Peking duck, also known as Peking Roasted Duck or Beijing Kaoya, is a dish of great antiquity from Beijing that can trace back to the imperial era. Nowadays, Peking Duck had become one of the specialties of the capital and a national symbol of China, favored by tourists and diplomats alike. For instance, Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State of the United States, came to savor this cate, during his two visits to China in 1971 and in 1976. It has also been a favorite delicacy for various political leaders ranging from Cuban Fidel Castro to former German chancellor Helmut Kohl.

The delicacy is characterized by its crisp skin shining date-red in color and tender texture, with authentic versions serving mostly the skin and little meat, sliced in front of the diners by the cook. The hot Peking Roast Duck will be brought to the dining table by the chef where he will slice it into more than 100 thin flakes, each having its piece of crispy skin. The meat is often eaten with spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce with pancake rolled around the fillings. Sometimes pickled radish is also inside, and other sauces can be used. The remaining duck with meat and bones can be cooked in three ways. The traditional way is to be cooked into a broth. The meat together with bones can also be stir-fried with sweet bean sauce, or rapidly sautéed and served with salt and Sichuan pepper.

Besides the traditional one, many restaurants offer an All Duck Banquet - various dishes cooked with the offal and juices of the duck, surrounding the main dish. It will be sure to give you satisfaction and enjoyment when dining.

Duck has been roasted in China since the Southern and Northern Dynasties(386-589). Up until the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), ducks were roasted in the area around Jinling (ancient name for Nanjing). A variation of roast duck was prepared for the Emperor of China in the Yuan dynasty(1271-1368). The Peking Roast Duck that came to be associated with the term was fully developed during the later Ming dynasty when the rulers moved their capital city to Beijing from Jinling and by then, Peking Duck was one of the main dishes on imperial court menus and was highly regarded by emperors and other members of the ruling classes. By the Qianlong Period (1736–1796) of the Qing dynasty, the popularity of Peking Duck spread to the upper classes. The first restaurant specializing in Peking Duck, Bianyifang, was established in the Xianyukou, close to Qianmen of Beijing in 1416.

Preparation

Raising the duck

Newborn ducks are raised specially in a free range environment for the first 45 days of their lives, and force fed 4 times a day for the next 15–20 days, resulting in ducks that weigh 5–7 kg. The force-feeding of the ducks led to an alternate name for the animal, Peking Stuffed Duck. 

Seasoning the duck

A suitable fattened White Beijing Ducks are slaughtered, plucked, eviscerated and rinsed thoroughly with water. Air is pumped under the skin through the neck cavity to separate the skin from the fat. The duck is then plunged in boiling water for 1 to 5 minutes, then hung to dry. This will tighten the skin and help the duck to achieve its traditional crispy texture. The duck is then glazed with a layer of potentially spiced and flavored maltose syrup. A marinade of traditional flavorings, including soy sauce and five-spice powder, and more maltose, is then applied inside the body cavity. This will flavor the duck during the next step. The duck is then left to dry for between 24 hours and several days in a cool, dry place, which allows the skin to crisp while roasting.

Roasting the duck

Hitherto, there are two traditional schools of cuisine for the duck cooking, namely closed oven and hung oven.

Closed-oven style

Peking duck is originally roasted in a conventional closed oven, allowing the meat to be slowly cooked through the convection of heat within the oven. Controlling the fuel and the temperature is the main skill. In closed-oven style, duck meat is combined well with the fat under the skin, and therefore is juicy and tender.

Hung-oven style

The hung oven, also known as open oven, was developed in the imperial kitchens during the Qing Dynasty. It is designed to roast up to 20 ducks at the same time with an open fire fueled by fruit hardwood from peach or pear trees. The ducks are hung on hooks above the fire and roasted at a temperature of 270 °C (525 °F) for 30–40 minutes. While the ducks are roasting, the chef may use a pole to dangle each duck closer to the fire for 30-second intervals. By the means of hung oven, the fat is usually melted during the cooking process, so the skin is more crispy.

