Top 5 Best Beijing Tours: What to Choose for a Solo Traveler

China's capital offers an incredible variety of experiences. We've compiled the most interesting tours that will help you gain a deeper understanding of the culture and history of the Celestial Empire. 🏯 **Gubei and the Simatai Wall** A true gem! You'll visit the famous section of the Great Wall with its mountainous landscapes and the unique Gubei Water City. Ancient canals, Ming Dynasty architecture, and the opportunity to see the wall at sunset create a magical atmosphere. A special highlight is the nighttime illumination, when the ancient structure transforms into a fairytale backdrop. The cable car will save you from tiring climbs, and lunch will introduce you to the local cuisine. 👑 **Forbidden City** Immerse yourself in a world of imperial grandeur! In four hours, you'll journey from Tiananmen Square through Jingshan Park to the Forbidden City. 9,999 rooms, countless courtyards, and halls where the fate of the empire was decided for 500 years. A guide will reveal the secrets of imperial life, tell stories of palace intrigue, and show you the sites of the last emperors. A climb to Jingshan Hill will offer panoramic views of the entire complex. 🍜 **Gastronomic Tour** An evening immersion in Beijing's culinary traditions! A stroll through the hutongs turns into a gastronomic adventure. Four authentic establishments will reveal the secrets of Beijing cuisine. Try the famous Peking duck, hand-made jiaozi, traditional soups, and local sweets. The guide will not only introduce you to the dishes but also teach you how to use chopsticks and explain Chinese table etiquette. 🌸 **Summer Palace + Temple of Heaven** Two masterpieces of Chinese architecture in one tour! The Summer Palace will amaze you with its grandeur—290 hectares of gardens with Kunming Lake, the Long Gallery with 14,000 murals, and the Marble Boat. It's where Empress Dowager Cixi spent her summers. The Temple of Heaven is a sacred place of prayer for a good harvest. Round buildings symbolize heaven, square ones the earth. The acoustics of the Echo Wall and the Altar of Heaven will surprise even skeptics. 🏘️ **Hutong Tour** The most atmospheric tour! Hutongs are the soul of old Beijing, a maze of alleys with traditional siheyuan courtyards. A private guide will take you inside the courtyards where Beijing families live. You'll learn how life is organized in a four-sided house and why the main entrance faces south. #localtours