14-Day Real Taste of China: Food & Culture Tour

Visit Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest public squares. Home to the Monument to the People’s Heroes and Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum, it represents modern China’s heart and history. Capture the spirit of Beijing at this iconic landmark surrounded by monumental architecture.

Discover the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with nearly 1,000 buildings, grand halls, and defensive walls. Built in the 15th century, it showcases imperial architecture, traditional Chinese craftsmanship, and fascinating history—a must-visit Beijing landmark and heritage site.

Climb to the top of Jingshan Park for one of the best panoramic views of Beijing, overlooking the Forbidden City’s golden roofs. Once an imperial garden, this lush park offers a peaceful escape and a glimpse into ancient royal leisure life.

Savor Beijing’s world-famous Peking Duck. Crispy skin, tender meat, and traditional preparation make this dish a national culinary symbol and an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

Beijing snacks are a fusion of Han, Hui, Mongolian, and Manchu ethnic groups, originating from the court and folk customs, commonly known as "meeting food". There are currently more than 300 varieties, mainly halal snacks, represented by the "Thirteen Wonders of Beijing Snacks".
Features: simple materials, authentic practices, both fine palace and market fireworks, snacks are sometimes available throughout the year (such as Pea puree cake in summer and Tomatoes on sticks in winter)

The Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District, Beijing, 73 kilometers away from the city center. It is known as the "Great Wall of Ten Thousand Miles, Mutianyu is the only one". The Mutianyu Great Wall, with a total length of 5400 meters, is the longest Great Wall in China and one of the sixteen scenic spots in Beijing. In the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368), the Mutianyu Great Wall was built under the supervision of General Xu Da, a subordinate of Zhu Yuanzhang, on the site of the Northern Qi Great Wall.
Mutianyu Great Wall is the essence of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. This section of the Great Wall connects the Gubeikou in the east and Juyongguan in the west. Since ancient times, it has been a military important place to defend the capital, with Zhengguan Platform, Dajiaolou, eagle flying upside down and other landscapes. The wall of the Great Wall remains intact, which better reflects the ancient charm of the Great Wall, and has profound historical value and high cultural value.

On the way back to the city in the late afternoon, you'll pass by the Olympic Bird Nest and Water Cube.

Temple of Heaven Park, formerly known as "Temple of Heaven and Earth", is located at No. 7 Dongli, Temple of Heaven, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420) and renamed "Temple of Heaven" in the 9th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1530). It was the site for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to "worship heaven" and "pray for valleys", with a total area of 273 hectares. It is the largest existing ancient sacrificial building complex in China and the largest and most well preserved ancient sacrificial building complex in the world. On January 1, 1918, it was designated as Temple of Heaven Park and opened to the public

Start the morning with a unique hutong food tour. Your guide will take you through the narrow alleyways (hutongs) between traditional Beijing courtyard houses, where you can experience the authentic daily life of local Beijingers. Along the way, you will taste a variety of local snacks, such as Douzhi (a fermented drink made from ground beans with a distinct flavor), Mao Dou (steamed edamame), and Shao Mai (steamed dumplings). Your guide will introduce the history and stories behind each snack, making your food tour more informative and interesting.

Have lunch at a small local restaurant in the hutongs, where you can enjoy home-style Beijing dishes, such as Braised Pork Belly and Stir-Fried Shredded Pork with Sweet Bean Paste, cooked with authentic local flavors.

Marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, Qin Shi Huang’s army entombed to protect him in the afterlife. Each life-sized warrior has unique facial features and uniforms. Visit the nearby art ceramics and lacquer factory for souvenirs—a world-renowned archaeological treasure.

Visit Xi’an Great Mosque, the largest and most significant Islamic site in China. Explore its ancient architecture, beautiful gardens, and peaceful courtyards—a rare blend of Chinese and Islamic cultural heritage.

The Muslim Quarter, also known as Fangshang, is a food and culture district located in Beiyuanmen Street, Lianhu District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province. It consists of streets such as Beiyuanmen, Beiguangji Street, Xiyangshi, Dapiyuan, Huajuexiang, and Sajinqiao. This area formed a Hui ethnic settlement from the late Northern Song Dynasty to the early Southern Song Dynasty, and developed into a traditional commercial activity area during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, named after the long-term settlement of Hui residents. In 1992, it was renovated into a bluestone pavement and a block imitating Ming and Qing architecture. In 1993, an antique cultural tourism street was built.
There are currently 10 mosques in the block, including the Huajue Lane Mosque. The architecture blends traditional Chinese and Islamic styles, reflecting the integration of multi-ethnic cultures and traces of ancient commercial exchanges. As a Muslim food gathering place in northwest China, it gathers featured snacks such as beef and mutton steamed buns, cured beef and mutton, and Jinggao, among which beef and mutton steamed buns are featured by manual breaking and old soup cooking.

