January Walking Tours Schedule

Midnight in Peking Walking Tour

On January 8, 1937 the body of a young foreign girl was found brutally mutilated at the foot of Beijing’s city wall. The murder shocked the foreign community in the capital and made headlines around the globe.

Based on the murder case we have created a walk that shows a largely unknown side of republican Beijing. At the center is the so-called Beijing Badlands, an area where white Russians and retired soldiers ran bars and brothels, catering to the respectable high society of the old Legation Quarter.

We will piece together the background story of a crime committed during the anxiety-filled days where China was on the brink of war with Japan, from the hutong where Pamela lived with her father, to the allegedly haunted Fox Tower where the body was found.

18:00-21:00 Saturday, January 20

A Crash Course to the Forbidden City

A Crash Course to the Forbidden City is a humble attempt to unlock the meaning behind the chambers of the Imperial Palace. In a condensed and hopefully entertaining way, we wish to give you a comprehensive history of the palace from when it was built 600 years ago until when the last boy-emperor finally left in 1924. 

Be quick if you want to join us - the entrance tickets of the Forbidden City sell out quickly!

13:00-16:30 Sunday, January 21

Temple of Heaven by Night Walking Tour

On the day before the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, the emperor left his palace and travelled to the Temple of Heaven. Drawn by elephants and with a 3000 man strong entourage, the son of heaven left his nest deep inside the Forbidden City at this exact time every year to perform the most important ritual of the empire, a ceremony that revitalized his powers and reconfirmed his status as the son of heaven. 

Join us to explore the Temple of Heaven after dark. Illuminated at night, the altars are enhanced by an almost otherworldly beauty. Using a handheld projector we will display the history of the Temple, charting its path from a closed off Imperial altar ground to the beating heart of the city that it is today. You will receive booster shots of various beverages to make it through the enticing Beijing night. We promise that the Temple of Heaven will reveal itself to you in a way you have never seen before. 

18:00-21:00 Saturday, January 27

History of the Hutong Walking Tour

What is all the fuss about? 

When you arrive in Beijing you soon get the idea that the narrow Hutong alleyways contain the very soul of China’s capital. But who built these charming maze-like neighbourhoods? History of the Hutong is the history of Beijing told through the hutongs. We will take on more than 2000 years of history and piece together a comprehensive narrative seen from street level. 

14:00-16:30 Sunday, January 28