Day 01
Mutianyu Great Wall and Dingling at the Ming Tombs
- You will be picked up from your hotel's lobby in Beijing by your tour guide, then proceed to the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section in a private car. The drive will take approximately 1.5 hours.
- Upon arrival, you'll take the cable car or ski lift to the Wall, then take time to marvel at this incredible structure and the surrounding hillsides.
- The Great Wall at Mutianyu was built and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) on the remnants of a wall originally built in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577). The Ming pass at Mutianyu was officially proclaimed in 1404 and served as an important symbol of protection from marauding nomads to the north.
- Follow your tour guide as you hike up and down to explore different beacon and watch towers. Gain insight into the Great Wall's history, why and when it was built, and how military signals were sent in the past. After the tour, you may choose to take the ski lift or toboggan back to the ground.
- Stop at a local restaurant for lunch, then head to the Ming Tombs.
- In the afternoon, you will explore Dingling at the Ming Tombs. The Ming Tombs mainly refer to thirteen tombs of the Ming Dynasty scattered at the foot of Tianshou Mountain. Listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, the Ming Tombs present an impressive natural landscape and great historical significance.
- Stroll around the area with your tour guide, admire the antiques in the museums, and discover the secrets of the Underground Palace.
- After the tour, you will be transferred to your Beijing city hotel.
