Itinerary designed by Ruqin
Last updated: August 13, 2026
Beijing Great Wall Day Tour Overview
For many foreign visitors, seeing the Great Wall is the highlight of Beijing. If you have a full day, I recommend combining Mutianyu with the Summer Palace.
The two attractions are very different. Mutianyu gives you mountain scenery and the Great Wall, while the Summer Palace introduces imperial gardens and lakeside Beijing.
Suggested route:
Beijing → Mutianyu Great Wall → Lunch → Summer Palace → Beijing
Recommended time: 7:00 am–6:00 pm
Walking: Moderate to heavy
Best for: First-time visitors, families, photographers
Transport: Private car, tourist bus, or other direct transport
1. 7:00 am – Leave Central Beijing
Start earlier than you think necessary. Beijing traffic can change quickly, especially on weekends and holidays.
Mutianyu lies northeast of central Beijing. Driving time often takes around 1½ to 2 hours, depending on traffic.
A private car gives you the most flexibility. However, direct tourist buses can offer better value for independent travelers.
2. Around 9:00 am – Arrive at Mutianyu
Once you arrive, allow some time for tickets and the transfer to the scenic area.
Mutianyu is one of my preferred Great Wall sections for first-time visitors. The scenery is excellent, and the restored wall is relatively easy to explore.
You also have several ways to reach the wall itself. Depending on your route, you can use a cable car or chairlift.
3. 9:30 am–12:00 pm – Walk the Great Wall
Spend around two to three hours on the wall. That is enough for most travelers.
Do not judge the distance only by the map. The wall rises and falls sharply, so even a short section can take considerable energy.
Stop often and enjoy the views. There is little value in racing from tower to tower simply to cover more distance.
Then descend by cable car, chairlift, or another available route. Some visitors also enjoy the toboggan descent.
4. 12:30 pm – Lunch Near Mutianyu
Next, have lunch near the Great Wall before returning toward Beijing.
I prefer doing this rather than waiting until you reach the city. By this point, most travelers need a proper break.
Keep about one hour for lunch. Then leave for the Summer Palace.
5. 2:30–3:00 pm – Arrive at the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace makes a good second stop because the atmosphere becomes much gentler.
The Long Corridor at Summer Palace
After climbing the Great Wall, you can slow down beside Kunming Lake. The landscape also shows another side of imperial Beijing.
Start around the Long Corridor and central palace area. Then decide how much walking you still want to do.
6. Explore Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill
If you still have energy, walk partway up Longevity Hill. The higher points offer excellent views across the lake.
However, you do not need to climb everything. After Mutianyu, many travelers prefer the Long Corridor and lakeside paths.
The “Travel in Picture” (画中游) at Summer Palace
When boats operate, a short boat ride can also give your legs a welcome rest.
Allow roughly two to three hours for the Summer Palace.
7. Around 5:30 pm – Return to Your Hotel
Finally, leave the Summer Palace before the evening becomes too late.
Traffic may be slow, so avoid making a tight dinner reservation. A flexible evening works better after this tour.
Once back at your hotel, you have completed one of Beijing’s biggest sightseeing days.
What to Bring
Wear proper walking shoes. Also bring water, sunscreen, and a hat during warmer months.
In winter, bring more layers than you expect. Mutianyu can feel much colder and windier than central Beijing.
Most importantly, carry your passport. You may need it for tickets and identification.
Tickets & Transport
Mutianyu Great Wall Tickets
Buy your Mutianyu Great Wall entrance ticket before your visit or arrive early to buy your ticket on site, especially during weekends and Chinese public holidays. The main entrance ticket does not normally cover every part of your visit.
Depending on your route, you may also need tickets for the scenic-area shuttle bus and cable car or chairlift. The popular toboggan descent also requires a separate ticket. Therefore, decide roughly how you want to go up and down before arriving.
Keep your passport with you. Foreign visitors may need it for ticket booking or identity checks.
Summer Palace Tickets
The Summer Palace offers a basic entrance ticket and a combination ticket covering additional paid sites. For this itinerary, the basic entrance ticket is enough for many first-time visitors.
Since you will arrive in the afternoon, I would not try to visit every paid attraction. Instead, focus on the Long Corridor, Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, and the main palace area.
Check current opening hours before your visit. Closing times vary by season, and some individual attractions may stop admitting visitors earlier.
Getting from Beijing to Mutianyu
Mutianyu lies about 70 kilometers northeast of central Beijing. For this two-attraction itinerary, a private car or pre-arranged transfer is the easiest option.
A direct tourist bus can also work well if you only plan to visit Mutianyu. However, combining the Great Wall with the Summer Palace becomes more complicated because you need onward transport after leaving Mutianyu.
Public transport is possible, but I do not recommend it for this particular itinerary. Multiple transfers can consume too much of your sightseeing day.
Getting from Mutianyu to the Summer Palace
There is no convenient direct subway connection between Mutianyu and the Summer Palace. Therefore, this is the most important transport leg to plan in advance.
A private car or hired driver makes the route much easier. You can leave Mutianyu after lunch and travel directly to the Summer Palace without returning to central Beijing first.
Allow plenty of time for the journey. Beijing traffic can be unpredictable, particularly in the afternoon.
Returning from the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is well connected to central Beijing. After your visit, you can return by subway, taxi, or DiDi.
If you have a hired car for the full day, your driver can take you directly back to your hotel. Otherwise, the subway is often a convenient choice during the evening rush hour.
My Transport Recommendation
For Mutianyu + Summer Palace in one day, I recommend arranging a private car and driver for the entire day if your budget allows. It costs more, but it makes the itinerary much more practical.
If you prefer a lower-cost trip, I would consider visiting Mutianyu as a standalone day trip by direct tourist bus. Then visit the Summer Palace on another day rather than forcing both attractions into a complicated public-transport route.
Is This Day Tour Right for You?
Choose this itinerary if you want one memorable day outside central Beijing. It combines Beijing’s most famous excursion with one of China’s finest imperial gardens.
For a first visit, it gives you mountains, history, architecture, and landscape in one day without making the itinerary unnecessarily complicated.
Ruqin’s Trip Design Note
I designed this day with the Great Wall as the priority. Mutianyu deserves your best morning hours, when you have more energy and usually better conditions for walking.
The Summer Palace comes later for a reason. After climbing the wall, its lakes, gardens, and shaded paths provide a slower second half of the day.
If traffic delays your schedule, shorten the Summer Palace visit. Do not rush your time at Mutianyu just to complete the itinerary.
Also, avoid adding the Ming Tombs to this same day. On paper it looks possible, but the day quickly becomes a race between attractions.
Plan More of Your Beijing Trip
Use these practical guides to plan transport, tickets, payments, internet access, and other parts of your Beijing stay.
How to Get to Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing: Bus, Shuttle & Private Car
How to Visit Summer Palace: Tickets, Maps, Routes, Eating & Tips
Questions About This Beijing Itinerary?
Still have questions about this route? You’re welcome to write to me.
If you need advice on timing, transport, tickets, or adjusting the itinerary, I’m happy to offer a practical suggestion based on my experience in Beijing.
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