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Beijing Day Tours 2024/2025

Beijing mini group day tour (2-6 guests), beijing private one day tours, 1 day guided tours by public transfer, friendly travel tips.

• Our free pick-up service is available for hotels within the 4th Ring Road of the city. In case your hotel is beyond the range of location, or you take a layover tour directly from Beijing Airport to the Great Wall, there might be an additional transfer fee. Your travel consultant will discuss this with you.
• Except for Chinese official holidays and the summer vacation from July 1 to August 31, the Forbidden City is usually closed on Mondays. If you happen to visit it on Monday, our travel consultant will recommend other sightworthy spots to meet your interests.
• Most sights in our capital city like Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven, are rather big, which demand a fair amount of walking. We kindly suggest you wear comfortable walking shoes and lightweight clothes.
• These private Beijing day trips with English-speaking guides are quite flexible and can be tailored to meet any of your interests. Our experienced guide is ready to fit your travel pace, deliver splendid explanations and answer your questions on history, culture, architecture and many others. You can also contact your travel consultant at any time should you need assistance during the trip.

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THE 10 BEST Beijing Tours & Excursions

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1. Private All-Inclusive Day Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall

2. 4-Hour Small Group Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

3. All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Tour

4. Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Bus Tour (8:00am/10:00am)

5. Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With Speaking-English Driver

6. Small Group Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace & Bird Nest

7. Beijing Forbidden City Admission Ticket Pre Booking Service

8. Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants

9. Summer Palace Ticket

10. Great Wall at Gubeikou and Jinshanling Private Sunset Tour

11. Full-Day Small-Group Great Wall Hike: Simatai West to Jinshanling

12. Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

13. 2-Day Beijing Highlights Small-Group Tour

14. Private 4-Hour In Depth Walking Tour to the Forbidden City

15. Forbidden City and Royal Treasure Museum Half Day Tour

16. Beijing Acrobatics Show Ticket

17. Beijing Private Tour of Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City

18. Private Night Sightseeing Tour of Beijing

19. Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip with English-Speaking Driver

20. Beijing Private Tour to Temple of Heaven, Panda House and Summer Palace

21. 4-Hour Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City

22. All Inclusive Private Day Tour: Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

23. Private Day Trip to Jinshanling Great Wall with English Speaking Driver

24. Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour

25. Beijing Private Day Tour of Forbidden City and Great Wall at Mutianyu

26. Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour with Options

27. Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour from Beijing

28. Beijing to Xi'an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer

29. Old Beijing Dinner Tour

30. Half Day Private Tour to Summer Palace in Beijing

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• Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Bus Tour (8:00am/10:00am)
• 4-Hour Small Group Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
• Private All-Inclusive Day Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall
• Small-Group Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace and Bird Nest
• All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Tour
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• Beijing and the Great Wall in One Day

Beijing and the Great Wall in One Day Beijing Tour

Trip summary.

So, you only have one day in Beijing and are worried about having enough time to see the best sights? Get ready for what may be the most exciting 24 hours of your life! First, you will visit the huge and iconic Tiananmen Square, as well as the Forbidden City, the former home of China's emperors, both places of tremendous cultural importance to people from all over the country.

Your whirlwind tour will then include a stop at the Great Wall, where you can take in fabulous mountain views from the winding stone walkways of this ancient stronghold and renowned wonder of the world.

Each element of the package tour can be tailored to your individual needs, so please get in touch with your agent if you would like to make any changes to the itinerary.

Recommended Itinerary

• Tiananmen Square – China's iconic public square
• Forbidden City – explore the immense palace complex that was home to China's emperors for more than 400 years
• Lunch - Peking duck
• Mutianyu Great Wall – this scenic section of the Great Wall has been restored but is still far less touristy (with toboggan and cable car)

What's Included

• One-on-one trip consulting and planning service from one of our experienced travel specialists
• Domestic transportation as detailed on your itinerary
• Private English-speaking guide (selected/trained by our Western staff)
• Experienced Chinese-speaking driver and quality, air-conditioned vehicle (unlimited bottled water supplied in your vehicle)
• Entry to all attractions on your itinerary – no hidden costs or commission-based shopping stops
• Meals as specified on your itinerary (at quality local restaurants)
• 24/7 support from your guide and travel specialist while you are on tour

What's Not Included

• International flights to and from China
• International travel insurance (you should purchase your own policy in your home country)
• Tips for your guide and driver
• We offer our itineraries as suggestions only; all of our tours can be tailored to your schedule and interests. If there is anything you do or don't want to include, simply let your agent know
• Prices vary according to your date of travel and any special requests you might have. Please ask for a free, bespoke quotation
• Meals may change based on the time and location. You can also ask your guide to change your meals. We will try our best to help you enjoy a variety of Chinese food
• For tour booking terms and conditions, please read our Terms of Service

Inquiry Form

One day Classical tour

Tour code: BVT01

Departure: Daily (except Monday)

Tour Type: Private tour

Pick-up point & time: 7:30 am

Duration: Approx 9 hours

Customizable: Yes

Attraction: Mutianyu Great Wall，the Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City

Included:Private car & van, English tour guide, all of the entrance fees

Excluding: Meal & Gratuity to your guide and driver (suggested)

Stress-free with a private transportation and professional English tour guide.

Enjoy the three most popular attractions in one day.

Entrance fees, cable car or chairlift & toboggan are included.

Free bottled water are available in the comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

Skip the line of the security check at the Tian’anmen Square.

Hotel pick up and drop off.

Leave your hotel around 7:30 am and embark on a journey of visiting the Mutianyu Great Wall first since it’s less crowded in the early morning. Private transportation with an experienced driver will make your tour relaxing and comfortable. Drive around 1.5 hours to the Mutianyu Great Wall where you will be helped by the friendly tour guide to recall the adventurous history of the Great Wall on the way. Skip-the-shuttle bus will save you almost one hour since we can drive to the top parking lot with the special permission. You may take the cable car or chairlift to go up to the Wall with your tour guide and you will spend around 2 hours to enjoy the the Watch Towers, the Beacon Towers, undertake a relaxed hiking and devour the beautiful  scenery that surrounds the Great Wall. You will come down by the cable car or the unique slide way on the toboggan around 11:00 am and the driver will take 1.5 hours to get you back safely and comfortably to the downtown city where you will have lunch at the Lost Heaven Yunnan Cuisine restaurant for 1 hour. A 2.5 hours ride will transport you to the Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City in the afternoon. You must walk around the largest city center square in the World and capture some memorable photos with the landmark buildings around the Tian’anmen Square. You can then enter the Forbidden City and your tour guide will explain the history and the layout of the Forbidden City for you to relate with the city better, after crossing the Meridian Gate.The Front court with the three main government Halls, the Inner Palace with the living quarters are worth visiting, and then walk through the beautiful Imperial Garden to get out of the Forbidden City. You will be dropped back to your hotel at around 4:30 pm.

