Day Tour of Beijing: Temple of Heaven, Beihai Park and Lama Temple

Beijing, China

This is a day tour to explore the tradition of Beijing with English-speaking guide through the historical sites. you will be able to see the ancient residential alleys which can show the slow-paced day-to-day life of locals and the riches of the imperial palace and more!

You’ll meet your guide at your hotel in Beijing, and bring you to The Temple of Heaven which is a notable icon in Beijing. The Temple of Heaven was a sacrificial complex for annual harvesting ceremonies during both the Ming and the Qing Dynasties. You can learn more about this in the museum accompanying the iconic temple.

Then, by riding the rickshaw, you can relax as your driver weaves through the ancient narrow lanes, also known as Beijing’s Hutongs. The Hutongs have captured traditional Beijing’s essence, and spending time here is a real look into authentic Beijing city life. After this, you will have the opportunity to have lunch with a local family. They can also show you how to use chopsticks if you’re not yet fully comfortable using them! To quench your thirst afterwards, you will taste traditional Chinese tea at a teahouse inside the Bell Tower. If you thought tea tasting was easy, just watch the intricate processes involved in boiling Chinese tea – a process that differs for each type of tea.

After that, follow your guide to Beihai Park, one of the oldest imperial parks in the capital located just north of the Forbidden City. They are some of the most carefully preserved ones in China, with man-made hills, pavilions, and many other scenic sites located throughout.

But Beihai Park is not the only beautiful greenery in this fast-growing metropolis: you’ll get the opportunity to explore Jingshan Park with your tour guide, and to take in a panorama of one of the fastest growing cities in the entire world from the top of the hill. This park is also where locals gather to participate in outdoor local group activities: Singing, Dancing, and other traditional performance arts. If you want, they’d be more than happy to accommodate you joining in if you’re in the mood for some traditional singing.

And finally, you will go to the Lama Temple, the most celebrated Buddhist temple in Beijing and a temple of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism. It is one of the largest and most influential one in China, and was the only temple to have been said to have survived in the Cultural Revolution, and only reopened to the public in 1981. Take in the architecture and the oasis of calm amidst one of the most buzzing historic districts in the city.

You will end your tour by transferring back to your hotel in Beijing.