Meet your guide in your hotel lobby for a seamless transfer to the Temple of Heaven, a sacred sanctuary where Ming and Qing emperors (1368-1911 AD) once prayed for prosperous harvests. Walk in the footsteps of royalty to marvel at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and experience the fascinating acoustics of the Circular Mound Altar. Explore the lesser-known Imperial Vault of Heaven housing the sacred tablets, the fasting quarters at Palace of Abstinence, and the Divine Kitchen where sacrificial offerings were prepared. Also, catch a glimpse of vibrant local life as you wander through the surrounding park, where Beijingers gather to exercise, dance, and socialize. Feel free to join in! Note: For Monday departures when the main sights of the Temple of Heaven are closed, we’ll explore the Beihai Park instead.
Take in the grandeur of this iconic circular palace, the main hall for the Heaven worship ceremonies. As you look up at its triple-layered roof of blue glazed tiles and unique domed ceiling, you’ll truly appreciate the genius of classical Chinese architecture.
Stand on this open-air marble terrace where emperors offered sacrifices to Heaven on the Winter Solstice.
Let’s continue our journey into the historic Hutong alleys. Board a rickshaw for a nostalgic ride through a maze of narrow, willow-shaded lanes. Sit back and absorb the lively local chatter as your driver weaves deep into the neighborhood, leading to the ultimate highlight: an exclusive family visit inside a traditional quadrangle courtyard. You'll experience authentic Beijing hospitality and gain a rare, intimate glimpse into the locals’ real daily life and cultural heritage preserved for centuries.
Next, let’s visit the ancient Lama Temple, a former imperial palace transformed into Beijing’s grandest lamasery. You'll have the chance to experience a stunning blend of Han Chinese, Mongolian, and Tibetan architectural styles while marveling at priceless cultural treasures, including intricate silk thangkas and the Guinness World Record-holding sandalwood Buddha.
We save the crowning jewel for last: the magnificent royal garden Summer Palace. Admire the vast, shimmering Kunming Lake mirroring Longevity Hill and its timeless pavilions. Stroll along the willow-fringed pathways and beneath the endlessly Long Corridor, and you can easily imagine yourself walking in the footsteps of emperors and empresses. Once you've soaked in this tranquility, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
This was day two of our 2 day Beijing tour and was also outstanding. Michael was our guide and was excellent - knowledgeable and interesting. We also really enjoyed our stop off for an authentic noodle shop lunch. A special thanks also to our driver - he was also excellent.
Well used time. Good option. Nice experience.
Rocky was our tour guide. He was excellent in every capacity. He was extremely knowledgeable and informative. He arranged for us to be picked up at the hotel and take us to the meeting place. This was very helpful since we arrived the night before very late. The places we toured were highly important in Chinese history. We highly recommend the tour and Rocky.
We went on this tour with our amazing guide Rocky! This was our second time having him in a row because he really made our time in Beijing memorable. Everything went so smoothly and it was a great experience to learn more about the history of these places. Rocky was knowledgeable and really made sure that we were enjoying ourselves and learning!!! Would 100% recommend this tour and you’ll especially lucky if you get Rocky as your guide
We had a good day despite the poor weather. The tour guide Murphy couldn’t have been more helpful and informative. I would recommend this tour.
Another great option for those short on time and want to explore other key sites besides Forbidden City and Great Wall. Jessie was superb, both in terms of sharing the history and also management of the whole day, we were able to get ahead of traffic and peak rush and ended much earlier around 4pm. If you are Muslim though the lunch options are very limited in Hutongs so grab a quick pizza and explore the area a bit more instead. Jessie also accommodated my request to be dropped off at the 798 Art District instead of my hotel (if you have opted for pick and drop) which was super convenient and fully recommended! Lots of great dinner options there and easy to get a taxi back home.
Michael Shi is knowledgeable guide.
We had a fantastic day exploring Beijing with our wonderful guide Helen. We visited the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, a traditional hutong and rickshaw ride, and Lama Temple, and each stop offered something different. Helen was friendly, knowledgeable and made the whole day really enjoyable. She shared lots of interesting information about Beijing’s history and culture, including fascinating little details we would have otherwise missed. We particularly enjoyed the hutong experience and learning about the traditional homes and the meaning behind the decorative features above the doorways. Everything was well organised, the pace was comfortable, and we never felt rushed. Helen looked after us throughout the day and made sure we had a great experience. Highly recommend this tour and especially Helen as a guide - she made our day in Beijing memorable!
Michael was a very informative and helpful guide, who told us a great deal about the history of each location and went out of his way to answer any questions we had. Each of the unique locations gave us a new picture of Beijing, and Michael’s friendly demeanor made it all the more enjoyable.
This tour was a lot of walking so be prepared. We felt that the amount of walking was explained correctly so de not play down your expectations. Frank was a very good guide and went well out of his way to ensure that the group stayed together and an excellent and immersive experience of Beijing.
With China Travel i was very easy to get tickets to access the Temple of Heaven. We also received advice on the best time to go, best access etc...
