Beijing Tours 2022/2023
Beijing, the imperial and modern capital of China, is the front door to China's history and China today. It has some of the finest remnants of China's imperial past and its cityscapes showcase modern China's prestige.
Besides designing time-smart classic tours of the must-sees, such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, we also create uniquely delightful experiences that go far beyond rushing around the tourist attractions. Immerse yourself in local traditions and connect with the local people and culture, or even enjoy an insider tour let by a local expert in history, culture, or art.
The following China Highlights tours of Beijing can be tailor-made to your interests.
Beijing Private Tours
These are the classic itineraries for first-time visitors along with specially designed trips with popular themes. They are good choices if you are looking for an all-inclusive Beijing tour package. Any of them can be tailor-made according to your interests and needs.
- A full exploration of Beijing's history and culture
- Hutong discovery and traditional food
- Beijing city highlights
- Simatai Great Wall at night and Gubei Water Town
- Special-designed Forbidden City tour for kids
- Traditional hutong and modern Beijing
- Ski at an Olympic resort
- Hot spring experience
- Watch Olympic events
- Beijing highlights touring
- Tasting Beijing's traditional food
- Enjoy Beijing traditions at a New Year fair
- Experience fun activities on ice
Beijing City Day Tours
Here are some suggested itineraries for Beijing day tours, exploring the city highlights. No matter whether you would like to include the top two must-sees of Beijing in one day, prefer a relaxing downtown walking tour, or getting off the beaten path for insights into the culture and lifestyle of Beijing, you will find some great options here.
- See hidden halls of the palace
- Walk on the Mutianyu Great Wall
- Stroll along the Old Alley and Hutong family visit
- Historical and cultural hutong sights
- The most famous Peking roast duck
- Desserts and snacks loved by royalty
- Discover Beijingers’ religious beliefs
- Experience the retired life
- Exclusive cultural experiences
- Talk with local history/art experts
Beijing Great Wall Tours
The tours below are recommended for travelers who are interested in Great Wall hiking, camping on the Wall, or visiting the only section open at night.
- The best-preserved ruins of the Great Wall
- The most beautiful restored section
- Amazing scenery in a wild section of the Wall
- The steepest section of the Wall
- Simatai's tastefully-lit Great Wall at night
- Charming Gubei Water Town
- Great Wall sunrise and sunset
- BBQ on the Great Wall and Challenging Hike
Weekend Trips from Beijing
The tours below may give you some short holiday ideas or weekend-getaway-from-Beijing inspiration. From the world-famous Terracotta Amy to the cultural heritage of the Yungang Grottoes to the emperors' mountain resort or even a grassland experience in Inner Mongolia, we are ready to customize your ideal short break.
- The secrets of the Terra-Cotta Amy
- Local food adventure
- Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple
- Pingyao Ancient Town
- Longmen Grottoes
- Shaolin Temple and kung fu
Beijing Layover Tours
Why not use your layover time to visit Beijing's classic sights? Below are recommended tours for a Beijing stopover trip from its airports or Tianjin Cruise Port. We are happy to customize a Beijing layover tour according to your exact schedule to ensure you a time-maximizing excursion.
- The top-ranked section of the Wall
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Visit the top must-sees of Beijing
- Enjoy private cruise port transfers
- Visit all the city highlights of Beijing
- Explore the top-ranked section of the Great Wall
China Tours from Beijing
Beijing is a major gateway city to most tourist cities in China. Convenient transportation including flights and bullet trains mean it is very easy to start your China trip from Beijing. See below our most popular 3 China tours from Beijing.
Experience imperial Beijing and discover Xi'an's 2,000-year-old secrets in 6 days. Feel the old traditions.
Travel from China's capital to its prosperous largest city. Feel the contrast of old and new.
Explore China's ancient glory and its modernity with our top itinerary.
Spotlight Experiences to Enrich Your Beijing Tour
We believe an authentic travel experience goes beyond visiting the must-see attractions. We enable you to immerse yourself in local traditions and life.
About China Highlights
Since 1998 we've guided everyone ranging from US presidents, Australian Geographic and retired backpackers. Our goal is to create unique trips that take you off-the-beaten path, helping you discover China in a more authentic way. Our motto: "Discovery Your Way!"
Successful Trip to Beijing from Shanghai Shortly after Lockdown
As always, Monica has helped us with all the travel arrangements, planned our trip and followed up with us during the whole travel. It was challenging coming from Shanghai to Beijing shortly after the massive lockdown so we appreciated this attention a lot. It was too hot, so first day in the Forbidden City was a challenge but Ivy was helping us find as much shade as possible. We also visited Mutianyu Great Wall section, Temple of Heaven, Universal Studios, Summer Palace, Olympic Site and went on Hutong tour. Even though it might seem a lot, our small children managed well and loved everything about this trip. Ivy was very flexible with the length of explanations and rerouting our travel depending on temperate and tiredness. Overall, it was a success and we will for sure travel again with China Highlights. more
Beijing Tour FAQs
1. How Much Does a Tour of Beijing Cost?
The cost of a tour of Beijing depends a lot on the travel dates and the hotel you choose. Normally, a 4-day Beijing tour with a private car and a personal guide is about 600 USD per person in the low season, based on a group of 2 people and a 4-star hotel. The cost for a top Beijing day tour starts from around 120 USD per person. Please see the recommended Beijing tour packages below for reference:
2. When is the Best Time to Visit Beijing?
Beijing is visitable all year round. However, the best time is autumn, when the temperature and weather is most comfortable. It is mostly dry and the air quality is some of the best all year. Beijing's fall is one of 'The Top 4 Charms of China' along with Shanghai by night, foggy Chongqing, and rainy Guilin. Please see our recommended Beijing tours for autumn and this winter:
3. What are the Top Things to Do in Beijing?
As the capital of China for more than 800 years, Beijing is best known for having the finest remnants of China's imperial past and being a China culture hub.
Our local experts have journeyed to every corner of the city and uncovered the most enjoyable and discovery-filled things to do in Beijing:
4. Which Section of the Great Wall Should I Choose to Visit?
It depends what you're interested in… There are nine sections of the Great Wall near Beijing City. The most recommended section for foreign visitors is the Mutianyu section. It is less crowded than Badaling's Great Wall, which is extremely popular with Chinese tourists. The Jinshanling section and the Jiankou section are recommended for hiking tours. For camping experience, Jiankou and Huanghuacheng are great options. The Simatai section is the only one open at night... and beautifully lit.
5.What are the Best China Tours from Beijing?
It is a good idea to start your China tour from Beijing if you are a first-time visitor. You will get a very representative impression of China in Beijing. Plus, it is convenient to travel to most other destinations from Beijing. Here are the four most-chosen and best options in general:
