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Overview
Beijing reads like a list of famous places until you notice they all sit on the same line. Day two walks that line: the square, the palace, and the hill that looks down on both. Day three follows a second line, the one the empire drew along the ridges north of town. Then the city off the axis, an altar, the national collection, lanes around a lake. The last morning goes to handwork and a tea table instead of the airport. One city, four nights, one hotel: no stations, no boarding passes, nothing packed twice. You'll go home able to draw this city on a napkin.
— LyrikTrip travel designers
Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates, your flights and who is coming, and we shape these five days around them. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. For this route the first thing we check is your day two: it has to miss Mondays, and it has to fit your legs.
Why you'll love this trip
- The capital, plan and all. Hutong lanes, the Temple of Heaven, a tea table and a shoemaker's bench, with an English-speaking guide throughout.
- 5 days from a palace axis to a ridgeline wall. See how Beijing was drawn.
- Climb the hill behind the palace at the end of day two and get the whole day back at once: gold roof rows below you, one straight line running through all of them.
- Ride the cable car up at Mutianyu and spend your legs on the wall itself instead of the climb to it: the round trip is in your price.
- Put the week in order in one afternoon at the national collection, where the roofs you walked under finally get their dates.
- Keep your last morning: a shoemaker's bench and a first proper gaiwan before the airport, rather than three spare hours at the gate.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 5
· Land, then nothing
You land and the day stays deliberately empty. Beijing starts tomorrow, at the south end of the line.
· The axis, in one day
South gate to hilltop, the whole line on foot in a single day. See the pieces first, then the plan they belong to.
· The other line
A full day north for the wall at Mutianyu. Yesterday's line was drawn in a city, this one along a ridge.
· Off the axis
An altar in the morning, the national collection after lunch, lanes around a lake at dusk. Today is where the city stops being imperial and starts being lived in.
· A sole, a cup, then the airport
Two hours of handwork before the flight. The last thing this city shows you is made by hand, not built by an emperor.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring, including the full-day Great Wall round trip; airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day five
- Intercity transportNone on this plan: the whole trip stays in Beijing, with no internal flights or trains, so no cabin class applies
- Hotel4 nights in Beijing at your chosen level (four-star, five-star or quality boutique), breakfast included, named in your written confirmation
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on days two through five
- Day two ticketsTian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City with the timed reservation booked by us, and Jingshan Park
- Day three ticketsMutianyu Great Wall entrance, with the round-trip cable car
- Day four ticketsTemple of Heaven, the National Museum of China with the timed reservation booked by us, and the Shichahai hutong walk by the lakes
- Day five experiencesThe cloth-shoe workshop and the introductory tea sitting, both in the base price
- In-park transportAny in-park transport needed to complete the listed visits; on this plan that is the Mutianyu round-trip cable car above
- Meals4 hotel breakfasts, on days two through five
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance
Not Included
- International flightsFlights into and out of Beijing
- VisasVisa fees and processing for guests who need a Chinese visa
- MealsAll lunches and dinners: your guide recommends and books around your taste each day, on your account
- Optional add-onsThis plan carries no optional add-ons at present; anything introduced later is priced separately when you choose it and never folded into the base plan
- PersonalGratuities, single or extra-room difference, personal spending
Special Notes
A few things on this route follow your flights, the calendar or the season. Here they are, told straight.
- Departure morning — the workshop and the tea sitting sit before the airport drop-off on day five. When we quote, we check both against your departure flight. If the flight leaves too early for both, your written quote states which of the two comes out and prices the trip on that basis, before any deposit is taken.
- Departure dates — the Forbidden City closes on Mondays, so dates are set to keep day two off a Monday; when your preferred date would land there, days two and three swap. There are no departures from October 1 to 7, the national holiday week.
- Reservations — the Forbidden City and the National Museum of China both admit by timed reservation, and their booking systems do not deal well with overseas phone numbers. We book both slots with the details on your confirmation.
- Cable car in late season — the Mutianyu cable car is in your price. Its November and December operating schedule is being confirmed with the operator for this selling window; if it does not run on your dates, we tell you at quoting and re-price the day rather than letting you find out on the mountain.
- Day two effort — the axis is a full day on foot and it is the demanding day of the five. It is built for adults in good shape. Traveling with young children or with anyone who tires easily? Tell us at quoting and we split it across two days.
- Season — October to December Beijing runs cold and dry. This plan keeps the long outdoor stretches on the wall day and in the mornings, and puts the collection, the workshop and the tea table indoors.
- Hotels — named in your written confirmation; "or similar" always means the same class and comparable location, never a quiet downgrade.
Is Five Days Your Length?
Four days instead of five? Or more?
Four days instead of five? Or more?
Each day stands on its own, so we cut days rather than corners: drop the last morning and you keep the axis, the wall and the museum day. Staying longer? The extra days go on the front or the back, and we plan them once we know your flights.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Ports
- Beijing in, Beijing out; airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day five are both included
- Visas
- The UK, most of Europe and Canada enter visa-free for days, and so do Australia and New Zealand. We confirm your whole stay in China fits that window before you pay. The current policy runs to December 31, 2026: departures on or before December 27 finish inside it, and we quote later dates once the renewal is announced. US passports: either a Chinese visa you already hold, or the 10-day visa-free transit route, which needs an onward flight to a third country or region with a confirmed date and seat. We check your flights order by order before any payment.
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking guide on days two through five
- Fitness
- Day two is a full walking day on the axis; the Great Wall climb is by cable car; no travel days between cities
- Payment
- A 10% deposit (minimum $399) locks your dates; the balance is due 14 days before departure
- Flexibility
- Days stand alone and can be added or dropped; the confirmation deadline and the change and refund conditions for your dates are listed in writing with your quote, and no order is taken without them
- Season
- October to December: cold, dry Beijing, with outdoor stretches kept to the wall day and the mornings
Your Private Concierge
Jenessa
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveler.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
Two days gets you the palace and the wall as photographs. Five gets you the reason they are where they are: the axis walked end to end in one day, the wall given a whole day of its own, a museum afternoon that dates everything you have seen. The last morning goes to a workbench. You also stop moving: one hotel, four nights, no stations.
It is the demanding day of the five, and we do not pretend otherwise: the square, the palace and the hill are a full day on foot, built for adults in good shape. Your guide takes one chosen route through the palace rather than every hall, lunch sits in the middle, and the hill at the end is short. If that still sounds like too much, say so at quoting and we split day two across two days.
Mutianyu, and no. The cable car takes you up and back and it is in your price, so the walking happens on the wall itself, between restored watchtowers. We use Mutianyu rather than Badaling because it is the quieter of the two, and the day carries nothing else so the drive out and back never squeezes it.
Beijing in late autumn and early winter is cold, dry and clear. The plan puts the long outdoor stretches on the wall day and in the mornings, and keeps the museum, the workshop and the tea table indoors. What we cannot promise is the mountain: the cable car's operating schedule for November and December is being confirmed with the operator for this window. If it will not run on your dates, you hear it from us at quoting, with the day re-planned and re-priced, not on the mountain.
Most guests do not. The UK, most of Europe and Canada enter visa-free for days, and so do Australia and New Zealand. We confirm these five days plus any other days in China fit that window before you pay. US passports book on a Chinese visa already held, or on the 10-day visa-free transit route, which needs an onward flight to a third country or region with a confirmed date and seat; a round trip home does not qualify. We check the whole itinerary against the rules order by order, and if it does not fit we say so instead of selling.