Emily was the best guide, very patient and with precise knowledge of all the places. If I return to China, I will definitely hire Emily again. A truly luxurious tour of China's most iconic spots.
When Rocky took us to lunch, he separated the group into their own travelling partners. As a solo traveller (the only one on the tour), this was really upsetting as most tours I’ve been on solo have included the whole group
It was a fun and easy-going itinerary to visit the key spots featured in tour. Our guide Rocky was knowledgeable and professional in ensuring all participants enjoy our visits while learning more about the history of China and the life experiences of the people in China through his sharing. My family and I had a great time and we also made many friends in the same trip. Recommended.
We had Rocky as our tour guide. He was knowledgeable and offered valuable insight into local culture and customs. He provided an especially apt recommendation for lunch which proved to be one of the best meals we had in Beijing. Overall a very enjoyable experience
Rocky is a fantastic guide with great communication skills. He is passionate about his work, tells great stories, and always adds some humor along the way. He made our experience much more enjoyable and memorable. Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rocky our tour guide was awesome. Kept everything fun and informative. His camera skills were an excellent idea to get pics from the best spots. You will have a great your if your lucky enough to have Rocky leading it.
Another tour with Rocky - another very rewarding experience. Very knowledgeable, very courteous. What a great way to finish our trip to China.
Well organized trip and very informative. Rocky was a great tour guide, he was attentive and gave great explanations for everything.
Rocky was an excellent guide. Very attentive to everyone’s needs and very knowledgeable. This was a very fun day
I was browsing for an agency to help me book train tickets and day tours in China and I stumbled upon TRAVEL GUIDE CHINA. I highly recommend them as they were communicative and responsive. The train journey I booked was a little complicated, and I had to make changes as well. They helped me secure the 2 berth sleeper tain from Xi'an to Shanghai during the peak holiday season. It made the journey extra pleasant. The travel consultant Maria Xue was patient and delivered each time. I booked some day tours through them as well and the groups were small and the guides that we had were very knowleageable, had initiative and took great care of the group. Our guide in Beijing was Murphy Leung and it was Celine Yang in Xi'an. Thank you all for making the trip special and comfortable.!
Rocky was beyond phenomenal his knowledge about everything that we seen was next to perfect. He was able to any questions that were asked not to mention beautiful nature with dust. I highly recommend anybody that wants to visit Beijing.
Just had a fabulous 2 days with Rocky, the ever knowledgeable, humorous and all round excellent guide. Beyond describing what we were seeing and experiencing Rocky has a great way of contexting palaces, temples, walls and geography within Beijing’s history, political and social development. 5+ rating!
We had a fantastic tour today with our guide Rocky, visiting the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Lama Temple, and the Hutong area. Everything was very well organized, and the pace of the tour was excellent — not rushed, but still full of interesting places and information. Rocky speaks perfect English and is very pleasant to listen to. He shared many valuable facts, stories, and cultural insights, which made the whole experience much more engaging and meaningful. He also created a great atmosphere throughout the day. Another highlight was meeting several great people from different parts of the world, which made the tour even more enjoyable. I would highly recommend Rocky to anyone visiting Beijing and looking for an informative, well-paced, and friendly tour.
Rocky was an excellent tour guide he went above and beyond took many photos for us his English was perfect and he was very funny! The great wall and rocky himself were the highlights! Regarding the tour itself it was great showing the key highlights of beijing and spending the perfect amount of time in each place not too rushed but not too slow. The only thing we would change on the tour is the visit to the jade store although that being said the buffet was good.
Rocky was knowledgeable, professional, and very communicative. His tour was wonderful.
Great tour! Organized and stony was very knowledgeable and fun. Easy hotel pick up. We did all the major landmarks and had a great time.
Walk around areas quickly, remember to look around & not just follow your guide. Would have liked a few more minutes to take pictures. Also an outline of the day would have been good, cause it didn’t follow the plan on Viator. Tony was our tour guide he was funny & knowledgable.
We had a fantastic Beijing tour. It was a great way to see some of the city’s top attractions while learning so much along the way. Our guide, Zhou, truly made the experience. He was charismatic, funny, knowledgeable, and incredibly kind, bringing each place to life with great stories and history. I especially loved how he kept everyone engaged by asking questions and giving out unique China postcards to those who answered correctly. Overall, it was a great day and I would definitely recommend this tour.
On our second day in Beijing, Michael Shi’s experience and kindness made our tour insightful and memorable again.
Judy was a great tour guide. She showed us a lot of places and gave us lots of information . We had a great time .
Rocky’s extensive knowledge of every site and his exceptional photography vantage points make him an invaluable guide. His incredible personality shone through with my children and he truly is a special person. Anyone fortunate enough to have him as their guide would be incredibly lucky!
I’ve always wanted to go check out the palace in Beijing and was a little overwhelmed when I was doing the research. I then booked a day tour and I was the best decision! The tour guide ROCKY rocks!!!! He’s the best! He’s so informative and witty. He speaks in an American accent and is very knowledgeable with the local culture and history. The also helped with to take heaps of photos that I got to look at after the trip. He’s the best!
