Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights
Overview
Available languages
2 days
Mobile ticket
This all-inclusive small-group tour is the ultimate way to experience all of Beijing’s highlights, even with a limited schedule. Over two days, see the most iconic Tiananmen Square, the UNESCO-listed Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, and Summer Palace, as well as enjoy a rickshaw ride through the old Hutong alleys bustling with local life.
- Mini group with more personalized service
- Seamless, door-to-door hotel transfers
- All-inclusive and no hidden charges
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Free pickup and drop-off are included at your downtown hotel. If your hotel is located outside this area, an additional mileage fee will apply, or you may join us at a designated meeting point. Please be ready 5 minutes before the pickup time confirmed on the previous day. No-shows will not be refunded.
The Forbidden City requires a real-name reservation 7 days in advance and tickets are easily sold out. We highly recommend booking your tour as early as possible; otherwise, international travelers may need to line up to buy tickets on site.
Please provide your accurate passport information for real-name ticket bookings, and make sure to carry the same valid ID on the tour day; otherwise, the scenic area will deny entry.
Chinese nationals, including guests from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, need to provide their official Chinese names and book at least 7 days in advance.
Your expert guide will help you breeze through security checks at Tiananmen Square. Leave your bag in the car and carry only your passport and bottled water to speed up the progress.
Great Wall Toboggan: For safety, it is not available for guests over 60, pregnant women, and children under 3. Children aged 3 to 10 may ride when accompanied by an adult. Don’t worry if the toboggan isn’t for you – the round-trip cable car or chairlift is suitable for everyone.
This tour is not recommended for guests aged 85 and above.
What To Expect
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Buffet lunch
Tiananmen Square
In the morning, your guide and driver will greet you in your hotel lobby, and escort you on a day of seamless, worry-free transfers. Walk around this large square and shoot photos of the brilliant landmark buildings. Note: To pass through the security check quickly, especially during holidays, we suggest you leave your bag in the car and carry only your passport and bottled water to go through the no-bag passage.
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Maozhuxi Jiniantang)
Pass by
Monument of the People's Heroes
Pass by
Great Hall of the People (Renmin Dahuitang)
Pass by
National Museum Of China
Pass by
The Palace Museum
Walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, and you’ll reach the Forbidden City/ Palace Museum, the home to 24 emperors from 1368 to 1911 AD. Visit the most essential palaces on the central axis and chambers on the two wings among its 9,999 rooms, with in-depth explanations and expert photography guidance. Note: If your travel date falls on a Monday when the Forbidden City is closed, we’ll visit the royal resort Summer Palace instead.
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
This was not an execution site as rumored, but the stage for imperial ceremonies, much like the White House lawn. Here, the emperor issued decrees and welcomed home victorious armies.
Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)
Visit the three main halls of the Outer Court where ancient emperors held state ceremonies.
Palace of Heavenly Purity
Visit the three main palaces of the Inner Court - the emperor’s sleeping quarters and the place for him to handle daily affairs.
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
Visit the entertainment venue for the emperor and the imperial harem.
Mutianyu Great Wall
After 1.5 hours’ driving, you’ll arrive at Mutianyu, the best-preserved and most popular section of the Great Wall of China. A Chinese buffet lunch with soft drinks will be prepared for you to refuel before the afternoon. After lunch, enjoy your hike and take nice photos on the Great Wall for at least 2.5 hours. The round-way cable car rides, or a chairlift up and toboggan down are included, and you can make your own choice. Notice for Toboggan: Children under 10 need to be escorted by an adult; travelers aged 60 and above, or those with hypertension or heart disease, are not permitted to take it.
Thereafter, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Temple of Heaven, Hutong Alleys, Lama Temple & Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven
In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors worshiped the God of Heaven for good harvest in ancient times. Note: If your travel date falls on Monday when the main sights of the Temple of Heaven are closed, we’ll arrange Beihai Park instead.
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest
A large circular palace with a roof covered in three layers of blue glazed tiles for the emperors to hold sacrificial ceremonies.
Yuanqiutan
Open-air altar where the emperor offered sacrifices to heaven on the Winter Solstice.
Hutong Tour
Continue your tour to Beijing Hutong area, where you can take a rickshaw through the old alleys and visit a traditional courtyard to see how the old Beijingers live.
Follow your guide to visit the beautiful old Lama Temple, which is known as the largest and most perfectly-preserved lamasery in Beijing.
