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
Tickets to the Forbidden City require a real-name reservation 7 days in advance and are easily sold out, so you are advised to book the tour as early as possible. Otherwise, international travelers will need to line up at the entrance to buy tickets.
We offer free pick-up within the Third Ring Road of Beijing, beyond which there will be an extra charge, so we suggest you book centrally located downtown hotels. Please get ready at the hotel lobby at least 5 minutes in advance of the pick-up time confirmed with you a day before. No-show is non-refundable.
Please provide the correct passport information for booking the real-name tickets. Make sure to carry the same identification when travelling; otherwise, you’ll be refused entry by the scenic areas.
Group Size: About 12 people. There are chances that 10% of the tour groups will exceed 12 people but we’ll make proper arrangements.
Departures are guaranteed with three persons.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Buffet lunch
Beijing
In the morning, your professional guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby, and then a comfortable and capacious chauffeur-driven vehicle will escort you to Tiananmen Square.
Tiananmen Square
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)
Appearance
Monument of the People's Heroes
Appearance
Great Hall of the People (Renmin Dahuitang)
Appearance
National Museum Of China
Appearance
The Palace Museum
Walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, and you’ll reach the Forbidden City, 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. Besides, the Forbidden City visit does not include the Treasure Gallery, the Gallery of Timepieces, or any temporary exhibitions.
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
Visit
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. After descending from the Great Wall, relax with a Chinese tea ceremony to learn about traditional tea culture and taste different flavors of tea
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.
What‘s Included
Baby seats for free
Pick up and drop off to hotels within the third ring road of the Beijing city.
Unlimited bottles of drinking water
Professional English-speaking tour guide & Experienced driver
Mutianyu Great Wall round-way cable car or chairlift & toboggan which costs USD20 per person
Buffet Lunch with soft drinks on Day 1 (Halal food and baby food not available)
Lunch
Entrance fees to Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, and Summer Palace (if option selected)
This part is only for the tour option of "2-Day Mini Group to Great Wall & Forbidden City"
Headset to receive your guide's explanations
Entrance fees to Fobidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall
Gratuities
Not suitable for: People over 85 years old and wheelchair
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Great Wall & Forbidden City
Route: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Buffet Lunch, Mutianyu Great Wall & Round-trip Cable Car.
Duration: 10 hours
About 12 People
Inclusions: Pickup & drop-off from your hotel lobby, entry tickets, cable car, English-speaking guide, driver & van, buffet lunch.
Attention: Visitors from Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan must book at least 7 days in advance. Foreign passport holders can book anytime.
Pickup included
2 Days Mini Group Beijing Tour
Route: D1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, lunch, Mutianyu Great Wall.
D2: Temple of Heaven, Hutong, Lama Temple, Summer Palace.
Duration: 2 days
Inclusion: Pickup & drop-off from your hotel, entry fees, round-trip cable car, English-speaking guide, driver & van, lunch on Day 1,.
About 12 People
Attention: Visitors from Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan must book at least 7 days in advance. Foreign passport holders can book anytime.
Pickup included
Reviews
768 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Professionalism and Storytelling at its Best!
DipaliBC,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour with Helen was nothing short of spectacular! She is incredibly friendly, caring, and professional. Her storytelling skills and deep historical knowledge truly brought the Forbidden City and the Great Wall to life. What stood out most was Helen’s dedication—she was constantly engaging with the entire group, sharing fascinating insights into Chinese history and culture. The provided earpieces were a game-changer for hearing her clearly at the busy sites. From the perfectly timed itinerary to the serene tea ceremony, every detail was handled with care. Thank you, Helen—you are an absolute STAR!"
Great Wall
rahulkG7490AJ,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was with Helen who was very accommodating. A member in the group had mobility issues and needed the use of a wheelchair intermittently. Helen worked extra hard to make everything work, which is no small task.
Recommend! Amazing day!
SandraC9690,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Recommend! I’m travelling solo and this tour with Helen made it so much easier and pleseant. I had an amazing day. Thanks Helen!
Great time!
jennysV7969CI,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen was amazing! She made sure that the group was well taken care of and made the entire day a memorable one. She provided do much detail every where we went that it felt like we were reliving history. Great experience in Beijing and we have Helen to thank for it! :)
Amazing Day Seeing The Forbidden City & Great Wall
758nickg,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing day seeing the must see sights in Beijing. My tour guide Helen was fantastic and very knowledgeable. It was a Chinese holiday on the day of my trip meaning it was very busy but she had everything under control and got us through with no issues. Must do trip if you’re in Beijing!
Attentive Guide Despite Holiday Crowds
esthert2013,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen was an excellent tour guide—very attentive and thoughtful throughout the trip. She made sure to look out for everyone in the group, especially the elderly, patiently waiting and ensuring no one was left behind. Her constant headcounts and awareness gave us a strong sense of safety and care. The only downside was that we traveled during a China public holiday, so all the attractions were extremely crowded. This did affect the overall experience, but it was beyond the guide’s control. Overall, Helen’s professionalism and attentiveness made the trip enjoyable despite the heavy crowds.
Absolutely incredible experience on this full day tour
daza9876543210,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did this full-day Beijing tour as a solo traveller and honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience—largely thanks to our guide, Helen. From the moment the day started, she was warm, organised, and incredibly knowledgeable. She brought each stop to life, whether we were walking through Tiananmen Square, exploring the history of the Forbidden City, or taking in the incredible views at the Great Wall. You can tell she genuinely cares about what she does—she wasn’t just reciting facts, she was telling stories and making sure everyone felt involved. As someone travelling alone, it can sometimes feel a bit daunting joining group tours, but Helen made it so easy to feel included and comfortable. She checked in regularly, made sure we all had what we needed, and kept the day running smoothly without ever making it feel rushed. The whole experience felt well-paced, informative, and fun. If you’re considering this tour—especially as a solo traveller—I’d highly recommend it. And if you get Helen as your guide, you’re in very good hands.
Great team
zackola300,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen & Rocky were fantastic guides. They really took the time to explain everything, kept a big group organized effortlessly, and everything ran smoothly and on time. They were also funny and made everyone feel welcome.”
Fun!
35joshuan,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helen gave us a great experience. We were able to understand the significance of what we were seeing and have enough time to see things!
Fun Beijing Experience
akp240,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time with Helen. She was very accommodating and took care of us throughout the day like we were her own family. The group was also fun and we had an amazing experience on this trip. Our lunch meal was also a delicious buffet of Chinese dishes. And the tea ceremony was a very nice bonus at the of the day. I would highly recommend this tour and Helen as your guide.
From US$99.00
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