Visit a local Xi'an family and experience authentic Chinese home life. Learn to cook traditional homely food together, such as dumplings or hand-pulled noodles, under the guidance of the host family. This immersive experience allows the whole family to interact with locals, learn about Chinese family customs, and enjoy the fruits of your labor as part of the meal.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding was established on the basis of raising, treating, and breeding giant pandas at Chengdu Zoo. In 1997, an open laboratory was established. In 2019, the base received over 9 million domestic and foreign tourists. On November 17, 2023, the National Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas was established by integrating the resources of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center. The base simulates the wild ecological environment of giant pandas using landscaping techniques. The distribution of giant panda delivery rooms, panda breeding areas, research centers, and panda hospitals is orderly, and several luxurious panda "villas" are scattered in the mountains and forests. The expansion area fully follows and uses the original terrain and landforms, utilizing mountain gullies and streams to form a multi-level landscape belt of mountain valleys; According to the characteristics of the panda theme, the project is divided into multiple regions as a whole. As of the end of 2020, the population of giant pandas reached 215, making it the world's largest captive breeding population of giant pandas. As an ecological demonstration project for the relocation and conservation of giant pandas, it is renowned for protecting and breeding endangered wildlife species unique to China, such as giant pandas and red pandas.

Explore Wenshu Monastery (Manjushri Monastery), Chengdu’s best-preserved Buddhist temple. Home to the Buddhist Association of Sichuan Province, it offers beautiful halls, gardens, and a peaceful atmosphere. A must-visit for visitors seeking cultural insight and serene spiritual spaces in the city.

Chengdu People's Park is located on Shaocheng Road, Citang Street, Chengdu City. It was founded in 1911 and was originally named Shaocheng Park. It was built under the supervision of General Yukun stationed in Chengdu and Zhou Shanpei, the Sichuan Provincial Governor of Quanye Road, covering an area of 112639 square meters. There are scenic spots such as Jinshui Creek, Goldfish Island, and Bonsai Garden in the park. There are also historical relics such as the Xinhai Autumn Road Protection Death Memorial (a national key cultural relic protection unit) and the Sichuan Army Anti Japanese Martyrs Memorial (created by Liu Kaiqu).
Chengdu People's Park is a comprehensive park that integrates landscaping, culture, cultural relic protection, patriotic education, and leisure and entertainment. There is currently one national key cultural relic protection unit and four municipal cultural relic protection units in the park. There is also a Sichuan Baolu Movement History Exhibition Hall and the preservation of century old tea houses such as Heming Tea House.

Sichuan hotpot appeared in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1821-1851). Through multiple textual research, the real birthplace of Sichuan hotpot is Xiaomitan (now Gaoba No. 25 Factory), a riverside of the Yangtze River in Luzhou, a wine city. The cooking utensil is only a clay pot, which contains water (soup), various vegetables, and chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns to dispel dampness (because there is a saying that "vegetables are three parts of the grain, chili peppers are clothes").
At that time, the boatmen on the Yangtze River often stayed overnight at Xiaomi Beach (which was a very suitable dock on the Yangtze River in Sichuan at that time). When the ship was stopped, it started a fire to cook and drive away the cold. After the boatmen ate, the beauty was indescribable (in their hearts), and it spread from ten to a hundred, spreading to various docks along the Yangtze River.

Start the day with a visit to a local spice market, where you can learn to identify various Sichuan spices and understand their functions. The highlight is the source of Sichuan cuisine’s unique flavor—spicy chili peppers and numbing Sichuan peppercorns. Your guide will explain how these spices are used in Sichuan cooking, and you can even smell and touch them to experience their strong aromas.

The Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum is located in Sandaoyan Town, Pidu District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. It is a national AAA level tourist attraction and a national second level museum. The museum is the only living themed museum in the world that showcases culinary culture, including Sichuan cuisine, Sichuan wine, Sichuan tea, Sichuan opera, Sichuan style architecture, Sichuan style gardens, and other local cultural elements of Sichuan. The scenic area covers an area of about 40 acres and has more than 6000 collections. The residential buildings in western Sichuan form a new style of classical garden scenery

Participate in a hands-on cooking class at the museum, where you will learn to cook famous Sichuan dishes, such as Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu, under the guidance of a professional chef. The chef will share secret recipes and cooking techniques, ensuring you can master the skills to make authentic Sichuan dishes. After completing the class, you will receive a “Rookie Master Chef” certificate to recognize your efforts.

