Beijing: Forbidden City & Mutianyu Great Wall day tour

Two UNESCO sites, two centuries of history, one guided day

This guided day tour covers Beijing's Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle, and entrance tickets included. You spend several hours inside the 9,999.5-room imperial palace complex, then around 2.5 hours hiking the less-crowded Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Lunch is at your own expense at a local restaurant. Cable car and toboggan rides are optional add-ons purchased on-site. The tour ends at Olympic Park subway station near the Bird's Nest.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mutianyu Great Wall3h · entry included
2. Beijing National Stadiumpassing by

Visit Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall

• Pickup at designated meeting point
• Explore Forbidden City with guide
• Lunch near Mutianyu Great Wall
• Hike Mutianyu Great Wall
• Tour ends at Olympic Park subway station

The experience

Pickup happens at a designated meeting point, then the day moves straight to the Forbidden City: the world's largest and best-preserved imperial palace complex. Your guide walks you through 600 years of history across the highlights of this 9,999.5-room UNESCO World Heritage Site, where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties once ruled from. You spend several hours here, moving at a pace that lets the scale and detail sink in without rushing through.

After the Forbidden City, you have an hour for lunch at a local restaurant near the Mutianyu area. This is your own cost and your choice. In the afternoon, the tour heads to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved sections of the Great Wall. The entrance ticket is included. You get around 2.5 hours to hike the ramparts on this less-crowded stretch, which means fewer crowds than the more famous sections closer to Beijing. Cable car and chairlift rides up the wall are available as optional purchases if you want to skip the climb.

The tour wraps up at Olympic Park subway station, within walking distance of the Beijing National Stadium, the Bird's Nest, and the Water Cube. From there you can explore the area on your own or take the subway to your next stop. The whole day runs 8 to 10 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Your tour includes an English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport with pickup at a designated meeting point.
• entrance tickets to both the Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall.
• and all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lily's Tour Company

Is this one for you?The English-speaking guide means you follow the commentary without translation lag, which works well if you want context and history woven through the day rather than just walking the sites on your own. The fixed itinerary and included transport also mean the logistics hold together (no arranging separate tickets, no figuring out how to get between the two sites), so the day stays focused on what you came to see.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years); Infant (under 3).

What's inside the Forbidden City that makes it worth several hours?

The Forbidden City is the world's largest imperial palace complex, with 9,999.5 rooms built over 600 years as the residence and political center for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Your guide leads you through the iconic highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, showing the scale and history of how imperial China actually worked.

How crowded is Mutianyu Great Wall compared to other sections near Beijing?

Mutianyu is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved sections of the Great Wall and is less crowded than the more famous stretches closer to the city. You get around 2.5 hours to hike the ramparts at a relaxed pace without fighting through tour groups.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included and is at your own expense at a local restaurant near the Mutianyu Great Wall area. You have one hour for this after leaving the Forbidden City.

Can I take a cable car or chairlift up the Great Wall instead of hiking?

Cable car and chairlift rides are available at Mutianyu as optional add-ons that you purchase on-site at your own cost. A toboggan slide is also available, though it is not available for guests over 60, pregnant women, children under 3, or in bad weather or long queues.

What do I need to bring or wear for this day?

Wear comfortable shoes for walking the Forbidden City and hiking the Great Wall. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel for entry to the Forbidden City (not required for Chinese tourists). The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, so you'll have breaks from the heat between sites.

Where does the tour end and how do I get back?

The tour concludes at Olympic Park subway station, close to the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest) and Water Cube. From there you can explore the area independently or take the subway to depart on your own.