“Discover Beijing and Chinese culture from an insider’s perspective. Conquer the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu — the top Wonder of the World — where fewer people have traveled. Skip the line at the Forbidden City as a VIP guest. Enjoy the most authentic Chinese food in our selected local restaurants. Visit the homes of the Indian and Eastern sages: Sakyamuni and Confucius. Explore the hutongs to see the real Chinese lifestyle of a local Beijinger. No shopping, no time-wasting, family-friendly, and absolutely the first choice for a trip to Beijing. This tour is only available with Mr orange.”
Tour Highlights
A full exploration of Beijing’s culture and history.
Conquer the top Wonder of the World — the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu.
Skip the line at the Forbidden City as a Mr orange VIP guest.
Discover the Chinese spiritual life and religion by visiting the famous Lama Temple and Confucius Temple.
Learn interesting facts about Beijing’s history and culture from a local Beijing resident and professional guide.
Enjoy a home-visit to a traditional hutong courtyard house, also called a siheyuan, to witness “those old times” of Beijing.
Taste the most authentic Chinese food in the top-rated local restaurants of Beijing.
No shopping, no factories, no extra payments inside the attractions, and it is family-friendly.
Guide, Driver, Vehicle, and Customer Service Support
Guide: experienced English-speaking guides with the qualified tour guide certification from the National Tourism Bureau. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help.
Driver: reliable licensed local driver with at least 5 years’ driving experience
Vehicle: air-conditioned business car (maximum of 7 seats) with GPS facilities, free in-car Wi-Fi, big windows, and ample space.
Mr orange Beijing Office: Mr orange Beijing Office offers 24/7 customer service (+86-10-56120208) to solve your queries on the spot.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Visit Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu
Skip the line at the amazing Forbidden City (Imperial Palace Museum) as Mr orange VIP guests. Walk across the world’s largest urban square — Tian’anmen Square — where the famous Chairman Mao’s portrait is hanging. Take a 2-hour hike on the Great Wall at Mutianyu with a round-trip cable car or toboggan. Enjoy a freshly-cooked set meal for lunch, and free portable Wi-Fi anytime and anywhere.
Due to the smart timing arrangements of this tour, there is absolutely no opportunity to visit any shops. Today, you will have a chance to explore the best attractions in Beijing.
>> see detailed time arrangement for Day 1.
Day 1 of the tour
Day 2
Visit the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and Jingshan Park
Today, you will fully explore Beijing by visiting the famous imperial garden — the Summer Palace and pass by the 2008 Beijing Olympics Site (the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube). After having a Beijing-style lunch, you will have a bird’s-eye view of Beijing and the Forbidden City when you visit Jingshan Park. Later on you’ll visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperors used to pray for rain and a good harvest, and you will see the palace where the emperors used to fast.
Today, you will travel back in time to experience life as it was for a Chinese emperor.
>> see detailed time arrangement for Day 2.
Day 2 of the tour
Day 3
Visit the Lama Temple, the Confucius Temple, Take a Rickshaw and Walking Trip with a Home-Visit in the Hutongs
Discover the Chinese culture from an insider’s perspective. Visit the homes of the Western and Eastern sages: Sakyamuni and Confucius. Enjoy a dim sum lunch at the most distinctive Cantonese-style restaurant in Beijing. Cast your mind back to the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Enjoy a 3-hour in-depth tour that combines a rickshaw and walking trip with a visit to a family’s home in the hutongs.
Today, you will have a closer experience with the locals’ lifestyles and their spiritual culture. You will finally get the answers to your questions about the habits of Chinese people that might have puzzled you before. Please see the detailed itinerary for day 3 below.
Day 3 of the tour
8:00am – 12:30pm
Collection from the Hotel to the Lama Temple and the Confucius Temple
Just as with the previous two days, your guide will be waiting punctually for you in your hotel lobby. Your comfortable car will transfer you and your guide to the imperial lamasery that was built in the Qing Dynasty — the Lama Temple — where you will see the world’s largest wooden sculpture of Buddha. It is a 26-meter high sculpture of Sakyamuni, the great sage of the West.
Coincidently, just one street away from the Lama Temple stands the great sage of the East, the world renowned Chinese philosopher called Confucius. These two sages greatly influenced Chinese people throughout history.
Walk along the avenue in the shade of the pine trees, listening to your guide’s presentation while breathing the air, which is filled with the smell of peony flowers. You will understand how the so-called “harmonious life” came into being that so many Chinese saints and sages pursued.
