Supreme Leaders: Mao and Kim Tour

DESCRIPTION

Beginning in Beijing, we will hit up all the cities main sites such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and of course a visit to the mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

Once we are done in Beijing, we’ll be taking the train to Pyongyang, travelling past the ‘Broken Bridge’ bombed by the US during the Korean War. Once we arrive in Pyongyang, we will begin our journey with a special visit to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il lie in state.

After we are done at the Mausoleum, we’ll head out for full city tour of Pyongyang checking out the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, the Juche Tower and a local bar to mingle with the locals and try some local Korean beer.

We will then return to Beijing the same way we arrived by 24 – Hour sleeper train arriving in Beijing at 9:00 am the following day.

This tour is part of our Ultimate Leaders Tour. For more information about Joining us in Vietnam before China and the DPRK, or to continue on with us to Moscow after this leg of the tour, please click here.

ITINERARY

Thursday 24th October – Beijing

Introductory Group lunch in Qianmen
Head straight out for a tour around the Qianmen Gate, through Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City. We also take in China’s Modern History Museum which tells the tale of China’s rejuvenation after 100 years of humiliation at the hands of foreign powers.
Watch the sunset over the Forbidden City from the top of Jingshan Hill, with a bottle of baijiu liquor to warm the cockles
Head to Wangfujing for dinner, which will include an optional tasting of insects, or real food if you prefer
A few drinks at our favourite communist themed bar
Overnight in Beijing

Friday 25th October – Beijing

We get an early start to watch the flag raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square and join the lines of people that queue every day to see Chairman Mao lying in state – while it is quite different to other mausoleums you will see people getting genuinely worked up at the final resting place of the founder of modern China.
We head for Peking duck for lunch. After all, we are in Peking.
Head back to the hotel to check out and collect our bags before heading to Zhong Gu Hotel for the pre-tour meeting for the North Korean part of our journey.
Catch the 5:27 pm overnight train to Dandong, the border city with the DPRK
Overnight on train

Saturday 26th October – Dandong-Pyongyang

7:00 am arrival into Dandong, we jump off the train and head straight down to the banks of the Yalu River, getting our first glimpse of North Korea on the opposite bank and the ‘Broken Bridge’, standing half demolished across the river which was bombed by the US during the Korean War
Board the 10:00 am train from Dandong
Arrive in Sinuiju to go through DPRK entry procedure
Continue the train ride onto Pyongyang and enjoy the beautiful countryside along the way.
Optional lunch on the train (50RMB extra)
6:45 pm arrival in Pyongyang to be met by your guides
Evening city tour of Pyongyang, including us stopping at Kim Il Sung Square for a walk and pictures
Check into the Chongnyon Hotel
Dinner, drinks and overnight in the hotel

Sunday 27th October – Pyongyang

We get up early put on our suits (you will need to bring smart clothing) and visit the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where we will see President Kim Il Sung, and General Kim Jong Il lying in state.
Walk through Mansudae Fountain Park and see the mosaic pictures of President Kim Il Sung and the leader Kim Jong Il
Visit Mansudae Grand Monument – the two large bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking the city. (Optional extra- you can present flowers if you wish: small bunches are 2 euro, larger ones 4 euro.)
Lunch in the KITC restaurant to try the famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles or Korean Bibimbap.
Visit Kim Il Sung Square and a short walk to the Foreign Language Bookshop – shopping central for books, pins, DVD’s, CD’s and periodicals in English and other foreign Languages
Pyongyang Metro – ride 5 stops on the famous Pyongyang Underground!
Exiting at the Arch of Triumph – the largest Victory Arch in the world, built to celebrate the triumphant return of Kim Il Sung after the anti-Japanese war.
Visit the recently renovated Korean War Museum. Let the expert local guide show you around the enormous museum featuring dioramas, locally used weapons, tanks, etc., and captured American equipment!
USS Pueblo – the only US Naval Ship still held captive by another nation
Juche Tower – a monument to the everlasting Juche Ideology (optional 5 euros to go to the top)
Mansugyo Beer Bar – seven different microbrews on tap, 10RMB each
Dinner at the National Restaurant with a performance!
Overnight at the Chongnyon Hotel

Monday 28th October – Pyongyang-Dandong

A slow drive to Pyongyang train station stopping at a few interesting places in the city for last photos.
Depart Pyongyang by train at 10:25 am
Optional lunch on the train (50RMB extra).
Arrive in Sinuiju at 3:30 pm, go through immigration and exit to Dandong at 5:00 pm where we’ll grab a quick dinner before catching the overnight train back to Beijing
Overnight on the train

Tuesday 29th October – Beijing