Expedition β€Ί Realm III
Realm III Β· Aug 7 – 16 Β· 10 days

The Imperial Realm

εŒ—δΊ¬ Β· Beijing

The Dragon Throne of the north β€” a Wall to the horizon, seven movie-worlds at Universal, the marquee Gundam Base, and shark tunnels to sci-fi cities. The scriptures are close; choose how you reach them.

Jump to
Fri07AugDay 14
βš” Trial Β· The Mecha Bazaar

Day 14 β€” Arrive & raid the Gundam Base

The marquee loot of the trip, plus a hero-journey on stage.

  • 12:30 The Gundam Base Beijing β€” Bandai's flagship, 5F Wangfujing in88: China-exclusive Gunpla, life-size displays, build stations.
  • 7:30 "The Legend of Kung Fu" show β€” acrobatic kung-fu epic, basically Journey to the West on stage.
β˜… Gundam BaseKung-fu show
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Raided the Gundam Base"
Sat08AugDay 15
βš” Trial Β· Into the Deep

Day 15 β€” Sharks, belugas & the cosmos

One of the world's biggest inland aquariums β€” sharks overhead, a sea-lion show.

  • 10:00 Beijing Aquarium β€” a walk-through shark tunnel, beluga whales, jelly walls and a rainforest dome.
  • PM Sea-lion / dolphin show + touch pools β€” grab the show times when you book; all indoors & cool.
🦈 SharksAC all day
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Walked Under Sharks"
Sun09AugDay 16
βš” Trial Β· The Endless Wall

Day 16 β€” The Great Wall

The bucket-list version β€” and the most fun.

  • 7:30 Early drive to Mutianyu (~1.5 hrs) β€” beat crowds & heat
  • 9:30 Cable car to Watchtower 14, walk the ramparts
  • 12:00 Toboggan down! β€” a steel chute through the forest; both boys ride solo (rain backup: cable car).
β˜… TobogganGo early
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Rode the Dragon's Back"
Mon10AugDay 17
βš” Trial Β· Realm of Worlds I

Day 17 β€” Universal Beijing, day one

Hit the mecha and the dinos first (Early Park Admission + Express).

  • Transformers Metrobase β€” the Decepticoaster + AllSpark 3D dark ride
  • Jurassic World: Isla Nublar water-ride, then the WaterWorld stunt show
β˜… DecepticoasterExpress on
🎬BaseUniversal Studios Grand Hotel
πŸ…Win"Tamed the Decepticoaster"
Tue11AugDay 18
βš” Trial Β· Realm of Worlds II

Day 18 β€” Universal day two (or rest)

The lands you didn't finish β€” Kung Fu Panda Land is indoor & cool.

  • Kung Fu Panda Land (world's only, fully indoor) + Wizarding World (Forbidden Journey, butterbeer) + Minion Land.
Indoor coolWizards
🎬BaseUniversal Grand / back to MO
πŸ…Win"Seven Worlds Cleared"
Wed12AugDay 19
βš” Trial Β· Art & Altars

Day 19 β€” Recover & explore

Calm morning temple, edgy afternoon art.

  • Temple of Heaven (tai-chi, echo wall) + 798 Art Zone β€” giant sculptures, mecha/sci-fi galleries, indie figure shops. Very 13-year-old.
Indie lootCulture
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Walked the Art City"
Thu13AugDay 20
βš” Trial Β· The Iron Future

Day 20 β€” Sci-fi parks & merch (pick one)

An old steel mill reborn as a future-city β€” pure sci-fi.

  • Shougang Park β€” the 2022 Olympic Big Air jump, towering cooling stacks (Transformers vibes), lake bikes, the ε…­ε·₯汇 mall and frequent game/esports pop-ups. Photo heaven.
Sci-fi cityBikes
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Future City Unlocked"
Fri14AugDay 21
βš” Trial Β· Machines & Marvels

Day 21 β€” Tech day (pick one)

Robots, rockets, and a VR arena β€” pure "video games & tech."

  • China Science & Technology Museum (hands-on robotics, space hall) + an esports/VR arena β€” book the museum the moment its window opens; it sells out. Closed Mondays.
TechVR
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Master of Machines"
Sat15AugDay 22
βš” Trial Β· The Scriptures Attained

Day 22 β€” The grand finale

Old-Beijing alleys, the final haul, and the banquet.

  • Hutong rickshaw + a quiet temple; final loot at Xidan & Wangfujing
  • 7:00 Peking duck farewell feast β€” crispy duck carved tableside. The scriptures are attained.
β˜… FinaleLast loot
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Quest Complete"
Sun16AugDay 23
βš” Trial Β· The Journey Home

Day 23 β€” Home, or keep questing

Wheels up, legends earned.