Good to know:
Your group will be a maximum of six people, offering great flexibility. If you want some more time for taking photos, or you have more questions about the history and architecture, please feel free to let your guide know.
If you plan to leave Beijing after the tour, please check out from your hotel before departure. Normally it will take 10 to 20 minutes for the hotel staff to complete the procedure. You may leave your luggage in your vehicle, and you will be transferred to the airport or train station straight after the tour to make the best use of your time. You will need one hour to be transferred from the city center to the airport, and you will need to be at the airport 1½ hours before a domestic flight, or 2½ hours before if you are taking an international flight. Tell us about your departure time when booking and remind your guide, and we will make arrangements accordingly.
If you need our service to pick you up from the airport or train station and transfer you to your hotel, please click here to book the airport transfer service . (Price from USD 18 per person.)
Road to Lama Temple
Lama Temple
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Lunch Time
Enjoy a dim sum lunch at the most distinctive Cantonese-style restaurant in Beijing, named Jin Ding Xuan (金鼎轩), which is highly recommended in TripAdvisor.
Jin Ding Xuan
1:30pm – 5:00pm
Rickshaw and Walking Trip with a Home-Visit in the Hutongs
After lunch, ride to the old hutong area with your guide and take a rickshaw through the 300-year old hutongs.
A rickshaw is the best way to explore the hutongs as it will help you to stay away from the crowds of tourists. You will stop at several places on the way for your guide’s presentation and a photo opportunity, including an old wine museum where you can sip some Chinese “baijiu” (wine) and a local family’s residence. The Mr orange kiosk will provide you with bottles of water to ensure a comfortable journey in the hutongs.
After a rickshaw trip to the big, busy streets, sneak into the hutong alleyways toward the Drum and Bell Towers. From there, make your way down the bustling street east of the Drum Tower towards Nanluoguxiang, which is a vibrant snack street lined with snacks from Beijing, other parts of China, and the world, as well as boutique shops.
After walking there, snake your way through more hutongs, checking out the details of the traditional homes in these neighborhoods, which will give you a clearer picture of life in “Old Beijing”. Next, walk towards the Shichahai Lake area, through the former inner city’s only curved street, and wander along the banks of the lake past lively bars and restaurants.
You will also get the chance to walk into and see a restored traditional hutong courtyard residence, called a siheyuan.
Good to know:
We avoid traffic jams and the busiest crowds in the hutongs by visiting in the afternoon. This way you can have the chance to view a beautiful avenue in the 300 -year old hutongs, which is a wonderful and unforgettable experience. It is also the best time for taking good photos.
There are many sights, sounds, and certainly smells to take in at all times in this bustling city. This is particularly true in the hutongs. The small lanes boast interesting histories and connect historical attractions like the Drum and Bell Towers to Houhai Lake. The route has been planned to incorporate all of these sights, and being accompanied by a knowledgeable, English-speaking Chinese guide makes the experience all the richer. Plus, you get to visit a siheyuan courtyard. This is a great tour for those who want to take Beijing in at a comfortable pace, and has been planned so that you will see something new and exciting, with detailed descriptions and information from your guide, along the entire journey.
Mr orange has set up a Refreshments Kiosk in the middle of the hutongs. Mr orange customers will receive free ice-cool water, beers, maps, and a walking pole (if needed) at the service site.
rickshaw to hutong
hutong area
Family-visit in hutongs
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Transfer Back to Your Hotel
Going back to your hotel in Beijing will normally take about half an hour. It takes the same time to get to a Beijing train station. Going directly to Beijing Capital Airport normally takes about one hour.
We will transfer you to your hotel at the end of the tour. If you need to catch a flight or a train after the tour we are more than happy to help you arrange it. Please click here to book the airport transfer for your onward flight .
Thank you for choosing Mr orange. We are confident that this trip will bring you joy and satisfaction. It would be a great encouragement to us, and we would greatly appreciate it, if you would rate us on TripAdvisor or share your experience of our service on your Facebook page or blog.
Farewell
Tour Price (USD/ person)
| Options | Adults (age>12) | Children (age 2-12) | Infants (age <2) |
| Shoulder Season* | $289 | $259 | free |
| Peak Season* | $299 | $259 | free |
Important Notes:
The peak season includes the following dates: 30/Apr/2016 – 02/May/2016, 01/Oct/2016 – 07/Oct/2016, 01/Jan/2017 – 03/Jan/2017, 27/Jan/2017 – 03/Feb/2017. Other dates are indicated as shoulder season.
