Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour
Walk the Ming Dynasty wall, glide the toboggan slide, and stroll the 728m Long Corridor with imperial myths
A private, guided tour of Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace in Beijing with English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, entrance tickets, cable car or chairlift access, and traditional Chinese lunch included. Hotel pickup and drop-off within the 4th ring road. The itinerary adjusts to your interests, so you spend as long as you want at each site. Eight to nine hours total.
Step-by-step itinerary
- Mutianyu Great Wall Entry included 2h
- Summer Palace Entry included 2h
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace
- Travel to Mutianyu Great Wall
- Take cable car or chairlift up
- Walk along Great Wall and explore watchtowers
- Return via toboggan slide (optional)
- Enjoy traditional Chinese lunch
- Travel to Summer Palace
- Stroll along Long Corridor
- Visit Marble Boat pavilion
- Explore gardens and learn imperial history
What’s included
- English-speaking guide.
- entrance tickets to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace.
- round-trip cable car or chairlift at Mutianyu with toboggan slide option.
- traditional Chinese lunch.
- air-conditioned vehicle with driver.
- hotel pickup and drop-off within Beijing's 4th ring road.
Times
- Every day 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00
Last departure this season: 31 Dec
Another time? ›Information
Prices and times updated 9 days ago
Operated by Beijing Friends Tailored Tours
The experience
Your driver picks you up at your Beijing hotel and heads north into the mountains where Mutianyu Great Wall rises among undulating ridges. This section sees fewer crowds than Badaling, and the well-preserved watchtowers and original stone battlements stretch across the landscape in a way that photographs hold. You choose how to ascend: cable car up to Watchtower 15, or chairlift to Watchtower 6 with the option to toboggan back down. Your guide walks the ancient stone paths with you, pointing out Ming Dynasty construction details, explaining the wall's role defending China's northern frontier, and letting you linger at the best vantage points for photos.
After lunch (a traditional Chinese meal included in the price), you head to the Summer Palace in Beijing's western suburbs. This is where emperors retreated, and the scale of it settles in as you walk. The 728-meter Long Corridor alone carries vivid paintings of Chinese myths and landscapes across its entire length. Your guide leads you to the Marble Boat, a lakeside pavilion that symbolizes Qing Dynasty stability, and through the tranquil lakes and pavilions that make up the garden's UNESCO World Heritage layout. The stories of the emperors and empresses who lived here come with the places themselves: the 18th-century construction, the symbolic arrangement of water and stone, the shift from imperial residence to public monument.
Everything is arranged: entrance fees to both sites, round-trip cable car or chairlift at Mutianyu, the toboggan descent, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, and your guide's attention to what interests you most. There are no hidden costs and no negotiating at ticket windows. The day runs eight to nine hours, and you set the rhythm: spend an extra hour photographing the wall, or linger in the Summer Palace gardens. Hotel drop-off is included within Beijing's 4th ring road.
Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see both the Great Wall and Summer Palace in one day with a private vehicle and guide who adjusts the pace to your interests: ideal for fitting major sites into a shorter visit without switching between public transport or group schedules.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English 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's the difference between the cable car and chairlift at Mutianyu?
The cable car takes you directly up to Watchtower 15, the highest point on this section of wall. The chairlift goes to Watchtower 6 and includes a toboggan slide descent on the way back down. A single-rider slide that follows the mountain contours. Your guide can help you choose based on what appeals to you.
Is the Long Corridor at the Summer Palace as long as it sounds?
The Long Corridor stretches 728 meters and is covered the entire way, lined with paintings of Chinese myths, landscapes and historical scenes. You walk it at your own pace. It's not a race, and your guide points out details as you go.
What does the all-inclusive pricing actually cover?
Entrance tickets to both Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace; round-trip cable car or chairlift at Mutianyu; the toboggan slide if you choose the chairlift; traditional Chinese lunch; all transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle; your English-speaking guide; and hotel pickup and drop-off within Beijing's 4th ring road. No entrance fees, no transport costs, no surprises at the end.
Can I spend more time at one site and less at the other?
Yes. This is a private tour, so your guide tailors the day to your interests. If you want extra time photographing the Great Wall or exploring the Summer Palace gardens, you set that pace. The eight to nine hour total allows flexibility within the day.
Do I need to be very fit for this tour?
You'll walk along the Great Wall's ancient stone paths and explore the Summer Palace grounds, so a moderate level of physical fitness helps. The cable car or chairlift handles the steep ascent at Mutianyu, so you're not climbing the mountain itself. If you have cardiovascular concerns, mention them when you book so your guide can adjust the pace.
Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour
8h–9h · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 188 per person