Beijing-Life Discovery Walk
What is it like to be an ordinary person living in Beijing? The answer is not to be found in the hutongs, where tourists ride rickshaws.
Gain some insight into Beijing people's lives by visiting a Buddhist temple and a local market, and walking through a residential community, hutongs and a park.
This half-day walking tour will take you to places where there are no other tourists and help you understand the lives of ordinary people from their religious beliefs, daily food, hobbies, housing issues and retirement situations.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Discover the Religion Belief of Chinese in a Non-Touristy Temple
Visit Tianning Temple which has the oldest pagoda in Beijing. Listen to the temple's stories. Your guide will explain the religious activities that people like to take part in.


Shop Like a Chinese Housewife in a Market
Observe people doing their daily shopping in a market. Get to know the popular food for people's daily life in Beijing and senior people's hobbies.


Kick a Shuttlecock, Sing, or Dance, with Local Seniors
Visit a pretty park where senior citizens do exercises. Get a glimpse of the retired life in China. People are dancing, writing on the ground, playing Chinese chess, and having fun with grandchildren.


Taste a Popular Snack Loved by Locals
Try a popular pancake breakfast at a local breakfast stand. Learn about the cooking skill of Chinese people.


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Great trip in Beijing
![]() We were in Beijing for a few days and our experience was excellent. We visited Forbidden city, summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Hutong walking tour , temple of heaven and Mutianyu wall. Our guide Jason and driver Mr. Chang made our visit very stress free, we really appreciated his guidance to all tours, made sure we’re on time for everything and gave us a special attention after the tours, helping us with our personal needs, special thanks to Jason for escorting us to the train station, making sure we made to our seats and given us instructions for meeting our next guide in our next adventure. more
Apr 2025, Dora K
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China Highlights Trip
![]() Amazing and beautifully planned.. We enjoyed our 3 days trip in Beijing. Explored temples and ofcourse the highlights of our tour The Great Wall of China was exceptional. Also thanks to this company for carefully curated my birthday escapade. Celebrated my birthday with Great Wall as my backdrop. Indeed once in a lifetime experience. Highly recommended this tour company, everything was exceptional from the moment we arrived in the airport down to making sure we have the best experience. Shout out to our tour guide Linda / Ling. Highly recommended... She goes above and beyond just to make sure we are comfortable, satisfied and happy. Thanks Linda your one the best tour guide we had... Very knowledgeable and helpful in every ways. more
Apr 2025, Craig
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Our Beijing trip with Mark
![]() The places of interest are very interesting, very rich in culture. Our tour guide, Mark is very patience and obliging. He is also very knowledgeable and took effort to share with us about China history. Our trip has been pleasant and won’t hesitate to recommend. more
Apr 2025, lee yean peng
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests. The time frame is just for your reference. It could be adjusted accoring to your need and interest.
Your private guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby. An experienced driver with a comfortable and private vehicle (non-smoking, with air-conditioning) will be ready to drive you to the destination you will explore by walking.
Your discovery will start with the religious beliefs of local people. Your guide will show you around Tianning Temple, which has the oldest pagoda in Beijing, telling the temple's stories and explaining the religious activities that people like to take part in.
If your travel dates happen to coincide with a Buddhist festival, you will find it is quite busy in the temple and local believers chant the sutras together with monks.
The abandoned thermal power plant next to the temple will suggest to you something of the effort that Beijing has made to protect the environment.
Observe people doing their daily shopping in a market next to Tianning Temple. You will see the food that people like, the daily necessities, the fish and flowers that people like to have to decorate their homes. Your guide will explain how payment methods have been changing as China develops.
Then you will walk through a residential community built in the 1990s. Discover more about housing developments in Beijing. The bulletin board will show you how the local government advocates for its policies and values.
Cross the bridge on the city moat. If you like, try a popular pancake breakfast at a local breakfast stand.
Then you will visit a pretty park where senior citizens congregate to do exercises. Retired life in China might be quite different from that in your country, with dancing, writing on the ground, playing Chinese chess, and having fun with grandchildren.
You will end your tour by visiting a hutong, without any other tourists. This is a place where you can see authentic hutong life. Senior citizens stand or sit at the doorways, talking. Beer vendors make a living by hawking beer on a tricycle.
Drive back to the hotel after the tour.
Price Includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: bj-38