Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (19 reviews)

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/19

Duration7h–10h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · CM

PickupAt your hotel

Two of Beijing's biggest sights in one day, without the crowds at Badaling

You visit Mutianyu Great Wall by cable car, walk the restored Ming sections with a guide, then spend the afternoon at the Summer Palace exploring pavilions and gardens. Hotel pickup, entry fees, cable car and professional guide are all included, and there are no shopping stops—just the two sites and the drive between them.

7h–10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace

Pass by Bird's Nest exterior
Pass by Water Cube exterior
Take cable car up Mutianyu Great Wall
Explore Mutianyu Great Wall
Visit Summer Palace with guide

The Experience

Our driver picked us up from the hotel at 7:30am, and on the way north toward Mutianyu, he pointed out the Bird's Nest stadium and the Water Cube as we passed the Beijing Olympic Park—those quick landmarks that frame the modern city before you leave it behind. Mutianyu Great Wall sits about an hour outside the center, and it's deliberately quieter than Badaling; the section here is steeper, older, and the cable car ride up saves your legs for the actual walking. You get entry to both attractions, a professional guide who walks you through the Summer Palace's history in the afternoon, and a round-trip cable car included—so you're not negotiating transport or tickets at each stop.

The wall itself climbs steeply through pine forest, and the guide explains the Ming Dynasty construction as you move between restored sections. It's not a gentle stroll; the itinerary assumes moderate fitness, and comfortable shoes matter. After two to three hours on the wall, you head back down by cable car and drive south to the Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden in the world. It's a different kind of walking—flat, architectural, built around water and pavilions rather than fortification. The guide handles the history; you handle the pace.

What makes this tour work is the private transfer and the no-shopping guarantee. You're not stopping at jade shops or tea houses that eat into your time; the whole day stays focused on the two sites. Hotel pickup is included, and the driver waits between stops. You'll need your passport details at booking for the attraction tickets, and the tour runs in all weather—so dress in layers. If you have dietary needs, mention them when you book; vegetarian options are available.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and private transfer by car or minivan, entry fees to both Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace, a professional guide who explains the history at each site, round-trip cable car access up the wall, bottled water, and a return to your hotel in the evening. The tour is 100% shopping-free, so no stops at shops or markets.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Demi Beijing Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Beijing's two biggest sights in one day without arranging transport, tickets or timing yourself—and without the crowds or shopping detours that eat into other group tours. The private car and fixed itinerary are what make both sites possible in a single day.