6 days Beijing Datong city tour

Upon your arrival at Beijing Capital Airport or Beijing Train Station, your guide and driver in will welcome you and safely drive you to the hotel. You can choose to rest in the hotel or explore Beijing freely. Overnight in Beijing.

Your first stop will take you directly to Tiananmen Square, an amazing sight that no photo can do justice to. It is the largest square in the world and an important gathering place for the Chinese people during festival occasions, such as the New Year Celebration. As you wander towards the north end of the vast square, you will reach the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage site that served as the home of 24 ancient Chinese emperors, who discussed national affairs with their ministers.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Summer Palace, a renowned summer resort of ancient Chinese emperors. Located approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of the city center, it is considered one of the four classical gardens in China. The palace is a well-preserved royal garden famous for its breathtaking scenery and spectacular ancient architecture from the Qing Dynasty. With the help of your guide, you will learn all the secret details and have a great time relaxing.

 In the evening, you may choose to enjoy the Kong Fu Show. (Optional)

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and head straight to the Shixiaguan section of China's Great Wall for an exciting hiking trip. This original section of the Great Wall is one of the best-preserved sections near Beijing and is less crowded than other parts of the Great Wall.

The 7.5 km (4.6 mi) hike may be challenging, but it is well worth the effort once you witness the stunning views along the way and feel a great sense of accomplishment upon reaching the highest watchtower. Your guide will escort you during the hike, which most people complete in 4-5 hours. However, the hike can easily be adjusted based on your fitness level and comfort.

After returning to downtown Beijing, you will stop at the Olympic Green to get an outer view of the spectacular 2008 Olympic stadiums: the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. If you wish to enter one of the stadiums, your guide will help you purchase the required tickets. If you like, your guide can also help arrange an authentic Beijing duck dinner. Overnight in Beijing.

A new day begins and a short drive takes you to visit Temple of Heaven, a holy site for the Chinese people, which witnessed annual pilgrimages by emperors during ancient times to offer sacrifices to the God of Heaven and pray for an abundant harvest.

Afterwards, you will have 1-2 hours to experience traditional Hutong culture by visiting Shichahai in west Beijing. You will travel by rickshaw through century-old Hutongsin Shichahai before their demolition. Walk along the old Yandai Xiejie, which has an 800-year history surrounding Beijing's Drum Tower. You will have plenty of time to explore on your own, perhaps by visiting nearby Nanluoguoxiang to taste some local snacks or buy souvenirs from the many antique shops for your family and friends.

In the afternoon, take the high-speed train to Datong (about 2 hours). Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel in Datong to check-in.

Your wonderful Datong tour begins with a morning visit to Yungang Grottoes. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2011, the Yungang Grottoes boast a total of 252 grottoes and over 51,000 Buddhist statues that showcase the stone carving skills of ancient artisans. The exquisite Buddhist statues, both large and small, positioned in the caves will definitely stimulate your imagination and make you linger long enough before moving on to the next one, marveling at the delicate craftsmanship.

Next, you will visit the Hanging Temple, located 65 km (40 mi) from downtown Datong. The biggest feature of this temple, as its name suggests, lies in its unique construction site on the west cliff of Jinlong Gorge, more than 50 m (164 ft) above the ground, as well as in its architectural style, which blends elements of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
This temple is one of a kind in China. On your way back to downtown Datong, you will have time to stop and see the Nine Dragon Screen, the oldest and largest glazed screen in China, with nine life-like shiny-eyed dragons made of colored glaze occupying its center and other small but vivid animals inlaid on the lower layers. Overnight in Datong.

In the morning, you will be transferred to Datong Train Station or Airport where your guide and driver will see you off. End your Beijing and Datong joint trip or continue on with another WindhorseTour adventure. We can easily help make extensions of any trip to other cities within China. Drop a message to our Travel Advisors who will help create a customized tour itinerary according to your specific requirements and interests.