---
title: "Beijing, on One Line"
description: "5 days from a palace axis to a ridgeline wall seeing how Beijing was drawn"
type: "tour"
route_id: "beijing-5-days"
total_days: 5
price: 1750
highlights: ["Beijing"]
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# Beijing, on One Line

5 days from a palace axis to a ridgeline wall, seeing how Beijing was drawn

The capital, plan and all. Hutong lanes, the Temple of Heaven, a tea table and a shoemaker's bench, with an English-speaking guide throughout.

- Day two covers the full axis and takes the whole day; the Great Wall climb is by cable car. There are no travel days between cities, so the rest is easy going.

## Overview

Beijing reads like a list of famous places until you notice they all sit on the same line. Day two walks that line: the square, the palace, and the hill that looks down on both. Day three follows a second line, the one the empire drew along the ridges north of town. Then the city off the axis, an altar, the national collection, lanes around a lake. The last morning goes to handwork and a tea table instead of the airport. One city, four nights, one hotel: no stations, no boarding passes, nothing packed twice. You'll go home able to draw this city on a napkin.

— LyrikTrip travel designers

Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates, your flights and who is coming, and we shape these five days around them. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. For this route the first thing we check is your day two: it has to miss Mondays, and it has to fit your legs.

## Summary

- Route ID: beijing-5-days
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Starting price: $1,750
- Status: active
- Highlights: Beijing
- Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bckHHtQO.webp

## Hero tags

- private
- From 1 guest
- Max: no fixed limit

## Highlight notes

- The capital, plan and all. Hutong lanes, the Temple of Heaven, a tea table and a shoemaker's bench, with an English-speaking guide throughout.
- 5 days from a palace axis to a ridgeline wall. See how Beijing was drawn.

## Selling points

- Climb the hill behind the palace at the end of day two and get the whole day back at once: gold roof rows below you, one straight line running through all of them.
- Take the cable car up at Mutianyu and save your energy for the Wall itself rather than the climb: the round trip is included in the price.
- Put the week in order in one afternoon at the national collection, where the roofs you walked under finally get their dates.
- Keep your last morning: a shoemaker's bench and a first proper gaiwan before the airport, rather than three spare hours at the gate.

## City highlights

- Beijing (5 days): Land, then nothing
  - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1bDq9gT4.webp

## Experiences

The capital, plan and all. Hutong lanes, the Temple of Heaven, a tea table and a shoemaker's bench, with an English-speaking guide throughout.

