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A Taste of Beijing – Bite Size

Overview

Immerse yourself in local life & cuisine on a bite sized experience in Beijing. Meet our culinary experts as they take you through the capital’s Hutongs, most exciting markets and delicious eateries. Make dumplings with a local family, learn all about the scrumptious Peking Duck and savour the amazing flavours of Mongolian hotpots. Experience Beijing’s historical and modern sights to a sunset on the peaceful Great Wall.

For a healthy balance, we will bike, walk and hike a little so you can comfortably indulge your taste buds and sample the full spectrum of traditional and contemporary Chinese fare.

This short culinary journey will take you off the beaten track and reveal Beijing’s true spirit and cuisine.

Recommended for:

If you prefer to travel at your own pace with our local guides, our private trips are for you. Our culinary journeys focus on immersion into the local culture. We introduce you to local experts who invite you into their culture and kitchens to participate.
Min 2 guests.

Highlights:

  • Bike trough the city and be captivated by both, old and cool Beijing
  • Stroll narrow alleys on our Hutong food tour
  • Indulge in delicious Peking duck and learn how to make it
  • Brave the wild at Donghuamen Strange Food market
  • Visit Beijing landmarks, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and wander 798 Contemporary Art District
  • Master traditional dumplings in a Hutong cooking class
  • Stay in an exquisitely designed villa at the Great Wall and enjoy a picnic at sunset
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Location

Beijing has been the political and cultural heart of China for centuries and offers a wide range of regional Northern cuisine waiting to be savoured. With its unique history it is an amazing place to discover, from the impressive Forbidden City, Gate of Heavenly Peace and Tiananmen Square, glitzy modern towers, Olympic Park, Ming City wall to the Hutongs. We will discover the imperial, old and new Beijing, visiting its major highlights and exploring the lively alleyways and markets.

Spend a night near the country’s most pleasant scenic spots and one of the world’s most famous sights, the long and lonely Great Wall, winding between hilltops just north of the capital.

Cuisine

Beijing is famous for its hotpots, dumplings and the Beijing Duck.

This later has been prepared since the Imperial era and is now one of China’s national foods. Ducks are bred especially for the dish, which consists mostly of the thick, crisp skin with a moderate amount of meat, which the cook carves in front of the guests. The duck is generally eaten together with thin pancake wraps, spring onions and hoisin sauce.

Accommodation

Choose between our suggested partner hotels, depending on your budget and preference:

The Red Wall Garden (boutique 4* courtyard hotel)
The Opposite House (modern 5* luxury boutique hotel)
The Peninsula Hotel (grand 5* luxury hotel)
Beijing Commune by the Great Wall (contemporary, one of a kind hotel)

Dates

From March till November, upon request

Our suggested itinerary is based on 3 nights/ 4 days and can be entirely tailor-made according to your preferences. It is a food experience in its own right or can be added on to an extended itinerary.

China’s borders are still closed to most international travellers and we can’t wait to welcome you to China again soon. We are accepting future bookings and have updated our booking conditions to give you full flexibility and complete peace of mind.

Prices 2024

per person, based on 2 guests travelling

from USD 1280 in 4* boutique hotel

from USD 1580 in 5* boutique hotel

Includes

  • Accommodation at luxury boutique hotel*****, double share
  • All meals as specified in itinerary (soft drink included)
  • Private transfers
  • Sightseeing as per the itinerary
  • Hands-on cooking course
  • Food tours
  • Services of an accompanying English speaking guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Assistance on arrival and departure.
  • Taxes

Excludes

Airfare to and from Beijing, alcoholic beverages and meals not specified.

Getting There

Fly directly to Beijing. We arrange all local transfers.

Map

Day 1 - Beijing arrival and market visit and a Hutong food walk

Late morning arrival in Beijing, China’s capital city and the starting point of your culinary adventure. Here you can not only find Beijing cuisine, but cuisines from all corners of China including Uighur, Sichuan, Cantonese, as well as international food. Time to roll up your sleeves and dig in!

Transfer to your hotel.

Today we experience Beijing and its food in a more modest way by walking through the Hutongs, the narrow alleys in old Beijing, on a “Hutong food walk.” This will include traditional local dishes and those from other parts of China.

Start at the center of Beijing at the Bell Tower to taste Beijinger’s traditional dishes before walking through the market, and have lunch at an authentic Uighur restaurant.
Finish at Houhai Lake area where you are free to explore.

