China is famous for its long history and brilliant culture, and for having the worlds' most Heritage Sites. In fact, the five largest World Heritage Sites are all located in Beijing! In regard to culture, China is also famous for five signature discoveries: silk, jade, tea, clossionne and pearls. Based on Chinese history and culture, you will learn not only about China's great innovations, but also the ingenuity and diligence of its people.

With the above brief introduction, we can now start planning your tour. Below is an outline of my tour packages, followed by individual descriptions of each tour. Please note that all my tour packages are flexible, and can be tailored to satisfy any of your personal needs and preferences. 

For prices of each tour, please contact me directly by e-mail or phone. I can design your tours accordingly with your availability of free days in Beijing.

A. The Essential Tour

Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, and Juyongguan Section of the Great Wall 

As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing has been a center of politics, economics and culture since the reign of Kublai Kahn in the 13th century. Our tour begins at the very heart of Beijing in Tian'anmen Square, site of the largest imperial palace in the world and its "thousands of brilliant rooms." We shall appreciate the views of the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the Peoples' Heroes, and Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall. In the afternoon, we will travel to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall -- one of the "Seven Wonders of the World", and explore the best preserved section of this more than 2000 year old monumental attraction. Here you can climb the wall and take in a breathtaking panoramic view at the top. Lunch will be served in the famous Longdi Jade Gallery. Besides enjoying a delicious Chinese meal, we will also gain a jade connoisseurs' appreciation for these quintessentially Chinese precious stones, as were used for the 2008 Olympic medals. In addition, we will have a chance to learn about the 2000 year history of Chinese silk culture.

B. The Imperial Tour

Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

In this tour, we will visit three World Heritage Sites. In the morning we begin at Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City. As the imperial residence, the Forbidden City has seen countless battles and reconstruction -- the architecture we see today dates back to the early 15th century. After exploring the grounds of the Forbidden City, we will visit the Temple of Heaven -- the world's largest temple and altar complex, highlighted by unique and intricate architectural designs dating back to the Ming dynasty. After an appetizing Chinese lunch, our final destination is the largest imperial garden in Beijing, the Summer Palace. We will explore the garden grounds, see an actual marble boat, and walk through the world's longest art gallery -- "the long corridor". We will break up our busy day with scenic car riding, plus a fascinating look into the ancient culture of Chinese silk and pearl cultivation.

C. The Great Wonder Tour

Badaling Section of the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, and Exterior View of Olympic Venues

This is an unforgettable traveling experience to two of the most famous scenic spots in the north of Beijing. Our first stop is the sacred Ming Tombs - the imperial burial grounds of the Ming dynasty, where we will explore the Changling Tomb, the largest preserved of the 13 tombs. After lunch, we will visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall - a monumental feat of ancient Chinese engineering. Here, we will see the best preserved section of this face of the wall. During the day we will stop for lunch at the National Stone Place, where we will also learn about the 5,000 year culture of Chinese jade. On the way back, we will pass by modern exteriors of the Bird Nest and the Water Cube, and finally, enjoy a traditional tea ceremony in the relaxing atmosphere of a tea house.

D. The Great Wall at Mutianyu Tour

Mutianyu Great Wall, and Exterior View of Olympic Venue

Mutianyu is an older section of the Great Wall, with a unique and distinctive charm that stands apart from the famous Badaling section. Known for the beauty of its precipitous terrain, Mutianyu is a steeper, more challenging climb. In order to more easily enjoy the panoramic views, we will have convenient access up the Great Wall by cable car. Before arriving at the Mutianyu section, we will stop at the National Stone Palace and learn about the ancient culture of Chinese jade. For lunch, we will savor a typical home-style meal served in a farmer's courtyard. In this tour, we will have an exterior view of the high-tech legacy of the 2008 Olympics -- the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, and finish the day with a traditional tea ceremony.

E. The Historical Tour I

Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

As the largest city square in the world, Tian'anmen Square is the first "must-see" tourist attraction for Chinese and foreign visitors. The Forbidden City, actually a nickname for the Imperial Palace, was the political center of China for almost 600 years, during the Ming and Qing dynasties. After visiting the emperor's  majestic "house", we will take a lunch break before visiting the beautiful Temple of Heaven -- the imperial temple and altar complex. Built in 1420, it was designed for the emperor to worship the god of heaven, pray for good harvest and hold grand religious ceremonies. In addition, we will visit the Yuanhou Silk and observe up-close the process of making hand-made silk.

F. The Historical Tour II

Summer Palace, Lama Temple and Panda Garden

This tour starts at the Lama Temple, one of the best examples of sacred temples in the region. Its' rich diversity of architectural styles includes Han, Mongolian, Manchurian and Tibetan. Next, we head to the Beijing Zoo to see the frolicking Pandas -- a living Chinese treasure, surely to bring a smile to your face. For lunch, we will replenish ourselves with a tasty meal at a Chinese restaurant. Afterwards, we'll take a break and go to the Pearl Market, where we can learn about the ancient art of pearl cultivation. Finally, we can indulge ourselves in the overwhelming beauty of the Summer Palace, the emperor's resort for eight centuries. Destroyed twice by foreign invading forces, the palace was fully renovated to its' present condition by the Empress Dowager Cixi -- her lasting legacy, and now a World Heritage Site.

G. The Old Beijing Tour

Capital Museum and Hutong Tour

Our tour starts at the Capital Museum, where we will learn about Beijing's thousands of years of customs and culture, and see extraordinary collections of historic treasures, including sculptures, jade, and bronzes -- surely, an eye opening experience! After lunch, we will take a rickshaw ride through the old narrow streets of Beijing, and savor the leisurely pace of local life. Afterwards, we will visit the home of a local family and learn about their traditional Hutong courtyard life. Finally, we will climb to the top of the 800 year old Drum Tower for a panoramic view of Beijing.