Summer Palace
Here’s the last stop. Mainly consisting of the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake, this imperial resort is reputed as the ‘museum of ancient Chinese royal gardens’. In the end, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Options
2-Day Beijing Mini Group Tour
Trip Highlights: Tick off all Beijing’s must-sees in one go, saving with group pricing while enjoying mini-group flexibility. Classic Route: Day 1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall. Day 2: Temple of Heaven, Hutong, Lama Temple, Summer Palace. All-inclusive: Hotel pickup & drop-off, tickets, Great Wall 2-way cable car or chairlift+toboggan, buffet lunch on Day 1, guide & driver. Pickup included
Private 2-Day Beijing Tours
All-inclusive Private Tours: Private guide & driver's services, entry fees, buffet lunch on day 1, Great Wall 2-way cable car or chairlift & toboggan. Customized Route: Day 1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall. Day 2: Temple of Heaven, Hutong, Lama Temple, Summer Palace. Pickup included
What‘s Included
Highway tolls, parking fees, and local taxes
A premium buffet lunch with soft drinks for Day 1
Complimentary unlimited bottled water in your van
Great Wall facilities: a scenic round-way cable car, or a fun chairlift up & toboggan down
All entrance fees
Lunch
Pickup & drop-off at your downtown hotel lobby
Free child seat upon request
Free earphones
Professional guide, dedicated driver, and air-conditioned vehicle
Gratuities
Souvenirs and personal expenses
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
870 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Jun full day Beijing highlights tour
828yemit,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen was amazing. Very helpful and gave good commentary on the different places we visited. She helped us navigate the security into the forbidden city and guided us through the best spots of the forbidden city. We enjoyed seeing the forbidden city, great wall and visiting a teahouse with tea ceremony after. The whole experience was smooth with easy pick up and drop off from our hotel. Lunch was nice and filling and was in a jade museum, so we got to learn a bit about jade and how to identify genuine jade. Nice surprise to the day with a beautiful pink travel bag that I will be using a lot. We were well hydrated with cold water available from the van's cool box throughout the day. The Van had AC and was comfortable to sit in. The days walk was very manageable, even my mum who isn't normally much of a walker managed okay, with enough stops along the way for to rest in between stops. Would absolutely recommend this tour and recommend Helen.
2 Day Beijing Tour
kathleenlD1199IP,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family had a fantastic experience in the two-day tour. We learned so much from Helen, as she is knowledgeable and fluent in both Mandarin and English. She was also very warm, detailed, and patient to our 3-generation family.
Great experience!
334gannaa,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen was great! She knew all the shortcuts, fun trivia and she customised our experience for our needs. I would 100% do it again
A fun filled day in summer Beijing
ciao 481,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen was excellent with communication about the pick up time and location the day before the tour. On the day of the tour she was tentative and made sure we used the time to visit the places we want to see instead wasting time on long lines to be checked though security. She made the day worry free and relaxing. We highly recommend booking with Helen on this tour.
Perfect tour of Beijing
ayh2105,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen was our guide and she was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable, organized, and helpful. The tour was great - pickup/dropoff was smooth, communication was excellent, and the itinerary was enjoyable. I would highly recommend Helen and this tour.
Great tour!
H8823JRadamy,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Trip was super fun and absolutely gorgeous! Helen the guide was absolutely lovely. Made the tour so much fun and was super accommodating! Highly recommend!
Great Trip!
crystallC9857PX,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was a wonderful experience. Helen was our tour guide and she did an amazing job making sure everything went smoothly. I strongly recommend this tour and to take it with Helen!
Tour made by fantastic tour guide Helen!!
Caulfieldeoin,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen made this experience fantastic! She went above and beyond to ensure the tour went as smoothly as possible! Even though the weather was shocking, Helen prevailed and kept the show on the road! Great tour and would recommend it to anyone visiting the city!!
Bejing with Kevin
57lukasl,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved the time in Beijing! Our tourguide Kevin could answer all questions and was very helpful. He is a friendly and fun guy. We miss hin already. The Bus was always on time. Bejing and the Great Wall are worth the money. We had 3 nights in Beijing.
A fabulous day of touring!
janedE1147OQ,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fabulous day 1 of our Beijing tour! Helen was excellent; enthusiastic, easy to understand and very helpful with our thousands of questions. We look forward to day 2 tomorrow. Many Blessings to you Helen
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