Beijing City Highlights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Hutong by Rickshaw

Beijing City Highlights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Hutong by Rickshaw Tour description provided by Viator This tour will show you the highlights that Beijing could offer. You will visit the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Walking through Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, and while appreciating the stunning architecture, you will discover imperial riches from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and easily conjure up visions of life in the days of Imperial China. You will also explore Beijing’s ancient hutong alleyways by rickshaw, wind your way through the maze of narrow streets teeming with life of old Beijing. In addition, you will visit a local family and learn to make the most popular Chinese food - dumplings. In the morning, your professional guide will pick you up at hotel in Beijing and head to the Forbidden City. It was off-limits from its completion in 1420 until the fall of the Last Emperor in 1911, hence its name “The Forbidden City.”The Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing. It served as the home of emperors and their households as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years. Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex covers 72 hectares. The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.You will then visit to hutongs by rickshaw. In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Many neighborhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. The word hutong is also used to refer to such neighborhoods. Since the mid-20th century, the number of Beijing hutongs has dropped dramatically as they are demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas in an attempt to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history.After a one-hour rickshaw ride, you will arrive at a local family, where you will have your family lunch and learn to make dumplings.After lunch, you will continue your visit to the Temple of Heaven, a 15th century architectural masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Emperors during Ming & Qing Dynasties came here twice a year to offer sacrifices to the Gods. At the beginning of the Lunar New Year the Emperor came to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests asking the Gods for a bountiful harvest in that year. After the harvests were over the Emperor would return to give thanks. During the day, the park, where Temple of Heaven located, is a popular place for Beijingers to come and exercise – and you will see all forms and styles of exercise from ballroom dancing, marching, kite flying, Chi Gong through to walking backwards (yes, frequent collisions occur).After all visits, you will have chance to shop at an honored old-name silk store. You will end your unforgettable full day experience and be transferred to hotel in the early evening. What's included Entrance fees Bottled water Lunch Professional guide Admission ticket Hotel/port pickup and drop-off What isn't included Gratuities (recommended) Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase) Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/activities/sightseeing-tours/beijing-city-highlights-tiananmen-square-forbidden-city-temple-heaven-hutong-rickshaw#ixzz3fwCoSvY4