China2 days

Beijing: Forbidden City, Hutong & Simatai — 2 Days

Ming dynasty palaces, traditional courtyard quarters, and a section of the Great Wall built in 1406 and restored through the Ming period.

This two-day tour moves through Beijing's layered history by foot, bicycle, and private transfer. Day one follows a path through Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City (built 1406–1420 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its collection of preserved wooden structures), and the Hutong districts where residents still inhabit traditional courtyard homes. Day two departs the city center for Gubei Water Town, a reconstruction of five former villages at the base of Simatai, where the Great Wall stretches 5.4 kilometers between two tower points. The wall itself dates to the North Qi Dynasty (550–577) but incorporates Ming-era construction and architecture. Both days include meals and a private, English-speaking guide.

Highlights

Walk through Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public plazas, bordered by the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People
Tour the Forbidden City, built 1406-1420 as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for more than 500 years.
Cycle through Hutong alleys — networks of traditional courtyard homes where Old Beijing residents continue daily life
Trek sections of Simatai Great Wall, a 5.4-kilometer span incorporating North Qi Dynasty masonry and Ming-era fortifications
Visit Gubei Water Town, built around Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir on the footprint of five former Simatai villages

Day by day

1Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Hutong CyclingTiananmen Square · Forbidden City · Hutong

Your guide meets you in the morning to navigate Beijing's central monuments. Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public plazas, contains the Monument of the People's Heroes and flanks the Great Hall of the People. From there, you enter the Forbidden City, built 1406-1420 to serve as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government. The site is recognized by UNESCO for the largest surviving collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. After the palace tour, you cycle through the Hutong — narrow alleyways lined with traditional courtyard residences where you can observe the rhythms of Old Beijing street life.

2Gubei Water Town & Simatai Great WallGubei Water Town · central Beijing to Gubei Water Town

A three-hour transfer from central Beijing brings you to Gubei Water Town, a settlement built on the remains of five former villages at the base of Simatai. The town surrounds Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir. Simatai Castle, constructed during the reign of Emperor Wanli (1573–1620) in the Ming Dynasty, anchors the site. The Simatai Great Wall section stretches 5.4 kilometers between Wangjinglou (Tower for Viewing the Capital) to the east and connects to Jinshanling in the west. Originally built during the North Qi Dynasty (550–577), this portion of the wall incorporates architectural elements from multiple periods and displays distinctive features unique to this section.

Where you go

Map: Beijing: Forbidden City, Hutong & Simatai — 2 Days route — Numbers follow the itinerary order. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

1Tiananmen Square
2Forbidden City
3Hutong

Included

Included:
English speaking guide service
Private/public transfers as specified
2 lunches, 1 dinner
Entrance fee

Not included

Do Not Include:
International airfare
Hotel accommodation
China visa