- Tian'anmen Square (Beijing): Tian'anmen Square introduces the scale and symbolism of modern Chinese public space.
  - Subtitle: Beijing's monumental civic landmark
  - Tags: Landmark
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: A central orientation stop before or after the Forbidden City.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b6a275c3e50d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e544ca01550e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b85b763e11cd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a724165b0cc6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/410246e2d66a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/600867e7a2ef.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cd9c3a758365.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/86b6ca981b8d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/50c2c4037905.jpg
- Forbidden City (Beijing): The Forbidden City takes visitors into the ceremonial heart of China's Ming and Qing dynasties.
  - Subtitle: China's imperial palace at the heart of Beijing
  - Tags: Heritage
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: Core imperial Beijing access with palace courtyards and historic halls.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/03a0a4e882e0.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8a6cdb9ca2b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7f313a6dab74.jpg, https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/0102h1200087d62rxDD6F.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/de8d1138706b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/936bacaf5cc5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ff6c2e542310.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/05488de4902e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bab6e6596202.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/85f10b61d841.jpg
- Jingshan Park (Beijing): Jingshan Park offers one of the best classic views across the Forbidden City rooftops.
  - Subtitle: A hilltop view over imperial Beijing
  - Tags: Viewpoint
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: A short climb rewards travellers with a strong city overview.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/408fc381c4b4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7f313a6dab74.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6a3ff539ffc8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2c700baa4e73.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/00decb026e42.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/51ec43ea0513.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9604ef61c628.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7dc03e9310a1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/964e96f11238.jpg
- Mutianyu Great Wall (Beijing): A well-restored Great Wall section with open views and easier walking conditions for first-time visitors.
  - Subtitle: A classic Great Wall section near Beijing
  - Tags: Great Wall
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: A refined Great Wall experience with flexible cable car or walking options.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f6c07b2f8772.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3a661e194c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1b0f83ddd1e5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7207d6532c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e88879531691.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/926d916b9408.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/91465599744f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a720fb1678e6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/608cdc21a04d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b968ec44131.jpg
- Temple of Heaven (Beijing): Temple of Heaven combines Ming dynasty ritual architecture with Beijing's lively park culture.
  - Subtitle: An imperial ritual site with local life
  - Tags: Culture
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: Pairs grand ceremonial architecture with everyday local morning activity.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0d9ea5fe76e1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/db9b46f1b9cf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c545d9594e74.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dc39cfe33b0d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/359ba00d37d0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b538bb2aa834.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d40f9e82d6b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/212c0e2ea8c8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7bbec6cd7e80.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cd8da061f42b.jpg
- National Museum of China (Beijing): the national collection on the east side of the square: bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist figures, calligraphy. Two hours here puts the objects behind the last nine days into one room, which is why it sits on the day you leave Beijing. Entry is by timed reservation and the system sits poorly with overseas mobile numbers, so your quote states in writing who books it and by when. Admission is in the base price; audio guides and guides hired inside are not.
  - Subtitle: the national collection on the east side of the square: bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist figures, calligraphy.
  - Tags: Museum
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: the national collection on the east side of the square: bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist figures, calligraphy. Two hours here puts the objects behind the last nine days into one room, which is why it sits on the day you leave Beijing. Entry is by timed reservation and the system sits poorly with overseas mobile numbers, so your quote states in writing who books it and by when. Admission is in the base price; audio guides and guides hired inside are not.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1cf05dc82e49.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d076400ad86d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/55ab6f174707.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dcce08639678.jpg
- Hutong & Shichahai Walk (Beijing): the neighbourhood fabric old Beijing still lives in: grey courtyard houses, narrow lanes, lakes ringed with willows, and the Drum and Bell Towers that once told the whole city the time. You walk it with your guide on your arrival day, paced to however much energy your flight has left you; land late and the lanes simply wait for another evening. Why it opens the trip: the palaces show how emperors lived; the hutongs show how everyone else did, and they came first.
  - Subtitle: the neighbourhood fabric old Beijing still lives in: grey courtyard houses, narrow
  - Tags: City
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: Why it opens the trip: the palaces show how emperors lived; the hutongs show how everyone else did, and they came first.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c24addfaebbd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f8eee3ac9120.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/63616b80ebb4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fe9f94178424.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c3750a516f25.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b76ac68047c9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/813e0ad5e32f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8f53a337fbca.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/748ea658803d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/61793c2d137e.jpg
- Cloth-Shoe Workshop & Tea Ceremony (Beijing): Two of the capital's quiet crafts in one sitting. At the workshop you watch a "thousand-layer" sole take shape: dozens of fabric layers pressed and stitched through with an awl and waxed thread, and put a few stitches in yourself. Then the tea table: your first gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in, with someone showing you how to brew, pour and hold it, and two or three teas to tell apart. Scheduled around your afternoon train.
  - Subtitle: Two quiet Beijing crafts in one sitting
  - Tags: Craft
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: Scheduled around your afternoon train.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/76731091de6d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/235ef8084ffe.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a3a01c05e7c8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/059cdb347ee5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/211ef041a5c0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2e813f89d0a8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f239b783d1dd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3b0955c82b6c.jpg
- Tea sitting, an introduction to the gaiwan (Beijing): an hour at a courtyard tea table with your first proper gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in: someone shows you how to brew, pour and hold it. Two teas, tasted side by side. Scheduled after the hutong walk, before dinner.
  - Subtitle: an hour at a courtyard tea table with your first proper gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in: someone shows you how to brew, pour and hold it.
  - Tags: hands-on
  - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall
  - Access: Scheduled after the hutong walk, before dinner.
  - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/235ef8084ffe.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6a74f063db8f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8c8f362cd21b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b045d77d2dee.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8d41a30d0dba.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7e954db56a94.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8b0aad4b5d9c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0565ee0b165e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6585d9ed47b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/98722f1766ef.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6431e9c43b88.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e624ddda0aad.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a3ca19275835.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/33a4ea6961d5.jpg
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## Itinerary

