Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall & Hutongs 2-Day Tour

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/27

Duration2d

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Walk ancient palaces, meet pandas and wander hutongs in Beijing

You’ll walk through imperial palaces and climb the Great Wall at Mutianyu with a local guide who brings Beijing’s history to life. Watch playful pandas at breakfast, sample street food in winding Hutongs, and end your days surrounded by gardens or ancient temples. This tour leaves you with moments you’ll keep replaying long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

Hotel lobby pickup or meet at point
Walk across Tiananmen Square
Admire exterior landmarks
Explore Forbidden City at own pace
Enjoy authentic Chinese buffet lunch
Travel to Mutianyu Great Wall
Explore Great Wall for two hours
Take chairlift uphill
Descend by chairlift or toboggan
Transfer back to hotel or meeting point

Day 2 — Pandas, Summer Palace, Hutongs, Temple of Heaven

Meet guide at hotel or meeting point
Visit Panda House and watch breakfast
Tour Summer Palace grounds
Walk through old Beijing Hutongs
Lunch in Hutong area (own expense)
Visit Temple of Heaven park
Watch locals practice tai chi and sing

The Experience

I’d always pictured the Forbidden City as something out of a movie—so many roofs and courtyards that it almost didn’t feel real until I was actually there. We started our Beijing tour right at Tiananmen Square, and I remember feeling both tiny and kind of awestruck watching locals gather for photos or just chat under the big red flags. Our guide, Li, had this way of telling stories that made even the old stones seem alive—she pointed out a spot where emperors used to stand and I caught myself wondering what they’d have thought about all these tourists in sneakers. The air smelled faintly like incense mixed with city dust. I kept losing track of time wandering those palace corridors.

The next day was totally different—first stop was the Panda House. I’m not really an “animal person” but honestly? Watching those giant pandas munching bamboo before breakfast made me laugh more than I expected (one just flopped over mid-chew). Later, we wandered through the Summer Palace gardens; there was this moment by Kunming Lake when everything got quiet except for a group of elderly folks singing softly under the willows. You know how sometimes you just want to pause life? That was it for me.

I think my favorite part was getting lost in the old Hutongs after lunch (which was a jumble of dumplings and something spicy I still can’t pronounce—Li laughed when I tried). The alleys were narrow and full of life: kids darting around on scooters, someone selling steamed buns from a cart, laundry fluttering overhead. It felt less like sightseeing and more like peeking into someone’s daily routine. We finished at the Temple of Heaven where people were practicing tai chi in the late afternoon light—there’s a calm there that sticks with you long after you leave.

What’s included

Your days include hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle, all entry fees to sites like Forbidden City and Summer Palace, bottled water along the way, guided walks through historic neighborhoods with plenty of stories from your local guide, plus lunch (with vegetarian options) each day before returning comfortably in the evening.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lily's Tour Company