Beijing: Great Wall & Forbidden City 2-Day Tour No Shopping

Summary

Great Wall climbs, palace secrets, and Beijing’s living alleys

You’ll walk Beijing’s Great Wall as afternoon light hits its stones, explore palace corridors with stories echoing off red walls, ride a rickshaw through tangled hutongs, and breathe incense in ancient temples. With no shopping detours and small group energy, it feels more like wandering with friends than ticking boxes.

What’s the experience like?

We met our little group right in the hotel lobby — I was still half-awake but our guide Li was already grinning and waving us over. First stop: Tiananmen Square, which felt bigger than I’d pictured (and windier). Li pointed out the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and told us to keep only passports and water for the security line — apparently bags slow you down here. The square is so massive that people look like dots from one end to the other. Walking into the Forbidden City after that was surreal; Li kept tossing out stories about emperors with too many concubines or secret doors I never would’ve noticed. There’s this scent of old wood and stone dust inside — I think it stuck to my jacket.

The drive out to Mutianyu Great Wall took a while (maybe an hour and a half?), but we got there just as the crowds started thinning. You can pick your lunch nearby — I went for a weirdly familiar slice of pizza because Li said skip the buffet unless you’re feeling brave. The climb up on the wall itself is no joke, but wow… at some point I just stopped talking and listened to the wind rattling through those watchtowers. My legs were jelly by the end but I didn’t care; there’s something about seeing all that stone winding off into misty hills that makes you feel tiny in a good way.

That night we wandered Nanluoguxiang Hutong — lanterns everywhere, smells of grilled lamb skewers mixing with perfume from little shops. Some locals zipped past on bikes, laughing at something we couldn’t catch. We could’ve stayed longer but my feet were done for.

Next morning was Temple of Heaven before most tourists showed up. The blue tiles actually shine when the sun hits them right — not sure photos do it justice. We squeezed into a rickshaw for a ride through old hutongs; it’s bumpy, and you get these quick flashes into courtyards where people are hanging laundry or playing cards. Lama Temple smelled like incense and polished wood, with monks moving quietly in orange robes. Last stop: Summer Palace, where we wandered along Kunming Lake watching old men fly kites near Longevity Hill. By then everyone was tired but happy — even Li looked ready for a nap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

• Pick up at hotel lobby
• Drive to Tiananmen Square
• Walk around Tiananmen Square
• Visit Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
• See Monument to the People’s Heroes
• View Great Hall of the People
• View National Museum of China
• Enter Forbidden City through Gate of Heavenly Peace
• Visit Meridian Gate
• Tour Outer Court halls
• Tour Inner Court halls
• Visit Imperial Garden
• Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall
• Lunch near Great Wall (self-arranged)
• Hike and photograph Mutianyu Great Wall
• Stop at Houhai Lake and Hutong alleys

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

• Pick up at hotel
• Visit Temple of Heaven
• See Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest
• Rickshaw tour in Beijing Hutong area
• Visit Lama Temple
• Visit Summer Palace
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How many people are in each mini group tour?

The group size is about 12 guests; occasionally it may exceed 12 by a few people.

Is hotel pickup included in this Beijing Great Wall & Forbidden City tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels within Beijing’s Third Ring Road.

Do we visit Mutianyu section of the Great Wall?

Yes, this tour visits Mutianyu Great Wall for at least 2.5 hours in the afternoon.

Are there any shopping stops or factory visits?

No shopping detours or factory/tea ceremony stops are included—just sightseeing.

What happens if Forbidden City is closed on Monday?

If your tour falls on Monday when Forbidden City is closed, you’ll visit Summer Palace instead.

Are entrance tickets included in this 2-day tour?

Yes, entry fees to all main attractions (Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Summer Palace) are included if selected.

Is lunch provided during the day trip to Mutianyu Great Wall?

No set lunch is provided; you choose from nearby options (fast food available).

Is this tour suitable for families with children?

Yes; infants/children can join and specialized infant seats or strollers are available if needed.

What’s included

Your days include pickup and drop-off at your centrally located Beijing hotel within the Third Ring Road, unlimited bottled water along the way, comfortable chauffeured van transport between sites like Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace, all entrance fees covered (if option selected), headset for clear guide commentary even in big spaces like Tiananmen Square—and absolutely no shopping stops or forced detours anywhere on your route.