MORNING
Your guide will meet you at your hotel at around 8 am, and by private minivan, we will head to the Forbidden City. Our driver will meet you at about 8 am from your hotel to visit one of the greatest attractions in the world, The Forbidden City. Once homed by former emperors, it is the largest surviving palace. Built by the third Ming emperor between 1406-1422, the Forbidden City served as the official residence to the Emperor of China until the last emperor, Puyi, was forced to evacuate in 1924. This will be a visit you won't easily forget as it shows real Chinese architecture to the fullest!
There is an option to visit the Summer Palace instead of the forbidden city if it suits you. We have no problem if this is more to your liking.
NOON
We will have a break for a brief lunch by tasting the local specialties of Beijing - dumplings, Chinese quesadilla, noodles with stir-fried sources. You will eat in a place where once the President of China ordered! After lunch, we will make our way out of Beijing towards the Jinshanling Great Wall section.
AFTERNOON
Jinshanling's right wing, where we will hike until we reach Simatai West called Second Valley. As we head west the wall will start to gradually deteriorate, making the hike progressively more challenging, but also interesting to observe and compare.
The Jinshanling Great Wall possesses an excellent opportunity to take in some fabulous views. Make sure to take your camera. You will not be disappointed! This part of the Great Wall has not been repaired since 1570. It is very remote, but it's what makes it so unique and a great chance to experience the nature and the wild parts of the wall.
The Simatai West section, called the Second Valley. It is also unrestored and is basically ruins. This part of the wall is known as the true Great Wall as it hasn't been touched or refurbished, this brings you back in time to when it was first built! You will also get to see how the wall was designed for practical purposes such as the defense against enemies and how the Great Wall was supposed to keep them out. There are 'obstacle-walls' built perpendicular to the parapets - a feature quite unique to the Second Valley part of Jinshanling Great Wall.
After climbing down the wall we will have dinner at a local guesthouse, Then drive back to Beijing, and you will be dropped off back at your hotel in the evening.
