Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

Your sightseeing day tour of Beijing's essential sights starts at Tiananmen Square, with an overview of China's communist history. You'll tour the grounds and see Tiananmen's vast array of halls and monuments.

From Tiananmen Square it's a short walk to the Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace Museum. The history of every dynasty is represented in four palatial halls, plus antiques and treasures from China's thousands of years of history. Inside of the Forbidden City, you will see both Gate of Heavenly Purity and Palace of Heavenly Purity.

After a stop for lunch you will visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall, one of the best preserved sections of this 2,000-year-old architectural wonder. You will be able to climb the Great Wall and take in the panoramic views from the top.

The day tour also includes a stop at the famous Longdi Jade Factory where you can shop for beautiful bargains, and a stop at Silk Store.