One day Beijing Food Trip with Forbidden City

Highlights

 Visit the highlights of Beijing city--- Temple of Heaven and Forbidden City

 Walk into off-the-beaten track, taste the authentic local flavors

 Meet families keeping the city's food traditions alive while you munch on samples

Taste the authentic Beijing Roast Duck at a local well-known restaurant

Suggested itinerary

08：00 we will pick you up from downtown hotel lobby (with 3rd ring road) and start the unforgettable essential and culinary tour. Our first stop is Temple of Heaven, the existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven and a place where the emperors prayed for a year of abundance. Except the stunning building structures, you will find many senior citizens congregate to do exercises, such as Taichi, dancing, playing balls, etc. You will find the retired life in China quite different from that in your country. Except doing exercises, seniors in China also spend their retired time on writing on the ground, playing Chinese chess or cards, singing and dancing, having fun with grandchildren, etc.
 

Then we will walk into an authentic Hutong nearby, without tourists, where you will see a real Hutong life. You find local people, especially senior citizens stand or sit at the doorways talking, or sit in tree shade, playing chess. Walk through the residential community in Hutong, to know more about the housing developments of Beijing. Some vendors and family-run restaurants sell local food in Hutong. We will visit about 4-5 food stops, tasting over 10 local food and local beverage as your lunch, such as a popular local breakfast food -pancake, Chinese donkey hamburger, lamb kebab, pot-stew vegetables, 5 favorite dim sums of empress dowager, hand-made Beijing noodles with soybean paste, hand-made yogurt, soda beverage (local Fanta), etc.  Try the popular pancake--- a local snack breakfast in Beijing.
 

In the afternoon, we will have 30 minutes stop at Tian'anmen Square, which is one of the largest squares in the world, a must-see landmark of Beijing. Then we will avoid the crowds to visit Forbidden City in the afternoon. It is the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. You will explore the glorious palace halls and gardens for more than 2 hours in Forbidden City, learning the legendary story of the emperors and how the royal family lived there. You will be stunned by the numerous old art treasures exhibited in halls.
 

Then we walk into Jingshan Park at back of Forbidden City, and climb up to the top of hill, from which we will have a panoramic view of this magnificent palace. 

At dinner time, we will continue our food safari to a local popular roast duck restaurant, to enjoy the famous Beijing specialty. Roast duck meat with crispy skin, wrapped in freshly-made pancakes, with a sip of local vodaka---erguotou (strong alcoholic drink), is really a one-of-a-kind delicacy.

The fantastic food and highlights day trip will end by dropping you off at your hotel.