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One Day in Beijing Itinerary – How to Spend a Perfect Day in Beijing, China

It is hard to conceptualize a city like Beijing unless you experience it first-hand. It has almost 22 million people and ambitious urban projects underway in the background, which makes it well-oiled machine, working in perfect harmony day after day. Over three millennia of fascinating culture. Jam-packed with ancient sites and marvels of modern architecture, Beijing, the sprawling capital of China, is representative of everything modern China is about – the good and the bad. Reminders of former imperial glory such as the magnificent Forbidden City stand side-by-side with Tiananmen Square. But Beijing is so much more – numerous exciting cultural events happen year-round, attractive art exhibitions, picturesque gardens, and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in or around the city. These, of course, include the Great Wall, a timeless man-made wonder meandering through the surrounding valleys and mountains. Are you ready to spend one day in Beijing?

WHAT’S THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BEIJING?

There are two major things to take into account when choosing when to visit Beijing. One of them is the weather, and the other one the Chinese national holidays that you will have to try to plan your trip around in case you want to avoid high hotel rates and long waiting lines basically everywhere you go. The weather in Beijing is relatively typical, with four distinct seasons . The spring is quite short and windy, the summers are long and hot, the autumn pleasant and cool, and the winter long and freezing. To avoid the extremes (37 °C/99 °F in August and July, -15 °C/5 °F in January), the best time to visit Beijing is either between March and May or September to October .

Overall, autumn is the best season due to warm, dry and sunny days and pleasant, cool evenings. As for the holidays, steer clear of International New Year, Chinese New Year, Qing Ming Jie (Tomb Sweeping Day) in April, Labor Day (May 1 st ), Dragon Boat Festival in June, Mid-Autumn Festival in September, and the National Holiday (October 1 st -7 th ). The reason why these holidays may be a poor choice are the high prices and overcrowded public areas. However, if you are a fan of festivals, you might as well give it a go.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT BEIJING

With history going back 3,000 years , Beijing is among the oldest cities in the world, close to the same age as London. The area of Beijing is also one of the oldest inhabited areas, with recovered fossils of the Peking Man (Homo Erectus) indicating that human ancestors inhabited the area from 770,000 to 230,000 years ago. Today, the fossils can be seen at the Peking Man World Heritage Site at Zhoukoudian. During the course of its history, Beijing had many names , such as Jicheng (‘City of Ji’), Beiping (‘Central Peace’), Yanjing (Capital of Yan’), Zhongdu (‘Central Capital’), Nanjing (‘Southern Capital’), Dadu (‘Great Capital’), and many others.

The name Beijing, meaning ‘Northern Capital’ , was the city’s 16 th name, adopted in 1403. As mentioned earlier, Beijing has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs, the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, parts of the Great Wall, and the Grand Canal, also known the Jing–Hang Grand Canal among the Chinese. When it comes to lesser-known facts, in 2022, Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and the Winter Olympic Games when the 2022 Winter Olympics are held there.

ONE DAY IN BEIJING ITINERARY

Follow this guide and make the most of your trip even if you’re short on time. These are the top sights and things to do on your one day in Beijing.

Plan to Start Your Day Early

In order to have enough time for all the top things to do in Beijing, you will have to start your day early, around 6 AM . While it may seem too early, almost all visitors recommend getting to the most popular landmarks early in the day. In the afternoon, sometimes it is near-impossible to come close to a popular attraction.

For example, the Temple of Heaven sees most of its visitors around 3 PM. It is hard to predict how long you’ll have to wait in line in order to see a landmark or enter a museum, which is why you’ll have to take the wait times into consideration and make reservations in advance whenever you can to make your one day in Beijing as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Visit the Temple of Heaven First

Located in the southeastern part of central Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is a famous imperial temple complex built in 1420 . Occupying 267 hectares (660 acres), the Temple of Heaven (with the surrounding complex) is the largest religious building in China. In the past, it was used for prayer by the Ming and Qing emperors during annual ceremonies. Today, there are several playgrounds and recreation grounds within the complex, making it a popular destination for families and adults looking to relax or work out. Some of the side buildings and open spaces host regular presentations, choral shows, ethnic dances, and so on. The complex is open 6AM–8PM , although the central building closes earlier, at 4PM.

Explore Tiananmen Square

One of the most important places to see in Beijing after the Temple of Heaven is Tiananmen Square , situated almost directly to the north. If you hail a taxi, you can get there in 15 minutes, while walking the entire 3.7 km stretch may take around 45 minutes. The square is one of the largest city squares in the world , notable for its impressive 37m obelisk and other landmarks such as the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and others.

Mao’s embalmed body is housed in the Memorial Hall, which is symbolic since Mao proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Tiananmen Square on October 1 st 1949 . The anniversary is still celebrated on the square, attracting up to 1 million people, all of them standing shoulder-to-shoulder. In the West, the square is famous for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests or the June Fourth Incident as the Chinese call it, which produced (among other things) the iconic “Tank Man” image, now a widely recognizable symbol of civil disobedience. Ironically, or perhaps fittingly, you are required to show your passport upon entering the square.

Consider Visiting the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

If you want, you can enter the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and see his embalmed body in a crystal coffin. Depending on who you ask, the experience can be described as eerie, ridiculous, or exciting, but it is undoubtedly among the more unusual things to do in Beijing. There is a huge queue that forms every morning, but it moves fast, and you have about a minute in the Central Hall to feel the atmosphere of reverence and the heavy weight of history hanging over the place.

Take a Trip Back in Time at the Forbidden City

The next stop, the legendary Forbidden City , is located about 1.4 km north of Tiananmen Square, so you can easily get there in 15 minutes or less on foot. The Forbidden City’s monumental entrance is just across Chang’an Avenue. Formerly an enormous imperial palace reflecting the unlimited power and wealth of the Chinese emperors from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty ( between 1420 and 1912 ), the Forbidden City was more than just a lavish, opulent home. It as the de-facto seat of government and the most important political center in the country.

With 980 buildings in total, the complex occupies 72 hectares (more than 180 acres). A perfect example of traditional Chinese architecture, the Forbidden City has exerted an immense influence on the culture and architecture of the entire region in Asia, way beyond the borders of imperial China. Due to its immeasurable significance, it has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, with a special emphasis placed on the Forbidden City being the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures anywhere in the world .

