to the Great Wall

We arise early and drive approximately one and half hours to Mu Tian Yu, to see the Great Wall. This is a less visited section of the wall and away from the hoards of Chinese and foreign tourists that frequent some of the other areas. The Great Wall snakes through the countryside over deserts, hills, and plains for several thousand miles. Originally a series of disparate earthen ramparts built by individual states, the Great Wall was created only after the unification of China under Qin Shi Huang Di (221-210 BC). Despite impressive battlements, the wall ultimately proved ineffective as it was breached in the 13^th century by the Mongols and then, in 17^th century, by the Manchu. The Great Wall is the longest the man-made project on earth. The cost of its making is so enormous, that some historians call it the longest cemetery in the world. When you see what the labourers had to deal with you might begin to understand exactly why.

The Great Wall at Mu Tian Yu

The Great Wall goes on for miles and as far as you can see

Lunch - try some street fast food, Chinese Pancakes, known to the Chinese people as Jian Bing. On the way back to the hotel, we'll briefly stop to see the Olympic park, the stunning beautiful Bird’s Nest building and the Water-cube.

Jian Bing being made, Beijing

Lunch anyone?

Olympic Park

Dawson 2012 Winterim to the Olympic Park Birds Nest

Day Three - Mar 15 (Saturday) - City Tour by Subway

Beijing Subway Line 1

Beijing Subway Line 5

Approximately 5 minutes walk from our hotel to Bei Xin Qiao Subway Station, we take subway Line 5 and transfer at DongDan to Line 1 and get off at Tian’an Men East. We will then stand on the largest city square in the world surrounded by the government building The Great Hall of People, the National Museum, and Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum. We will then walk past the Tian’an Men Gate, and enter into the largest royal palace in the world with 9,999 rooms, home to the last 24 Chinese emperors over a 600 year period.

Tian'an Men Gate to the Forbidden City

After walking several miles around the Forbidden City, we will walk or travel by bus to the Old town in Beijing, known as the Hutongs. Walk across the famous Hutong alley Nan Luo Gu Xiang and take rickshaws to a local family for Lunch, learn how to make Chinese dumplings and taste a home-made Chinese meal. After lunch, take a rickshaw to the Bell tower for more sightseeing, and enjoy a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.

Beijing Hutongs

Courtyard of a traditional Chinese house in the Hutongs

Beijing Hutongs by Rickshaw

Day Four - Mar 16 (Sunday) - City Tour by subway

Take subway line 5 to the iconic nail-free building, the Temple of Heaven. It was a place the Emperor had to visit at least twice a year to pray for peace and good harvest. Upon arrival, you will be amazed by the ‘early bird’ morning exercises. Tourists are more than welcomed to join them in their Tai Chi and dance exercise.

Temple of Heaven

Early morning Tai Chi, Temple of Heaven

天坛 Tiāntán - The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is located in southern Beijing．It was first constructed in 1420, the 18th year of the reign of Ming emperor Yongle, and was extended and renovated during the reigns of Ming emperor Jiajing and Qing emperor Qianlong．It was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship the god of heaven and pray for good harvest. Covering an area of 273 hectares, it is the largest architectural complex in the world for rituals to pay homage to heaven.

Lunch - Hotpot in the Pearl Market (Xia Pu, Xia Pu).

In the afternoon, we will take a subway to the Summer Palace. This is where the royal Manchu retreated from the extremely hot Beijing Summer. Inside the extensive palace grounds you will see a peach-shaped man-made lake, and the world's longest wooden corridor with 14,000 Chinese paintings. (Comfortable walking shoes are a must)