2 Days Beijing Essential Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port

On this exciting day, your tour guide will be eagerly waiting for you at the arrival hall of Tianjin Cruise Port. From there, you will embark on a comfortable 2.5-hour drive from the port to the bustling heart of Beijing's downtown area.

In Beijing, you will head to Tian’anmen Square, which is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades and from here you can take good pictures of Tiananmen Gate showing on CCTV News every day. Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring Forbidden City (World Heritage), the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. With about 500 years’ history, Forbidden City served as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With 9,999 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace. Later, take another 15-minute walk up to Jingshan Park, where you can have a magnificent panorama of modern Beijing and princely views over the russet roofs of the Forbidden City.

In this late afternoon, if time permits, you will enjoy a relaxing time exploring the ordinary local life through the Beijing Old Hutong. Stroll along the Yandaixiejie Steet, the oldest commercial street (about 800 years) and one of the oldest and top 10 popular hutongs in Beijing. Yandaixie Street, which means Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street in Chinese, is a 232-meter-long Hutong. During the Qing Dynasty, people were fond of smoking and carried tobacco pouches (Yandai) with them wherever they went. As a result, many tobacco shops (selling smoking sets) opened on this skewed (xie) street, giving rise to its name. Now you can still purchase tobacco pouches of various sizes and shapes there, including porcelain ones, jade ones, wooden ones, and bronze ones. Located close to the Shichahai Park and Nanluoguxiang Hutong, Yandaixiejie is also a cultural street, where many quadrangle dwellings (Si He Yuan) are dotted, attracting millions of visitors each year. Don't forget to try the Hutong food and take a Rickshaw Tour around the Hutongs and the Shichahai Area.

After the tour, be escorted to your hotel in Beijing.

In this morning, you will head northwest of Beijing (about a 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km) to the Great Wall at Mutianyu (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Great Wall, stretching more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, boasts a history over 2,000 years, making it one of the most impressive ancient masterpieces on the planet. The Great Wall at Mutianyu is connected with the Jiankou Great Wall in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. Mutianyu is the longest and best fully-restored section of the Great Wall with fewer tourists and is also famous for its 23 Ming-era watchtowers and stunning views. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy a memorable hike on the wall while visiting its western route. With green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves by climbing up to the 20th watchtower, where you can fulfill your Great Wall dreams. Don't forget to cherish the chance and take as many photos as you like!

As your once-in-a-lifetime Beijing tour comes to a close, you will be whisked away on a comfortable 3-hour drive back to Tianjin Cruise Port. (Please note that your estimated arrival time at the port will be around 4:00 p.m. If you prefer to arrive earlier, simply let your travel consultants know and they will be happy to adjust the arrangements accordingly.)