Explore the Palace Complex and the Museum

Today, the Forbidden City is managed by the Palace Museum (since 1925), with an unparalleled collection of ancient artefacts and artwork, containing the original imperial collections, as well as numerous priceless pieces that have been added since. You need to come prepared, knowing that the place will be very crowded. After all, 15 million visitors admire the exhibitions every year. It is worth it, though, and the audio guide is available in multiple languages, providing for an informative, exciting experience.

There is one thing you absolutely must do in Beijing, however. Always book everything in advance . You can buy the tickets to the Forbidden City here . After exploring the Forbidden City, stick around for a couple of minutes and check out the nearby Beihai Park, a gorgeous former imperial park with a large lake. In the vicinity, there are several “Hutong” streets. Hutong are a particular type of street/narrow alley usually associated with Beijing, formed by joining old courtyard residences and forming a neighborhood.

Take a Taxi to Lama Temple

Lama Temple is a colorful, masterfully built Buddhist temple on 12 Yonghegong Street, approx. 20 minutes by car from the Forbidden City due north. The temple was built in 1694 as a series of beautiful pavilions with bronze statues, incense burners, and a large fifty-four-foot high Buddha statue made from Tibetan sandalwood. The temple is a great place to seek refuge from the large spaces and hordes of tourists at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. You will love the serenity of the spread-out courtyards and halls .

If you want to see everything, it may take as much as an hour and a half, but you should just take a leisurely stroll, relax and feel the atmosphere, and move on as soon as you feel ready, in order to save some time for all of the other things to do in Beijing.

Choose a Nearby Restaurant for Lunch

After a hectic morning and a few moments of repose at Lama Temple, it should already be around 2 PM. Since you’ll probably feel pretty famished by then, plan to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. There are many great restaurants in Beijing, but not all of them serve food that is very popular among Westerners. Luckily, there’s a great option just across the street from Lama Temple .

King’s Joy Beijing is an upscale restaurant specializing in vegetarian and vegan food inspired by local Chinese and Asian cuisine. The restaurant is a favorite among Beijing’s elite, frequently attracting celebrities and dignitaries with creative menu entries such as sweet and sour monkey’s head mushrooms, savory tofu kebabs, and sushi-inspired dragonfruit rolls -all of them completely meat-free, yet compromising nothing when it comes to taste and diversity.

If you are just looking for a quick bite , however, the nearby KFC will do the trick, especially if you are not in the mood for experimentation and crave the reliability of an American fast-food chain.

Visit the Summer Palace

Located almost 19 km from King’s Joy Beijing and Lama Temple, the Summer Palace is another famous Beijing landmark that is best reached by car/taxi. It takes about 30 minutes to get to this stunning lakefront palace, formerly a cloistered retreat for members of the Chinese imperial family. The palace was first built in 1750, but was later mostly destroyed in the war of 1860. It was eventually completely restored in 1886, remaining to this day an exemplary masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design.

What makes the Summer Palace truly special is how artificial features such as palaces, pavilions, bridges, and temples perfectly complement the natural characteristics of the landscape, forming one harmonious whole with the open water and the lush green hills. Due to its unique aesthetic value and significance as an impressive symbol of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the Summer Palace was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1998 .

Go for a Short Walk to Kunming Lake

While at the Summer Palace , take the time to explore the palace grounds and the surrounding scenic spots, including numerous temples, bridges, secluded gardens, and narrow paths. Take a short walk south and admire Kunming Lake , the central lake on the palace grounds. It is a pretty shallow man-made lake, but it covers a large area – 2.2 square kilometers (0.8 sq. mi), nearly three quarters of the grounds.

The predecessors of Kunming Lake, Xihu Lake and Wengshan (Jar Hill) had been used for irrigation over a period of three-and-a-half millennia before being developed into a reservoir for the capital in 1291. When the gardens around the Summer Palace were being created, 10,000 laborers were put to work on digging up and expanding the lake. When you look upon the serene waters and the large expanse that the lake is covering, it is hard to imagine that this could be the work of human hands.

Go for a stroll along the lake and explore the area until nightfall. The long land bridge separating Kunming Lake and West Lake diagonally is a perfect spot to snap some amazing photos of the Summer Palace from across the water, especially around sunset, with golden rays of sunshine falling over the ornate rooftops.

Try the Original Peking Duck

Trying the legendary Peking duck is one of those things that you absolutely must do in Beijing. A famous dish that has been prepared since the Imperial era, Peking duck is characterized by its crisp, thin skin and special seasoning. For the ultimate roasted duck in Beijing, whether you are looking for the traditional experience (mostly just skin, very little meat), or a contemporary take on the renowned dish, visit Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant. The interior feels very 80s, and you can tell that it doesn’t try to impress with upscale décor and touristy bells and whistles. Instead, the focus is on the food itself, and, seeing as a lot of locals go there, they must be doing something right.

If you are looking for unusual things to do in Beijing and you’d love to try something completely new, order the duck intestines with green pepper or chili sauce or the braised duck gizzard. The restaurant is located on 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong in Dongcheng Qu district). You can get there by hopping aboard the Subway Line 4 Daxing Line from Beigongmen. Hiring a taxi may be a good option, too.

WHERE TO STAY IN BEIJING?

Beijing Hotel NUO Forbidden City

33 East Chang An Avenue, Block B, Dongcheng

A beautiful historical property with a supreme location, Beijing Hotel NUO Forbidden City showcases the timeless charm of Old China, at the same time uncompromisingly featuring all the modern amenities expected from a hotel of its rank, including an indoor pool with a spa, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen satellite TVs. The rooms are beautifully furnished, with gorgeous and tasteful period furniture complimenting the hotel’s classic French-Orient architecture .

BOOK A ROOM HERE

Hotel Kapok – Forbidden City

No.16 Donghuamen Street, Dongcheng, 100006 Beijing

With chic design elements inspired by traditional concepts, Hotel Kapok – Forbidden City lives and breathes the true spirit of Beijing as a modern metropolis still firmly rooted in its history. The hotel feels clean and fresh with its straight lines, smooths surfaces, and airy open spaces bathed in natural light. Staying at Hotel Kapok – Forbidden City is a joy due to its perfect location (just 200 m from the Forbidden City, hence the name) and numerous amenities, including a spa with a fitness center, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels in each room. The property is the perfect starting point for exploring the city, made easier by bicycle and car rentals available at the property for all guests.

Beijing 161 hotel LeZaiNanluo Boutique Hotel

No. 3, Shajing Hutong., Dongcheng, 100009 Beijing

A charming hotel that feels very warm and welcoming due to its many design elements made of stone and wood, Beijing 161 hotel LeZaiNanluo Boutique Hotel seems to sprout from Beijing’s gardens and gorgeously manicured parks. While not as close to the city center as the previous two entries, this property is stilly very well connected. It is located less than 500 m from Nanluoguxiang Subway Station (Line 6 & 8), with the forbidden city just a 10-minute drive away. All of the rooms are well-appointed, spacious, and fitted with flat-screen cable TVs and air conditioning. You can enjoy a view of the garden from your room or enjoy some time outside on the hotel’s sun terrace.

Simple Family Beijing

Floor 16, Unit 1, Yongli International Building West Block, No. 21 Gongti North Road, Chaoyang

Although Simple Family Beijing is a bit peripheral, you will fall in love with its amazing visuals, whether you choose to stay in a room with a private bathroom or the cleverly decorated tent area, with ethnic elements and small details meant to remind you of camping in the wilderness. The tipi-like tents will wake up the kid inside you, like you are at your friend’s house for a sleepover and you are building forts. The friendly, accommodating staff at the front desk speak both Russian and English , making things much easier in case you don’t speak Mandarin.

DAY TRIPS FROM BEIJING

There are so many things to do in Beijing that you will never be able to do it all if you’ve only got one day to spend. And Beijing is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the surrounding area has to offer. If you choose to extend your stay and spend more than one day in Beijing, here are some ideas on how you might spend your time. Obviously, doing the Great Wall tour from Beijing is a must.

The Great Wall of Badaling is a particularly famous portion of the Great Wall that rises to 3,282 feet and can easily be reached on a day trip from Beijing. This section of the wall is the best-preserved and the most complete and is quite easy to climb compared to some other sections. When it comes to other Beijing day tours, a lot of the best ones can be done by air.

For example, there is the Day Trip to Chengdu from Beijing by Air , as well as the Full Day Tour of Shanghai from Beijing by Air. In case you want to see two of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China in one day, consider the Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour from Beijing. For an overview of these and other Beijing day tours with recommendations and special offers, check out this article.

EXTRA TIPS FOR VISITING BEIJING

-Most businesses nowadays in China accept credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, although UnionPay is still the more widely accepted card scheme. Nevertheless, you will still need to carry cash – in some parts, it is the only payment method.

-In the same vein, don’t expect that you will be able to pay with dollars or euros. The only currency that vendors will consider is the yuan , the official Chinese currency.

-Also, notify your bank if you intend to travel to China and use your cards there. Otherwise, your cards may get cancelled mid-trip due to “suspicious activity”.

-If you don’t speak Mandarin, you may want to print the name of your hotel and its address as it is written in Chinese characters . Google Maps screenshots of the hotel’s location also help if you want your taxi driver to know where you’re going.

– Beijing is a safe city to visit in spite of its huge size. Pickpocketing isn’t exceedingly common, and foreigners aren’t specifically targeted.

– Don’t drink the tap water in Beijing and other parts of China as it is not safe to drink.

-Blowing your nose in public is considered very impolite in China. – Consider getting a local SIM card to avoid steep international roaming charges.

PIN FOR LATER!

If you have any other propositions for this One Day in Beijing Itinerary, feel free to share them in the comments below!

Make sure you have everything you need

What to pack for your next trip.

Make your next trip as simple and as enjoyable as possible by packing smart. It’s amazing how much stress top travel items can save you, so choose carefully. Things like lightweight travel backpacks, for example, are ideal for short trips and allow you to move around with ease, and a passport holder will make sure you keep your documents safe at all times. Check our travel checklist guide for 2021 to make sure you haven’t missed anything, and travel to your next destination in style and with maximum comfort.

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Anca is a travel writer and the founder of One Day Itinerary - the biggest collection of travel itineraries for those who are time-limited or just want to maximize their time while traveling. Although she easily becomes homesick for Croatia, she thinks travel is essential to her happiness. She has traveled to more countries than she is years old and doesn’t plan on changing that fact. In her travel guides she aims to inspire people to travel whenever they have a spare day (or two).

Great itineary and this is really helpful, could you also let us know as to how we can commute between these places ? is walking possible for few places and alternate with bus/taxi ?

Thank you for your comment! We’d definitely recommend the subway since it is the fastest and it covers most of the popular destinations of the city.

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1 Day Beijing Layover Tour with Forbidden City & Great Wall

Must-visit Beijing Tourist Attractions - Forbidden City & Mutianyu Great Wall

• Accommodation

If you're short on time with just one day to spend in Beijing , we highly recommend combining a visit to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China into one trip.

The Beijing Forbidden City served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties and boasts a rich history spanning over 600 years. With 12 palaces and 9,999 rooms, it holds the distinction of being the largest palace in the world. Walking through the palace complex is like taking a step back in time to the height of China's imperial era. You'll be awestruck by the traditional architecture with its distinctive red and gold color scheme, elaborate roof decorations, and intricate carvings. At each palace, you'll hear different legendary stories about the emperors and their imperial concubines, making your visit feel like a journey through a lively history book.

Make the most of your limited time and visit another engineering marvel: the Great Wall of China. The  Mutianyu Great Wall is the least crowded and most beautiful section of the wall. Enjoy a light hike on the most scenic section from watchtower 14 to 20, where you'll gain a deeper appreciation for why the Great Wall was built. Along the way, you'll be able to take in panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and marvel at the incredible engineering feat that allowed the wall to be built across such a vast distance.

Itinerary at a Glance

Beijing (1 Day)

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall

Itinerary Day by Day

Nihao! Welcome to Beijing , the capital city of China! Toady, your tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in downtown Beijing. Then, you will spend the whole day exploring the ancient citadel Beijing through China’s famous landmarks, epic imperial grandeur and great wall.

You will head to Tian’anmen Square first, which is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades and from here you can take good pictures of Tiananmen Gate showing on CCTV News every day. Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring  Forbidden City (World Heritage), the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. With about 500 years’ history, Forbidden City served as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With 9999 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace.

Later, you will head to the  Mutianyu Great Wall (World Heritage), about 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km. The Great Wall boasts a history over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient masterpieces on the planet. The Great Wall at Mutianyu is connected with the Jiankou Great Wall in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. Mutianyu is the longest and best fully-restored Great Wall with fewer tourists and is also famed for its 23 Ming-era watchtowers and stunning views. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy the memorable hiking time on the wall while visiting its western route. With the green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area, and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves while climbing up to the 20th watchtower where you could fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take photos as many as you like!

