BJ-T02: Beijing Day Tour to Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace

Temple of Heaven - Summer Palace

 This is a guided tour by eco-friendly public transport. If you need a private car, feel free to contact our travel consultants to arrange it for you.

This morning at the confirmed time, our experienced English-speaking guide will wait for you at your hotel lobby. After self-introduction and warm greetings, he or she will lead you to Temple of Heaven, today’s first sightseeing stop directly by public transport. 

According to the location of your hotel and distance with the scenic spot, the guide will decide to get there by subway or city bus, or both with transfers. 

The Temple of Heaven used to be the sacred site for emperors to worship the Heaven and pray for good harvest for their people. The guide will accompany you to admire elaborate architecture including Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Echo Wall, Three Echo Stones, Circular Mound Altar, Palace of Abstinence, and Divine Music Administration and learn the worship culture of ancient China. There you can also get a chance to know about the local Beijingers' daily life, as nearby citizens like doing morning exercises in the park, such as dancing, opera practicing, and Tai Chi.

Visit Routes

 Route 1: Zhaoheng Gate (South Gate) → Circular Mound Altar → South Divine Kitchen → Echo Wall → Imperial Vault of Heaven → Three Echo Stones → Danbi Bridge → Palace of Abstinence → Divine Music Administration → West Annex Hall → East Annex Hall → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → East Gate

 Route 2: West Gate → Palace of Abstinence → Divine Music Administration → Circular Mound Altar → South Divine Kitchen → Echo Wall → Imperial Vault of Heaven → Three Echo Stones → Danbi Bridge → West Annex Hall → East Annex Hall → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → East Gate

 Route 3: East Gate → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → Palace of Abstinence → Divine Music Administration → Circular Mound Altar → South Divine Kitchen → Echo Wall → Imperial Vault of Heaven → Three Echo Stones → Danbi Bridge → East Gate

Getting out from the east gate of the Temple of Heaven, the guide will leave you some free time to have lunch on your own and take a short rest. There are dozens of restaurants just outside, offering various food at different prices. If you feel difficult to make a choice, tell the guide your preference and ask for some recommendations. 

After, the guide will escort you to the second stop of today’s itinerary, Summer Palace, by subway. First, take subway line 5 right outside the east gate of the Temple of Heaven; after one stop ride, change to line 7 to Caishikou and then make another transfer to line 4 to Xiyuan; at last, follow the guide to walk for about 15 minutes to the east gate, also the front gate of the Summer Palace. 

The Summer Palace, one of the largest and best-preserved imperial gardens in China, was the summer resort for the royal families during Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911). It boasts not only beautiful natural scenery but also delicate architecture. 

Visit Route

East Palace Gate → Hall of Benevolence and Longevity → Garden of Virtue and Harmony → Hall of Joyful Longevity → Hall of Jade Ripples, Yiyun House → Tower of Literary Prosperity → East Causeway of Kunming Lake → Bronze Ox → Seventeen-Arch Bridge → Marble Boat → Long Gallery → Hall of Dispelling Clouds → Tower of the Buddhist Incense → Four Great Regions → Suzhou Market Street → North Palace Gate

After all today’s visit, the guide will send you back to your hotel, also by subway or city bus, or both. There is a subway station and bus stops right outside the north gate of the Summer Palace. 

Per your request, the guide could also send you to somewhere else in downtown, like Houhai or Sanlitun for you to enjoy colorful night life.