4 Days Beijing Food Tour with Best Highlights

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival
   Taste Traditional Beijing Snacks on Huguo Temple Street

   Welcome to Beijing, the capital and one of the most famous tourist cities in China!

   Your local guide will meet you at the train station / airport and send you by a private air-conditioned car to your downtown hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore nearby. If you’d like suggestions, just ask your tour guide.

   In the evening, you will be guied to Huguo Temple Snack Street, 600 meters long, a favorite place for locals to enjoy traditional Beijing snacks. Popular choices include Zhajiangmian (Noodles with Soybean Paste), Lvdagunr (Sweet Soybean Rolls), Luzhu Huoshao (Beijing Tripe Hot Pot), and Tanghulu (Candied Fruit Skewers).

   After the dinner snacks, your driver will take you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Dinner

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

2. Day 2: City Highlights, Street Food in the Evening
   Uncover The Royal Stories in Palaces and Try Beijing Hala Food

   Today, you will be led to explore the stories of Beijing's past from modern times to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The tour guide will wait for you in the hotel lobby and take you to Tian’anmen Square first. Located at the intersection of Beijing's central axis and Chang'an Avenue, Tian’anmen began construction in 1417 and was completed in 1420, originally named Chengtian Gate. After multiple constructions, it gradually formed its current form. Tiananmen Square is one of the largest city squares in the world, where many important events have taken place. The most significant one was on October 1, 1949, when Chairman Mao declared the establishment of the People's Republic of China on the Tiananmen Gate Tower.

   Afterwards, we walk north for about 10 minutes and arrive at the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, formerly known as the Forbidden City. The palace covers an area of 720000 square meters, with over 70 palaces and nearly 9000 houses. It is one of the largest and most well preserved wooden ancient architectural complexes in the world. Due to the large size of the scenic area, the guide will plan the most classic visiting route based on the flow of people on site. Explore while learning about who has lived here and interesting things that have happened.

   

   In the afternoon, you will explore the Summer Palace, a royal garden that stays beautiful in four seasons. Long ago (the Ming and Qing dynasties), it was the summer retreat for the imperial family. Each season has its charming views: spring blooming flowers, summer lotus ponds, autumn colors, and winter snow. The palace blends natural views with delicate design, representing the finest style of classical Chinese gardens. Stroll through graceful pavilions, admire the detailed paintings along the Long Corridor, and take in the peaceful scenery of Kunming Lake. (Optional boat rides are available at your own cost.)

   After that, head to Niujie Food Street for dinner. It is the center of Beijing’s halal food. With cooking methods passed down for hundreds of years, the street draws many lovers of beef and mutton. Here, you can also enjoy the classic flavor of “Old Beijing.”

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Great Wall Tour in Beijing
   Hike The Most Stunning Great Wall, Enjoy Optional Dinner with Roast Duck

   Today you will visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. The drive from your hotel takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, during which your guide will tell stories about how the wall was built. Mutianyu is famous for its many watchtowers and is often called the most scenic part of the Great Wall. To make the climb easier, you will take a cable car up (your guide will help with the tickets). While hiking along the wall, you’ll hear about its history, including who built it, how long it stretches, and why it is not a single continuous wall. Your guide will also point out the best places for photos. For more fun, you can choose to go down by toboggan or chairlift near Watchtower No. 6.

   Afterwards, transfer you to the Sacred Way, which leads to the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty. There, enjoy the complex stone statues and the magnificent memorial archway. On your way back to Beijing, you will pass by the venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube.

   For dinner, you can enjoy the famous Peking Roast Duck or try a hearty Mongolian-style hot pot. If you choose the duck, a chef will show you how to cut the tender duck meat and eat it with thin pancakes, tasty sauces, and side dishes such as shredded cucumber and scallions. If you prefer other Chinese dishes, just let your guide know, and she or he will arrange the meal based on your wishes.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: in Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Departure from Beijing
   Decode Heaven-Earth Cosmology, Rickshaw Ride Through Living Courtyard

   After breakfast, you will visit a UNESCO World Heritage site of Beijing city. The Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, was used by royal family for sacrifices and is famous for its design based on the idea of “Round Heaven and Square Earth.” Walking up the white marble steps of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, you might imagine the sound of the emperor’s bell ceremonies long ago. In the surrounding park, many locals practice morning exercises, giving you a glimpse of everyday life in Beijing.

   After that, explore Beijing’s hutongs by taking a traditional rickshaw ride through Beijing hutong, narrow lanes lined with blue bricks and gray tiles. These courtyard neighborhoods, often called “living museums,” still keep the old Beijing way of life. You’ll also have a chance to step into a local home and learn more about hutong culture deeply. Optional: you can try traditional Chinese skills such as tying Chinese knots and paper cuttings in hutong (extra fees are required).

   After that, your food tour in Beijing comes to an end. You will then be escorted to the airport or train station for your flight/train to your next destination. See you on your next trip with China Xian Tour!

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A