After that, it is time to end your 1 day Beijing tour. Your guide will escorts you to your hotel or airport/train station. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia!

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Latest Beijing Tours Reviews from Our Customers

I'm a Singaporean traveller who booked a private solo tour. I chanced upon AOT after I googled and decided to travel last min. My planner from AOT named Rita was very patient towards all my request and changes, she is knowledgeable and provided excellent advice for my 8 days trip arrangement from Shanghai, Zhangjiajie N Chongqing. Although there were very minor hiccups just like any overseas holiday, it was still a well planned trip.

I would like thank all my tour guides and drivers (师父) for looking after me so well. Special mention to Zhangjiajie Tour Guide named Ms Rita Wang, she looks after her client with her sincerest heart into the smallest details such as eating habits and my lifestyle. (Example: Turning A/C on knowing we Singaporeans can't live without A/C in car & also I don't even have to look at menu to order food becos she knows what I want to eat) Also thank you 杨师父 who tagged team with Rita, he is a very good skilled safe driver and knows how look after me during long haul journey drive inter cities.

I would strongly reccomended anyone who wants to travel to look for Rita or her colleagues from Asia Odyssey Travel.

Lastly, thank you to all whom I've crossed path during my trip. I'm grateful to all people in China for the warm hospitality. 感恩大家的招待和爱。

I left my heart in Zhangjiajie

Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Zhangjiajie

Date of Experience: Apr 06, 2024

Tour Customized by: Rita

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Our bespoke East to West China tour starting In Shanghai and ending in Shangri-La was well organised by Mr Leo Li.

Everything went smoothly for our 20 day tour the guides and drivers where knowledgeable and looked after us well, particularly Sarah in Kunming.

We saw some beautiful parts of China and our hotels were good plus traveling 1st class on the bullets trains was well worth the extra cost.

We would recommend the Asia Odessey travel company and will definitely use them again for a future China tour.

Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Yunnan

Date of Experience: Apr 01, 2024

Tour Customized by: Leo

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Beijing One Day Tour

Visit beijing within 1 day.

• Private, join in and theme one day tour in Beijing or one day tour start from Beijing are presented. Vehicle,driver,guide,meal and admission fee are included.

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Introduction

Normal itinerary of beijing one day tour, strongpoint.

• Abundant experience in operating one day tour based on over 15 years experience,
• Professional Bilingual tour guide with university or college education level,
• No comission to third party, every penny spent on travelers,
• Lowest price in same service quality,
• Experienced driver help you to make full use of every minute in the day trip,
• Lunch is arranged along the way to attractions, no time wasted,
• Pick up travelers from lobby of any hotel within 5th ring road, and you will be transferred back to the same hotel after the day tour,
• No hidden cost, no tricks, secure you a pleasant day trip,

Popular Beijing One Day Tour

• BC-PH-01.    Beijing Xian One Day Tour By Train

• BC-PH-02.    Beijing Xian One Day Tour by Flight

• BJ-PO-01-A.    Beijing One Day Private Tour to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tomb

• BJ-PO-03-A.    Beijing 1 Day Private Tour of Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Badaling Great Wall

• BJ-PO-01B.    Beijing 1 Day Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs

• BJ-PO-04-A.    Beijing 1 Day Private Tour to Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

• BJ-PO-35-K.    Beijing Badaling Great Wall One Day Hiking Tour

• BJ-PO-40-A.    Beijing Private One Day Tour to Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Watertown

• BJ-PO-38-B.    Beijing One Day Private Hiking Tour from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall

• BJ-ST-01.    Beijing Join in Tour to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs
• Beijing One Day Private Tour
• Beijing one day private tour show you top attractions of Beijing by private vehicle with private tour guide within one day, around 8 hours. see more Beijing One Day Private Tour
• BC-PH-01     Beijing Xian One Day Tour By Train
• BC-PH-02     Beijing Xian One Day Tour by Flight
• BJ-PO-01-A     Beijing One Day Private Tour to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tomb
• BJ-PO-03-A     Beijing 1 Day Private Tour of Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Badaling Great Wall
• BJ-PO-01B     Beijing 1 Day Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs
• BJ-PO-04-A     Beijing 1 Day Private Tour to Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
• BJ-PO-35-K     Beijing Badaling Great Wall One Day Hiking Tour
• BJ-PO-40-A     Beijing Private One Day Tour to Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Watertown
• BJ-PO-38-B     Beijing One Day Private Hiking Tour from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall
• BJ-PO-03-B     Beijing 1 Day Private Tour of Tiananmen, Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall
• Beijing Join In Group One Day Tour
• Beijing join in group one day tour provides shared tour coach, driver, tour guide, admission fee and meal for the sightseeing within one day, which guaranteed the best price product in Beijing.
• BJ-ST-01     Beijing Join in Tour to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs
• BJ-ST-06     Beijing One Day Join in Group Tour of Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs
• BJ-ST-02     Beijing One Day Join in Bus Tour of Beijing City
• BJ-ST-05     Beijing One Day Join in Bus Tour of Ancient Beijing and New Olympic
• BJ-ST-11     Beijing One Day Join in Tour of Tiananmen Square Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall
• BJ-ST-12     Beijing One Day Join in Tour of Mutianyu Great Wall
• BJ-ST-03     Ancient Beijing and Beijing Opera Night Show Join in Tour
• BJ-ST-04     Beijing Join in Bus Tour to Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Beijing Opera
• Beijing Great Wall One Day Tour
• Discovering Great Wall in or near Beijing is possible to be complete within one day. see more Beijing Great Wall One Day Tour
• BJ-PL-18     Beijing Layover Tour of Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs
• BJ-PO-06     Beijing One Day Hiking Tour to Jinshanling Great Wall
• BJ-PO-35-A     Beijing 1 Private Tour to Badaling Great Wall Dingling Underground Palace and Sacred Way
• BJ-PO-29     Beijing 1 Day Private Hiking Tour to Gubeikou Great Wall
• Beijing one day hiking tour offers light hiking experience within one day. Vehicle, driver, tour guide and admission are included.
• BJ-PO-36-A     Mutianyu Great Wall Private One Day Hiking Tour
• Beijing Xingang Port one day tour offers a short sightseeing to top attractions of Beijing start from Xingang Port. The day trip can be completed in Beijing or at Xingangport. All Beijing Xingang day tours are operated based on private vehicle and private guide. See more Xingang Beijing one day tour .
• BJ-PO-36-C     Beijing 1 Day Private Tour of Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Hutong
• Beijing Xian one day tour make it possible to visit Xian Terracotta Warrors or other top attractions within on day by flight, or within 1 day and two nights via train. see more Beijing Xian One Day Tour

Map of Beijing One Day Tour

• This map show you the visiting sequence of a normal Beijing day tour :This map show you the visiting sequence of a normal Beijing day tour : - Being met from your hotel at 09:00. - Morning visit 1 or 2 attractions. - Drive to local restaurant for lunch. - Afternoon visit 1 or 2 attractions. - Be transferred back to your hotel. Service end. See more details of Beijing One Day Tour Map

Message or Question

Beijing one day tour tips.

