You will visit two of the World Heritage Site of China .

The Temple of Heaven, founded in the first half of the 15th century, is a dignified complex of fine cult buildings set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods. In its overall layout and that of its individual buildings, it symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven – the human world and God's world – which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony, and also the special role played by the emperors within that relationship.

The Temple of Heaven is a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world’s great civilizations. The symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries. For more than two thousand years China was ruled by a series of feudal dynasties, the legitimacy of which is symbolized by the design and layout of the Temple of Heaven.

Dec 2, 1998 UNESCO World Heritage Committee Adds 30 Sites to World Heritage List

Morning exercises
Temple of Heaven now serves as a public park as well, one of the best place to see the lively morning exercises of the local beijingers who sing songs and operas, practise taichi and other sports in the woods.

The Summer Palace or Yiheyuan is an imperial garden & palace in Beijing, China. It is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill (60 meters high) and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water. In its compact 70,000 square metres of building space, one finds a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures.

In December 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace on its World Heritage List. It declared the Summer Palace an "outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design, incorporating the works of humankind and nature in a harmonious whole." It is a popular tourist destination but also serves as a recreational park.

We will have lunch in the famous Old Beijing Noodle restaurant (not just noodle, vegetable dishes and stir-fries are available).

CCC guide will explain (in English) the history and the architectual symbols of the above mentioned sites.

Where: CCC coach leaves the China Culture Center, Chaoyang District at 09:00 am
            Or you may wait for the CCC coach no later than 09:40 in the lobby of Hongqiao Pearl Market, opposite the East Gate of Temple Heaven.

Coach returns to CCC at the end of the tour.