Pekin

Beijing is best understood through its north-south central axis: palace halls, ceremonial gates, temple grounds, and hilltop viewpoints show how imperial planning shaped the city.

A strong private route balances the monumental sites with hutong lanes, courtyard neighborhoods, local food stops, and one carefully chosen Great Wall section outside the city.

Because many headline sights now depend on timed reservations and passport checks, Beijing rewards early planning more than almost any other China gateway.