Beijing tours and excursions
Beijing tours
Cycling and walking tours
The Tourist Information Centre and Cycle China office, opposite the east gate of Jingshan Park, Dongcheng District, arranges cycling tours with English-speaking guides as well as hutong walking tours at night and entertaining trips around the city by motorcycle sidecar.
Tel: +86 10 6402 5653.Website: http://www.cyclechina.com
Rickshaw tours
The Beijing Tourist Information Center office on Di'anmenxi Dajie, near Beihai Park, offers one-hour rickshaw tours with an English-speaking guide around Beijing's historic hutong alleys. Private agencies offer similar trips.
Tel: +86 10 6403 2726.Website: http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn
Beijing excursions
Ming Tombs
The final resting place for the emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Ming Tombs are located 50km (31 miles) from Beijing and are reached by the Spirit Way, an ancient highway guarded by huge statues of animals and men. 13 Ming emperors are buried around the valley but only three of the underground burial chambers - the Chang Ling, Ding Ling and Zhao Ling tombs - are open to the public. Arrange a trip through your hotel, or one of the Beijing Tourist Information Centers.
Website: http://www.mingtombs.comGreat Wall of China
China's premier attraction stretches some 6,700km (4,163 miles) through northern China and remains the most iconic symbol of the country. Founded in the 3rd century BC, the Great Wall of China is in fact a number of connected and unlinked walls, built at various points in history to create a defence against invading marauders. Much of the wall that exists near Beijing was built between the 14th and 18th centuries as a defence against the Mongols. The nearest section of the wall to Beijing is at Badaling, but this has been heavily restored and is very touristy. The sections at Mutianyu and Jinshanling are also restored but less busy than Badaling. For a more authentic visit, the sections of the wall at Huanghuacheng, Zhuangdaokou, Gubeikou and Jiankou have been left as atmospheric ruins, but they are harder to reach and difficulty to walk along. Arrange trips through your hotel, or one of the Beijing Tourist Information Centers.
