Hutongs by Rickshaw & Cixi's Summer Palace
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Port
Tianjin (Beijing), China
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$169
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 11 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Depart from pier for an approximately three and a half -hour drive to the city of Beijing.
Enjoy a tour through the local hutongs. These are the narrow streets and alleys of the Old Town and date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Courtyard-style houses line these quaint streets and are the type of housing that used to be all over Beijing. Everyone lived in these kinds of homes before the era of apartment buildings. Many hutongs still survive today and attract visitors who hope to discover the absolutely authentic character of Old Beijing.
Explore deep in the alleys around the Houhai area, traveling by rickshaw. You will visit a local family in one of the courtyards to learn about Beijing regional's culture and the people's life here.
Lunch is served at a local Chinese restaurant.
Continue to the Summer Palace, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. This summer residence took on special interest for the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi, who fulfilled a wonderful, if rather expensive, dream by commissioning the palace in 1888. Originally a concubine of the third rank, Cixi had placed herself on the Dragon Throne and ruled as Regent for 50 years.
By deploying young women and other earthly distractions, she kept her son away from matters of government until his death at the age of 18. Bypassing the legal inheritance, she installed her young nephew as Emperor and governed from behind the throne until he reached majority. She then retired to the Summer Palace, but continued to meddle in court politics. Explore with your guide and take in the magnificent palace and grounds, which are an oasis of peace in the bustling city.
Board your motorcoach and drive directly back to the ship in Tianjin -- a drive of approximately four hours.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes.