Beijing Great Wall & Forbidden City Tour 2026: Mutianyu Made Easy

Beijing Travel: The Great Wall of China

Mutianyu Great Wall & Forbidden City Tour

Written & Photographed by ©Hi-Bubu

If you're planning a Beijing trip,

the Great Wall of China is an absolute must-visit!

But since the Great Wall is located relatively far from the city center,

you might be wondering, "How on earth do I get there?"

Today, for anyone planning a trip to the Great Wall,

I'm going to share a convenient tour option to make your visit easy,

and show you exactly how to book it!

Planning a Beijing Trip and Want to See the Great Wall?

The Great Wall is located more than an hour and a half away

from the city center by car.

Because it can be quite a hassle to get there on your own as a solo traveler,

speaking from experience, taking a tour is by far the most sensible option.

Beijing is especially popular for family trips with parents,

and if you choose a tour,

you'll get expert commentary from a professional guide,

which really takes your travel experience to the next level.

Lastly, the Great Wall tour I'm introducing today

is a combined package that also includes the Forbidden City.

The thing with the Forbidden City is that if you don't book your tickets 7 days in advance,

you won't even be allowed inside—a total disaster!

I was worried because I heard getting tickets is notoriously difficult,

but by booking this tour,

they handle the ticket booking for you,

allowing you to enjoy your trip completely stress-free!

The Great Wall tour I used

can be booked directly through the link below!

>> Book the Great Wall Tour Here <<

Next, let's dive into

my honest review of the Great Wall (Mutianyu) tour.

Mutianyu Great Wall Tour Review

To start off, the tour begins by meeting the guide

at Exit C of Wangjing Station

by 7:50 AM.

The type of vehicle depends on the number of participants,

and we were incredibly lucky—

there were only 5 of us in total, including my family,

so we got to travel in a spacious, comfortable ride.

Since I was traveling with my parents,

comfort was my top priority,

and I was so glad I decided to book a tour!

The Great Wall (Mutianyu)

On the way to Mutianyu,

our guide shared a wealth of fascinating stories

and a deep dive into Beijing's history.

Time flew by, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the Great Wall.

Seeing my parents listen intently and smile

made me feel so proud of my choice!

​

At Mutianyu, you can choose between

taking the cable car or the chairlift,

and we opted for the cable car.

Before we headed up to the cable car station,

our guide gave us detailed directions on which paths to explore

and how to make our way back down.

They assured us we could reach out via WeChat at any time

if we had any questions, which gave us complete peace of mind!

​

​

After boarding the bus and walking for a short bit,

you'll arrive at the cable car boarding station.

Since we booked an early morning tour,

they told us the line was incredibly short compared to usual.

Seeing how packed it got when we were heading back down later,

if we had come on our own just 1 or 2 hours

later, we would have spent ages waiting in line.

We hopped onto the cable car and headed up,

watching the Great Wall gradually reveal itself in the distance.

Looking at it from afar, I couldn't help but wonder:

how on earth did they build such a massive wall back then? It was absolutely mind-blowing.

Luckily, the weather was crystal clear on the day of our tour,

so we could see the Great Wall stretching out

into the far distance all at once.

Seeing the fortress walls extend endlessly into the horizon was truly magnificent!

There are quite a lot of stairs on the Great Wall, requiring a good amount of walking,

but my parents loved it so much

that I was incredibly glad we decided to come.

​

Plus, our guide came up with us and took photos

of each group one by one, which was fantastic.

If you take photos under arches like this at the Mutianyu Great Wall,

they turn out beautifully—so make sure to grab your shot of a lifetime!

Lunch (+ Snacks)

For lunch, we had a light meal at a local dumpling spot

recommended by our guide,

and wrapped it up with some Mixue ice cream for dessert!

The Forbidden City

After finishing up lunch at the Great Wall,

we immediately headed to our second destination: the Forbidden City.

Since Chinese history runs incredibly deep,

a guided tour is absolutely essential when visiting the Forbidden City.

If you just walk around on your own, you'll miss out on the context

and lose out on a meaningful experience.

That's why our guide's explanations felt like a shining beacon of light!

The Forbidden City tour route takes you in through the South Gate and out

through the North Gate.

Jingshan Park is located right by the North Gate,

so once your tour ends, I highly recommend climbing up Jingshan Park

for an incredible panoramic view looking down over the entire Forbidden City!

Once you step inside the Forbidden City, starting with the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen),

our guide's fascinating stories of history

finally began.

From the symbolism of the lioness with a cub under her paw, to the meaning of the silk, soil, five sacred grains,

and the treasure chest filled with coins—

these are the kinds of rich, hidden details you would absolutely miss

if you just visited on your own.

Hearing them made the entire tour so incredibly engaging!

Looking at the map of the Forbidden City, our guide walked us through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

It was so fascinating to learn that the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility

were actually built to mirror those front three halls!

We also got to see the ten mythical beasts lined up

on the edge of the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Hearing the fun legends and stories behind them

made exploring the Forbidden City even more captivating!

The tour wraps up with a stroll through the Imperial Garden,

the final stop inside the Forbidden City.

This tour was so packed with amazing facts and stories

that I couldn't help but feel deeply impressed by

our guide’s incredible wealth of knowledge.

Honestly, I'm not usually a history buff,

but I was so hooked that I completely lost track of time!

Still debating on a Great Wall tour?

If you’re traveling to Beijing, there are two absolute must-sees

that you simply cannot miss: the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

Since both of these landmarks are so rich in history,

I highly, highly recommend booking a day tour

that covers both in one go.

From the comfortable transport to the expert commentary

and hassle-free ticket booking, everything was absolutely perfect.

Especially if you’re traveling with parents or kids,

save yourself the exhaustion of navigating it all alone and

book a guided tour to enjoy all the rich storytelling!

Click the link below to book your spot,

and have an amazing, unforgettable trip to Beijing!

> Book Your Great Wall & Forbidden City Tour Here <

▼ Want to explore more of Beijing? Check out these guides! ▼

Beijing Travel Guide: Great Wall & Gubei Water Town Tourblog.naver.com

Planning a Beijing Trip: How to Book Tiananmen Square (Entrance Tips)blog.naver.com

Top Places to Visit in Beijing: Jingshan Park Admission, Directions, and Complete Reviewblog.naver.com