• Early booking is helpful to get a better price, late booking leads to higher cost or even no tour guide advailable,
• Driver and guide will suggest you to departure early when driver estimate there is a traffic jam on the way to attraction,
• Beijing 1 day tour starts from your hotel in downtown Beijing ( within 5th ring road ), please contact us if you are not sure your hotel location.
• Please infom us upon making reservation if you need vegetable food,
• Hotel card (include name address and tel) is suggested to be taken when you take a walk on your own before or after the day tour,
• Part attractions' tickets needs to be reserved in advance, your scanned copy of passport is needed, we will arrange the tickets to save your time in line.
• Difference Between Private One Day Tour and One Day Join In Group Tour Beijing Private Day Tour : Beijing private one day tour covers private vehicle, driver and private tour guide. Eat on separate table in nice local restaurant. It is possible to talk about visiting speed during the one day sightseeing of Beijing. Beijing Join In Group Day Tour : Some travelers call Beijing one day group tour as one day bus tour, join in tour or seat in coach tour. Travelers share tour coach and tour guide with other English speaking tour guide. Most group tour covers shopping stops. The price of private one day tour is higher than Beijing one day bus tour. Beijing one day private tour is suggested if you think private tour price is acceptable.
• Beijing One Day Tour Arrangement A normal Beijing one day sightseeing tour covers 1 to 4 attractions based on attraction's area as well as their distance to your hotel. If you take a private day tour of Bejing, we can departure at 08:30 from hotel and end in hotel at around 17:00-17:30; there is 8 to 9 hours for transfer and sightseeing. We can visit 1 to 2 attractions on the morning or in the afternoon. Only one attraction is included if the attraction is very far from Beijing, such as one day tour to Jinshanling Great Wall. Join in group day tour pick up travelers from different hotels in downtown Beijing, normal pick up time is 06:40am to 07:10am. The driver and guide is trying to avoid traffic jam.
• Top Attractions of Beijing One Day Tour Routes The following attractions are recommended when you take one day trip of Beijing: North Suburb : Mutianyu Great Wall, Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way, Jinshanling Great Wall, Gubeikou Great Wall. Downtown : Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, National Museum, Capital Museum, Beijing Zoo, Beijing Hutong, Lama Temple, Beihai Park, Houhai Area, Qianmen Area, Most travelers will visit Badaling Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City on their first trip to Beijing. Please contact our tour advisor if you already visited above attractions in the past. Beiingservice team selected unique attraction for your reference.
• Best Season to Take Beiijng One Day Trip Autumn and Spring are recommended if you prefer to spend a holiday in Beijing because the weather make travelers comfortable. But if you take one day visiting in Beijing, the season or weather does not affect you so much because the sightseeing time is limited within 8-9 hours. Especially when it is snow or rain, which lead to an amazing experience on the Great Wall or in the downtown attractions.

Other Tours in Beijing

• Beijing Join in Tour

• Beijing Evening Tour

• Beijing Great Wall Tour

Beijing One Day Tour Note

• Avoid to use car (except taxi) or guide near train station or airport,
• Do not join in cheap day tour near subway or bus station, or even in a hotel lobby,
• Most Beijing one day tours do not include evening activities,
• Please make reservation at least one day in advance,
• Non-English (for examaple Germany, French or Spanish ) speaking day tour price is different and it needs to be reserved at least 4 weeks in advance,
• Beijing one day tour is limited within 8 hours, it is ok to reach 9 hours; Extra cost is needed if you prefer the day trip takes more time.
• Please send us your flight number if you need to catch a flight after the day trip,
• It is possible to end the day tour at a restaurant or theater in downtown, please provide name and address,

Beijing One Day Tour FAQ

• How to visit Beijing within one day ?
• Amswer : If you only have one or two days time for sightseeing in Beijing, a private or join in tour is suggested, which can make full use of your time. Beijing private 1 day tour and join in 1 day tour are both available. Top attractions are suggested for your first trip of Beijing, such as Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Great Wall. If you are regular travelers of Beijing, please find unique designed one day tour or day tour product based on different theme on this page.
• What time shall we be met ?
• Amswer : The normal pick up time is 08:30am. Our tour guide will call you or leave you a message to reconfirm this or give you a new time based on the traffic condition.
• Where to find the tour guide and driver on the morning of a day trip ?
• Amswer : Our tour guide will catch a paper with your name in hotel lobby at appointed time. Please follow the advice of tour guide if your hotel is deep in hutong or out of pick up range; you will be contacted in the evening before tour date
• Shall we eat with driver and guide ?
• Amswer : Driver and guide eat their own lunch at separate place.

• Shanghai One Day Tour

• Xian One Day Tour

• Guilin One Day Tour
• Tour Guide for Day Tours of Beijing Most English speaking tour guides of Beijing graduated from college or university, majored in tourism or English. But interview and training is still a must thing when choose a guide as part of our team. Questionair after the day tour is helpful to know how the guides worked during the one day sightseeing, and it is useful to keep the service quality. During peak season, English speaking tour guide engaged out even several days before day tour date; early reservation is suggested.
• Restaurant and Meal in Day Trip Beijing Most Beijing one day tour include simple lunch on the way to next attraction. Tourist restaurant and local restaurant are both available for popular day tours of Beijing . Tourist restaurant is the best choice because of its' location, dining environment, serving speed, adjusted flavor based on foreign travelers' request. serving speed is key factor for one day sightseeing trip. A correct choice leave travelers more time for sightseeing. Local restaurant is a good choice when travelers prefer to touch local dishes or local dinning custom, although it is possible to wait in line in a crowded hall. Most join in group one day tours use tourist restaurant; while it is possible to talk about restaurant choice with tour guide when you take a private day tour. After the day tour sightseeing, it is possible to ask driver to drop you off near dinner restaurant in downtown Beijing.
• Accommodation Suggestion for Day Trip of Beijing Beijing one day tour does not cover hotel accommodation. Please choose downtown hotel within south 2nd ring road, north 4th, east 3rd and west 3rd ring road when you reserve a join in group one day tour. Exceeding this range leads to possible extra transfer cost. Hotel within 5th ring road is suggested when you take a private day tour in Beijing. Please try to avoid a hotel deep in Hutong, because vehicle is not permitted to enter.
• Breakfast Skill for Beijing Day Trip There is enough time for breakfast if you take a private one day tour. We can star the day tour at 08:30 am or 09:00am. Beijing join in day tour start early, 06:40 -07:10am, which leaves very limited time or even no time for breakfast. We suggest you to ask your hotel to prepare boxed breakfast, which can be used on tour coach. See more Beijing one day tour tips
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Home » Travel Guides » China » 15 Best Day Trips from Beijing

15 Best Day Trips from Beijing

The Chinese capital is without a doubt one of the most eclectically diverse and culturally rich hubs in Asia, with its signature blend of imperial history and thriving street attractions drawing in millions of visitors a year.