### Beijing, on One Line - 5 days

Journey

#### Beijing (5 days)

- Subtitle: Land, then nothing
- Recommendation: You land and the day stays deliberately empty. Beijing starts tomorrow, at the south end of the line.
- Transport: Flight
- Transport mode: airplane

Airport pickup · The rest of the day

- Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1bDq9gT4.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/14h8ZnOb.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/17bdSgjF.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1cZHxWkg.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vwu9mIQ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1X29GyUB.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1xVI7jTc.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/24XUDb3f.webp
##### Day 1: Land, then nothing

- (transport) — your driver meets your flight and takes you into town. Your first look at the city is through the car window on the motorway: ring road after ring road, towers arriving long before the old city does.
- (sight) — Yours. Sleep the flight off, or walk the blocks around the hotel until the jet lag lets go. Nothing is scheduled, and your guide joins you tomorrow morning.
- (accommodation) Novotel Beijing Peace — Hotel stay in Beijing.

##### Day 2: The axis, in one day

- (sight) — you begin on the ceremonial grounds of the capital, standing where the old imperial line gives way to the twentieth century. Entry is via a security check and your guide times the morning around it, so the walking starts once the crowd at the screening thins.
- (sight) — in through the south gate and north through the sequence: ceremonial halls, then the living quarters, then the garden, then out at the north gate. Finished in 1420, it holds you for hours and refuses to end. Stand once in the middle of a great courtyard with nothing but stone in every direction: that is the picture from today.
- (dining) — booked by your guide near the axis, on your account.
- (sight) — across the street from the north gate you climb the hill, and the palace lies down flat below you: roof rows in gold, with the line running north and south through every one of them. Somewhere on the steps you'll notice you have stopped talking.
- (note) — unscheduled. Your guide books dinner if you wish, at your own expense; otherwise the day ends when the hill does.

##### Day 3: The other line

- (sight) — the wall sits far enough out that it gets the whole day and shares it with nothing. You leave after breakfast and the city thins out through the window: ring roads, then orchards, then hills.
- (sight) — the cable car takes you up, so your legs are free for the wall itself. You walk a restored stretch from watchtower to watchtower, and your guide reads the ground for you: beacon towers, the pass below, the reason each tower sits where it does. Stand in a tower window and look along the ridge: stone running up over the crest and out of sight. In an empty tower you'll catch yourself lowering your voice.
- (sight) — the return leaves time to spare on purpose. Lunch is booked by your guide near the wall or back in the city, on your account, and the evening is yours.

##### Day 4: Off the beaten track

- (sight) — the emperors came here to ask for the harvest, and the whole compound speaks one grammar: round for heaven, square for earth. Walk the raised path from the Hall of Prayer with the round hall at your back and the sky doing all the work overhead.
- (sight) — your timed entry is pre-booked by us, so you walk in at the hour you were given. Inside: bronzes, ceramics, sculpture and calligraphy, the country laid out in order. You'll feel the week rearrange itself, the roofs and the wall and the bronze in front of you all landing on one line.
- (sight) — you finish the day where people actually live. Courtyard lanes run off the lakes, one room and a bicycle behind each open door, washing overhead, a card game on a stool. Stand on the bank as the water goes flat: that is the evening's picture.

##### Day 5: A sole, a cup, then the airport

- (sight) — an hour where Beijing cloth shoes are still made the old way. Layers of fabric are glued and pressed into a sole, then stitched through by hand, row after row. The name follows from that: a thousand-layer sole. Watch a needle go through the full thickness once and you understand what the price of a pair is paying for.
- (sight) — an introductory hour at a tea table with a gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in, set up for someone meeting one for the first time. Your guide interprets throughout. Halfway through, you'll feel the morning slow to the speed of your hands.
- (transport) — your driver takes you out with time to spare. The morning is checked against your departure time when we quote, so the plan you receive already fits the flight you are on.