You will share this tour with other tourists (to a maximum of six people).
This tour is available daily with a guaranteed departure.
If you want to book hotel rooms, please leave your message to us at the inquiry form and we will reserve the room for you per your requirement at a very reasonable price.
Book This Tour
Price Includes:
Entrance fees to attractions listed in the itinerary.
Transportation between your hotel and attractions in the itinerary, including hotel pick-up and drop-off.
English-speaking expert local guide.
Meals listed in the itinerary.
Price Excludes:
China visa and personal expenses.
Gratuities to the tour guide & driver (usually CNY 50 – 100 per person for your tour guide, CNY 25 – 50 per person for your driver). It is not compulsory but would be a great encouragement for them.
Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary.
Hotels.
Airport transfer. Click here to book airport transfer service. (price from 18 USD p/p.)
Mr orange Cancellation Policy for Beijing Tours
If we are not able to implement the contract due to war, flood, typhoon, fire, strikes, storm, earthquake, or any other condition we are not able to foresee and avoid, we will inform customers at the first possible opportunity and offer the best possible solutions, and the final bill shall be settled based on the service we actually provide.
Up to 7 days before departure: 100% refund of all money paid, excluding penalties charged by hotels, railways, airlines, and PayPal, if applicable. All penalties will be itemized.
From 3 to 7 days before departure: 90% refund, excluding penalties charged by hotels, railways, airlines, and PayPal, if applicable. All penalties will be itemized.
Within 3 days before departure: no refund.
After the trip has commenced, we are unable to refund any amount for cancelled services due to non-participation, early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours.
For groups of more than 10 people: The terms for cancellation may vary from case to case. Please ask your travel advisor regarding the cancellation policy for your group.
About 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
Citizens of certain countries who meet the criteria are allowed 72-hour visa-free transit via and travel in nine China cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shenyang, and Dalian. Please make sure you have read the detailed Visa-free policies before you decide to take the Visa-free policy. And please keep in mind that Mr orange does not take any resposibility for the risk or loss of customer who use the Visa-free policy. more details
Hotel pick-up and drop-off area
The hotel pick-up and drop-off area should be within the fourth ring road of Beijing. For further distance there might be an extra cost for the transfer which you’ll be notified by your travel advisor.
Service area
What Makes Us Different?
We are experienced in how best to tour Beijing.
We research our customers’ favorite spots and photo sites, and work out the best routes to cover Beijing’s top sights.
In the Forbidden City: We include 10 palace chambers, whereas you will only glance at six similar rooms when touring with other groups. And you will be treated as a VIP guest to skip the line at the Forbidden City while other groups have to queue up for more than half an hour to get the tickets.
On the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall: We’ve chosen the most beautiful and classic part of the Great Wall — between the 14th and 23rd watchtowers — the Great Wall hikers’ “golden route”. (You would do a more tiring and less interesting hike for about 3 hours if you choose to start from the “walking entrance”, as most of our competitors do).
In the hutongs: We’ve chosen the most beautiful part of the hutongs — Beiguoluxiang to Gulou — the Beijing locals’ “golden route ”. (You would do a more tiring and less interesting rickshaw trip for about 20 minutes only if you choose to start from the standard “rickshaw tour”, as most of our competitors do).
We are experienced in how best to tour Beijing
No shopping, no factory, no hidden costs, time-efficient, and a money-back guarantee.
We promise absolutely no shopping stops on our tour, while most other groups have to waste their time in the tourist shops or in the jade factory. We take no extra fees from what’s included in the itinerary, while most other tour groups have to pay extra for cable cars at the Great Wall or for entrance tickets to the Clock Exhibition Hall inside the Forbidden City.
No shopping
We have our own office in Beijing to ensure a better service and quicker response.
Unlike some other online travel agents who sell tour products made by local travel agents, we built our own branch company in Beijing in 2010. Since then, we started to make our own unique products. We aim to deliver a high-value tour to every one of our customers. We have more than 50 local staff in Beijing to solve your problems on the spot.
Emergency contact: 0086-13910694045 (24-7 customer service)
Beijing address: Room 204, Building 8, Beijingxiangsu, Wuliqiao Erjie, Chaoyang District
Mr orange Beijing Office
