Immerse yourself in the history of China on this day tour of some of the most important sites in Beijing. Tour the city's most famous attractions and experience the political significance and beauty of Beijing's historical areas.

Home to the Olympic Games in 2008, Beijing is a thriving area of culture, wealth, and power in the People's Republic of China. Your day will begin at your hotel doorstep with a complimentary air-conditioned transportation service that will take you first to Tiananmen Square. Tour the third largest public square in the world and one rich in the history of modern China. The square has always been a bustling area and a center of political activity. It is frequently visited by many Chinese citizens, who come to see Mao Zedong's mausoleum and the monuments erected in the middle of the plaza. Your guide will then lead you on a walk to the north end of Tiananmen Square and through the Tiananmen Gate into the Forbidden City to tour the Chinese imperial palace. This complex housed emperors for almost 500 years, from the Ming Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty. The Forbidden City consists of 980 different buildings and covers around 7,800,000 square feet, and it contains one of the most incredible collections of historical artifacts and treasures in the history of any country in the world. You will be amazed by the ways in which the Chinese emperor lived and how the Chinese imperial government worked.

After visiting the Forbidden City, you will stop with your group for a provided Chinese-style lunch. Once you are well fed and rested, you will travel to the Temple of Heaven to tour the largest religious complex in China. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the emperor traveled to the temple annually to prayer for a good harvest for all of his people. After all, if there was a good harvest, then the Chinese people would be in good spirits and celebrate their emperor.

At the end of your Beijing sightseeing tour, enjoy traditional Chinese tea that will relax you after a day full of excitement. The tour concludes back at your hotel, with you well oriented with some of Beijing's greatest historical monuments.