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Top Things to Do in Northern China

We compared all 248 experiences in Northern China so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.

4.8 248 experiences from US$ 3 Free cancellation on most experiences

The unmissables

Most booked
Beijing: Forbidden City, Tiananmen & Mutianyu Great Wall Day Trip
Top rated
Beijing Day Tour: Forbidden City, Great Wall & Tiananmen Square
Best value
Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Tour & Cable Car

Recommended (7)

Top rated (10)

Mutianyu Great Wall private hiking tour from Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall private hiking tour from Beijing★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (373)5h–8hA private tour from Beijing to the Mutianyu Great Wall includes hotel pickup, English-speaking guide, entrance fees and shuttle bus access, with 3 hours of hiking across various wall sections and watch towers. You choose between a guided tour or self-guided option, and between daytime or night departure. Lunch and cable car tickets are separate. The Mutianyu section draws far fewer visitors than Badaling, and over 96% of it is covered by trees.Is it for me?Book the guided daytime tour if you want someone to point out the towers and explain the wall's history as you hike; choose the self-guided option if you'd rather move at your own pace without narration. The private transport means no group waiting and no fixed schedule beyond your pickup time, so you control how long you spend at each section.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −33%fromUS$ 80View ›
Beijing - Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors Day Trip & Bullet Train
Beijing - Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors Day Trip & Bullet Train★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (286)17hYou’ll board an early bullet train from Beijing for a full day in Xi’an—meeting your guide right at the station, tasting hand-pulled Biang Biang noodles for lunch, wandering through rows of ancient Terracotta Warriors with stories only locals know, then returning late to your hotel with tired feet and a head full of new images.Instant confirmationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 564View ›
Beijing: 3-Day Private Tour Forbidden City & Mutianyu Wall
Beijing: 3-Day Private Tour Forbidden City & Mutianyu Wall★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (282)3dYou’ll wander through Beijing’s Forbidden City with a local guide who knows every shortcut, climb Mutianyu Great Wall (with a wild toboggan ride down), taste real noodles where locals eat, and watch morning Tai Chi at Temple of Heaven. Every day feels packed but never rushed—you’ll leave with memories that stick long after your feet recover.Free cancellationTravelers' pickInfants freefromUS$ 599View ›
Mutianyu Great Wall private hike tour from Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall private hike tour from Beijing★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (229)5h–8hA private tour from Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall includes hotel or airport pickup, a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, and parking fees; you have 3 to 5 hours to hike and photograph the wall at your own speed. The driver will meet you at Capital Airport or your hotel and handle the 1.5-hour drive each way. English-speaking driver and guide are available as an option at checkout. Entry tickets, meals, cable car and toboggan rides are separate purchases.Is it for me?The self-paced format suits anyone who wants to set their own rhythm on the wall—no fixed stops, no group schedule, no rush. The 1.5-hour drive each way and 3 to 5 hours of walking mean this works best if you have a full morning or afternoon free and don't mind a longer day in the car.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 69View ›
Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour from Beijing: Skip the Crowds
Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour from Beijing: Skip the Crowds★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (135)6h–9hA private day tour from Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall with English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, entrance ticket, VIP pass and cable car or chairlift included. The Mutianyu section draws far fewer visitors than Badaling, so you move freely along the wall without the crush of crowds. The guide explains the history and architecture as you walk, helps you find the best photo angles, and solves any problems that come up during the day.Is it for me?Choose Mutianyu if you prefer fewer visitors on the wall itself—the section stays less crowded than Badaling, so you move at your own pace rather than in dense groups.Free cancellationKids −18%fromUS$ 188View ›
Beijing: Jinshanling & Simatai Night Wall Tour with Gubei Water Town
Beijing: Jinshanling & Simatai Night Wall Tour with Gubei Water Town★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (114)8h–10hYou’ll start your journey at Jinshanling Great Wall, where peaceful trails replace crowds and every step feels personal. Wander lantern-lit streets in Gubei Water Town before riding up to Simatai for rare night views over glowing rooftops. Includes hotel pickup, private guide, local meal, and cable car—leaving you free to soak it all in.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −23%fromUS$ 278View ›
Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Day Trip
Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Day Trip★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (108)8h–9hYou’ll walk ancient stones at Mutianyu Great Wall with a local guide sharing stories you won’t find in any book. Taste real Chinese noodles for lunch before wandering painted corridors and lakeside paths at Beijing’s Summer Palace—all with private pickup and no lines. Expect moments of silence, laughter, and that weird sense of standing inside history.Free cancellationKids −66%fromUS$ 188View ›
Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour: 6-8 Hours
Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour: 6-8 Hours★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (100)6h–8hA private 6- to 8-hour tour of Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance ticket, and internal shuttle bus for the uphill climb. Choose between a private car with an English-speaking driver or an English-speaking guide, and set your own departure time and how long you spend at the wall. The Mutianyu section stretches 5,400 meters and sees far fewer visitors than Badaling, so you move through the Ming Dynasty architecture and mountain scenery without crowds.Is it for me?Book the guide option if you want context for the Ming Dynasty architecture and military design as you walk; book the driver option if you prefer to move at your own rhythm without narration. Either way, the private vehicle and flexible timing let you leave early enough to reach the wall before the crowds arrive, and you can spend as long as you want at any section without a group schedule pulling you forward.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −19%fromUS$ 80View ›
Beijing: Forbidden City & Mutianyu Great Wall 2-Day Private Tour
Beijing: Forbidden City & Mutianyu Great Wall 2-Day Private Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (610)2dYou spend two full days moving through Beijing's major imperial sites—Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace on day one; Mutianyu Great Wall and a Hutong rickshaw tour on day two. Hotel pickup, all entrance tickets, cable car access, two lunches including Peking roast duck, and a professional English-speaking guide are included. The tour is private, so you're not joining a group or waiting for strangers.Is it for me?Book this if you want Beijing's major imperial sites covered in two days without arranging your own transport, tickets, or timing—the private format and fixed itinerary mean you move through each stop with a guide who knows the stories, not a schedule that waits for other travelers.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 369View ›
Summer Palace Tickets Beijing: 3 QR access to gardens & pagoda
Summer Palace Tickets Beijing: 3 QR access to gardens & pagoda★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (389)3hYou skip the ticket line with a pre-booked QR code and explore three separate palace areas at your own pace: the main grounds with the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, and the Tower of Buddhist Incense overlooking Kunming Lake. Plan for a full morning or afternoon—the site rewards slow walking, and the climb to the tower is part of the experience.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to explore the Summer Palace without waiting in lines and without a guide dictating the pace. The 3 QR option is worth it if you want the full palace experience—the internal attractions can't be bought on-site otherwise. Plan for a full morning or afternoon and bring comfortable shoes; the tower climb is steep but optional.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 7.90View ›

