Private Mutianyu Great Wall Tour with Bullet Train from Shanghai

One day, two cities: Shanghai to Beijing by bullet train, then hiking the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.

A private full-day tour from Shanghai that combines round-trip bullet train travel to Beijing with guided hiking on the Mutianyu Great Wall, including hotel pickup, lunch, and cable car access. You'll spend roughly 1.5 hours on the wall itself, climbing through forested terrain with views of villages and orchards below. The tour runs 18 hours total and includes an English-speaking guide. You choose your train class (Business or First) or skip the train entirely at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bullet train and Great Wall visit

• Meet Shanghai driver at hotel
• Transfer to Shanghai Railway Station
• Travel to Beijing by bullet train
• Meet Beijing tour guide at Beijing South Railway Station
• Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall
• Enjoy Beijing style lunch
• Hike and explore Mutianyu Great Wall
• Ride cable car up and down or toboggan
• Transfer to Beijing Railway Station
• Travel back to Shanghai by bullet train
• Transfer to Shanghai hotel

The experience

The day starts before dawn: your driver picks you up from your Shanghai hotel at 5:45am and takes you to Shanghai Railway Station for the bullet train to Beijing. Once you arrive at Beijing South Railway Station, a Beijing-based guide meets you and transfers you to Mutianyu Great Wall. Before you hike, you'll have lunch in Beijing style. Mutianyu is less crowded than other sections of the wall and sits surrounded by orchards and villages. Your guide walks with you for roughly 1.5 hours, sharing stories about the wall's history and significance as you move through the forested hillside.

The descent gives you a choice: take the cable car down (included), or opt for the toboggan run if you want something more active. After you finish on the wall, your guide transfers you to Beijing Railway Station for the return bullet train to Shanghai, where your driver meets you and takes you back to your hotel. The full day is 18 hours from pickup to dropoff.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Shanghai and return transfer.
• round-trip bullet train tickets (Business or First Class, depending on your choice at checkout).
• Beijing-based English-speaking guide for the Great Wall portion.
• entrance fees to Mutianyu.
• Beijing-style lunch.
• round-trip cable car access on the Great Wall.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour NO TrainGuide in English · 05:45Duration: 18 hours. Private tour including lunch, entrance fees, and a professional private tour guide and driver, all inclusive (no train tickets). Pickup is included.

Tour with first-class seatGuide in English · 05:45Duration: 18 hours. Private tour including lunch, entrance fees, first-class train seats, and a professional private tour guide and driver, all inclusive. Pickup is included.

Tour with business-class seatGuide in English · 05:45Duration: 16 hours. Private tour including lunch, entrance fees, business-class train seats, and a professional private tour guide and driver, all inclusive. 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 dayDeparts at 05:45

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (6 to 80 years) · Child (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sunflower Tours China

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Shanghai and want a private guide for the full day: the bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing is included, or choose "Tour No Train" if you're arranging your own transport and only need the guide at the wall.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 6).

What's the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall actually like compared to other parts near Beijing?

Mutianyu is known for being less crowded than sections closer to the city, and it's surrounded by lush vegetation, orchards and villages rather than bare ridgeline. The hiking itself is leisurely over roughly 1.5 hours, and the forested terrain means you're walking through trees rather than across exposed stone.

Do I have to take the bullet train, or can I skip it and just do the Great Wall part?

You can choose the "Tour No Train" option at checkout if you'd rather not take the train. That version still includes the guide, lunch, and cable car access on the wall itself.

What happens if I want to come down the Great Wall faster than the cable car?

The tour includes cable car descent, but you can choose the toboggan option instead if you want a faster, more active way down the mountain.

How much walking is involved on the Great Wall itself?

You'll spend about 1.5 hours hiking on the wall. The itinerary notes that the full day involves 10,000 to 20,000 steps total, so you should wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for sustained physical activity.

What train class do I get, and does it matter?

You choose between Business Class or First Class seating when you book. Both are round-trip on the same bullet train route. If neither appeals to you, the "Tour No Train" option removes the train entirely.