A Beijing hotel has introduced a new program combining visits to historic landmarks, traditional arts and culinary activities, offering travelers another way to explore the Chinese capital through its cultural heritage and local lifestyle.
The one-to-three-day City of Wonders experience brings together excursions to the Great Wall and Beijing's hutong alleyways, Chinese tea culture, and tai chi. The itineraries are tailored to guests' interests and schedules.
Participants receive a Discovery Passport featuring a customized city map and clues to different activities, collecting stamps upon completion of each experience.
The Great Wall excursion includes a guided hike led by William Lindesay, a scholar who has spent decades studying and protecting the ancient fortification. During the visit to a preserved section of the wall, Lindesay shares insights from his fieldwork.
In the city's historic neighborhoods, a guided walk through Wudaoying Hutong introduces visitors to traditional streets, independent design shops, cafes and craft studios. A separate tea experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant in a traditional courtyard explores Chinese tea culture through a two-hour session featuring premium teas and traditional refreshments.
The program also includes tai chi sessions at the hotel's Bvlgari Garden, designed by Swiss landscape architect Enzo Enea, or at the Fangze Altar in Ditan Park, where Ming and Qing emperors once held rituals to worship the earth.