Welcome dinner will be Peking Duck. There’s an opportunity to see and learn how the Peking duck is made.

Peking duck: This famous dish from Beijing has been prepared since the Imperial era and is now one of China’s national foods. Ducks are bred especially for the dish, which consists mostly of the thick, crisp skin with a moderate amount of meat, which the cook carves in front of the guests. The duck is generally eaten together with thin pancake wraps, spring onions and hoisin sauce.

Overnight in Beijing
Meals: L, D

Day 2 – Beijing - Old Beijing, Hutong, Dumpling and Hotpot

The day starts from the center of Beijing – Tian’anmen Square — and a walk to the Forbidden City. This was once the Chinese Imperial Palace and has a history of almost five hundred years. It is said to be the world’s largest existing palace complex with 999.5 rooms. While walking in the city, you can retrace the Chinese history from Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Lunch will be arranged in an authentic Hutong as we’ll learn to make dumplings. Dumpling is a must for every family in the northern China, so we’ll learn this skill step by step.

After lunch, we’ll have a bike tour in the city to see the Ming City Wall and the Olympic Park.

Savour for dinner an authentic Beijing style hotpot, also known as Mongolian hotpot (which is very different from the Sichuan spicy one).

Optional foot massage to relax after a delicious and long day!

Overnight in Beijing
Meals: B, L, D

Day 3 – Temple of Heaven - Great Wall

Morning we visit the Temple of Heaven Park, where we can see various activities i.e. Taiji, ribbon dance, sword dance, water calligraphy. Then visit Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven, it is the prayer palace for good weather and bountiful harvests by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Today we transfer to the Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass, which is comprised of four defensive lines across 20 km in the Guangou Valley. This defensive system, unique to this section of the Great Wall, took more than 200 years to complete, and, at its peak, had over 10,000 men stationed here to defend China. One of the highlights is Yuntai, the remaining marble foundation of a tower built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) for the emperors who traveled through the ravine every year on their way to the Imperial summer resort in Inner Mongolia.

Overnight at Commune by the Great Wall, a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects, beautifully tucked away in this secluded valley. A once in a lifetime experience!

Optional: Cocktails and BBQ dinner at your hotel where you can see the Wall in the distance.

Overnight at Commune at the Wall
Meals: B, L

Day 4 – Great Wall - Beijing – 798 Art District

In the morning, we’ll do a short hike on the exclusive section of Great Wall in the hotel.

Return back to Beijing and visit the 798 Contemporary Art District – the very center of China’s contemporary art scene. Once a series of deserted factory spaces designed and built in cooperation with the East Germans during the 1950s, 798 is now home to numerous galleries featuring a variety of avant-garde paintings, photography, sculptures and the occasional multimedia installation.

Lunch at a very Beijing cool restaurant nearby, known for the fresh ingredient and no MSG guaranteed. The décor of the restaurant is extremely interesting as they have a nice collection of old furniture from the 70s and 80s.

Transfer to airport and fly back to Shanghai in the afternoon.

Meals: B, L

Happy guests…

Delicious, different and engaging

“Thank you so much for organising a fantastic 3-day break in Beijing. Even though we actually live in China, it was very insightful and we discovered many hidden gems we would never have found in guidebooks.It was simply delicious and high recommend to visitors looking for something different and engaging.”

Claire S., Shanghai, China

Best way to see Beijing

“This was the perfect introduction to China and best way to see this vibrant city.  Loved making dumplings in a charming Hutong and sharing stories with locals.  Felt like a real insider.  Our guide Shan Shan had lots of historic and modern tales and went out of her way to ensure we all had an amazing experience. Our accommodation made us feel like modern emperors and a big highlight was having drinks as sunset overlooking the Chinese Wall – with no other tourist in sight!  Hope to be back sometime soon.”

Gary A., San Fransisco, US

 

 

 

What happy guests said about this tour…

  • Delicious, different and engaging - Thank you so much for organising a fantastic 3-day break in Beijing. Even though we actually live in China, it was very insightful and we discovered many hidden gems we would never have found in guidebooks.

    Claire S., Shanghai, China
  • Best way to see Beijing - This was the perfect introduction to China and best way to see this vibrant city. Loved making dumplings in a charming Hutong and sharing stories with locals. Felt like a real insider.

    Gary A., San Fransisco, US