3-Day Beijing Tour: Forbidden City, Great Wall & Temple of Heaven

Walk the Forbidden City's inner halls, then slide down the Great Wall

A 3-day private tour of Beijing covering the Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and local hutong neighborhoods, with a professional English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle, all entrance fees, lunch and transport included. The itinerary is flexible and can be adjusted to your interests or weather. Hotel or airport pickup is available depending on which option you select.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

• Visit Tiananmen Square
• Explore Forbidden City
• Walk around old Beijing hutong
• Visit Lama Temple

Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall and Olympic Park

• Take cable car or chair lift up Mutianyu Wall
• Hike and explore Mutianyu Wall
• Enjoy toboggan ride down (optional)
• View Beijing Olympic Park

Day 3: Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

• Visit Temple of Heaven
• Shop at Pearl Market
• Explore Summer Palace

The experience

The tour opens at Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square, where you'll spend time taking in the surrounding sites before moving into the Forbidden City itself. This is the largest imperial palace in the world, and you'll spend a couple of hours walking its two main sections: the Outer Court, where emperors exercised power over the nation, and the Inner Court, where they lived with their families. The guide takes you through less-known halls and valuable exhibits, bypassing the crowds that gather at the main entrances. From there you walk through the old Beijing hutong neighborhoods around Shichahai, narrow lanes that originated during the Yuan Dynasty and now represent local history and culture. The day ends at Lama Temple, the most well-preserved Tibetan Buddhist temple in the city.

Day two takes you to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most famous sections of the wall. You choose between a cable car or chair lift to reach the top, then spend one to two hours hiking the various sections, exploring watch towers and taking in the construction. The descent is your call: an exhilarating toboggan ride back down or the same route you came up. After the wall, you'll see the outside of the Beijing Olympic Park's iconic "Bird's Nest" and "Water Cube" structures from the 2008 games.

The final day covers Temple of Heaven, the largest imperial place of worship from ancient times, now a park where locals practice tai chi, singing and dancing. You'll visit Pearl Market (Hongqiao), where you can browse electronics, clothes, jewelry, art and pearls, and learn to bargain. The tour concludes at Summer Palace, a summer resort for imperial families and the best-preserved imperial park in the region. Lunch is included each day, and your guide speaks English. Other language options are available depending on your booking choice.

What’s included

• Entrance tickets to Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Mutianyu Great Wall.
• bottled water throughout the 3 days.
• cable car or chair lift up the wall and toboggan descent at Mutianyu.
• English-speaking professional guide (other languages available on select options).
• air-conditioned vehicle with private driver.
• lunch each day.
• hotel or airport pickup depending on your booking option.

Options for this experience

4 options

English-speaking guide, departing from PEK Airport6 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:00Includes an English-speaking guide, with pickup and drop-off at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK). This is a 3-day Beijing tour and does not include a Beijing hotel. Pickup is included.

English-speaking guide, departing from PKX Airport6 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:00Includes an English-speaking guide, with pickup and drop-off at Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX). This is a 3-day Beijing tour and does not include a Beijing hotel. Pickup is included.

From Hotel & Special GuideGuide in 4 languages · 07:30, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Includes a guide who speaks Spanish, French, German or Italian, with pickup and drop-off at a city hotel. This is a 3-day tour and does not include a Beijing hotel. Pickup is included.

From Tianjin Port & English guide6 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:00Tianjin cruise port & English guide: Includes an English-speaking guide, with pickup and drop-off at Tianjin Cruise Port. This is a 3-day Beijing tour and does not include a Beijing hotel. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 179

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for back problems

Operated by Catherine Lu Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you want to see the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Great Wall in three days with a guide who knows the uncrowded entry times and lesser-known palace halls, plus you can add the toboggan slide at Mutianyu if that appeals to you.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

287 verified traveler reviews

5 ★286

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's included in the 3-day Beijing tour price?

Entrance tickets to all sights, bottled water, the cable car or chair lift and toboggan ride at Mutianyu Great Wall, English-speaking guide service, air-conditioned vehicle with private driver, and lunch each day are all included. Accommodation and dinner are not.

Can I choose a different route or skip certain attractions on the 3-day tour?

The itinerary is flexible. Your guide can adjust it based on your personal interests, weather conditions or any unexpected circumstances, so you're not locked into a fixed schedule.

What is the toboggan at Mutianyu Great Wall?

The toboggan is a slide descent down the wall. After hiking the sections of Mutianyu, you have the option to take an exhilarating ride down on the toboggan or return the way you came up.

Do I need to bring my passport on the 3-day Beijing tour?

Yes. You'll need to provide your passport number and name when booking Forbidden City tickets, and bring passport copies with you during the tour.

Where can I be picked up for this 3-day Beijing tour?

Pickup options vary by which tour option you book: you can be picked up from your hotel, Tianjin Port, or Beijing's Daxing (PKX) or Capital (PEK) airports, depending on your selection at checkout.