Beijing: Great Wall & Forbidden City Tour with Lunch

Two Palaces and a Wall: Beijing's Imperial History in One Day

You get picked up from your hotel and spend the day moving between three of Beijing's most famous sites without arranging transport, tickets, or timing yourself. A guide walks you through the Forbidden City's imperial history, you eat lunch at the Great Wall, and both your ascent and descent are covered: cable car up, toboggan down, or your choice of the other options. The fixed schedule is what keeps all three stops inside a single day, and the all-inclusive pricing means no surprises at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Tiananmen Square30m
2. Forbidden City1h · entry included
3. Imperial Garden of the Palace Museum15m · entry included
4. Mutianyu Great Wallpass by

Explore Beijing's iconic landmarks

• Meet guide in hotel lobby
• Drive to Tiananmen Square
• Visit or drive by Tiananmen Square
• Explore Forbidden City central axis
• See Three Great Halls
• Visit Inner Court palaces
• Walk through Imperial Garden
• Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall
• Have lunch near Great Wall
• Ascend Great Wall by cable car or chairlift
• Explore and photograph Great Wall
• Descend by toboggan, ski lift, or cable car
• Return to hotel

The experience

Your guide meets you in the hotel lobby at a time that works with your schedule, and you step into a clean, air-conditioned vehicle. The city rolls past the windows while your guide starts talking, not the rehearsed kind, but real stories about dynasties and emperors and why certain streets matter. This is how the day unfolds: Tiananmen Square first, though the guide will warn you upfront that security queues can run long, and if they do, you'll drive past instead so there's time for what comes next. The square itself is free, so no refund if you skip it, but the point is you're not losing the day to a line.

Then the Forbidden City. It's massive: nearly a thousand rooms, courtyards that repeat, halls that look similar until your guide explains what happened in each one. The Three Great Halls come first: the Hall of Supreme Harmony where emperors held coronations, then the Hall of Central Harmony where they'd rest before ceremonies, then the Hall of Preserving Harmony for imperial exams. You move deeper into the Inner Court: the Palace of Heavenly Purity where emperors actually lived, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility for empresses, the Hall of Union and Peace between them. The guide paints the daily life: what emperors did, what concubines and eunuchs did, how the whole machine worked. Then the Imperial Garden, quiet and filled with old trees and pavilions, before you exit through the north gate. Your guide is there the whole time to answer questions. That's the real difference between a small group tour (max 8 people) and a private one. In a group, you share the guide's attention. Private, they focus only on you.

After the Forbidden City, it's a 1.5-hour drive to Mutianyu Great Wall. The guide keeps talking during the ride: facts about how the wall was built, what it defended against, why it matters. You arrive hungry, and lunch is included: a proper meal to refuel before you climb. Then you choose how to go up: cable car or ski lift, both included in the tour fee. Once on top, you have free time to walk the wall, take photos, stand there and feel the thing. The views are of the wall winding through green hills, watchtowers in the distance, the scale of it all. When you're ready to come down, you can take the toboggan ride, the thrilling way, or the ski lift or cable car back. Your driver and guide get you back to your hotel as the day ends.

The tour leaves at 7:00 a.m., though the exact pickup time depends on where your hotel is and how many other guests are being collected that morning. You'll get an email the day before with your specific pickup time and location. Check it carefully, because if you're more than 10 minutes late, they won't wait. Bring your passport. You'll need it for entry. If you're a Chinese citizen (including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan), book at least 7 days ahead and have your ID number ready.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels.
• entrance fees to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall.
• private guide for the full day.
• lunch at Mutianyu.
• cable car round trip or ski lift up and toboggan ticket down.
• bottled water.
• private vehicle transport between attractions.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tour for private groups from hotels in the cityGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 07:30, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Private tour from city hotels: your tour guide will wait for you in your hotel lobby holding a sign with your name on it. Pickup is included.

Private tour starting from PEKGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30Private tour starting and ending at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). The tour needs at least 11 hours between two flights. Pickup is included.

Private tour starting from PKXGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 07:00 and 08:00Private tour starting and ending at Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). The tour requires at least 15 hours between two flights. Pickup is included.

Mini Group TourGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 07:00Mini group tour: a maximum of 8 people for an intimate, uncrowded experience. A comfortable experience free of overcrowding. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Discover Beijing Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want Beijing's three most famous sites in a single day without arranging transport, tickets, or timing yourself: the fixed schedule and all-inclusive pricing are what make that possible. The small group option (max 8 people) keeps it intimate. The private option gives you a dedicated guide who adjusts pace to your interests.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour start?

The tour departs at 7:00 a.m., though your specific pickup time depends on your hotel location and will be confirmed in an email the day before. Arrive on time. Late arrivals of more than 10 minutes will be recorded as no-show.

Is Tiananmen Square always included?

It's the first stop, but security queues can be long. If the wait exceeds one hour, the guide will drive past the square instead so you have time for the Forbidden City and Great Wall. The square is free to enter, so there's no refund if it's skipped. It may also close without notice for government events.

What's the difference between the mini group and private tour?

The mini group tour has a maximum of 8 people and you share the guide's attention. The private tour is exclusive to your group, with a dedicated guide who adjusts pace and focus to your interests. Both include the same attractions, lunch, and transport.

How long is the drive to Mutianyu Great Wall?

About 1.5 hours from the Forbidden City. Your guide shares stories about the wall's history and construction during the drive.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You'll have a hearty lunch at Mutianyu before exploring the Great Wall, included in the tour fee.

How do I get up and down the Great Wall?

Both directions are included. You can take the cable car or ski lift up, and descend by toboggan, ski lift, or cable car, your choice.

What do I need to bring?

Your passport is required for entry to the Forbidden City and Great Wall. Without it, you'll be denied access.

Do I need to book in advance if I'm a Chinese citizen?

Yes. Chinese citizens (including those from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) must book at least 7 days ahead. You'll need to provide your Chinese name and ID number when reserving, and present your ID on the tour day.

What's included in the tour fee?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees to the Forbidden City and Great Wall, lunch, cable car or ski lift and toboggan ticket, private guide, and bottled water. There are no additional costs.