All-Inclusive Tour 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 man-made miracle.

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. With a 2,250-meter-long (1.4-mile-long) section, 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.

★ Special Inclusion: Round-trip Cable Car, Chairlift & Toboggan

To make it less strenuous for you to get up and down the Mutianyu Great Wall, we have specially provided you with a round-trip cable car to and from the No. 14 Watchtower on the Great Wall. If you expect a more interesting and thrilling way, you can also choose to take the chairlift up to the No. 6 Watchtower and down on the toboggan when finishing the visit. Your guide will have a final confirmation with you about your choices before the Great Wall adventure begins.
● Note on Toboggan: a. Children under the age of 10 should be accompanied by an adult on a double carrier. b. It is not available to visitors aged 60 and over. c. Visitors with underlying conditions like acrophobia, hypertension, and heart disease are also not allowed to take the ride.

As soon as you on the Mutianyu, 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. Explore all or part of its 20 watchtowers at your own pace. 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.

Get ready to enjoy a buffet lunch we’ve included for you in a decent restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall. Whether you prefer western-style dishes like pizza or Chinese stir-fried dishes, you’ll be satisfied here. Moreover, fresh fruit and ice water have also been provided all along.

Want to relax for a while? Then, we'll have a short tea break at a nearby traditional teahouse. Sitting at an antique table, opposite you will be a professional tea artist who will show you how to brew a cup of fragrant tea from just a few leaves. During the interesting intereaction with you, 5 kinds of leaves will be selected, brewed in exquisite tea sets, and presented to you for smelling their aroma and tasting one by one. Take your chance to immerse yourself in ancient Chinese tea culture. 

After that, 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 catnap to get yourself in a better state for the following sightseeing.

Upon arrival, the guide will accompany you on an imperial journey along Beijing’s traditional central axis. We’ll first step into 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.

Afterward, proceed to the large Tiananmen Square, where every grand ceremony and celebration has been held since ancient times. Here, 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. ► 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. Drones, selfie sticks, or flammable items such as sprays are strictly prohibited.

After the visit, your guide and driver will escort you back 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.