Upon pickup from your selected hotel in the morning, depart Beijing in the comfort of your private vehicle. Relax on the roughly 1.5-hour drive to the Great Wall at Mutianyu and stop en route for photos in front of the Beijing National Stadium, aka Bird's Nest, home to the 2008 Summer Olympics (time permitting).
On arrival, learn from your private guide about the construction and restoration of the Mutianyu section at the Great Wall of China during the Ming Dynasty. A chair lift or cable car ticket is included to more easily ascend the architectural marvel, where you can explore at your own pace and look out over the surrounding hillsides.
Then ride a toboggan down and stop at a local restaurant in the Huairou district, known for its chestnuts, mushrooms, and trout. Here, you choose from various dishes featuring countryside-style cuisine for your lunch.
Returning to Beijing in the afternoon, you'll visit Tiananmen Square, home to the Monument to the People's Heroes and the National Museum of China. Wander the square on foot with your guide before passing through the south gate to the Forbidden City. The 250-acre (101-hectare) complex in the middle of Beijing was the imperial palace from the Ming and Qing dynasties and now houses the Palace Museum. After you discover this former ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government, your guide will drop you off at your hotel.
