Hutongs: Behind the Scenes - Beijing & Great Wall

Traverse the alleyways of a traditional hutong to gain an insight into life here and partake in cultural activities.

Beijing's hutongs are narrow atmospheric alleyways lined with small houses, whose distinctive oriental grey rooftops cluster around central courtyards. Visiting the hutongs is like being transported back in time; it is here that we find Beijing's traditional core, a place to see timeless local life in action, try authentic cuisine, buy local handicrafts and artwork, pause at a tea house and learn Chinese calligraphy, paper cutting and local street games. They can be explored on foot, bicycle or by rickshaw and can also include the chance to meet a family and share lunch with them.

Our Top Picks Some of our favourite places to visit and things to do in Beijing

Special in-depth Beijing tour

Gain an in-depth perspective on Beijing's past and present with our specially designed tour of the capital.

Beijing off the beaten track

Delve into Beijing's lesser visited places to gain a different perspective on life here, away from the crowds.

Temple of Heaven Park

Climb the sacred steps to one of China’s finest temples and observe locals taking their morning exercises.

Choose your perfect holiday

Find inspiration from our selection of itinerary suggestions, a great starting point for your next trip

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Beijing Tour

china

7 Nights from £2,177

Explore Imperial palaces, hike the Great Wall of China and enjoy Hong Kong's exotic beaches and local markets. Great cities of the world are a must for vibrant city life, ancient history and modern architecture as well as excellent cuisine, shopping and scenery.

Route:

Beijing - Great Wall - Hong Kong

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Yangtze Tour

china

15 Nights from £4,763

Cruise the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges landscape, experience China's ancient wonders, observe giant pandas in Chengdu, expereince spectacular Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and uncover the real Shanghai.

Route:

Beijing & Great Wall - Xi'an & Terracotta Army - Chengdu - Yangtze Cruise - Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Shanghai

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Shangri-la Tour

china

14 Nights from £4,562

Enjoy Yunnan's stunning landscapes and cultural experiences as you go behind the scenes on the old Tea Horse Road

Route:

Beijing & Great Wall - Kunming Stone Forest - Shangri'la - Tea Horse Road - Lijiang - Dali & Erhai Lake - Beijing

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Dynasty Tour

china

14 Nights from £3,698

Delve into China's Imperial past and hike the Great Wall away from the crowds. Discover Hong Kong beyond the skyscrapers and stand in awe at the iconic Terracotta Army

Route:

Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu - Guilin - Hong Kong

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Emperor Tour

china

17 Nights from £3,892

Be inspired by stories of epic Imperial wonders and Shanghai's forest of towers on a tour full of cultural insights and magnificent landscapes

Route:

Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu - Longji Rice Terraces - Guilin & Yangshuo - Shanghai

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Mandarin Tour

china

20 Nights from £5,151

Palaces of the Dalai Lama and Chinese emperors, baby pandas, the Terracotta Army and Hong Kong beyond the skyscrapers

Route:

Beijing - Xi'an - Lhasa - Chengdu - Longji Rice Terraces - Guilin & Yangshuo - Hong Kong

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Panda Family Tour

china

14 Nights from £5,245

Your children will love China, visiting the ancient history of Beijing, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, the pandas at Chengdu, ethnic minorities and Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan Province and city life in Hong Kong.

Route:

Beijing - Xi'an - Chengdu - Shangri-La - Lijiang - Hong Kong

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