The initial technique has been perpetuated by very few restaurants among which the household name Bianyi Fang is the representative. The second method is relatively well-known and used with great success by the notable Quan Ju De Restaurant, first established in 1864, which won the China Renowned Trademark as well.

　　Hot pot, and the less common Chinese fondue, refer to several East Asian varieties of stew, is ke consisting of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot .is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table. Typical hot pot dishes include thinly sliced meat, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings, and seafood. The cooked food is usually eaten with a dipping sauce. In many areas, hot pot meals are often eaten inn the winter.

       The Chinese hot pot boasts a history of more than 1,000 years.While often called "Mongolian hot pot", it is unclear if the dish actuall originated in Mongolia. Mongol warriors had been known to cook with their helmets, which they used to boil food, but due to the complexity and specialization of the utensils and the method of eating, hot pot cooking is much better suited to a sedentary culture. A nomadic household will avoid such highly specialized tools to save volume and weight during migration. Both the preparation method and the required equipment are unknown in the cuisine of Mongolia of today.
　　Hot pot cooking seems to have spread to northern China during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-906). In time, regional variations developed with different ingredients such as seafood. By Qing Dynasty, hot pot had become popular throughout most of China. Today in many modern homes, particularly in big cities, the traditional coal-heated hot pot has been replaced by electric,gas or electromagnetic cooker versions.
　　Because hot pot styles change so much from region to region, many different ingredients are used.

 Acrobatic art has a history of more than 2000 years in China. Beijing is the culture centre of China, we have professional literature and art organization, and we have gathered over 60 acrobatic artists who are the most famous in Beijing.The programs performed by us are ingeniously conceived,highly skilled  in a distinctive traditional Chinese style with a breathtaking,unique,humorous and funny performance.　 

    Our troupe has been invited and performed in more than ten countries,such as England France,Germany,Australia,Holland,Belgium and Norway,where we were warmly welcomed and highly praised.This has promoted  not only the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the people of other  countries but also the exchange and development of the acrobatic techniques both at  home and abroad.

World famous acrobatic shows in Beijing 

Unique and popular, Chinese acrobat shows combine the traditional Chinese performing arts with acrobat balancing acts. These are brilliantly performed by talented troupes, with members from around the world.

Chinese acrobats have their own style. This is one show you don’t want to miss! Book your tickets today and experience the artistic side of Beijing's exciting night life.

Inclusions                            

1:Show tickets

2:Hotel pick up arond 4pm, drop off back hotel at 7:30pm

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Gratuities (optional)

Meal

　　Beijing opera or peking opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music,vocal performance,mime,dance and acrobatics.It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century.This form of theatre was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has been regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.Many performance groupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north,and Shanghai in the south. The form of art is also seen in Taiwan,where it is known as guoju, and it has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.

　　Beijing opera features four main types of performers,Performing groupes often have several of each or combined. Performers are the only focal points on the stage.They utilize the skills of speech,song,dance,and combat in movements that are symbolic and suggestive,rather than realistic. Performers also adhere to a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production.

　　Channel CCTV-11 in Mainland China is currently dedicated to broadcasting classic Chinese opera productions,including Beijing opera.

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1:Show tickets

2:Hotel transfer

3:If select VIP seat with fresh tea and snacks 

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The Legend of Kungfu is a Live performance presented by China Heaven Creation International Performing Arts Co., Ltd. (CHC) -- China's leading performance art production company, every night at Red Theatre. A group of the best Kung Fu practitioners of China are collected and the best directors and designers of the country are invited by CHC.

The show is about storytelling that a little boy from a very poor family whose mother was unable to provide for him and decided to send her son to a temple to be a monk and learn kungfu. The diligent student monk was initiated into the temple, learning Buddhism and Kungfu. The theme of the story is full of trials and tribulation of being a monk and the worldly temptations through his monkhood. He had a hard time getting used to the strict discipline of the temple and could not restrain his natural desire to chase a young beauty, so he suffered great regret and losing his way to self-cultivation. He punished himself severely and finally came back full circle to be the temple, attaining enlightenment. He became interested in the unbelievable power of Kung Fu, in which he must face many obstacles both from this world and his own mind to overcome his fears.

The fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional martial arts makes this performance unique and spectacular, presenting stunning Kung Fu skills, exquisite ballet, splendid acrobatics and wonderful music, along with brilliant stage scenery, acoustic and light effect. With no speaking of the actors, there is an electronic screen displaying the show's subtitles in English above the stage to keep you informed of the storyline. After the show, the audience can also take photos with the main actors.

The show made its first appearance on the Beijing stage in July 15th, 2004. Ever since it has received numerous awards and become a world-class spectacle known around the world. If you are an enthusiast of Chinese Kung Fu, who would like to explore the real Chinese martial arts and culture, you definitely should not miss this excellent show of the prestigious Chinese Kung Fu.

China has one of the longest histories of continuously recorded martial arts tradition in the world. The Chinese Kung Fu is popular terms with Chinese martial arts, tracing its origins back some 4000 years ago to self-defense needs, hunting activities and military training in ancient China. In the long course of development, the Kung fu's purpose from self-defense to health maintenance and finally as method of self-cultivation. Kung Fu requires of the practitioner a strict code of physical and mental discipline. A common saying concerning basic training in Chinese martial arts is as follows: Train both Internal and External. External training includes the hands, the eyes, the body and stances. Internal training includes the heart, the spirit, the mind, breathing and strength. In addition, philosophy, ethics and even medical practice are highly regarded by most Chinese martial arts, which provides insight into Chinese attitudes and culture.

　　An original Chinese play, "The Golden Mask Dynasty," was held August 16 at OCT Theater in Beijing Happy Valley. This play was sponsored by Overseas Chinese Town, OCT, which invested 200 million yuan into building the OCT Theater for the play.

　　Set in the Golden Mask Dynasty, a legendary age in China, the story tells how a queen, who wears a golden mask, creates a splendid dynasty. The play has eight chapters and includes more than 200 actors from China and abroad. Produced by Chinese playwrights, directors and designers, the play features Chinese dances, acrobatics, costumes, and lighting and acoustics.

　　The Golden Mask Dynasty is a mythical age, and the play tells a fairy-tale like story of war, royal banquets, and romance. The play has 20 different dance scenes, ranging from war scenes to romance. The director invited composers Liu Gangbao and Li Cangsang to compose the music jointly. Composer Zhang Qianyi, who wrote the "Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," composed the theme song "The Words of Love" for the Golden Mask Dynasty, and vocalist Tang Jing sang the song. The play's wardrobe designers were inspired by the Sanxing Mound relics. They used blue and gold as the play's main colors, representing yin and yang, men and women, and heaven and earth. They created more than 500 costumes.

Inclusions

1:Show tickets

2:Hotel pick up at 4pm, drop off at hotel at 8:30pm

Exclusions

1:Gratuities (optional)

2:Meal

The Summer Palace, located ten kilometers to the northwest of Beijing, used to be a summer residence of Qing Dynasty emperors. It is an imperial garden known far and wide for its architectural grandeur and stunning natural beauty. It is one of the Four Most Famous Gardens in China. The construction of the Summer Palace started in 1750.

　　The northern part of the Summer Palace is the 60-meter-tall Longevity Hill. Its southern part is a wide expanse of water called Kunming Lake. The whole garden covers 290  hectares, with the lake taking up four-fifths of its total area.

　　Along the northern bank of Kunming Lake runs the Long Corridor with a total length of 728  meters and 273 sections.. The crossbeams of the Long Corridor are decorated with more than 8,000 color paintings with Chinese landscape and historical stories.

 The 17-arch bridge on the  southern bank of Kunming Lake is more than 150 meters long. Carved stone lions, of different sizes and postures, sit on top of the bridge's stone columns. An octagonal pavilion stands at one end of the bridge and near the pavilion lies a bronze ox with its head raised toward the lake. On the back of the ox is engraved a line from Emperor Qianlong stating that the ox is used to control flooding of the lake.

　　A Ming-style street winds along a stretch of water on the back side of Longevity Hill. The Suzhou Street, 300 meters long, is lined with more than 60 shops and decorated with archways and gateways. The shops, of different shapes and sizes, are built with bluish gray tiles and bricks. The marketplace lends a folksy flavor to the imperial garden.