Lowest price (10)

Forbidden City Beijing Ticket: Walk the Meridian Gate
Forbidden City Beijing Ticket: Walk the Meridian Gate★★★★★★★★★★ 4.69 (164)2h–4hYou book your Forbidden City tickets seven days in advance using your passport details, then scan your way in at the Meridian Gate with no paper ticket or queue. Choose your entry time slot when you reserve, add Tiananmen Square access if you want it, and explore the 9,000-room palace at your own pace. Two exit gates let you head toward different parts of Beijing afterward.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to skip the ticket line and have flexibility to explore the palace on their own schedule. Plan for advance booking — tickets release only seven days ahead — and a fixed entry time slot, which is what keeps you out of the morning queue.Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell outfromUS$ 2.99View ›
Beijing: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Tickets
Beijing: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Tickets★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (111)1h–4hYou get timed-entry tickets to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square access without navigating the Chinese reservation system yourself. Confirmation arrives seven days before your visit, and you enter directly with your passport at the Meridian Gate. The palace is yours to explore at your own pace, or with a guide if you add that option.Is it for me?Right for international travelers on a Beijing visit who want to skip the Chinese-language reservation system and daily queue at the Meridian Gate. Plan for a full morning or afternoon—the palace is vast, and moving through it at your own pace takes time, which is exactly what makes self-guided exploration worthwhile.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 3View ›
Beijing: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Entry Tickets
Beijing: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Entry Tickets★★★★★★★★★★ 4.70 (63)3h–4hYou get skip-the-line entry to both Beijing's most-visited landmarks in one booking. Enter the Forbidden City by scanning your passport, explore the imperial palace and its hidden gardens at your own pace, then head to Tiananmen Square to stand in the world's largest public square surrounded by monuments. No paper tickets, no separate reservations—just book your preferred option (Forbidden City alone, Tiananmen alone, or both) and show up on your date.Is it for me?Book this if you want to hit Beijing's two most famous landmarks without juggling separate tickets or arriving early to beat the line—the skip-the-line entry and flexible combo option mean you spend your time inside, not waiting outside.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 3View ›
Beijing: Tiananmen Square Entry Reservation & Fast Access
Beijing: Tiananmen Square Entry Reservation & Fast Access★★★★★★★★★★ 4.25 (106)1h–4hYou reserve your Tiananmen Square entry in advance, present your passport at security, and skip the 1–3 hour queue that catches walk-up visitors. The square itself—the world's largest city center plaza, ringed by China's most important national buildings—is free to explore once you're inside. Book outside the major holiday windows (May, late June–August, October, and January–February) to avoid sold-out reservations and crushing crowds.Is it for me?Right for anyone visiting Beijing who wants to see Tiananmen Square without losing 1–3 hours to the security queue—the reservation is what makes that possible, and it's the only way to guarantee entry on busy days when daily limits fill up.Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell outfromUS$ 3.20View ›
Forbidden City Beijing Ticket: Enter at Your Chosen Time
Forbidden City Beijing Ticket: Enter at Your Chosen Time★★★★★★★★★★ 4.50 (12)2h–8hYou reserve your entry time in advance, show your passport at the Meridian Gate, and walk the Forbidden City on your own schedule. A guide is optional and runs about two hours if you want the context. Morning and afternoon slots let you choose when to go, and a same-day airport or hotel transfer can get you there without arranging separate transport. Entry is guaranteed at your reserved time, or the booking is cancelled and refunded seven days before if the museum reaches capacity.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want guaranteed entry without waiting in line and prefer to explore at their own pace, with the option to add a guide if you want the context first. The reserved time slot removes the guesswork about when you can get in, which matters most during peak season when the museum reaches capacity.Free cancellationfromUS$ 5View ›
Beijing Historic Walking Tour: Hutong, Calligraphy & Qianmen
