Beijing Historical Tour including the Summer Palace, Lama Temple and the Panda Garden

Beijing, China

Explore Beijing's amazing history and culture on this seven-hour tour to the Lama Temple, the zoo to see China's famous pandas and the historic Summer Palace. This seven-hour tour provides a comprehensive, unhurried introduction to all there is to see in vibrant, enormous Beijing.

Your relaxed day tour begins at the Yonghe Lamasery, one of the best examples of the region's many sacred temples. Lama Temple reveals diverse architectural styles from Han, Mongolia, Manchuria and Tibet. The highlight is the impressive 60-foot (18-meter) Maitreya Buddha, carved from a single sandalwood tree. Next, it's on to the zoo to see one of the highpoints of any visit to Beijing, the frolicking pandas, China's living treasures.

After a stop for lunch, you'll visit the emperors' retreat, the historic Summer Palace. Empress Dowager Cixi renovated the estate in the 19th century, installing the artificial lake we see today. After touring the ornate palace, you'll stroll through one of Beijing's favorite parks and go on a shopping excursion to the Tianhou Silk Market.

USD $57.99

Review by: Alice L	March 2012
This could be a wonderful tour experience if the add-on and hard sell shopping experience was not there.

Review by: L M Y	January 2012
I had a private tour for this trip and had a great day with tour guide Jacky Lee. Fantastic to see the young pandas playing and the Temple and Summer Palace are must-see spots.

Review by: retobibi	December 2011
A worthwhile tour. A bit disappointing Pandas. The state of their enclosures are in need of upgrading.

Review by: Christopher B	December 2011
Summer Palace was truly awesome; I can only imagine what it would be like in full bloom. Panda Garden was an obligatory trip, but we went early and there were no crowds and thankfully a couple of panda were outside and active.

Review by: Nathan F	November 2011
awesome trip, however, we would have liked a bit longer at the summer palace, the tour finished at 1.30pm and started at 7.30pm so we had enough time to see the Summer Palace.

Review by: Janelle R	October 2011
Interesting places but no flexibility to spend more or less time in different areas.

Review by: Jennifer Kate	September 2011
Great tour with a great guide. Jackie was full of stories and interesting facts.

Review by: PALLAVITA SAHA	September 2011
This was a good tour - Jackie was taken the guide and he gave lots of information and tidbits and good helpful hints on how not to get conned etc around the city. I had a lovely group of people with me and we all had fun. The summer palace is lovely as is the Lama temple. Really good experience!!!

Review by: Jeswah	September 2011
The tour ended up being a solo tour, so good for the price I paid. My tour guide was very good, however there was not much history comunicated during the tour. I would have liked there to be more of an agenda in relation to the information I was told, and how the places on the tour were linked into the history beijng communicated. The panda garden was a little bit dissappointing, as although I did see the pandas, and was driven to the zoo, there was no tour guide involvement at this attraction, apart from being led through the exhibit. The summer palace is amazong and well worth seeing.

Review by: Steven E	August 2011
went went to Beijing zoo first saw few pandas and 2 baby pandas so cute. summer palace was beautiful and Lama temple brilliant with largest buddha was amazing.

Review by: BARBARA B	June 2011
This tour was wonderful. Michael, our guide, was informative and friendly as he explained the history and significance of the various sites we visited. We saw a lot, learned a lot and had a lot of fun.

Review by: Walter C	May 2011
very nice tour well worth the cost_br/_ thomas is great tour guide. speaks excellent english. very knowledgeable and took time_br/_ to answer every question. recommend this tour

Review by: Sari L	May 2011
Our guide Jackie was very patient, informative and funny! It was a great itinerary that allowed us to see so many things in one day so this tour is a must if you don't have much time in Beijing. You can't escape the crowds in Beijing anywhere you go though, the Palace had 47,000 visitors the day we visited! Pandas were just adorable.

Review by: Travis P	March 2011
My wife and I had a very enjoyable experience. Our guide was friendly and informative, providing information about the city during travel time and explaining the meaning behind the art and architecture at the designated tour stops. After we made it through 2 of the tour spots rather quickly, our tourist showed us to a popular tea house where we were able to see how tea is traditionally prepared during a free demonstration. Overall, my wife and I were very pleased with the experience and would recommend the same trip to our friends.

Review by: Carla S	February 2011
Perfect organisation. I was very lucky because I was the only person that had booked this tour for that day so I got the VIP treatment. Nice car, driver (David) and guide (Sheryl) all to myself.Sheryl was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English. She gave me the time I needed on all the sites. I never felt rushed which is often the case in these type of tours.Unfortunately it was very cold especially for the visit to the Summer Palace. I would like to see that one again when the gardens are green.Lunch was good but much too early for me (11 am) so I could not really eat much. The tour ends quite early in the afternoon which left me enough time to also go and visit the Temple of Heaven which is something I suggest they could add to this tour so that people with limited time can cover the main sights in 2 days. For my second day I booked "Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen square"

Review by: Claire K	January 2011
Excellant tour and well organised thanks to Viator having an excellant link with the tour guides in Beijing. Will certainly use them again

Review by: Michael R	October 2010
excellent especially the guide Thomas

Review by: Steven C	October 2010
Wow! This was one of our best trips. Guide Jason was fabulous and the sites were great. We were the only two on this tour so we got the VIP treatment! It was great!