Summer Palace is a fascinating ensemble of gardens, lakes and palaces

Book a tour to the Summer Palace and experience a stunning ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing. It remains to be a popular tourist destination to this day!

The  buildings are positioned in a fashion that creates a sharp contrast to the hilly backdrop. Enjoy walking through these splendid halls and pavilions, admiring the construction and natural beauty all at once!

     The Ming Tombs  are located in Changping district, about 50 kilometers to the northwest of  Beijing city.

　　During the Ming Dynasty, there  were 14 emperors from the Yongle Reign of Zhudi to the Chongzhen Reign of  Zhuyoujian. 13 emperors had their tombs built there except Zhuqiyu (the Jingtai  Reign) who was buried at the Golden Mountain in the western suburbs of Beijing,  hence the name of the Tombs of 13 Ming Emperors (The Ming Tombs). 

　　Encompassing an area of 10  hectares, Changling, the tomb for Emperor Zhudi and his wife lies at the foot of  Tianshoushan (the Mountain of Heavenly Longevity). It comprises three courtyards  with Changling Hall, or the Lingsi Hall on par with Taihe Hall (Hall of Supreme  Harmony) of the Palace Museum, Dacheng Hall of Confucius Temple in Qufu of  Shangdong Province and Tiankuang Hall of Dai Temple at the foot of Taishan. The  Changling Hall covers an area of 1956.44 square meters, that surpassing that of  the Taihe Hall (Hall of Supreme Harmony). It is supported by 60 precious  columns, each made of a whole trunk of nanmu and remaining intact without any  protection after 500 years.

　　Mutianyu Great Wall locates in county Huairou Beijing. Mutianyu is around 73 kilometers to Beijing with a long history & brilliant culture and reputed as “the most beautiful part of-Great Wall”. Mutianyu is 5400 meter-long and the lush green cover 90% of. Mutianyu is the longest section ofand granted as one of the 16 most beautiful sceneries in Beijing.
　　Mutianyu great wall mainly made of slabs of granite. It measures 7 meters to 8 meters in height, and 4 meters to 5 meters in width.
　　was initially built in(550-557). In the Ming Dynasty  (1368-1644), general Xuda rebuilt based on Great Wall in Qi Dynasty. Since 1569, Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang, two famous patriotic generals, renovated it in order to strengthen its defensive potential when they guarded the strategic pass. It served as the northern protective screen, guarding the capital and imperial mausoleums for generations.

Currently, there are a first-class cable car andfixed in Mutianyu Great Wall. Mutianyu Great Wall has formed a comprehensive landscape gathering culture, Stone  and health fitness.
　　has six specialties:
　　One: lushly greens.
　　Lushly greens inover 96% of. In spring, flowers bloom on the mountainside; in summer, grasses dress the hills in green; October is the most beautiful month as the leaves turn red, yellow, and gold. The Great Wall is also magnificent in winter while dressing by snow. Mutianyu Great Wall offerslooks in four seasons.
　　Two: Watchtowers in unique shape
　　The gate of Zhengguan tower is not designed in the middle, but is on the eastern side. The two-storey terrace is comprised of three hollow watchtowers, a large one in the middle and two smaller ones on two sides. It has many rooms to store grain and station troops. Mutianyu Great Wall is the only section with the-shaped watchtower.
　　Three: Heavily-dense watchtowers located
　　From Big Corner Tower to Zhengguan tower, less than 500 meters,built with 4. From No. 1 watchto No. 20, with a total 3000 meter long, there are heavily occupied with 25 watchtowers. Every hundred-meter interval is located with one watchtower.
　　Four: the main and branch wall co-existed. There are 23distributed at close intervals along the wall. They are located not only in the main wall but also at the distinctive "branch city". Branch cities are built on the hill ridge against the inner or outer side of the wall. For example, No. 11 Watchtower can be found on the branch wall.