Beijing Historic Walking Tour: Hutong, Calligraphy & Qianmen★★★★★★★★★★ 4.91 (90)3h 30mThis 3.5-hour guided walking tour of Beijing moves through six neighborhoods and landmarks—the Huguang Guild Hall, hutong alleys, Liulichang's calligraphy shops, Yangmeizhu Byway, Dashilan Street and Qianmen—with a local English-speaking guide. The tour operates on a tips-based model: the booking fee reserves your place, and you decide the guide's gratuity at the end. Groups stay under seven people.Is it for me?The walk covers 3.5 hours on foot through narrow alleys and busy streets, so it suits travelers who move comfortably at a steady pace and want to see Beijing's layered neighborhoods rather than rush between major monuments. The small group size (six maximum) and a guide who knows the stories behind each street make it work for anyone who wants to understand how the city is built, not just photograph the highlights.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 5View ›
Beijing: Forbidden City, Lama Temple & Temple of Heaven Private Tour
Beijing: Forbidden City, Lama Temple & Temple of Heaven Private Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (29)8hYou visit four major Beijing landmarks—Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Lama Temple, and Temple of Heaven—with a private driver and English-speaking guide. All entry fees, hotel pickup, and water are included. The day flows without group waits or transport gaps, leaving you to absorb the scale of the Forbidden City's 9,000 rooms and the detail of the sandalwood Buddha without the stress of arranging it yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want Beijing's four major imperial sites in one day without arranging transport, buying tickets separately, or navigating crowds—the private car and included fees are what make a full itinerary possible in a single outing.Free cancellationKids −42%fromUS$ 7View ›
Lama Temple & Confucius Temple tour Beijing: Skip the lines
Lama Temple & Confucius Temple tour Beijing: Skip the lines★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (11)4hA half-day guided tour of Beijing's Lama Temple and Confucius Temple with hotel pickup, English-speaking guide and entrance tickets included. The tour runs approximately 4 hours and departs at 8:30 am or 1:30 pm, giving business travelers and first-time visitors a structured way to see both temples in a single morning or afternoon without navigating entry lines or finding their own way between sites. A ticket-only option is also available if you prefer to explore independently.Is it for me?Book the guided tour if you have a half-day window and want a driver to handle transport between temples; choose tickets-only if you'd rather navigate there yourself and explore at your own pace.Free cancellationInfants freefromUS$ 7View ›
Beijing Summer Palace: Skip-Line Ticket & Optional Guided Tour
Beijing Summer Palace: Skip-Line Ticket & Optional Guided Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.49 (138)1h–4hYou book a ticket online, receive a QR code by email five to seven days ahead, and scan it at the gate to skip the queue. Choose between a regular ticket for the main garden areas or a combination ticket that unlocks the museums and Suzhou Street. Add a 2-hour guided tour, private round-trip transfers from your hotel, or both. You explore at your own pace after the tour ends, and the whole experience takes as long as you want it to.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to skip the entry-gate queue and avoid arranging your own transport to a palace that's a distance from downtown—the QR code and optional transfers handle both, leaving you free to focus on the gardens themselves.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −17%fromUS$ 7.88View ›
Summer Palace Beijing: Ticket & Optional Guided Tour
Summer Palace Beijing: Ticket & Optional Guided Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.38 (13)2hYou get entrance to the Summer Palace and the choice to explore solo or join a small group with a guide. Either way, you'll walk the Long Corridor with its thousands of paintings, see the Empress Dowager's quarters overlooking Kunming Lake, and move through a garden that's been rebuilt and refined over centuries. Book with your full name, passport number and birth date; send a scan of your passport front page when you confirm.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see the Summer Palace without arranging transport or timing yourself — the entrance ticket removes the logistics, and the optional guide lets you choose between exploring alone or learning the history as you walk.Free cancellationTravelers' pickInfants freefromUS$ 8View ›

