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Beijing's Old Streets, Libraries & Cathedrals — 1 Day Walking Tour

A half-day walking route through Beijing's historic districts, from cultural shop streets to the Northern Cathedral and a traditional tea ceremony.

This single-day walking tour moves through the layers of old Beijing on foot, beginning in the shop-lined cultural streets where remnants of earlier dynasties still line the blocks. The route passes the corner tower of the Forbidden City wall, then enters the Beijing Library—housed in a former palace courtyard with stone lions and architectural pieces moved from the Summer Palace—one of the world's five largest libraries by volume. The Northern Cathedral, Beijing's oldest and largest Catholic church, follows. The tour closes in a local tea house with a traditional tea ceremony and instruction in tea culture. An English-speaking guide leads the walk from hotel pickup.

Highlights

Walk the old cultural streets of Beijing, browsing shops and viewing historical collections
View the corner tower of the Forbidden City wall from street level
Tour the Beijing Library's former palace courtyard, including stone lions and architectural elements from the Summer Palace
Visit the Northern Cathedral, Beijing's oldest and largest Catholic church
Participate in a traditional tea ceremony and learn tea culture at a local tea house

Day by day

1Beijing's Historic Streets: From Cultural Quarters to Cathedral and TeaBeijing's old cultural streets · Beijing Library · Northern Cathedral · local tea house · corner tower of Forbidden City outer wall

Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby and the walk begins in Beijing's old cultural streets, where small shops line the blocks and historical objects remain on display. From there, the route moves toward the Forbidden City, passing the corner tower of its outer wall. You then arrive at the Beijing Library, one of the world's five largest by collection size, housed in a former palace courtyard. Stone lions and architectural elements relocated from the Summer Palace remain in the courtyard, evidence of the building's earlier life. After the library, the tour continues to the Northern Cathedral, Beijing's oldest and largest Catholic church. The day concludes in a local tea house, where you participate in a traditional tea ceremony and receive instruction in tea culture. A Chinese lunch is included with the tour.

Included

Included:
English speaking guide service
Public transfer where necessary
Chinese lunch

Not included

Do Not Include:
International airfare
China Visa
Hotel accommodation