Five: double parapets

　　Both sides of the Great Wall have parapets to defend against enemies. Some parapets- tooth shaped instead of the regular rectangular form. Below the parapets, there are square embrasures, the top of which are designed in an arc structure, different from the traditional round embrasures.
　　Six: three-dimensional appeal
　　Pass Mutianju has the lowest latitude only with 486. From the east to Big corner tower, less than 500long, Mutianyu great wall117 meters. From the Zhengguan tower  to the 19th tower, the great wall lies morefrom the 20th tower to the, via 10 watchtowers, Mutianyu Great Wall reaches from 486 meters to 1039 meters in-depth, seems quite magnificent.
　　Three terrific scenic spots:
　　Terrace (No. 6 Watchtower) is 40 meters long, 30 meters wide, and 20 meters high. The terrace was built in 1404 with an important strategic position. One side facing the Mutianyu Pass is stationed with Mongolian troops whileis an entry to Beijing and an express way to imperial tomb. The gate is not designed in the middle, but is on the eastern side. The two-storey terrace is comprised of three hollow watchtowers, a large one in the middle and two smaller ones on two sides. It has many rooms to store grain and station troops.

Big Corner Tower (No. 1 Watchtower) is connected with Mutianyu in the west, with Gubeikou in the east, and with a branch city wall in the south. The tower looks like a corner from each angle, so it is called Big Corner Tower. Big corner Tower divide Great Wall occupied by County Ji from Great Wall occupied by County Chang. Big Corner Tower is one of the biggest and the toppest eastern tower. A broad view from the big corner tower convenience visitors a lot.

　　“Yingfeidaoying” is one of the steepest sections of the Great Wall in Beijing. “yingfeidaoying” is the best word to depicting the “steep Great Wall in a particular part”. Jiankou is the hottest spot for taking photos nowadays. Great Wall from the middle of the mountain to the toppest of the mountain, after built one watch tower on the top of the mountain, the great wall suddenly climbs down back the middle, and then suddenly up to 840 meters, because the bend is in the shape of an ox horn and hence got the name “ox horn”. Mutianyu great wall along the side of the ox horn is reputed as “Yingfeidaoying” for the whole wall built on stone cliffs mostly with a 50 degree slope, there is one even nearly 90 vertical degree. The step is only few inches wide booked for the brave only.

Restored masterpiece-Mutianyu Great Wall

　　Situated 80 km northeast of central Beijing in Huairou County, The Great Wall of Mutianyu is stunning!

　　Book the Mutianyu Great Wall tour to visit the restored section of the wall. Enjoy the slide way and cable car fixed at the wall.

　　When you’re done, relax and take in the beautiful landscape all in one day! The splendor awaits you!

The Juyongguan Section of Great Wall is in Changping District, fifty kilometers to downtown Beijing. The Juyongguan Pass has always been strategically important because of its special geographical condition and dangerous landscape. Juyongguan has two passes, one in the south and the other in the north, which the latter has been known as Juyongguan Pass. The pass we see today is the site that has been built under the supervision of Xu Da, a general of Zhu Yuanzhang, the First Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It was the northwestern gate of ancient Beijing City.

Both sides of the Juyongguan Pass are steep mountains. In the middle, there is a deep valley of a length of 18 kilometers. It is green all around with many high verdant peaks stood. 

The rebuilding and expansion had been made in the Ming dynasty. And in late Qing dynasty, it was abandoned due to the chaotic situation of the time. However, now it is still being a window for people who would like to know more about the military history and culture of ancient China. Juyong Pass ranks as the first of the three impregnable passes along the Great Wall (the other two are Jiayuguan Pass and Shanhaiguan Pass).

Besides the ancient wall, many old buildings, like towers and temples, can be seen there. Stairs on the western part are quite steep while the other side is gentler, suitable for people who are energetic and those who are weak in sports.

In the middle of Juyong Pass, there is a "Cloud Platform" with another name of "Crossing Street Tower". The Cloud Platform is pierced by a hexagonal arched gateway. Both the ceiling and facades are covered with Buddhist carvings, including depictions of the Four Heavenly Kings in relief executed with great detail and expressiveness. There are 5 ancient cannons displayed on the city wall of Juyong Pass Great Wall.