Just added (10)

Beijing: Temple of Heaven & Chaoyang Acrobatics Show Tickets
Beijing: Temple of Heaven & Chaoyang Acrobatics Show Tickets4hYou spend your morning walking the Temple of Heaven's park grounds, seeing the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar where emperors once stood. In the evening, you're at Chaoyang Theatre watching contortionists, chair balancers, hoop divers and a motorcycle stunt inside a spinning globe. Both entry fees are included in one booking, so you skip the separate ticket lines and the extra cost.Is it for me?Pick this if you want Beijing's imperial heritage and its modern performance culture in one day without juggling two separate bookings and ticket lines — the package handles both, and the split between daytime and evening means you're not rushing either one.Free cancellationInfants freeNewfromUS$ 37View ›
Beijing: Red Theater Kung Fu Show & Temple of Heaven Tickets
Beijing: Red Theater Kung Fu Show & Temple of Heaven Tickets4hYou spend your day wandering the Temple of Heaven's imperial grounds and watching Shaolin acrobatics at the Red Theater in the evening, with both entries included in a single ticket purchase. English subtitles let you follow the kung fu story without a language barrier. The bundle saves you from booking separately and paying duplicate fees, and the timing is flexible enough to fit your day.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see two major Beijing attractions in one day without arranging separate bookings and entry fees—the bundle handles both the logistics and the cost, leaving you to decide only when to visit each one.Free cancellationInfants freeNewfromUS$ 39View ›
Beijing: National Museum of China Entry & Audio Guide
Beijing: National Museum of China Entry & Audio Guide2h–4hYou secure a reserved entry slot to the National Museum of China without battling the daily 5pm booking rush; choose your own visiting date and time; skip Tiananmen Square security lines with your museum booking; and explore thousands of years of Chinese art, bronzes, jade and porcelain either self-guided with audio or with a professional English guide leading you through the galleries.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see China's largest collection of cultural relics without spending their morning in a booking queue or missing out on sold-out slots—the reserved entry takes the daily lottery out of the equation and lets you pick when you go.Free cancellationLikely to sell outNewfromUS$ 10View ›
Temple of Heaven Beijing: UNESCO Ticket & Inner Halls Access
Temple of Heaven Beijing: UNESCO Ticket & Inner Halls Access★★★★★★★★★★ 3.00 (1)3hYou enter the Temple of Heaven park at your own pace, choosing between standard access to the main complex and grounds, or an upgrade that opens the Inner Halls and ritual areas. You'll walk cypress-lined paths, see the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and watch locals practice Tai Chi and traditional exercises. The ticket includes park entry; an English guide and Inner Halls access are optional upgrades. Plan for a few hours to actually see it without rushing.Is it for me?Right for anyone visiting Beijing who wants to see one of the city's most important historical sites without being locked into a group schedule — the self-paced format and optional upgrades let you decide how deep to go and how long to stay.Free cancellationNewfromUS$ 5View ›
Beijing National Museum: Ancient China Guided Tour & Entry
Beijing National Museum: Ancient China Guided Tour & Entry3hYou enter the National Museum of China with either a live English guide or an audio guide, both included with your entry ticket. The guide or audio commentary walks you through the "Ancient China" exhibition, explaining artifacts, dynasties, and cultural developments across 5,000 years. You spend two to three hours inside, moving at your own pace or following the guide's stops. Entry, guidance, and access to the main exhibition are all covered — you just show up.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to understand Chinese history rather than just see it — the guide or audio commentary transforms a walk through a museum into an actual story about how a civilization developed over millennia, which is what makes the visit stick with you afterward.Free cancellationNewfromUS$ 13View ›
Beijing Lama Temple: Self-Guided Entry & Audio Guide
