Your dedicated guide will greet you right in your hotel lobby, then whisk you away in a private, comfortable vehicle for a scenic 3-hour drive to Huangyaguan Great Wall. As rolling countryside vistas unfold outside your window, your guide will regale you with captivating tales of the Great Wall’s storied past and the grand legacy of the Eastern Qing Tombs—feel free to ask away and satisfy every curiosity along the way. Upon arrival, you’ll embark on a leisurely, crowd-free hike along Huangyaguan’s ancient ramparts, with 1.5 hours to soak in the serene beauty and historic charm at your own pace. Stretching 3 km (1.8 miles) and boasting 20 watchtowers, a historic pass fort, and a grand gatehouse, Huangyaguan stands as the longest restored section of the Great Wall. Its foundations trace back to the Northern Qi Dynasty (550–557), while its imposing brick battlements were laid during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)—a seamless blend of two eras of engineering prowess.

Stop for lunch, then head to Eastern Qing Tombs. Upon arrival, your guide will lead you through this majestic imperial mausoleum complex—the largest, most intact, and best-preserved of its kind in China. Once the final resting place of 5 Qing emperors, 15 empresses, 136 imperial concubines, 3 princes and 2 princesses, the sprawling site is dotted with ornate tombs, but only a small number are open to the public. Your guide will tailor the visit to explore 1–2 of the most prominent mausoleums on the day, based on site availability and visitor flow. Your guide will regale you with riveting anecdotes of imperial power struggles, secret burial rituals and the centuries-old legends shrouding these hallowed grounds. After 2 hours of immersive exploration, you’ll be transferred back to your Beijing hotel, with memories of ancient grandeur lingering long after the journey ends.