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€” the Forbidden City, a Wall to the horizon, seven movie-worlds at Universal, and the marquee Gundam Base. 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· The Forbidden Palace

Day 15 β€” Inside the Emperor's City

The world's largest palace, then the postcard view.

  • 8:30 Forbidden City with a private guide β€” 9,000 rooms, dragon thrones, secret-passage stories. Book ahead β€” it sells out.
  • 12:00 Climb Jingshan Hill β€” straight down the palace's golden spine.
Biggest palaceGuided
🏨BaseMandarin Oriental Wangfujing
πŸ…Win"Crossed the Forbidden Gate"
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 Garden of Emperors

Day 20 β€” Imperial gardens (pick one)

The emperors' lakeside garden β€” by a private gate if you stay at the Aman.

  • Summer Palace β€” marble boat, Long Corridor, a dragon-boat across Kunming Lake; relaxed afternoon + calligraphy at the Aman.
Private gateLake day
🏯BaseAman Summer Palace ✦ optional
πŸ…Win"Guest of Emperors"
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 (Forbidden-City views, by the Gundam Base), shift to the Universal Studios Grand Hotel for the park days (Early Park Admission), and optionally one night at the Aman Summer Palace for its private garden gate. Book Universal + Express and the Forbidden City 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.