Beijing: Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall & Hutong Tour

Summary

Forbidden city stories, great wall climbs & hutong rides in beijing

You’ll walk ancient palace corridors in Beijing’s Forbidden City, climb quiet stretches of Mutianyu Great Wall with your guide, taste real Peking duck for lunch, and ride a rickshaw through lived-in hutongs by Houhai Lake. Expect small surprises—like locals singing or tea in a courtyard—that linger long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

We walked out of our hotel lobby and there was Mr. Zhang, waving like he’d known us forever. I didn’t expect Tiananmen Square to feel so wide — people everywhere but somehow it still felt open, almost quiet under the huge portrait of Chairman Mao. Our guide pointed out the little details: the flag guards’ boots, the old men playing chess under trees nearby. I tried to snap a photo but fumbled with my gloves (it was colder than I thought for April). Then straight into the Forbidden City — it just kept unfolding, one courtyard after another. The red walls had this faded texture up close, like layers of stories pressed into them. Our guide told us about the emperors’ routines and some wild concubine drama; I honestly got lost in all those names but loved hearing it anyway.

Lunch was Peking duck — crispy skin, sweet sauce, that faint smoky smell that stuck to my jacket for hours (not complaining). The next stop was Temple of Heaven. There were retired locals singing together in a circle and some women doing ribbon dancing; their laughter echoed off those blue-tiled halls. The air smelled faintly of pine needles and incense. We wandered through Summer Palace gardens after that — Kunming Lake half-frozen still, couples walking slowly along the water’s edge. Our guide tried to explain Empress Dowager Cixi’s birthday parties there; I couldn’t picture it but maybe that’s part of the fun.

The second day started early — we left Beijing behind for Mutianyu Great Wall. It’s less crowded out there (our guide said most tourists go to Badaling), and honestly I’m glad we did this section. The cable car up felt a bit wobbly but worth it for that first view: mountains rolling away under a pale sky, wall zig-zagging like something out of an old painting. Climbing those steps made my legs ache but our guide kept sharing stories about battles and repairs — he even pointed out where bricks had been replaced recently (“not so ancient here,” he joked). We took the toboggan down which was way more fun than I expected; I may have screamed once or twice.

Back in Beijing we rode a rickshaw through narrow hutong alleys near Houhai Lake. The driver grinned at us in his rearview mirror while dodging cyclists and kids on scooters. We stopped at a family courtyard where pomegranate trees grew beside birdcages; their cat eyed us suspiciously from under a bench. Someone offered us jasmine tea and showed off their fish pond — simple things but somehow they stick with me more than all those palaces do. It’s funny what you remember most after two packed days like this.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tiananmen Square and Palaces Tour

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Visit Tiananmen Square and landmarks
• Explore Forbidden City with guide
• Lunch: Famous Peking Duck meal
• Visit Temple of Heaven park
• Tour Summer Palace and gardens

Day 2 — Great Wall and Hutong Rickshaw Tour

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Visit Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car
• Experience toboggan slide down
• Lunch: Delicious Trout fish meal
• Take Hutong rickshaw tour
• Walk around Houhai lake and bridge

Top questions

How long is this Beijing tour?

This is a two-day private tour covering major sites each day.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included both days.

Which part of the Great Wall do we visit?

You’ll visit Mutianyu Great Wall, known for fewer crowds and scenic views.

Are meals included?

Yes, both days include lunch—one features Peking roast duck.

Does this tour include entrance tickets?

All entrance fees to listed attractions are included in your booking.

Is there a rickshaw ride in the hutongs?

Yes, you’ll take a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s historic hutongs near Houhai Lake.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide can speak English, Spanish, Russian or German—choose when booking.

Is this tour suitable for families or seniors?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and accessible for wheelchairs or strollers.

What’s included

Your two days include private transport with air conditioning, hotel pickup and drop-off each morning and evening, all entrance tickets to every site listed (Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall with round-trip cable car or chairlift/toboggan), two local lunches including Peking duck, bottled water throughout the trip—and an experienced multilingual guide who keeps everything running smoothly without rushing you along.