## Daily plan

### Day 1 — Land, then nothing

You land and the day stays deliberately empty. Beijing starts tomorrow, at the south end of the line.

- Airport pickup: your driver meets your flight and takes you into town. Your first look at the city is through the car window on the motorway: ring road after ring road, towers arriving long before the old city does.
- The rest of the day: yours. Sleep the flight off, or walk the blocks around the hotel until the jet lag lets go. Nothing is scheduled, and your guide joins you tomorrow morning.
- Stay: Beijing
- Meals: None included today; your guide is available for dinner suggestions

### Day 2 — The axis, in one day

South gate to hilltop, the whole route on foot in a single day. See the pieces first, then the plan they belong to.

- Tiananmen Square: you start on the ceremonial ground of the capital, standing where the old imperial line runs into the twentieth century. Entry is through a security check and your guide times the morning around it, so the walking starts when the crowd at the screening thins.
- The Forbidden City: in through the south gate and north through the sequence: ceremonial halls, then the living quarters, then the garden, then out at the north gate. Finished in 1420, it holds you for hours and refuses to end. Stand once in the middle of a great courtyard with nothing but stone in every direction: that is the picture from today.
- Lunch: booked by your guide near the axis, on your account.
- Jingshan Park: across the street from the north gate you climb the hill, and the palace lies down flat below you: roof rows in gold, with the line running north and south through every one of them. Somewhere on the steps you'll notice you have stopped talking.
- Evening: unscheduled. Your guide books dinner if you want it, on your account; otherwise the day ends when the hill does.
- Stay: Beijing
- Meals: Breakfast at the hotel

### Day 3 — The other line

A full day north to the wall at Mutianyu. Yesterday's line was drawn in a city, this one along a ridge.

- North out of town: the wall sits far enough out that it gets the whole day and shares it with nothing. You leave after breakfast and the city thins out through the window: ring roads, then orchards, then hills.
- Mutianyu Great Wall: the cable car takes you up, so your legs go to the wall itself. You walk a restored stretch from watchtower to watchtower, and your guide reads the ground for you: beacon towers, the pass below, the reason each tower sits where it does. Stand in a tower window and look along the ridge: stone running up over the crest and out of sight. In an empty tower you'll catch yourself lowering your voice.
- Back to town: the return journey leaves time to spare on purpose. Lunch is booked by your guide near the wall or back in the city, on your account, and the evening is yours.
- Stay: Beijing
- Meals: Breakfast at the hotel

### Day 4 — Off the beaten track

An altar in the morning, the national collection after lunch, lanes around a lake at dusk. Today is where the city stops being imperial and starts being lived in.

- Temple of Heaven: the emperors came here to ask for the harvest, and the whole compound speaks one grammar: round for heaven, square for earth. Walk the raised path from the Hall of Prayer with the round hall at your back and the sky doing all the work overhead.
- National Museum of China: your timed entry is booked ahead by us, so you walk in on the hour you were given. Inside: bronzes, ceramics, sculpture and calligraphy, the country laid out in order. You'll feel the week rearrange itself, the roofs and the wall and the bronze in front of you all landing on one line.
- Shichahai hutongs: you finish the day where people actually live. Courtyard lanes run off the lakes, one room and a bicycle behind each open door, laundry overhead, a card game on a stool. Stand on the bank as the water goes flat: that is the evening's picture.
- Stay: Beijing
- Meals: Breakfast at the hotel

### Day 5 — A pint, a cup, then the airport

Two hours of handwork before the flight. The last thing this city shows you is made by hand, not built by an emperor.

