Day 2 Beijing

Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Shichahai Area, Yandai Xiejie, Drum Tower, Kung Fu Show at Red Theatre

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Beijing

After breakfast at your hotel, start your tour with the visit to Tiananmen Square (40 minutes sightseeing). It is the largest city square in the world, covering an area of 440,000 square metres and can accommodate 1 million people. Tiananmen Square is surrounded by many famous historical and cultural attractions, such as the Tiananmen Square Citadel, Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, and the National Museum. The grand flag-raising and flag-lowering ceremonies held in Tiananmen Square attract countless Chinese and foreign tourists every day.

Then move on to the Forbidden City (2 hours visit), the last imperial palace in China, is the centralised presentation of imperial culture in traditional Chinese culture in architectural form, the three-dimensional, symbolic and pictorial representation of Chinese imperial culture, and the high degree of unity between Chinese imperial culture and ancient Chinese architecture culture.

To avoid the tourist meal, today you have a la carte lunch with an a la carte menu at a nice local Cantonese restaurant, where you could enjoy the authentic Chinese food.

After lunch, head to the Shichahai Area ( 2.5 hours sightseeing), a national 4A-level tourist attraction, is located in Xicheng District, the centre of Beijing, adjacent to the central axis of the city. With a water area of 336,000 square metres, Shichahai is the largest and most well-preserved piece of historical district in Beijing, and occupies a unique position in the history of the city's planning and construction.

Then take a pedicab and drive through the zigzag and narrow alleys or hutongs. Beijing's hutongs are not only the veins of the city and the thoroughfares of the traffic, but also the places where the common people of Beijing live and the important stage for the historical and cultural development of the capital. Then we will head to 800-year old Yandai Xiejie ( Tobacco Pipe Lean Street ), and get to the Drum Tower.

Beijing's Bell and Drum Towers hold the pulse of the city day and night. Architecture is frozen music. The Beijing Bell and Drum Tower are like two powerful and solemn notes. The sound of the bells and drums echoes in the sky of the city, writing history with sound and carrying the echoes of the city's time over the centuries.

Tonight you are arranged to see the Kung Fu Show at Red Theatre (middle Seating Area). This is a great show. It tells a story of Chin Yu entering the monastery and making his way through life to finally becoming the Abbott. There are many demonstrations of Kungfu and strength throughout the show.The costumes and the choreography are great. Unfortunately people are not allowed to take photos nor video it. You can however purchase a DVD of the show. The show lasts about one hour and 15 minutes.

After the show, transferred back to your hotel.