beijing explorer
(Tiananmen Square-Mao Mausoleum-Forbidden Palace-Temple of Heaven -
The Great Wall of China - Ming Tombs-The Summer Palace)
Day 1 Beijing: Arrival at Beijing. Concept Voyages' representative will meet you at the airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 2 Beijing: After breakfast at hotel, proceed for full day tour of Beijing, covering
Tiananmen Square - not only the symbol of Beijing but also the symbol of China. The square is surrounded by a variety of significant edifices: Chinese Revolution History Museum,
Mao Mausoleum, Great Hall of the People, the elegant and beautiful Tiananmen (Heavenly Peace Gate), and Qianmen (Front Gate). The daily flag ceremony at the square, performed at sunrise and sunset each day, is most exceptional and well-worth making time to view. after that we proceed to the Forbidden Palace and
The Temple of Heaven - a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world's great civilizations. Founded in the first half of the 15th century, is a dignified complex of fine cult buildings set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods. In its overall layout and that of its individual buildings, it symbolizes the relationship between earth and
heaven-the human world and God's world which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony, and also the special role played by the emperors within that relationship. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 3 Beijing: After breakfast proceed for full day tour covering
The Great Wall, which is more than 2,000 years old, but still remains one of the great wonders of the world, an engineering feat rarely matched in the 22 centuries since its construction began. Stretching 4,500 miles, it was first built to protect an ancient Chinese empire from marauding tribes from the north. But it evolved into something far greater a boon to trade and prosperity and ultimately a symbol of Chinese ingenuity and will. The truth is, though, that the Great Wall is actually a
series of walls built and rebuilt by different dynasties over 1,000 years. For all its seeming timelessness, the Great Wall is an emblem of China's evolution. Visit the
Ming Tombs - located at Chan Ping County, 31 miles northwest of Beijing. Of the 16 emperors who ruled China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), 13 are buried in elaborate complexes in the valley of the Ming Tombs north of Beijing. Tomb construction began here in 1409 and continued for 2 centuries. The site of this huge cemetery was chosen by the same emperor, Yongle, who oversaw the construction of the Forbidden City. The tombs reflect a similar conception of Imperial architecture, consisting of walls, gates,
courtyards, stairways, and elaborate pavilions with roofs of yellow tiles (yellow being the color of emperors). The actual burial chamber (a tumulus) is underground. The emperor, his wife, and his favored concubines were the only people buried there, along with enough royal treasure to stuff a small museum. After that proceed to visit
The Summer Palace - an excellent place to cool off during Beijing's hot Summer months. Qing's Imperial rulers used it as a summer residence. The Palace began to assume its present shape during the reign of Emperor Qianlong who ruled in the late 18th century. Using an army of 100,000 laborers, the Emperor enlarged and deepened the lake, creating a network of small islands connected by dykes doubling as bridges. The layout is inspired by Taoist legends of immortal islands in the middle of misty
lakes- the Chinese version of the Fountain of Youth myth. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 4 Beijing:
Breakfast at hotel. Drop back at Beijing airport for onward journey.
End of Tour!
Tour Booking Code: CVICN-03
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