Great Wall Marathon

18 May 2024

Summer Palace

Pay the giant pandas a visit at the Beijing Zoo, followed by an incredible tour of the imperial summer residence at the Summer Palace.
19 May | 1 day | 85 USD

This excursion will take us to the Beijing Zoo to see the endangered giant panda. We will continue to the Summer Palace in the outskirts of Beijing. 

Our day will begin with a visit to the Beijing Zoo to see giant pandas. The giant panda is an endangered species and its population is small and vulnerable. Despite being a protected species, habitat destruction and poaching continue to pose a threat to the species. After the visit to the zoo, we'll head to the Summer Palace, just outside of Beijing.

The Summer Palace was built several hundred years ago during the Jin Dynasty but has been renovated on numerous occasions since then. In 1860, it was plundered during the Second Opium War but in 1888, the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi rebuilt it using money intended for the Navy and turned it into an opulent summer retreat for the imperial family. 

After the Summer Palace, we will visit a pearl exhibition hall, which is located just outside the palace. On the way back to the city, we'll make a photo stop outside the Olympic Village, where we'll be able to see the Bird's Nest National Stadium and Water Cube National Aquatics Centre. Lunch is included.