Ancient China - Beijing, Great Wall, Datong & Yungang

Let’s begin our holiday, as we depart on our flights for Beijing.

Welcome to Beijing China! We meet our guide on arrival at the airport and transfer to our hotel.

Settle in, unpack and relax before we get together for dinner.

Evening

Join us for dinner! Let's get together and enjoy our first dinner.

Please note:

An evening meal is included every night for our eight-night stay in China, at our hotel or in a local restaurant. The arrangements will be advised by our guide locally.

Due to late arrival flights, dinner may be changed to lunch on another day. 

Join us for a full day exploring some of Beijing’s most famous landmarks: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven.

We start at Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world. Created under Chairman Mao, it was the setting for major rallies during the Cultural Revolution.

Next, we pass through the ancient gates into the Forbidden City, once off-limits to the outside world for 500 years. This grand imperial palace is China’s best-preserved collection of historic buildings, filled with courtyards, gardens, and pavilions that still echo with stories of emperors, eunuchs, and opulence.

In the afternoon, we visit the Temple of Heaven, a stunning complex of religious buildings once used for ancient rituals symbolising harmony between Earth and Heaven. 

We finish the day strolling Qianmen Street, one of Beijing’s oldest and most loved pedestrian shopping areas. A blend of Chinese and Western shops and cafés, it’s also home to the famous Quanjude Restaurant, which serves over two million of its signature Peking Roast Ducks each year.

Let’s kickstart our day with a coach transfer for our full day guided tour. Take a walk along one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the Great Wall of China. This ancient wonder dates back as far as the 7th century BC and stretches over 20,000 miles across the country. Originally built to protect China’s first unified kingdom, it remains one of the greatest feats of engineering in human history and one for the bucket list!

Walk along a scenic section of the wall, soaking up panoramic views and the remarkable atmosphere of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the afternoon, we visit a traditional jade factory and see some Chinese craftmanship.

Next, we transfer to the Sacred Way, part of the famous Ming Tombs complex, where thirteen Ming emperors were laid to rest. The road is lined with imposing stone statues and an ornamental gateway, creating a peaceful and impressive walkway through history.

The day is not over! We make our way back to the hotel via the Olympic Park and see (from the outside) the impressive Birds Nest Stadium that hosted the 2008 Olympics.

Enjoy a free day in Beijing to explore at your own pace, the day is yours to further explore this fascinating city.

Wander local museums, art galleries, or shopping in Wangfujing street, take a cruise on Kunming lake, or take the opportunity to visit a historic teahouse and savour traditional Chinese teas. The choice is yours and our expert guide will be happy to make recommendations.

Take an optional full-day excursion to Tianjin, a city that blends traditional Chinese culture with striking Western architecture. 

All Aboard! We take a short coach ride to the station, and board the high-speed bullet train for approximately a 30-minute journey. On arrival, we visit Jingyuan Garden, the former residence of the Last Emperor during his exile. Next, we stroll through Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, known for its beautiful architecture and colourful shops, before enjoying some free time for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, we take a short walking tour of the Italian Quarter, a lively district with European-style buildings and cafés, before returning to Beijing by bullet train. 

This excursion is subject to minimum numbers.

Today, we explore more of Beijing’s cultural heritage on a full day tour including a guided visit to the Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple), one of the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temples in China. Gaze in wonder at the towering 26-metre wooden statue of the Maitreya Buddha and intricate bronze statues. Afterwards, enjoy a walking tour through a traditional Beijing hutong, a maze of historic laneways, and beautifully preserved homes that offer a glimpse into old Beijing life. 

In the afternoon, we head to Sanlitun Village, a vibrant shopping and dining district known for its modern boutiques, international brands, and lively restaurants. A perfect opportunity for picking up gifts or savour a tasty local dish!

Let’s experience more ancient Chinese wonders on a full day tour! We transfer to the train station and board the train for Datong. Sit back and relax as the journey will take approximately 2.5 hours.

We have arrived in Datong! We board our coach and transfer to the remarkable Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site approximately  (25km) 30 minutes away. These awe-inspiring 5th century Buddhist caves are home to 252 grottoes, including 45 main caves, and over 51,000 intricately carved statues, making it one of China’s most important sites of ancient cave art. We'll have plenty of time, over an hour, to explore this fascinating site on our guided tour.

We take a break for some lunch (included) before we venture on to our next part of the tour.

See more as we visit the Ancient walled city of Datong, built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (which we all know from the Disney series Mulan). Delve into more ancient wonders with a walking tour visiting the Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple and the Nine Dragon Wall. 

We transfer to our hotel in the evening for an overnight stay in Datong.  

Following an early morning breakfast, we will travel by coach (approx. 90 min) to the extraordinary Hanging Temple, an ancient architectural marvel built in 491 during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Perched 90metres up the cliff face of Cuiping Peak, it uniquely combines Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in a single sacred site.

On arrival, we queue for entrance tickets (please note unfortunately tickets cannot be guaranteed in advance). Let's experience more, our visit lasts around 1.5 to 2 hours, and those who prefer not to enter may admire the temple from the base and explore local souvenir stalls, sit back and relax and enjoy the views from below.
For those entering, expect a walk involving many steps, narrow paths, and wooden walkways, rewarded with breath-taking views (weather permitting) and a rich sense of ancient history.

Please note: This excursion is not recommended for those with mobility issues or acrophobia. Sturdy footwear is strongly recommended. If tickets are unavailable, the temple will be viewed from the outside.

After our visit we will enjoy some time for lunch (at own expense) before we transfer back to Datong Train Station.
All aboard! Sit back and relax on the high-speed train to Beijing (approx. 2.5 hours). We arrive in the evening and enjoy dinner en route to our hotel.

Today, we enjoy a full-day excursion to one of Beijing’s most beautiful landmarks — the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a true highlight of the city. Once the preferred retreat of Chinese emperors and dowager empresses, the palace is set beside a vast, tranquil lake and surrounded by graceful gardens, ornate bridges, shaded walkways, and elegant pavilions.

Stroll along the Long Corridor, admire the painted ceilings, and take in views across Kunming Lake with Longevity Hill rising in the background. During the summer months, the gardens are in full bloom, offering a peaceful and cooling escape from the city. 

Next, we visit the Lugou Bridge, famously known as the Marco Polo Bridge, located just 15 kilometres from central Beijing. Built in the 12th century, this historic stone bridge is lined with hundreds of beautifully carved lions, each with unique expressions. Made famous in Marco Polo’s travel writings, the bridge is also known for its role in modern history as the site of the 1937 incident that marked the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

We return to our hotel and enjoy our final evening in Beijing.

Depending on our departure flight time, we enjoy some final moments in Beijing at your own pace, taking time to reflect on the highlights of our journey. You might like to browse for a few last-minute souvenirs, enjoy one more plate of Peking duck or your favourite Chinese dish, or simply relax with a cup of lychee tea in a nearby café.

Later, we bid farewell to Beijing and to the special time we've shared, as we transfer by coach to the airport for our journey home.