Best Tours of Beijing

Travelling to Beijing is always a surprising adventure. From our Western point of view, the East is a mystery to us, with its millenary traditions, its language, so different from ours, and its culture. In this opportunity I invite you to visit the main highlights of the capital of China with its best tours, to get in touch with the epicentre of the Eastern world.

There is truly a lot to see and do in Beijing, from walks and tours to taste its delicious cuisine, tours of the Great Wall, the hutongs or ancestral alleys, discover the Forbidden City and even visit the loving panda bears, Beijing has everything to spend an unforgettable stay. In this article, I have selected for you those experiences that you should not miss during your visit to this wonderful city.

What could be better than touring the tiny streets of Beijing aboard a traditional oriental rickshaw? The rickshaw is a very traditional form of transport of Chinese origin, where a man or a small motorbike (sometimes also a bicycle) carries 2 or even 3 passengers. Today the rickshaw ride has become a tourist attraction.

It runs along these little streets, which are known as hutongs. On their zigzagging route you will discover all the charm of ancient China. Your driver and guide will take you to some of the most emblematic corners of the old town. Afterwards, you can enjoy a visit to an old teahouse.

The tour is perfect for encountering the more traditional side of the city, plus you can climb the Drum Tower, from where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the whole of Beijing. This is one of the best hutong tours in Beijing, where, in addition to exploring the streets, you can enjoy a ride on traditional and picturesque transport.

Interesting details

• Price: from 49 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours in total.
• Means of transport: traditional oriental rickshaw.
• Advantages of this option: pick-up and drop-off at the hotel is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: food and drink are not included.

This is one of the best tours in Beijing. With 2 full days you will see the main highlights of the city, from Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, the Jingshan Hill or the Summer Palace. A very complete option.

This tour is perfect, as you don't have to worry about anything, as all the entrance fees to the different attractions are included, as well as lunch. Plus, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you through the past and present of one of the most incredible cities in the world. You'll take a cable car ride to see the city from a different perspective and enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner and an acrobatic or kung fu show, among other things.

Interesting details

• Price: from 385 euros per person.
• Duration: 2 days.
• Means of transport: you will be driven in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: entrance tickets to the attractions, lunch and dinner are included, as well as bottled water during the tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: due to the length of the tour, it is not recommended for small children.

A trip to Beijing cannot be complete without taking one of the best food tours in Beijing, as food is one of the most representative forms of Chinese culture, and one of the must-do's of your trip. Getting lost in the gastronomic markets of Beijing is a unique experience; its colours, flavours and aromas will transport you and you will be able to feel part of that world so different from ours.

On this tour, you can also enjoy a traditional Beijing dinner. You will see how colours, textures, flavours and presentation play an important role here. You will also visit a wine shop specialised in rice wine (mijiu), where you can taste up to 6 different types of rice wine. A truly unique experience not to be missed.

Interesting details

• Price: from 75 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Means of transport: you will walk through markets, a wine shop and a traditional Beijing restaurant.
• Advantages of this option: food and drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: pick-up and drop-off is not included.

And if we are talking about unmissable visits, touring the former residence of the emperor is one of those that cannot be left for another trip. On this guided tour you will walk through Tiananmen Square, one of the traditional gates to the Forbidden City and the site of the National Museum of China.

You will visit the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian), the place where the emperor himself decided matters of state, the emperor's bedroom, the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the imperial gardens.

This is a very complete tour, ideal for those who want to learn more about the history of China. If this is your case, be sure to sign up for this tour.

Interesting details

• Price: from 69 euros per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven aboard a comfortable air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantages of this option: pick-up from your accommodation is included. The tour is conducted in English.
• Disadvantages of this option: return to your accommodation and entrance to the museum are not included.

Spend the day on this amazing tour where you will see two of Beijing's most famous historical sites: the Lama Temple (Yonghegong) and the beautiful Summer Palace. Marvel at the richness of one of China's most traditional temples, with its gold and silver details and dragon figures adorning its pagodas.

Thanks to your experienced local guide you will get to know all the details of these places. The Summer Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited sites in the Chinese capital. This tour will also allow you to sample some of the delights of the local cuisine, as you will stop for a lunch of traditional dishes before continuing your journey. As you relax, you can listen to your guide's stories about each of the sites you visit.