- Cloth-shoe workshop: an hour where Beijing cloth shoes are still made the old way. Layers of fabric are pasted and pressed into a sole, then stitched through by hand, row after row. The name follows from that: a thousand-layer sole. Watch a needle go through the full thickness once and you understand what the price of a pair is paying for.
- Tea sitting: an introductory hour at a tea table with a gaiwan, the lidded cup China brews in, set up for someone meeting one for the first time. Your guide interprets throughout. Halfway through, you'll feel the morning slow to the speed of your hands.
- Airport drop-off: your driver takes you out with time to spare. The morning is checked against your departure time when we quote, so the plan you receive already fits the flight you are on.
- Stay: Trip ends
- Meals: Breakfast at the hotel

## Hotels

### Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)

- City: Beijing
- Description: Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
- Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dHqyz391.webp

### Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station

- City: Beijing
- Description: Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
- Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/gLxP4Hxa.webp

### Sofitel Beijing Central

- City: Beijing
- Description: Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
- Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/itT5uc1l.webp

### Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast

- City: Beijing
- Description: International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
- Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bWOFYezP.jpg

## Included / Excluded

### What's Included

- Private vehicle: Air-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring, including the full-day Great Wall round trip; airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day five
- Intercity transport: None on this plan: the whole trip stays in Beijing, with no internal flights or trains, so no cabin class applies
- Hotel: 4 nights in Beijing at your chosen level (four-star, five-star or quality boutique), breakfast included, named in your written confirmation
- Guide: Licensed English-speaking guide on days two to five
- Day two tickets: Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City with the timed reservation booked by us, and Jingshan Park
- Day three tickets: Mutianyu Great Wall entrance, with return cable car
- Day four tickets: Temple of Heaven, the National Museum of China with the timed reservation booked by us, and the Shichahai hutong walk by the lakes
- Day five experiences: The cloth-shoe workshop and the introductory tea sitting, both included in the base price
- In-park transport: Any in-park transport needed to complete the listed visits; on this plan that is the Mutianyu round-trip cable car above
- Meals: 4 hotel breakfasts, on days two through five
- Insurance: Travel accident insurance

### Not Included

- International flights: Flights to and from Beijing
- Visas: Visa fees and processing for guests who require a Chinese visa
- Meals: All lunches and dinners: your guide recommends and books around your taste each day, on your account
- Optional add-ons: This plan carries no optional extras at present; anything introduced later is priced separately when you choose it and is never included in the base plan
- Personal: Gratuities, single or extra-room difference, personal spending

### Special Notes

A few things on this route follow your flights, the calendar or the season. Here they are, told straight.

- Departure morning: the workshop and the tea sitting sit before the airport drop-off on day five. When we quote, we check both against your departure flight. If the flight leaves too early for both, your written quote states which of the two comes out and prices the trip on that basis, before any deposit is taken.
- Departure dates: The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, so dates are arranged to keep day two off a Monday; if your preferred date falls on a Monday, days two and three are swapped. There are no departures from 1 to 7 October, the national holiday week.
- Reservations: the Forbidden City and the National Museum of China both admit by timed reservation, and their booking systems do not deal well with overseas phone numbers. We book both slots with the details on your confirmation.
- Cable car in late season: the Mutianyu cable car is included in your price. Its November and December operating schedule is being confirmed with the operator for this selling window; if it does not run on your dates, we will inform you at the time of quotation and re-price the day rather than letting you find out on the mountain.
- Day two effort: the axis is a full day on foot and it is the most demanding day of the five. It is designed for adults in good shape. Travelling with young children or with anyone who tires easily? Let us know when you request a quote and we will split it across two days.
- Season: From October to December, Beijing is cold and dry. This itinerary keeps the long outdoor stretches on the Wall during the day and in the mornings, and moves the collection, the workshop, and the tea table indoors.
- Hotels: named in your written confirmation; "or similar" always means the same class and comparable location, never a quiet downgrade.

## Is Five Days Your Length?

Four days instead of five? Or more?

### Four days instead of five? Or more?

Each day stands on its own, so we cut days rather than corners: drop the last morning and you keep the axis, the wall and the museum day. Staying longer? The extra days go on the front or the back, and we plan them once we know your flights.

