2-Day Mini Group to Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights

Overview

Available languages

English

48 hours

Mobile ticket

Explore Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in the first day and visit the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple and old Hutongs with Rickshaw ride in the second day tours. Besides, you will also stop by the bustling Nanluoguxiang Hutong at the first night.

This 2-day mini group tour with about 12 guests ensures a more personal experience. Avoid the ticket line at the entrance of all attractions. No shopping detours, no factory, no tea ceremony and no shopping site restaurant, which at least save you two hours today for a pure sightseeing experience. That's the reason why you can have more time at the attraction sites. This tour are running for guests' interests rather than the shopping commission.

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 at least 8 days before. Otherwise, international travelers will need to line up at the entrance to buy tickets.

We guarantee 100% No Shopping Stops in our tours. Sharpen your vigilance to avoid those tours with tourist traps including jade factory or tea ceremony that waste your sightseeing time.

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. And make sure to carry the same identification when travelling; otherwise, you will 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 will 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‘s Included

Pick up and drop off to hotels within the third ring road of the Beijing city.

Unlimited bottles of drinking water

Air conditioned van with chauffeur

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

Cable car fee at the Mutianyu Great Wall

Gratuities

Meals and accommodation

Not suitable for: People over 85 years old and wheelchair

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Day 1

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall

Beijing

In the morning, your professional guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby, and then a comfortable and capacious chauffeur-driven minivan will escort you to Tiananmen Square.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)

Walk around this world’s largest city square and shoot photos of the brilliant landmark buildings here. Note: To enter the square quickly, especially during holidays, we suggest you leave your bag in the car and only carry the passport and bottled water with you to go through the no-bag passage rather than waiting in long queues for security check. The majestic Forbidden City has 9,999 rooms! Which are the most essential and interesting parts? The veteran itinerary designer carefully selects the top 10 palaces for you, including major ones on the traditional central axis, and some special chambers on the east and west wings.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Maozhuxi Jiniantang)

Appearance

3 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Monument of the People's Heroes

Appearance

5 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Great Hall of the People (Renmin Dahuitang)

Appearance

Admission Not Applicable

National Museum Of China

Appearance

Admission Not Applicable

Forbidden City-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.

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Included

Meridian Gate (Wu Men)

Visit

20 minutes • Admission Included

Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)

Visit the three main halls of the Outer Court where ancient emperors held state ceremonies.

30 minutes • Admission Included

Palace of Heavenly Purity

Visit the three main halls of the Inner Court - the emperor’s sleeping quarters and the place for him to handle daily affairs.

30 minutes • Admission Included

The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum

Visit the entertainment venue for the emperor and the imperial harem.

20 minutes • Admission Included

Mutianyu Great Wall

After 1.5 hours driving, you’ll arrive at Mutianyu, the best preserved and most popular section among all in Beijing. Lunch is on your own choice. For your information, some fast food chains are available nearby, such as Burger King, Pizza Hut and Subway. Your local tour guide will show you the locations. The Chinese buffet here is not recommended. Then enjoy your hike at the Great Wall and take nice photos in the less-crowded afternoon for at least 2.5 hours.

3 hours • Admission Included

Back Lakes (Hou Hai)

At the end of the day, we’ll stop at the Hutong alleys area with both the scenic Houhai Lake surrounded by distinctive bars, cafes, and restaurants, and the typical alleyways full of the charm of old Beijing. You can get off here to explore freely and then return to your hotel by yourself; or the guide and driver will escort you back to the hotel directly.

5 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Day 2

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 on time and escort you to the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors worshiped the God of Heaven for good harvest in ancient times. Attention: If your travel date happens to meet Monday when the main sights of the Temple of Heaven are closed, we’ll arrange Beihai Park instead.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Included

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.

20 minutes • Admission Included

Hutong Tour

Continue your tour to Beijing Hutong area, where you can take a rickshaw through the old alleys and glimpse into the traditional courtyards to see how the old Beijingers live.

1 hour • Admission Included

Lama Temple (Yonghegong)

Follow your guide to visit the beautiful old Lama Temple, which is known as the largest and most perfectly preserved lamasery in present day China.

1 hour • Admission Included

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

The last stop is the Summer Palace, known as the ‘museum of ancient royal gardens’. Centered upon Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, it is a fantastic imperial resort for you to admire the peaceful landscapes and magnificent architectures. In the end, your guide and driver will send you back to your hotel. Note: A private tour will be offered exclusively for you if you have 9 people or more.

