The Forbidden City to Jinshanling Sunset Hike

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MORNING

Your guide will meet you at your hotel at around 8 am, and by private minivan, we will head to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City (known in Chinese as Gu Gong) is the largest surviving palace complex and the former home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The Forbidden City is one of the most fantastic attractions in the world. Built by the third Ming emperor between 1406-1422, the Forbidden City served as the official residence to the Emperor of China until the last emperor, Puyi, was forced to evacuate in 1924. The Forbidden City is the best example of classical Chinese architecture globally and is a wonder to behold.

If you'd like to change your morning tour to Summer Palace, we'll be more than happy to substitute with it.

NOON

We will have a break for a brief lunch by tasting Beijing's local specialties - dumplings, Chinese quesadilla, noodles with stir-fried sources, or Qingfeng baozi (meat buns), a roadside restaurant chain in old Beijing famed for its succulent steamed buns. Qingfeng, in Chinese, means "celebrating the harvest."

After lunch, we'll drive outside Beijing towards the Jinshanling Great Wall, which will serve as our hike setting today.

AFTERNOON

The Jinshanling Great Wall is second only to the Badaling Great Wall in its completeness. After about 1.5-2 hours of hiking, we will cross over into west Simatai. While the eastern portion of Simatai is closed due to government maintenance and repairs, the Simatai Great Wall's western section is still open to hikers. The Simatai Great Wall is separated into eastern and western halves by a valley, with a rainbow-like chain bridge over the gorge. The hills in the west are sloping gently, with 20 watchtowers remaining in good shape. The Simatai section of the Great Wall is one of the few sections to retain the Great Wall's original appearance. Incorporating various characteristics of other areas of the Great Wall, Simatai also displays some unique features. It is often described with the following five words: perilous, dense, diverse, artful, and peculiar. 

After about 1-1.5 hours of hiking in west Simatai, you will descend the Great Wall. However, before we climb down, we'll stay to view the sunset over the Great Wall. This experience will be a nature lover's delight and is also an excellent opportunity for photos.
 

After climbing down the wall, we'll have dinner at a nearby guesthouse. We'll then drive back to Beijing, and you will arrive back at your hotel in the evening.