Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace tour from Beijing

Two imperial landmarks in one day without arranging the route yourself.

A full-day group tour from Beijing visiting Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace with English-speaking guide, round-trip air-conditioned bus transport, and entrance tickets to both sites. The itinerary splits the day into four hours at the wall and three hours in the palace gardens, with a shuttle bus included within the Great Wall scenic area. Lunch is available as an add-on. Private tours with hotel pickup are offered as an alternative to shared departures.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mutianyu Great Wall4h · entry included
2. Summer Palace3h · entry included

Visit Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace

• Arrive at meeting point
• Board bus to Mutianyu Great Wall
• Listen to guide introduction on bus
• Collect tickets at Mutianyu Great Wall
• Take shuttle uphill to Great Wall
• Explore Mutianyu Great Wall (4 hours)
• Return to bus and travel to Summer Palace
• Tour Summer Palace with guide (3 hours)
• Transfer back to Olympic Park

The experience

You meet the guide at a central point in Beijing, show your reservation, and board an air-conditioned bus for the 90-minute drive to Mutianyu. During the journey, the guide walks you through what to expect at the wall and handles any ticket reservations. Once there, you collect your entrance ticket and take the internal shuttle uphill into the scenic area. You then have four hours to explore: choosing between the east-line route, the west-line route, or both if you want the full span of the wall. The cable car and toboggan are optional purchases if you prefer not to walk the steeper sections.

After Mutianyu, the bus returns you to Beijing and continues to Summer Palace. Your guide leads you through the gardens for three hours, explaining the history of the buildings and the life of the Empress Dowager Cixi, known as the "Dragon Lady." The palace sits on a lake with pavilions, walkways and courtyards built across centuries. Once the tour ends, the bus drops you back at Olympic Park.

The tour runs 10 hours total, though much of that is driving time. An English-speaking guide stays with the group throughout. If you choose the lunch option, a buffet is included partway through the day. The shared bus format means you travel with other visitors. Private tours with hotel pickup are available if you prefer a smaller group and flexible timing. Cash is useful in the Great Wall area, as card payments aren't reliable there.

What’s included

• Round-trip air-conditioned bus transport from Beijing.
• entrance tickets to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• free shuttle bus within the Great Wall scenic area.
• buffet lunch (if the lunch option is selected).
• hotel pickup and drop-off (if the private tour option is selected).

Options for this experience

4 options

Mutianyu Bus Tour (Wall Only)Guide in English · 07:30, 08:30, 09:30 and 12:00Shared coach bus tour from a fixed meeting point at Exit E, Dongsi Station (Subway Lines 5 and 6), lasting 8 hours. Route: Dongsi Station (Subway Lines 5 and 6), then Mutianyu Great Wall, then Olympic Park, traveling by air-conditioned coach bus. Entrance fees and an English-speaking guide are included; lunch and cable car tickets are not. Starting point: paid parking lots along both sides of Dongsi West Street, China, Beijing, Dongcheng District, Dongsi West Street, both sides of Dongsi West Street, postal code 100006.

Mutianyu and Summer Palace BusGuide in English · 07:20Shared coach tour from a fixed meeting point at Exit E, Dongsi Station (Subway Lines 5 and 6), lasting 8 hours. Route: Exit E, Dongsi Station (Subway Lines 5 and 6), then Mutianyu Great Wall, then Summer Palace, then Olympic Park, traveling by air-conditioned coach bus. Entrance fees and an English-speaking guide are included; lunch and cable car tickets are not. Starting point: paid parking lots along both sides of Dongsi West Street, China, Beijing, Dongcheng District, Dongsi West Street, both sides of Dongsi West Street, postal code 100006.

Mutianyu and Palace Bus with LunchGuide in English · 07:20Shared coach tour from a fixed meeting point at Exit E, Dongsi Station (Subway Lines 5 and 6), lasting 8 hours. Chinese and Western buffet with unlimited soft drinks. Route: Exit E, Dongsi Station (Subway Lines 5 and 6), then Mutianyu Great Wall, then Summer Palace, then Olympic Park, traveling by air-conditioned coach bus. Entrance fees, buffet lunch and an English-speaking guide are included; cable car tickets are not. Starting point: paid parking lots along both sides of Dongsi West Street, China, Beijing, Dongcheng District, Dongsi West Street, both sides of Dongsi West Street, postal code 100006.

Mutianyu and Summer Palace Private TourGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 12:30Private car tour with pickup and drop-off at hotels within the Beijing Fourth Ring Road, lasting 8 hours. Route: your hotel (within the Beijing Fourth Ring Road), then Mutianyu Great Wall, then Summer Palace, then back to your hotel, traveling by air-conditioned private car. Entrance fees, an English-speaking guide and a private car with driver are included; lunch and cable car tickets are not. Starting point: Beijing, China. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 07:20, the last at 12:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (under 7): free

GroupUp to 47

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Busda

Is this one for you?Choose the shared bus tour if you're comfortable with a fixed schedule and want the lowest price. Pick the private option if hotel pickup matters or you'd rather set your own pace at each site. The lunch add-on works if you don't want to find food during the day, though it's not necessary. The tour gives you time to eat on your own if you prefer.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 7): 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.

How much time do I actually spend at each site on this tour?

Mutianyu Great Wall gets four hours of sightseeing time after you arrive, and Summer Palace gets three hours. The remaining time is the 90-minute drive each way plus the shuttle within the scenic area.

What's included in the lunch option?

The Mutianyu & Summer Palace Bus + Lunch option includes a buffet meal during the tour. The other options do not include food, so you'd need to arrange your own or purchase meals separately.

Can I choose which parts of the Great Wall to walk?

Yes. Once at Mutianyu, you can take the east-line tour, the west-line tour, or both the double-line tour depending on how much walking you want to do in your four hours there.

Do I need to bring cash to the Great Wall?

Yes. Credit cards don't work reliably in the Great Wall scenic area, so bring cash if you want to buy the optional cable car, toboggan, or any food or drinks on-site.

What's the difference between the shared bus tour and the private option?

The shared bus tour departs from a central meeting point and follows a fixed schedule with other travelers. The private tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, flexible timing, and personalized guiding for just your group.

Is the shuttle bus at Mutianyu included in the tour price?

Yes. The free shuttle bus that takes you uphill within the Great Wall scenic area is included. The cable car and toboggan are separate optional purchases if you prefer not to walk those sections.