Review by: Emma B	October 2010
I highly recommend this tour, the tour guide was friendly, informative, and took great pains to make sure the day went well for us. The food was good and the places we visited amazing. Perhaps a little rushed but you have to expect that when they are taking you all over Beijing. It was only myself and a friend on the tour as the other hotel pick up point for the day was an hour away from our hotel, so they split us into two tours which was very nice of them.

Review by: Diane L J	October 2010
We had a great time in spite of the rain!! Never felt rushed. The Lama Temple was cool but if you have allergies bring a scarf to put over your nose.... the incense can get to you after a while.

Review by: Michael P	September 2010
EXCELLENT overall, however would have liked more time at the Panda garden

Review by: Anonymous	August 2010
I really enjoyed this tour. The sights Panda Exhibit at the Beijing Zoo, the Summer Palace, Lama Temple were extremely interesting and my guide, Tom, was very experienced, knowledgable, informative and helpful. I would not hesitate to recommend Great Sights Beijing or Viator or to take another tour with them in the future, as I was very pleased with this tour.

Review by: Mike W, United States of America	April 2010
Tour was very interesting. Pickup was on time, though signage in a visible area of the car or bus window would be an improvement. Had a small group and a van was provided for our transportation, along with an English speaking guide and a driver. Ride was comfortable, and tour guide was prompt and very knowledgeable of surrounding areas. Once at the sites, there were lots to learn and see, and the guide was sure explain sights and history to our group. Lots of walking and time for picture taking. Great way to tour.

Review by: Nerida C, Australia	April 2010
Historic tour.

Review by: MICHAEL W	April 2010
Tour was very interesting. Pickup was on time, though signage in a visible area of the car or bus window would be an improvement. Had a small group and a van was provided for our transportation, along with an English speaking guide and a driver. Ride was comfortable, and tour guide was prompt and very knowledgeable of surrounding areas. Once at the sites, there were lots to learn and see, and the guide was sure explain sights and history to our group. Lots of walking and time for picture taking. Great way to tour.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	October 2009
The tour guide made all the difference. Well versed, excellent English, and wants you to enjoy the tour and city.

Review by: luan k, France	December 2008
tres bien!

Review by: Luan K	December 2008
tres bien!

Review by: Ray G, United States of America	October 2008
Well organized, nice instructor spoke English well.

Review by: Michael H, United States of America	October 2008
From other tours with this operator, we expected a well-done tour, and the tour operator did not disappoint. The guide was very knowledgeable and energetic. And he let us explore a bit and take photos, so we did not feel we were on a forced death march even though we covered a lot of ground. The gem of everything we saw in Beijing was the Lama Temple. Beautiful and very educational with our guide. The Summer Palace, which is a collection of buildings around a very beautiful lake, is a place to be treasured more than once. It covers many, many acres and is stunning. On our next trip to Beijing, we will be returning here. This tour was very well done. Educational, good lunch at a very nice place, and the shopping stop was fun. Highly recommended. Consistently good tour company.

Review by: Lucine G	October 2008
Well organized, nice instructor spoke English well.

Review by: Robin M, Australia	August 2008
Summer Palace close to heavenly experience, Lama Temple great insight into Buddhism. Panda Garden amazing, but duration far too short when bundled into other 2 tours--suggest separate visit.

Review by: Jodi P, United States of America	August 2008
We upgraded to a private tour due to time constraints. AWESOME!!!! Very flexible!!!

Review by: Linda M	August 2008
Summer Palace close to heavenly experience, Lama Temple great insight into Buddhism. Panda Garden amazing, but duration far too short when bundled into other 2 tours--suggest separate visit.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	October 2007
Only 8 people on the tour which was great and allowed us to interact more with guide and ask all the questions we wanted. Lunch provided was very good.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	September 2007
The tour operator should add a boat ride at the Summer Palace and entrance into the hilltop temple.

Review by: Ranita Q, United States of America	August 2007
The Panda Garden was great, and I really enjoyed the Summer Palace. I liked the Silk Factory and the Pearl Market, but felt a lot of pressure to buy items even when I didn't want them.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	August 2007
Pushy salespeople ruined this tour!

Review by: Patricia S, Australia	July 2007
Beijing itself wasn't very good - it's too polluted. The highlights of our trip were the tours we took, this one and one to the Great Wall. Wow! They were amazing!

Review by: PATRICIA S	July 2007
Beijing itself wasn't very good - it's too polluted. The highlights of our trip were the tours we took, this one and one to the Great Wall. Wow! They were amazing!

Review by: Jeffrey C, Australia	May 2007
Summer Palace is ordinary, but the other two were good.

Review by: Anonymous, Israel	July 2006
The Lama Temple and the Summer Palace were magnificent. We had an excellent guide.