Past and Present Beijing

Duration: 2 days

Highlights: Hutong Tour with trishaw ride, Olympic Village, Temple of Heaven, National Grand Theater, CBD district with CCTV headquarters

This 2 Day/1 Night experience takes in an interesting mix of Old and New in Beijing, from a Hutong tour by trishaw ride and Temple Heaven visit to the architectural wonders of the Olympic Village and CBD district

Itinerary

SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
Experience the interesting mix of Old and New in Beijing from a Hutong tour with a trishaw ride and Temple Heaven to the architectural wonders of the Olympic Village and CBD district.

FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
DAY 01   
Departing the port of Xingang to Beijing City by coach takes 2.5 to 3 hours drive. Upon arrival in Beijing, proceed to lunch, after which you will visit Hutong area by local trishaw. It’s one of the highlight of the tour. “Hutong” is a Manchurian term referring to the network of small winding alleyways that once covered the city of Beijing. A brief stroll through the hutongs concludes with a visit to one of the local families here.

Next, we will drive pass Olympic Game Site (Bird Nest & Water Cube). The Beijing Olympic Games will be an occasion to spread modern Olympic ideas, while displaying splendid Chinese culture, Beijing's historical and cultural heritage, and its residents' positive attitudes. It will also be an opportunity to advance cultural exchanges, to deepen understanding and friendship between the peoples of the world, and to promote harmonious development between mankind and nature. It will be a time to promote healthy interaction between individuals and society and to foster mental and physical health.

In the evening, you will enjoy the Peking Opera performance in the theater. Clanging cymbals, flutes and drums, acrobatic postures, dramatic voices, abrupt geometrical movements, dignified symbolic gestures, colorful mask-like make up, beautifully embroidered silk costumes. Late dinner will be served at a local restaurant before return to hotel.

Stay overnight at Peninsula Hotel or similar.

DAY 02   
Breakfast at hotel. You will visit the Temple of Heaven, a perfection of Ming architecture and one of the symbols of Beijing.  Built in 1420, this huge site (twice the size of the Forbidden City) follows a route traversed by past emperors and their entourages in splendid procession from which the commoner had to avert his eyes. As you stroll through the grounds, you will have an opportunity to join the early morning exercises like Tai Chi or ballroom dancing with the locals.

Next, you will be transferred to National Grand Theater. Among some of the most stunning modern architecture in the world is China’s National Grand Theater in Beijing. One of the many buildings constructed in Beijing in anticipation of the 2008 Olympic games, the National Grand Theater stands out as a gem of modern architectural design. The eggshell shaped theater is encased in glass and titanium and sits in the center of a man-made lake. Then, you will be driven to CBD district with the CCTV Headquarters. It’s the primary area of finance, media, and business services in Beijing, China. Beijing CBD occupies 3.99 sq km of the Chaoyang District on the east side of the city. Geographically situated to the east of the city center, sandwiched between the 3rd Ring Road and the 4th Ring Road, the Beijing CBD is currently undergoing large-scale development. And its CCTV headquarters, the building is the headquarters of China Central Television groundbreaking development took place on September 22, 2004 and the building was completed in December 2008. It stands at 234 metres (768 ft) tall and has 51 floors. The main building is not a traditional tower, but a continuous loop of six horizontal and vertical sections covering 381,000 square metres (4.1 million square feet) of floor space, creating an irregular grid on the building's facade with an open center. The construction of the building is considered to be a structural challenge, especially because it is in a seismic zone.

Taking lunch at a local restaurant before return back to Tianjin by expressway and return to the ship or Beijing Int’l airport.

TIMING BREAKDOWN FROM XINGANG PORT
DAY 1
00:00 – 00:00 – Disembark and board air-conditioned coach
00:00 – 03:00 – Drive from Xingang port to Beijing 
03:00 – 04:00 – Lunch at a local restaurant 
04:00 – 04:30 – Transfer to Hutong Lane
04:30 – 06:00 – Visit Hutong area by trishaw & Visit one of the local family
00:60 – 07:00 – Depart for hotel and drive pass the Olympic Village to view
          Bird’s Nest, Water cube
07:00 – 07:45 – Depart for Peking Opera performance
07:40 – 08:45 – Enjoy watching
08:45 – 09:15 – Transfer to local restaurant for dinner
09:15 – 10:45 – Dinner at local restaurant
10:45 – 11:15 – Return transfer to hotel by coach

DAY 2
00:00 – 00:00 – Check out and depart from hotel
00:00 – 00:20 – Drive from hotel to Temple of Heaven 
00:20 – 01:20 – Visit Temple of Heaven 
01:20 – 01:40 – Depart for National Grand Theater
01:40 – 02:00 – Visit National Grand Theater (outside view)
02:00 – 02:15 – Drive to CBD district & CCTV headquarters
02:15 – 02:45 – Depart for lunch
02:45 – 03:45 – Lunch at a local restaurant
03:45 – 06:45 – Return transfer to Xingang port

OPERATIONAL NOTES
• The order of the itinerary may vary
• A considerable amount of walking involved. A pair of good walking shoes and appropriate attire are recommended (i.e., comfortable clothing in line with weather conditions)
• Wheelchairs are not available and will have limited or NO wheelchair access
• Restrooms are available throughout this tour but will vary in cleanliness – wet wipes and tissue recommended
• Bottled water & wet towel will be provided during sightseeing
• Lunch and dinner are included food, Chinese tea only