  • Slow breakfast, final packing, private transfer to PEK/PKX.
Departure
✈️TravelDepart Beijing (PEK/PKX)
πŸ…Win"Great Sage, Equal of Heaven"
🏨

Where to sleep: base centrally at the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing (by the Gundam Base & Wangfujing), shift to the Universal Studios Grand Hotel for the park days (Early Park Admission), and optionally one night at the Aman Summer Palace as a luxury treat. Book Universal + Express, the Beijing Aquarium and Pop Land ahead.

Where to Eat Β· Beijing

Peking duck & imperial classics.

β˜… must-try are the unmissable plates; the rest are alternatives. Duck houses fill up in summer β€” have the concierge queue ahead.

Siji Minfu 四季民福

$$
Value duck + Forbidden City view β˜… must-try
Order β–Έ
  • Whole roast duck β€” crisp skin dipped in sugar
  • Milky duck-bone soup; handmade zhajiangmian
  • Rose puff pastry for dessert
Locals' favorite. The Nanchizi branch has window tables over the palace moat β€” magical at dusk.
πŸ“ Nanchizi, near WangfujingπŸ•’ ~10:30am–10pmπŸ’΄ ~Β₯150–200pp Β· Book: WeChat queue / concierge

Da Dong 倧董烀鸭

$$$–$$$$
Modern Peking duck Β· celebrity pick β˜… must-try
Order β–Έ
  • Signature lean roast duck β€” glassy, crackly skin
  • Braised sea cucumber (tableside); truffle fried rice
Sleek & gallery-like β€” the least greasy duck, which picky kids often prefer.
πŸ“ Jinbao Place (walk from Wangfujing)πŸ•’ ~11am–10pmπŸ’΄ $$$–$$$$ Β· Book: reserve

Quanjude ε…¨θšεΎ·

$$–$$$
The historic original Β· since 1864
Order β–Έ
  • Whole duck carved tableside (~100 slices)
  • The "all-duck banquet" extras; duck soup
Ceremonial & touristy β€” you go for the history + carving show. (Old closed-oven style? Try Bianyifang.)
πŸ“ Qianmen flagshipπŸ•’ ~11am–1:30, 4:30–8pmπŸ’΄ duck ~Β₯218 Β· Book: reserve

Donglaishun 东ζ₯ι‘Ί

$$
Copper-pot mutton hotpot Β· 1903 β˜… must-try kids cook
Order β–Έ
  • Hand-sliced mutton in clear ginger-scallion broth
  • Sesame dip; tofu, cabbage, hand-pulled noodles, shaobing
Charcoal-chimney pot β€” interactive & warming; the mild broth is totally kid-safe.
πŸ“ 198 Wangfujing St (right by you)πŸ•’ ~11am–10pmπŸ’΄ $$ Β· Book: walk-in off-peak

Old Beijing Noodle King η‚Έι…±ι’ε€§ηŽ‹

$
Zhajiangmian & snacks kid-friendly
Order β–Έ
  • ZhΓ‘jiΓ ngmiΓ n β€” hand-cut noodles, fermented-soybean pork sauce
  • JΔ«ngjiΓ ng rΓ²usΔ« β€” sweet bean-sauce pork you wrap yourself
A chorus of waiters shouts a welcome; the topping ritual is a kick for kids.
πŸ“ near Temple of Heaven (+ branches)πŸ•’ ~10:30am–9:30pmπŸ’΄ $ Β· Book: walk-in

TRB Hutong

$$$$
β˜… Michelin French Β· in a 600-year temple
Order β–Έ
  • Tasting menu β€” caviar, foie gras, lobster, pigeon/wagyu
  • A China-meets-France dessert finale
A restored Qing temple courtyard by the Forbidden City β€” a grown-up night the teens are ready for.
πŸ“ Dongcheng temple districtπŸ•’ lunch & dinner (closed some days)πŸ’΄ $$$$ Β· Book: well ahead

Home Plate BBQ

$$
Texas BBQ & burgers Β· Western break kid-favorite
Order β–Έ
  • Smoked brisket & pulled pork; wood-charcoal cheeseburger
  • Baby-back ribs, mac & cheese, cornbread
The city's go-to break from Chinese food β€” a guaranteed win after a big day.
πŸ“ SanlitunπŸ•’ ~11am–lateπŸ’΄ $$ Β· Book: walk-in
Loot Β· Beijing

The boss-tier loot.

πŸ“ Gunpla & figures

Wangfujing Β· Xidan Β· 798
  • The Gundam Base Beijing β€” Wangfujing in88, 5F. The marquee Gunpla stop: exclusive & limited kits, life-size displays, build areas.
  • animate Beijing β€” official ACG chain for figures & goods.
  • Wangfujing / Xiyue B2 β€” anime floor: pins, cards, acrylics, blind boxes.
  • Xidan & 798 Art Zone β€” Xidan for big ACG flagships; 798 for indie designer toys & mecha art.