From royal palaces and gardens to forward-thinking street food and heaving markets, Beijing is a non-stop thrill ride of Chinese culture that never ceases to provide something new and exciting.

However, with so much to do, the surrounding areas can sometimes get overlooked, and here is where you find some of the most stunning attractions of all.

Awe-inspiring temples on hilltops and fascinating tombs hidden away in gorgeous forests are scattered around the rural areas near Beijing, and make for some of the best day trips in the country if you know what to look for.

Let’s have a look at the best day trips from Beijing:

1. Great Wall of China – Mutianyu section

One of the most instantly recognizable and iconic destinations in the world, let alone Beijing, the Great Wall is a testament to the ingenuity and colossal architectural prowess of Imperial China.

Its size means that unless you set aside a few days to hike and camp on the wall, it’s best seen in small sections, each offering a unique perspective to the last.

The Mutianyu section lies to the north of Beijing and is characterised by the gorgeous forests surrounding it that gradually shift their hue as the seasons change.

It’s notably different to other sections of the wall, as it was rebuilt from previous ruins dating back to the Qi dynasty.

It is reachable by either hiking the mountain it perches on or taking a scenic cable car to the top.

Recommended tour : Mutianyu Great Wall of China Bus Tour

2. Ming Tombs

Less than an hour from bustling Beijing, you’ll find the impossibly serene slice of woodland that houses the legendary Ming Tombs, which serve as the final resting place for the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty between the 14th and 15th Centuries.

The grounds themselves are a captivating blend of gorgeous willow-tree forests and beautiful monuments depicting people and animals guarding specific tombs.

Highlights of the 40-square-kilometre stretch of forest include the Path of Souls that leads to the Avenue of Stone Statues – a captivating stroll punctuated by marble gates and structures that is a world away from the noisy city.

Recommended tour : Mutianyu Great Wall & Beijing Bus Tour to the Ming Tombs

3. Tanzhe Temple

Venturing up into the mountains to the west of Beijing, you’ll find one of the oldest temples in the country that can be reached in less than an hour from the city.

Nestled in the Western Hills, Tanzhe Temple is the earliest Buddhist temple in Beijing and is comprised of a number of sections, pavilions and courtyards that make up its beautiful complex.

Possibly one of the most captivating and famous features is the pair of ancient ginkgo trees that grow on the east and west sides of the temple, with the eastern one being over 1000 years old – they are aptly named the Emperor and Empress trees.

The density of sights and relics in Tanzhe Temple make it an irresistible day trip, as well as an enchanting insight into the China of old.

4. Caves of Zhoukoudian

The prehistoric village of Zhoukoudian is best known for being home to caves where some of the most groundbreaking archaeological finds in history have been made.

A fascinating day trip less than an hour to the southwest of Beijing, the Caves of Zhoukoudian display some of the best-preserved fossils of early humans who settled in the area.

It’s the perfect outing for anyone with an interest in our ancient ancestors and other rare fossils.

5. Summer Palace

The vast but jaw-droppingly magnificent Summer Palace was started in the 12th Century and has been developed on numerous occasions to produce one of the largest and most beautiful imperial complexes in the world.

Head over to the eastern bank of the huge lake to the Hall of Wellbeing and Longevity, and marvel at the lofty audience chambers and opulent throne rooms.

Be amazed by the collection of tropical plants found in the Hall of Happiness and Longevity and its jungle-like courtyard.

The Palace covers over 700-acres, and pretty much all of it is worth seeing, so be sure to set aside an entire day to see as much as you can.

Suggested tour : Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace

6. Marco Polo Bridge

One of the most intriguing day trip locations just a stone’s throw from Beijing is the ornately designed and impressively old Marco Polo Bridge.

Built in 1192, the bridge has withstood huge floods from the Yongding River and countless wars over the centuries – a testament to the architectural skill involved in its construction.

Over 200-metres long, the bridge offers sweeping views of the river below, but most notably is known and visited for the 280 columns lining the sides, each with an ornate lion structure sat on top.

7. Eastern Qing Tombs

Found around two hours to the east of the capital, the city of Zunhua houses the grounds of another important burial site in Chinese history, the tombs of the Emperors of the Qing Dynasty.

In contrast with the site of the Ming Tombs, the Eastern Qing Tombs are less entwined with nature and form more of an imperial complex made of marble and stone.

Contained mostly underground, the necropolis can be reached through a spirit alley lined with impressive sculptures and carvings reminiscent of the Qing Dynasty that thrived from 1644 to 1911.

8. Fragrant Hills Park

Fragrant Hills Park is literally translated as “Incense-burner Mountain” because of its likeness to traditional Chinese burners, this is due to the cloud formations at the summit of the Western Mountains that look like smoke from afar.

The gorgeous natural reserve was used as the imperial hunting grounds and boasts stunning displays of colour in the autumn, when the leaves transform the canopy into a kaleidoscope of deep reds and golds.

You’ll have the chance to discover some quaint temples within the park, such as the Tibetan-style Temple of Light.

If you want to get closer to nature, head down to Spectacle Lake.

Nature lovers and hikers will also relish the challenge of climbing the Gujianchou path, which leads to a peak offering some incredible views.

9. Gouya Natural Scenic Area

Truly one of the most worthwhile day trips for those looking to escape the urban cityscape of Beijing and get closer to some of the incredible natural reserves around the capital, the Gouya Natural Scenic Area is hugely popular among outdoor enthusiasts.

The highlights here are the Gouya Rocks that comprise three distinct, stunning peaks – the highest and most popular of which is Ziji Peak.