## Good to Know

- Group: Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Ports: Beijing in, Beijing out; airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day five are both included
- Visas: The UK, most of Europe and Canada enter visa-free for days, and so do Australia and New Zealand. We confirm your whole stay in China fits that window before you pay. The current policy runs to December 31, 2026: departures on or before December 27 finish inside it, and we quote later dates once the renewal is announced. US passports: either a Chinese visa you already hold, or the 10-day visa-free transit route, which needs an onward flight to a third country or region with a confirmed date and seat. We check your flights order by order before any payment.
- Language: Licensed English-speaking guide on days two to five
- Fitness: Day two is a full walking day on the axis; the Great Wall climb is by cable car; no travel days between cities
- Payment: A 10% deposit (minimum $399) secures your dates; the balance is due 14 days before departure
- Flexibility: Days stand alone and can be added or dropped; the confirmation deadline and the change and refund conditions for your dates are listed in writing with your quote, and no order is taken without them
- Season: October to December: cold, dry Beijing, with outdoor stretches kept to the wall day and the mornings

## Your Private Concierge

- Name: Jason Hu
- Title: Private China Route Concierge
- Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.
- Bio: Our China team tailors the pacing, hotels and local hosts to suit each route style.
- Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png

### Stats

- 20+ Years
- 300+ Trips designed
- 24/7 On-trip care

### The Conversation

Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day.

- CTA: Start the conversation

### Step 01: Tell us what excites you

Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.

- 24h: First concept delivered

### Step 02: We design it around you

Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.

- 100%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf

### Step 03: Lock it in with 10%

When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.

- 10%: Deposit to secure everything

### Step 04: Travel. We handle the rest.

Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.

- 24/7: Support throughout your journey

- Free cancellation up to 30 days
- English-speaking concierge
- Secure payment via Stripe

- CTA: Talk to Us

## Guest Reviews

- Overall rating: 4.9
- Total reviews: 523
- Count label: from 523 verified reviews

4.9 / 5

### Platforms

- google: 4.9 (312 reviews)
- tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews)

- Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor
- Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): Perfect for couples - My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.
- Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): Great for families - Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.
- Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): Alisa made the whole experience easy - Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.
- Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly - Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.
- Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.

## China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.

### VPN & Internet Access

- Badge: Do this before you fly
- What's blocked: Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
- Download before you leave: It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
- Hotel Wi-Fi tip: Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
- Good news: WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.

### Paying in China

- Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
- China is cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
- International cards now work: Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
- Carry some cash: We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
- Booking this trip: Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.

### Visa & Entry

- Badge: We handle the paperwork
- Do you need a visa?: Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
- 240-hour visa-free transit: Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
- Processing time: Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
- What we provide: Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.

### Safety & Practical Tips

- Badge: Our responsibility, always
- Is China safe?: China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
- Emergency numbers: Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
- Health & medications: Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
- Language: English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.

## Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

### Five days, one city. Isn't Beijing done in two?

Two days gets you the palace and the wall as photographs. Five gets you the reason they are where they are: the axis walked end to end in one day, the wall given a whole day of its own, a museum afternoon that dates everything you have seen. The last morning goes to a workbench. You also stop moving: one hotel, four nights, no stations.

### I've read the Forbidden City is exhausting. How hard is day two?

It is the demanding day of the five, and we do not pretend otherwise: the square, the palace and the hill are a full day on foot, built for adults in good shape. Your guide takes one chosen route through the palace rather than every hall, lunch sits in the middle, and the hill at the end is short. If that still sounds like too much, say so at quoting and we split day two across two days.

### Which Great Wall, and do I have to climb?

Mutianyu, and no. The cable car takes you up and back and it is in your price, so the walking happens on the wall itself, between restored watchtowers. We use Mutianyu rather than Badaling because it is the quieter of the two, and the day carries nothing else so the drive out and back never squeezes it.

### It's November. Does the cold break the plan?

Beijing in late autumn and early winter is cold, dry and clear. The plan puts the long outdoor stretches on the wall day and in the mornings, and keeps the museum, the workshop and the tea table indoors. What we cannot promise is the mountain: the cable car's operating schedule for November and December is being confirmed with the operator for this window. If it will not run on your dates, you hear it from us at quoting, with the day re-planned and re-priced, not on the mountain.

### Do I need a visa for five days?

Most guests do not. The UK, most of Europe and Canada enter visa-free for days, and so do Australia and New Zealand. We confirm these five days plus any other days in China fit that window before you pay. US passports book on a Chinese visa already held, or on the 10-day visa-free transit route, which needs an onward flight to a third country or region with a confirmed date and seat; a round trip home does not qualify. We check the whole itinerary against the rules order by order, and if it does not fit we say so instead of selling.