This one-day trip is specially designed for people tight on time, such as for business and layover tourists, to get a "taste" of Beijing and see the Great Wall.
You will not have to navigate the local system of transportation or stand in long lines for the Forbidden City and so it will save you a lot of time. You will also have precious one-on-one time with your personal tour guide.
Highlights
- Visit the world's largest urban square — Tian'anmen Square.
- Admire the splendor of the world's largest imperial palace — the Forbidden City.
- Walk on the less crowded section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
Suggested Itinerary
According to your schedule, your private guide will be waiting for you at the airport, train station, cruise port, or in your hotel lobby. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will be ready for you to explore Beijing.
There is a lot of history to tell about Tiananmen Square. It has a Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. It has witnessed many important incidents of China. Your guide will provide you with a commentary about the history and architecture as well as anecdotes of the square.
Later visit one of the highlights of the day — the Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1420–1911). In addition to the background introduction on the architecture, history and art of the City, your tour guide will help you explore 12 carefully-selected places in the Forbidden City, to discover the deep secrets of the emperors and concubines of the Ming and Qing dynasties, while other group tours only visit 6-8 places. You will be walking for about 2 hours (2 kilometers), on a walk that is graded easy.
After visiting the Forbidden City, you'll travel 1½ hours from downtown Beijing to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. We'll have a rest and enjoy delicious Beijing local food for lunch at our well-selected local restaurant - Xinshuangquan. Your guide will help you order the dishes according to your likes.
The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is ranked top on Trip Advisor among all the Great Wall sections, for its picturesque scenery and beautifully restored architecture. This is the most child-friendly section, with various ways of visiting.
In order to save time for you, we arrange a round-trip cable car to ascend and descend the Wall, instead of spending about 40 minutes climbing steps.
At the Wall, you have free time to walk around, after some introductory explanations from your guide. The cable car ascends to and descends from tower 14. Hike “the most beautiful and interesting part of the Great Wall” — between the 14th and 23rd watch towers — acknowledged by hikers as "the golden route". It normally takes about 2 hours (2-3 km) to complete the walk. Then descend and take a bus to transfer back to our vehicle.
Going back to your hotel in Beijing will normally take about 1½ hours; the same goes for Beijing train stations. Going to Beijing Capital Airport directly, normally takes about 2 hours from Mutianyu.
We will transfer you to your hotel at the end of the tour. If you need to catch a flight or a train after the tour we are more than happy to help you arrange it.
Our Service Included:
- Our 1-to-1 expert China consultancy with unlimited itinerary changes
- Booking of China internal flights, trains, and cruises, per your preferences
- Your own China-Highlights-trained, versatile and knowledgeable tour guide
- Your own chauffeured and comfortable vehicle, chosen for ample space
- Local restaurant lunches ordered, to suit you
- Entry to all attractions on your itinerary, with queues avoided wherever possible
- Our 24-7 helpline for while you are travelling
Trip Notes
1. About Flight Layover Trip
This one day trip is recommended for the layover tourists who have a stop over 12 hours. If your stop is only for an 10-11 hours, we suggest shortening the tour e.g. with only the visit to the Great Wall at Mutianyu or only the Forbidden City.
2. About the pick-up location
The price for reference assumes your hotel is located within the fourth ring road of Beijing. The price may vary according to the location of your hotel. And there will be extra cost if your tour start or end from the airport/cruise port.
3. Customizing the Tour — According to Your Needs
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extending or shortening it, to suit your interests and schedule.