We are so lucky to have Rocky as our guide. He is very professional, knows the best point to take photos, take special care for the tour members who have special dietary requirements. He has good coordination with the driver so we didn’t really have to wait for the driver. The driver’s driving skill is impressive as well. We like the tour arrangements as well. Exactly what we wanted.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **5-Star Review** We had a wonderful second day in Beijing with our guide **Helen**. She explained the history and culture beautifully at the Temple of Heaven and gave us great insight into local life during the Hutong rickshaw ride and Siheyuan home visit. Helen guided us clearly through the Lama Temple and the Summer Palace, managing the day perfectly and keeping everything smooth and enjoyable for our family. She was knowledgeable, well-organised, and lovely company throughout. Highly recommended!
We shared a wonderful tour with Helen our caring guide. She took the time to explain the importance of sites like the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. We were never hurried and by the end of the day we felt like her own family. I would recommend this tour and will go with this company again in the future.
Fantastic Beijing Tour with Rocky — Highly Recommended! I had an amazing experience on this tour, and a big part of it was thanks to our guide, Rocky. From the very beginning, he was punctual, organised, and welcoming. His explanations of the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Lama Temple, and the Hutongs were clear, engaging, and filled with fascinating insights. Rocky was extremely attentive and thoughtful throughout the day. He guided us smoothly through the crowds, checked in on our comfort, and even helped us take wonderful photos at all the best spots — he really knows the good angles! The entire tour felt relaxed and enjoyable. The van was clean, spacious, and comfortable, making the journey between locations very pleasant. With Rocky’s great sense of humour, patience, and genuine passion for Beijing’s culture, the whole experience was not only informative but also truly enjoyable. Thank you, Rocky, for making this tour one of the highlights of our Beijing trip. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Beijing!
We had a great time in this tour. The tour guide Yan was extremely knowledgeable and took very good care of us. Yan shared some interesting facts and lots of historical background on the sites and it was a great experience with her. We enjoyed the tour a lot and I would love to do this tour again with Yan. The lunch was superb too. It’s yummy and super delicious!
very beautiful day! The orgsnisation was very well and our guide Michael Ren was very prepared with many historical facts to tell us and so kind in suggesting us where to eat. He was also very nice in telling us some supermarkets along our way to the hotel where to buy typical Chinese food.
Rocky was our guide for a great excursion. Because he was not only knowledgeable but his English was excellent we were able to get a lot out of the tour. It was a nice size of a group, and he kept us moving plus he took great pictures of all of us and shared them. I highly recommend this tour with Rocky.
Rocky was great!!! So knowledgeable and has a good sense of humor. Brought a lot of energy to the tour and he’s an amazing photographer, taking great photos of all those on the tour. Will treasure these memories. Highly recommend!!!
Very interesting and smooth experience of local life and sights. Temple and palace complexes, small traditional housing as well. Excellent lunch.
Rocky was great! Tour was great and he took plenty of pictures :) Overall recommend if you’d like an organized tour and easy guidance
Helen is such a trooper!! Our group had a couple of mishaps but thanks to her, we were able to complete the itinerary and have a wonderful time! The tour is fast-paced and no-nonsense, ideal for those who want to see the essentials and not waste time.
This was a fabulous tour! Michael Ren was a fantastic guide, full of information, history and stories... and his English was excellent. We were never rushed and given ample time for pictures and seeing each area we visited. The company was easy to contact, very responsive, and had excellent communication about the meet up point, etc. The boat ride around the lake at the Summer Palace was a highlight. This was the only tour I could find that went to the Hutong area, which was another amazing experience! I would highly recommend this tour.
This was a fabulous tour! Michael was a fantastic guide, full of information, history and stories... and his English was excellent. We were never rushed and given ample time for pictures and seeing each area we visited. The company was easy to contact, very responsive, and had excellent communication about the meet up point, etc. Definitely take the boat ride around the lake at the Summer Palace. It's a highlight. I highly recommend this tour.
We enjoyed our Beijing tour with our guide Rocky. He was very knowledgeable about all the places we visited around Beijing. Our highlight was the summer palace, what an incredible place. Rocky was also the master of photography. Knowing the best places for pictures and he shared all the pictures he took of the group. A great surprise.
The Temple of Heaven complex was stunning, made all the more amazing by the incredible knowledge and story telling by our host guide, Rocky.
Our tour guide Rocky was excellent, he was knowledgeable, polite, very helpful and informative. This was our second day tour and we visited we visited the Temple of Heaven, Hutong, Lama Temple, and Summer Palace. As well as being a great guide Rocky also knew all the good photo spots and he took loads of great photos and share them with the group. He also arranged a great lunch which most of the group went to. A fabulous 2nd day in Beijing
An incredible day visiting the Temple of Heaven, Hutong neighborhood, Summer Palace, and Lama (Kama) Temple. Each place was beautiful and full of history — from the grandeur of the imperial gardens to the charm of old Beijing’s narrow alleys. Our guide Rocky was fantastic — knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate. He shared fascinating stories, answered every question, and made the experience unforgettable. Highly recommended — a perfect way to discover the heart and soul of Beijing!
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