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

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.

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

The experience

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.

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.

Options for this experience

2 options

Mini Group Tours of Beijing over 2 DaysGuide in English · 07:00Covering every highlight in one trip, this option offers group pricing savings while keeping the flexibility of a mini group. Included: hotel pickup and drop-off, tickets, a 2-way cable car or chairlift and toboggan at the Great Wall, a buffet lunch on Day 1, a guide and a driver. Itinerary: Day 1 visits Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Mutianyu Great Wall; Day 2 covers the Temple of Heaven, a Hutong, the Lama Temple and the Summer Palace. Pickup is included.

Beijing Private Tours lasting 2 DaysGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Classic sightseeing that can be fully tailored to your personal interests. Included: a private guide and driver, an exclusive car, tickets, a buffet lunch on Day 1, and a 2-way cable car or chairlift and toboggan at the Great Wall. Itinerary: Day 1 takes in Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Mutianyu Great Wall; Day 2 explores the Temple of Heaven, a Hutong, the Lama Temple and the Summer Palace. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Travel China Guide

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

944 verified traveler reviews

5 ★914

4 ★30

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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).