2 hours • Admission Included

Options

Great Wall & Forbidden City

Route: Pick-up & drop off at hotel. Visit the Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, a short stop at Hutong area.
Duration: 10 hours
About 12 People & No Shopping
Inclusions: English-speaking tour guide, air-conditioned minivan with driver, entrance tickets, pick-up & drop-off from your hotel lobby.
Exclusions: Cable car at Mutianyu Great Wall
Pickup included

2 Days Mini Group Beijing Tour

Route: D1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall. D2: Temple of Heaven, Hutong, Lama Temple, and Summer Palace.
Duration: 2 days
Inclusion: Pick-up & drop-off from your hotel lobby, entrance fees, professional English speaking guide, driver & van
About 12 People & No Shopping
Exclusion: Cable car at Mutianyu Great Wall
Pickup included

Reviews

4.96

640 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

616

Helen, our guide was amazing!
Qw0rld,
Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Helen, our guide was amazing! She is very knowledgeable and super generous with her time to answer any questions. We were not in a hurry and saw the Forbidden City and Great Wall all in one day. I would highly recommend Helen and this tour group.
Beijing like an emperor
Just Looki,
Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great day in Beijing, yes you could maybe go around by yourself watching things, but if you find a great guide like Helen you will also learn a lot and join friends to have a more pleasant experience. Your call. But that's recommended.
Great tour day
709kathlyneb,
Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a perfect tour for my short stay in Beijing. Our tour guide Helen was amazing. She helped us out every step of the way. Making contact day before pick up，making sure we got on the bus safely, and giving us great tips and facts about Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and the Great Wall. Thanks to her and our driver getting us around safely, helped us all have a wonderful tour.
Excellent Forbidden City and Great Wall day tour
Andrew77C,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Helen was just an amazing guide. Not only did she provide great explanations including stories to liven the experience of visiting the Forbidden City and Great Wall, she also made sure all our concerns are met and our safety is ensured.
Great experience with Helen!
V1507WRmariav,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Helen was our guide for the day and provided us with an amazing experience. Just the right balance between giving us freedom to explore but at the same time ensuring the day run smoothly. Highly recommended!
Amazing experience
cristinapS697JD,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Amazing experience, the tour guide Helen was so great, really helpful in every situation, gave us free time to explore on our own and the pictures and was super nice, would 100% recommend! Perfect tour if you want to see the most in one single day, I did it on a long layover and was perfect! So happy with the experience :)
Tempke if Heaven and Summer Palace tour
stephanw276,
Nov 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We thoroughly enjoyed our private tour of some of Beijing's key landmarks today. Starting at 8am allowed us to beat the crowds and have a peaceful visit to the serene Temple of Heaven. Our knowledgeable guide, Helen, provided excellent historical context that enhanced our understanding of this iconic site. The next stop at the Summer Palace was a highlight. We were glad we opted for the longer walking route through the stunning Long Gallery, which Helen guided us through expertly, bringing the palace's history to life. Exploring the charming Hutong neighborhood by rickshaw was a wonderful was both informative and engaging. Throughout the day, Helen's passion for sharing Beijing's rich cultural heritage was evident. Her warm and personable guiding style ensured we felt welcome and comfortable. We can wholeheartedly recommend this private tour as a wonderful way to see the tour’s sights with an exceptional guide.
Well done
Meander23397960081,
Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was great. Very nice group. Helen, the tour operator was fantastic. Bejing and the great wall are amazing. It was a once in a life time experiance
Marvelous Trip with Helen
Kulasin,
Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour to Tienmen Square, Forbidden City & to the Great Wall tour was wonderful. Our guide Helen did a fantastic service explaining all the important aspects of the places we visited & history & the characters of those ancient emperors , empress & the concubines & also the service of Unix etc. got very good insight into those dynasties, thanks to Helen. And I forgot my power bank & she was so wonderful to let me borrow hers to charge my phone so I didn’t miss out taking photos of any places we visited.
Perfect Great Wall experience :)
U4242THlucianab,
Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Helen was amazing! She explained everything to us, was super helpful and mindful of our schedule/time. She also knew all the ways to avoid crowds and the tour itself was perfect! I definitely recommend it 💖