The Sun Yat sen Memorial Hall, formerly known as the Sutra Pavilion, is located in the dense forest between the Sun Yat sen Mausoleum and Linggu Temple. It is a classical building modeled after a lama temple in the Qing Dynasty. The main building is 20.8 meters high, with green glazed tiles on top and yellow glazed tiles on the ridge. The center of the main ridge is decorated with a purple copper wheel canopy, and the beams, columns, and lintels are all decorated with colorful paintings. The building houses precious historical materials such as the classic works of Sun Yat sen and photos of Feng'an. There is a 2.6-meter-high bronze statue of Sun Yat sen standing on the flower bed in the center of the square in front of the building. There is a 125 meter long corridor behind the building, with the full text of Sun Yat sen's "Three Principles of the People" engraved on it.

The Chen Family Ancestral Hall, also known as the "Chen Academy" and commonly known as the Chen Family Ancestral Hall, is located on Zhongshan 7th Road in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The Chen Academy was established in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1888) and completed in the 19th year (1893). It is one of the largest existing traditional buildings in Guangfu and also the largest, best preserved, and most exquisitely decorated ancestral hall style building in China. It is known as the "pearl of Lingnan architectural art".
The architectural structure of the Chen Family Ancestral Hall can be divided into three axes and three entrances, with a total of nine halls and six courtyards, covering an area of 15000 square meters and a building area of 8000 square meters. The Chen Family Ancestral Hall is the culmination of Lingnan architectural craftsmanship and decoration. Almost all halls, courtyards, corridors, halls, doors, windows, railings, walls, ridges, and beams showcase the superb skills of Lingnan architecture's "three carvings, two sculptures, one casting, and one painting", including wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, pottery sculpture, gray sculpture, copper iron casting, and painted murals. The Chen Family Ancestral Hall is a representative of traditional Lingnan architecture and a concrete manifestation of ancestral hall culture in Guangfu culture. It is a historical and cultural card of Guangzhou and an essential place for visitors to learn about Guangzhou and Guangfu traditional architectural art. The Chen Family Ancestral Hall is a cultural and tourist attraction in Guangzhou, and the Guangdong Folk Crafts Museum is also built on the site of the Chen Family Ancestral Hall.

As it approaches noon, enjoy an unforgettable Yum Cha (tea-drinking) experience—the highlight of your day in Guangzhou. Yum Cha is a symbol of Guangzhou’s leisurely lifestyle: order a pot of tea (Pu'er tea, white tea, Tieguanyin tea, or chrysanthemum tea are all excellent choices), sit with friends (or your guide), and chat while enjoying a variety of Dim Sum. There are hundreds of kinds of Dim Sum to choose from, such as shrimp dumplings (crystal clear and juicy), barbecued pork buns (soft and sweet), egg tarts (crispy crust and smooth filling), roast goose, roast suckling pig, and seafood porridge. Your guide will recommend the most popular Dim Sum and teach you how to enjoy Yum Cha like a local.

Explore Qingping Market, a bustling hub for agricultural products and traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Walk through stalls filled with local ingredients, discover regional specialties, and soak in the vibrant marketplace atmosphere—a sensory experience of Guangzhou’s daily life.

Start your day with a visit to Aberdeen, a unique floating community in Hong Kong. Take a sampan (traditional wooden boat) to cruise through the harbor, where you can see local fishermen living on boats, fishing nets hanging on the boats, and the bustling fishing industry. Your guide will share the history and lifestyle of the fishermen in Aberdeen, giving you a glimpse of a different side of Hong Kong.

End the day with playful moments on the soft sands of Repulse Bay Beach, one of Hong Kong's most popular family beaches. The calm, shallow waters are perfect for children to splash in, while the golden sand offers space for building sandcastles and relaxing. The beach's family-friendly facilities, including changing rooms and snack bars, make it a perfect way to spend the afternoon as a family.

Continue to Stanley Market, a relaxed coastal market located on the southern coast of Hong Kong. This market is famous for its handicrafts, clothing, souvenirs, and local snacks. You can wander around the stalls, bargain with the vendors, and buy unique souvenirs for your family and friends. The market also has a variety of restaurants and cafes, where you can enjoy a light lunch with a sea view.

Begin your day with a scenic journey aboard the iconic Peak Tram, a historic funicular railway that whisks you to the summit of Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's most famous mountain. From this lofty vantage point, bask in the breathtaking panoramic view of Hong Kong's iconic skyline, the sparkling Victoria Harbour, and the lush green mountains that surround the city.