Finally, finish your tour with a visit to the giant pandas at the Beijing Zoo. There is no species more representative of Chinese culture than the panda bear. An undisputed favourite with adults and children alike, the pandas welcome hundreds of thousands of travellers who come from all over the world to have their photo taken with them. Of course, at the zoo you can also see other species native to China and other parts of the world.

Interesting details

• Price: from 82 euros per person.
• Duration: about 7 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven in an air-conditioned luxury minivan.
• Advantages of this option: pick-up and drop-off is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: no English-speaking guide, only English-speaking.

This tour will take you to one of the most beautiful portions of the Great Wall, Mutianyu. Here you will see the imposing battle towers that still stand along the wall, amidst greenery and colourful scenery. The tour begins when your guide picks you up from your accommodation and you will be driven in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle along the Chinese roads to the Huairou district, where Mutianyu is located.

There you can also take the cable car to see the winding stone structure of the Great Wall of China as it disappears into the horizon. Another stop on this tour is the tomb of Emperor Yongle at Chang Ling, one of the best preserved tombs in China. It belongs to the Ming Dynasty, along with 12 others. On this full day private tour you will see the Ming Tombs, one of the most interesting traces of China's history.

Interesting details

• Price: from 107 euros per person.
• Duration: about 8 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantages of this option: pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: the cable car ticket is not included.

If you are a nightlife enthusiast, this tour will delight you. You will get to explore the city of Beijing, its iconic hutongs, its street food, and some of its most beautiful buildings and monuments, as the sun goes down and the city slowly begins to light up. You will see how everything is completely transformed, from its narrow streets to the Olympic Park.

You will stroll along Wangfujing, known as the snack street. There you will have the opportunity to taste some snacks. You will also be taken to the Imperial Garden and the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, ending the evening with a traditional Peking duck dinner.

This tour is one of the top 10 things to do at night in Beijing, full of surprises, flavours and history. Thanks to your experienced local guide, you will learn about traditional Chinese architecture, the different dynasties, the emperors who have ruled the republic and much more - not to be missed!

Interesting details

• Price: from 184 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours in total.
• Means of transport: this is a guided walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: Peking duck dinner is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: there is no English speaking guide option, only English speaking.

A tour for bike fanatics and for those who like the nightlife. Cycle through the city on a modern bicycle, accompanied by your professional guide. You will see the hutongs, night markets and all the beauty of China's capital on this, one of the best bike tours in Beijing.

Your guide will take you to see the main highlights of the city, such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Jingshan Park and Nanluoguxiang Alley, a place where you can enjoy fashion, restaurants and a great atmosphere. You will also see the Drum Tower, built under the rule of Kublai Khan, one of the greatest Khans of the Mongol Empire, and the Shichahai district, which is a picturesque area located in the north of the city. Here you can see its three lakes: Qianhai, Xihai and Houhai.

Interesting details

• Price: from 194 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours in total.
• Means of transport: bike.
• Advantages of this option: all the necessary equipment and bottled water are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: pick-up and return to the accommodation is not included.

On this private tour you will experience two of Beijing's highlights and savour a delicious Beijing dinner while witnessing a unique show. This is a night tour, perfect for lovers of ancient traditions. You can visit places like the Temple of Heaven, the traditional Hongqiao pearl market, where you can buy some souvenirs if you want, and the Red Theatre.

After being taken by your guide through these amazing places, you will dine on traditional Beijing roast duck, the most representative food of the local cuisine, and marvel at the "Legend of Kung Fu", a show with an amazing display of acrobatics and mastery. This is undoubtedly one of the best kung fu shows in Beijing and is not to be missed.

Interesting details

• Price: from 318 euros per person.
• Duration: between 6 and 7 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven from your hotel or accommodation in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantages of this option: includes pick-up from your accommodation.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not include return to the hotel after the show.

In 2008, Beijing hosted the Olympic Games. An impressive Olympic Village was built, with stadiums and works of art that have given the city a new lustre. Today, many of these buildings are used for other purposes. Visiting the Olympic Village on a guided tour is one of the best ways to get to know this place.

You will be able to visit, among others, the stadium known as the Bird's Nest and, thanks to your guide, you will learn all the details about its curious structure. The Olympic Village or Olympic Park is located in the Chaoyang district, in the north of the city, and is one of the must-see sites for architecture lovers.

Interesting details

• Price: from 36 euros per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you will be driven aboard an air-conditioned minivan.
• Advantages of this option: entrance to the Bird's Nest Stadium is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for people with mobility problems.