Beijing Lama Temple: Self-Guided Entry & Audio Guide2h–4hYou enter Lama Temple with a digital ticket and English audio guide, then explore the courtyards, halls, and Buddhist relics at your own pace. Choose between morning (8:30am–12pm) or afternoon (12pm–4:30pm) entry. No guide to follow, no group to keep up with—just you, the temple's architecture and history, and as much time as you want to stand and look.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to explore Beijing's most significant Tibetan Buddhist temple without arranging a guide or keeping to a group schedule—the audio guide gives you context while the flexible timing lets you linger wherever you choose.Instant confirmationNewfromUS$ 11.89View ›
Beijing Summer Palace: Self-Guided Ticket & Audio Guide
Beijing Summer Palace: Self-Guided Ticket & Audio Guide3h–5hYou get independent entry to Beijing's Summer Palace with an English audio guide that explains the imperial architecture, gardens, and lakeside landmarks as you walk. Choose your time slot (morning or afternoon), move at your own pace around Kunming Lake and the historic halls, and bring your original ID to the gate. No group, no schedule, no one waiting for you to catch up.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to explore Beijing's most famous imperial garden without a group or fixed itinerary — the audio guide gives you context whenever you want it, and the flexible time slot means you move at your own rhythm.Instant confirmationNewfromUS$ 24View ›
Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square: Guided Tour + Fast Entry
Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square: Guided Tour + Fast Entry1h–3hYou walk Tiananmen Square with a guide who explains the landmark buildings, then move into the Forbidden City along the central axis, ending at the Imperial Garden. The tour runs three hours and covers the essential sights without the remote courtyards. You choose whether to meet at Laoshe Teahouse or have hotel pickup, and whether you want a small group or private guide. Entry fees are included; the premium package also includes your return transfer to the hotel.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see the Forbidden City's main sights without spending hours navigating on your own or arranging transport separately — the guided route covers the central axis in three hours, and the premium package removes the logistics entirely with hotel pickup and return.Free cancellationInfants freeNewfromUS$ 18View ›
Beijing: National Museum of China Entry & Audio Guide
Beijing: National Museum of China Entry & Audio Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 3.00 (1)1h–5hYou arrive with your passport and QR code, skip the Chinese-language registration that stops most visitors, and spend your time with an English audio guide exploring the Ancient China exhibition. You'll see over 50 national treasures — bronze vessels, painted pottery, imperial porcelain, Han figurines — and replay any section as often as you want. The fixed entry means no line negotiation; the audio guide means no guessing at what you're looking at.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the National Museum of China without navigating Chinese registration or wandering without context — the reserved entry and audio guide remove both the language barrier and the guesswork about what you're looking at.Free cancellation-15%NewfromUS$ 10.88View ›
Beijing Lama Temple: QR Ticket & Self-Guided Entry
Beijing Lama Temple: QR Ticket & Self-Guided Entry★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (2)1hYou book online, send your passport number via WhatsApp, and receive a QR code ticket on the day of your visit. Arrive at whatever time you chose — morning, afternoon, or midday — scan at the gate, and explore the five courtyards of the Lama Temple at your own pace without joining the entry queue. The whole process removes the logistics of timing and ticketing, leaving you free to spend as long as you want in each hall.Is it for me?Right for independent travelers who want to visit Beijing's most popular temple without joining the morning queue, and who have an international passport and a WhatsApp number to receive their ticket the day before.Free cancellationKids −100%NewfromUS$ 8.80View ›
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