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

Summary

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

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Beijing tour?

Yes, round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off are included unless you select the meet-at-hotel option.

Does this tour include entry tickets to attractions?

Yes, all attraction entrance tickets are covered in your booking.

How much time do we spend at the Mutianyu Great Wall?

You’ll have around two hours to explore the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.

Are meals provided during this 2-day Beijing tour?

Lunch is included on day one; on day two lunch is arranged within the Hutong area—covered if you choose the all-inclusive package.

Can I book just a one-day version of this tour?

Yes, there are one-day tour options available for reservation as well.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible and infant seats are available upon request.

What happens if Forbidden City tickets sell out?

If tickets are unavailable due to late booking or sell-out, international visitors may need to queue at the entrance to purchase tickets on site.

Are there age restrictions for activities like the toboggan ride at Mutianyu?

The toboggan is unavailable for guests over 60 years old; they can use the chairlift or cable car instead.

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.

What’s the experience like?

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.