Mini Group to Great Wall & Forbidden City

After gathering all your group members, let’s hop into our comfy and spacious vehicle and enjoy a 1.5-hour ride to the Mutianyu Great Wall, the longest and most beautiful section of the Great Wall of China. On the Way, listen to the guide’s wonderful commentaries on the history and features of this manmade miracle while enjoying the bottled water and refreshments we have thoughtfully prepared for you.

A popular Chinese saying goes that, “One who has never been to the Great Wall is not a hero.”, and now you are about to earn this remarkable title. As soon as you climb up the Mutianyu Great Wall, you’ll have a real sense of the so-called Great Wall - it is actually two brick walls as high as an adult with crenels, sandwiched with a narrow path winding along the mountain ridge, and scattered with watchtowers every a few hundred meters. With a 2,250-meter-long (1.4-mile-long) section and 20 distinctive watchtowers open, Mutianyu features both gentle parts for those with average physical strength, the elderly, and children to leisurely enjoy it, as well as steep segments for adventure enthusiasts to challenge. And your guide will surely be happy to give you specific suggestions. During your hike, marvel at the iconic No.4 Watchtower, aka the Zhengguan Terrace, which consists of three two-story towers connected in parallel and was used for storing army provisions and stationing troops in ancient times. Looking out from the crenels here, you’ll get the best panoramic views. Also, if you are seeking thrills, the 70-degree Hero Slope between the No. 19 and the highest No. 20 Watchtower, which requires you to climb with both hands and feet, will bring you wild joys.

► Ways going up and down the Great Wall:
To reach the top of the Mutianyu Great Wall, you need to hike half an hour, either from the North Entrance to the No.8 or No. 10 Watchtower, or from the South Entrance to the No. 6 or No. 8 Watchtower. If you are looking for a less strenuous alternative, cable car from the North Entrance to No. 14 Watchtower and chairlift from the South Entrance to the No. 6 Watchtower are available at your own expense. To descend the Wall, apart from returning in reverse by the above-mentioned ways, you can also take the toboggan down from the No. 6 Watchtower. Each of the facilities costs CNY 100 for a single trip and CNY 140 for a round trip, and you can combine them as you like. If needed, the guide will be glad to help you with the ticket purchase.

Lunch today is not included. As this rural location is really not a good place for enjoying food, we suggest you have a simple and quick bite. At the foot of the Great Wall, you can find a Chinese buffet, a Vietnamese restaurant, Burger King, and cafes, and you can try whatever you like at your own expense. Rest assured that the guide will be more than willing to help you locate them.

After a short break, the guide will accompany you on another 1.5-hour drive back to the downtown area. It’s better to close your eyes for a cat nap to get yourself in a better state for the afternoon’s sightseeing.

Upon arrival, the guide will accompany you on an imperial journey along Beijing’s traditional central axis. When arriving at Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest city square, where every grand ceremony and celebration has been held since ancient times, your eyes will be caught by the imposing 6-century-old red-walled Tiananmen Tower. Intriguingly, a delicate golden phoebe box containing golden ingots, cinnabar stones, and colorful grains was accidentally discovered from its roof during the renovation 50 years ago, and its origin remains a mystery until now. 

Afterward, proceed to the resplendent Forbidden City, the UNESCO-rated world’s largest palatial architecture, which was the home of 24 emperors from 1420 to 1925 AD. With your guide, delve into how ancient craftsmen made use of the most advanced construction techniques to put together myriad wood, brick, and metal wisely, and completed this wonder in 14 years. When getting to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, once the most important venue for emperors’ royal ceremonies like enthronement and wedding, you may be surprised to find, with your guide’s reminder, that there is not a single bird on the golden roof. That is because it is built into a very steep slope and covered with smooth glazed tiles coated with arsenic to prevent any living beings from approaching and blaspheming this structure symbolizing the supreme imperial power. Keep going, and you’ll reach the Gate of Heavenly Purity, behind which are mainly the sleeping quarters of the Empress and concubines. Unlike the stone lions in other parts of the Forbidden City, which have their ears upright, the two stone lions in front of this gate have drooping ears. This was designed to tell the females not to listen or ask about court affairs, or they may lose their heads.► Things to Know:
1. As the entrance tickets to the Forbidden City require a real-name reservation seven days in advance and are easily sold out as soon as they are released, you are advised to book the tour at least 8 days before. Also note that the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, so we will arrange for you to visit another must-see royal shrine, the Summer Palace, instead, if your travel date happens to be a Monday.
2. To access both the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City, you must go through strict security checks that sometimes have long queues, especially during holidays. Therefore, to save more time for sightseeing, we suggest you place your unnecessary luggage in our vehicle, carry only the passport, bottled water, and a sunhat with you or put them in a small handbag without a zipper, and then enter quickly through the no-bag passage.

Our minivan will continue to drive to the Shichahai area, one of the most bustling Hutong districts of old Beijing, especially represented by the Tobacco Pipe Lane. Coupled with the Houhai Bar Street full of lively and artistic atmosphere, this region will be perfect for you to glimpse into the locals’ traditional lifestyle and enjoy the colorful nightlife. If you are interested, bid farewell to the guide here and then have fun on your own. If not, the guide and driver will escort you to your hotel. So far, your budget mini group Beijing day tour has come to a successful conclusion. Hope you had a good day with us and look forward to seeing you next time!

● If you have extra time in Beijing, check out our two days cheap group tour, adding other celebrated historical sites like the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Yonghe Lamasery to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese royal culture. Welcome to contact our travel consultants anytime to perfect your Beijing trip.

► FYI: What to Do in Hutong Area (at your own expense)
Take a stroll or ride a rickshaw through winding Tobacco Pipe Lane, observing architectural details of those traditional courtyard houses or learning the Hutong alleys’ history narrated by the carter in simple English words. Also try specialty delicacies like Fried Bean Sauce Noodles for dinner in one of many local-flavored restaurants here. At dusk, go for a leisurely walk or rent a battery, pedal or oar-propelled boat to cruise along the serene Houhai Lake, enjoying the cinematic beauty of the indigo blue sky and the lake reflections. Finally, relax in a quiet pub or a hot live house at the Bar Street along the shore and soak in the angelic voices of the resident singers.