Meet your guide in the hotel lobby at your preferred time and begin by climbing Jingshan Hill in Jingshan Park, the highest point along the central axis of Beijing. Made from soil dug during the building of the moat at the Forbidden City, this artificial hill was located according to the dictates of Feng shui: to protect the imperial palace from the evil wind from the north. Today, the hill is best-known as a place to enjoy outstanding panoramic views over the walled palace and downtown Beijing.

Next, walk to Beihai Park, an imperial garden to the northwest of the Forbidden City. Visit some major sites, such as the White Dagoba, Nine Dragon Screen, and Tuancheng. Plus, if you’re here between April and November, see various old temples and small gardens, as well as the famous Five Dragon Pavilion, by boat. At lunchtime, savor a delicious meal of imperial-style cuisine at the Beihai Fangshan Restaurant, a famous establishment open since 1925.

In the afternoon, walk into the hutongs around Houhai area, one of the two most popular pub streets in Beijing. Admire the traditional buildings lined along the beautiful lake. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, many high ranking officials and even princes used to live here.

Continue to walk to Yandaixie Street, one of the oldest streets in Beijing which is named after a store selling giant smoking pipes in the Qing dyansty. Today it is a popular palce with locals and tourists full of shops, cafés, restaurants, local snacks and bars, in reconstructed Ming and Qing dynasty era buildings.