4 DAYS, FROM BEIJING TO THE MUTIANYU GREAT WALL

Our guide will pick you up at Beijing airport and transfer you to the hotel. Relax during the remainder of the afternoon and evening to recover from the jet lag.

- Tian'anmen Square: The world's largest city square and an enduring symbol of China's national pride, surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entrance to the Forbidden City), National Museum of China, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.

- The Forbidden City: The Imperial Palace, home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. Great squares, halls and gates contrast with the intricate networks of side halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters for those who lived in this city within a city. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are also fascinating.

- Temple of Heaven: One of the most beautiful temples in Beijing, this is Ming architecture at its best: beautiful, balanced and highly symbolic. The surrounding gardens are also incredibly beautiful and popular with local residents.

- Great Wall at Mutianyu (with cable car): This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a pleasant drive 90km NE of Beijing. A cable car takes you to a well preserved section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views of the wall as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.

After lunch, on the way back to the hotel you could choose visit the Olympic Stadium or 798 Artist District.

-Olympic Stadium: Driving around Beijing, you will catch glimpses of some of the stunning new Olympic buildings such as the 'Birds Nest' track and field stadium or the 'Water Cube' .

798 Artist District: Beijing's search for a contemporary art colony has resulted in the reinvention of the 798 factory, an industrial complex designed by East German architects of the Bauhaus school of thought in the early 1950's. The factory was established as one of 156 "joint factory" projects initiated under an agreement to observe military-industrial cooperation between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. Located in the Dashanzi Art District, 798 has become the avant-garde scene for artistic exploration in Beijing.  Meander through the shaded streets of this visually tantalizing village popping in and out of galleries hosting exhibits from China's most cutting edge artists and observing artists at work in well-lit studio spaces.  The factory boasts a wide array of galleries with an emphasis on high-level cultural, artistic, and commercial works in this invigoratingly rich contemporary arts enclave.

- Summer Palace: With over 800 years of history it is a beautifully preserved example of traditional Chinese gardening art, as well as the biggest garden in China and an architectural masterpiece.
- Boat-transfer in the Summer Palace: This 10 minute boat ride enables you to view this incredible site from the water, giving you a slightly different perspective than of exploring on foot.

- Lunch at Bai Family Garden Restaurant: Originally a prince's mansion and now a garden restaurant, Bai serves good food in a beautiful environment.