Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights

Day 1: Tiananmen Square - Forbidden City (Palace Museum) - Buffet Lunch - Mutianyu Great Wall

1. Tiananmen Square
   1h
   Meet your guide in your hotel lobby for a seamless, chauffeured transfer to Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing’s historic axis and modern power center. Enjoy a relaxing stroll to capture stunning photos of landmarks like the Great Hall of the People, National Museum, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and Monument to the People’s Heroes.
2. The Palace Museum
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Step into the magnificent Forbidden City (Palace Museum), the world’s ultimate imperial palace and China’s power center for 500 years from 1420 to 1911 AD. While navigating the emperors’ legendary 9,999 rooms can be overwhelming, our curated, expert-led route cuts through the crowds, ensuring a smooth journey showcasing the absolute highlights along the grand axis from the Meridian Gate to the Gate of Divine Prowess.
3. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian)
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Explore the Outer Court’s three grand halls, where the emperor hosted state ceremonies.
4. Palace of Heavenly Purity
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Discover the Inner Court’s three main palaces - the emperor’s private quarters and executive office.
5. The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Wander through the leisure grounds for the emperor and the imperial harem.
6. Mutianyu Great Wall
   4h · Admission ticket included
   Relax during a scenic 1.5-hour drive to the beautifully preserved, crowd-free Mutianyu Great Wall. Before your ascent, refuel with a premium buffet lunch with local flavors and soft drinks.
   
   To maximize your comfort, we’ve included your choice of mountain transport: take a leisurely round-trip cable car ride, or ascend via chairlift and ride a thrilling toboggan down. Enjoy a 2-hour hike along the defensive wall built atop the undulating ridges, uncovering historical beacon towers and soaking in breathtaking views. Finally, we will escort you back to your downtown Beijing hotel.

Day 2: Temple of Heaven - Hutong Rickshaw Tour & Local Family Visit - Lama Temple - Summer Palace

1. Temple of Heaven
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Your morning begins with a hotel pickup before we whisk you to the Temple of Heaven, a sacred sanctuary where ancient emperors held elaborate rituals to secure prosperous harvests. Alongside your guide, you’ll marvel at the architectural genius of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, stand on the Circular Mound Altar where emperors communed with Heaven, and test the mysterious acoustics of the Echo Wall.
   
   Note: If your travel date falls on a Monday when the main sights of the Temple of Heaven are closed, we’ll visit Beihai Park instead.
2. Hutong Tour
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Let’s continue our journey into the historic Hutong alleys. Board a traditional rickshaw to glide through a maze of narrow, willow-shaded lanes alive with local chatter. The real highlight comes with an exclusive family visit inside a private quadrangle courtyard, where you’ll experience authentic Beijing hospitality and a rare glimpse into centuries of the locals’ preserved heritage and life wisdom.
3. 1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Next, we’ll visit the ancient Lama Temple, a brilliant fusion of Han Chinese and Tibetan architecture that stands as Beijing’s largest and most impeccably preserved Buddhist lamasery.
4. Summer Palace
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Our grand finale goes to the Summer Palace, a grand imperial retreat dominated by the majestic Longevity Hill and the vast, peaceful Kunming Lake. Strolling beneath the intricately painted beams of the Long Corridor, you’ll feel transported back to the days of imperial luxury. Finally, we will escort you smoothly back to your hotel.

Pickup details

Free pickup and drop-off at your downtown hotel lobby.
Your pickup time will be confirmed one day in advance.
If your hotel is not listed, please specify its name and address in special requirements.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Free pickup and drop-off are included for downtown hotels. If your hotel is outside the service zone, an additional mileage fee applies, or you can join us at a designated meeting point. Please be ready 5 minutes before the pickup time confirmed the day before. Please note that no-shows are non-refundable.
• If your travel date falls on a Monday when the main sights of the Temple of Heaven are closed, we’ll visit Beihai Park instead.
• The Forbidden City requires a real-name reservation 7 days in advance and tickets are easily sold out. We highly recommend booking your tour as early as possible; otherwise, international travelers may need to line up to buy tickets on site.
• Please provide your accurate passport information for real-name ticket bookings, and make sure to carry the same valid ID on the tour day; otherwise, the scenic area will deny entry.
• Chinese nationals, including guests from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, need to provide their official Chinese names and book at least 7 days in advance.
• Your expert guide will help you breeze through security checks at Tiananmen Square. Leave your bag in the car and carry only your passport and bottled water to speed up the progress.
• Great Wall Toboggan: For safety, it is not available for guests over 60, pregnant women, and children under 3. Children aged 3 to 10 may ride when accompanied by an adult. Don’t worry if the toboggan isn’t for you – the round-trip cable car or chairlift is suitable for everyone.
• This tour is not recommended for guests over 85 or wheelchair users.