Prepare to lose yourself amongst the quietly babbling mountain springs, majestic gorges, and world-class hiking trails that end in ancient temple sites – all within easy reach from the capital.

10. Miaofengshan

For day trippers who are looking to combine a little culture with their escape to nature, the Miaofengshan pilgrimage path offers the perfect blend of both.

The renovated series of paths were first created towards the end of the Ming Dynasty and lead to the gorgeously intact Niang Niang Miao Temple.

The hike up Miaofeng Mountain is as rewarding as it is beautiful, lined on either side by cobblestone walls and rising steeply to give incredible views of the landscape below.

11. Great Wall of China – Badaling section

In contrast to its Mutianyu counterpart, the Badaling section of the Great Wall is by far and beyond the most famous section of the colossal structure, due to the quality of its preservation and its wildly rising and falling sections that follow the mountains surrounding it.

You can begin your hike at either Badaling Pass or the Badaling Bear Park – the main route visitors take is a two-hour walk.

Not to worry if you don’t feel like a four-hour round trip, however, there are cable cars that can take you to the top of the wall either on your way up or down.

Available tour : Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs Coach Tour from Beijing

12. Jietai Temple

Surrounded by abundant lilac, pine trees and flowers, the Jietai Temple can be found to the west of Beijing and is famous thanks to its staggering age.

Built over 1400 years ago in the Tang Dynasty, it’s one of the most important Buddhist temples in China on account of it being a specific place for monks and nuns to go to achieve their highest status.

13. Tianjin

To experience a city not quite as large and relentless as Beijing, head down to Tianjin, a beautiful port city that is wonderfully accessible to first-time visitors.

Between ornate traditional bridges above the waterways and exciting 19th Century French and British architecture, Tianjin is a less-travelled pocket of Chinese culture that’s well worth the visit.

For shopping, head to Ancient Culture Street, and for food, satisfy your hunger at Nanshi Cuisine Street.

14. Juyongguan

Considered to be one of the best-fortified passes of the Great Wall, the Juyongguan Pass is ironically one of the least travelled but closest sections of the structure to Beijing itself, meaning it’s incredibly easy to explore on a day trip.

Featuring a noticeably higher density of buildings than other parts of the wall, here you can find numerous towers and temples that are fascinating to explore.

Available tour : Forbidden City & Juyongguan Section of Great Wall

15. Cycling in Miyun

Visitors and cycling enthusiasts never cease to be amazed by the landscape found in Miyun to the northeast of Beijing, thanks to its startling similarity to gently rolling Belgian hills as opposed to the rugged mountainscapes usually found in the region.

Cycle through forests, past farmhouses, and up and down beautiful green hills and pastures, where you can even find a cottage to rent for the evening if you want to extend your day trip!

15 Best Day Trips from Beijing:

• Great Wall of China – Mutianyu section
• Tanzhe Temple
• Caves of Zhoukoudian
• Summer Palace
• Marco Polo Bridge
• Eastern Qing Tombs
• Fragrant Hills Park
• Gouya Natural Scenic Area
• Miaofengshan
• Great Wall of China – Badaling section
• Jietai Temple
• Cycling in Miyun

The 5 best day trips from Beijing

Feb 14, 2024 • 5 min read

Day trips from Beijing are varied and plentiful – ever fancied walking out on a glass bridge in the Chinese countryside? © STR/AFP via Getty Images

Beijing offers a dizzying number of things to see and do, but its appeal extends well beyond the confines of the city. Within easy reach are Ming dynasty tombs, ancient villages, the Great Wall and even enthralling glass-bottom bridges dangling over a gorge – all memorable ways to spend a day.

As much as we love China's capital, all it takes is a short trip out of town, and you'll soon be immersed in stunning forested mountain surrounds. If you're looking to escape the city, here are our top five getaways.

1. Get out along the Great Wall of China

Travel time: 1–2 hours (one-way)

Snaking along the mist-cloaked mountains into the far distance on its epic 21,196km (13,171-mile) journey, the Great Wall  simply does not disappoint. In fact, great doesn't quite cut it – extraordinary , unmissable and astonishing  are more fitting superlatives.

Beijing is one of the best places to access it; the trick, however, is to pick the section that best suits your tastes and needs. Do you prefer it more wild and remote? Or maybe somewhere more polished and restored? Are you here for a long hike, or is a cable-car ride more your style? 

Just 70km (43 miles) from the capital, the Mutianyu and Badaling restored sections of the wall are the most popular day trips from Beijing, and certainly the most accessible. The views are astounding, and these stretches are easy to navigate with cable cars, chairlifts and even toboggans, so they're very much geared towards the tourist buses.

At the other end of the scale, you have the lesser-visited sections:  Jinshanling , Jiankou , Huanghua Cheng and Zhuangdaokou, which offer a more serene and wild experience, with half-crumbling walls that give it a more off-the-beaten-track feel.

How to get to the Great Wall from Beijing:

Badaling is by far the easiest section of the wall to reach, thanks to a new high-speed train that takes only 30 minutes. There's public transport to all the sections, but the route involves a fiddly string of bus connections; instead, aim for one of the direct tourist buses departing from Dongzhimen Transport Hub.

But if you can stretch your budget to book a private car, that is by far the best option, especially if you're in a group – you'll have the comfort of door-to-door access and a speedier trip. Expect to pay ¥500–1200 for a day trip by car from Beijing. Otherwise, consider joining an organized tour with Beijing Hikers or Wild Wall Experiences .

2. Explore the ancient Ming Tombs

Travel time: 45 minutes to 1½ hours (one-way)

You've probably already paid a visit to the home of Ming dynasty emperors at the Forbidden City ; now it's time to make a trip to see their final resting place at the UNESCO-listed Ming Tombs , around 50km (31 miles) northwest from Beijing.

Set at the foot of Tianshou Mountain, you'll find the underground tombs of 13 of the 16 emperors from the Ming dynasty, who ruled between 1368 and 1644. Only three of the mausoleums are open to the public, including the impressive Cháng Líng tomb , which shares architectural similarities with the Forbidden City. 

You'll arrive via the Spirit Way , a 7km-long (4.3-mile) road comprising palace gates, archways, ornamental pavilions, stone statues and the Great Palace Gate , a point where even emperors were required to dismount to enter.

How to get to the Ming Tombs from Beijing:

Bus 872 is the most direct way to reach the Ming Tombs (one hour), departing from the north side of Deshengmen Arrow Tower . By subway, you'll take the Changping Line, and then it's a further 30-minute walk or short taxi ride (¥20). A taxi from Beijing will cost about ¥300 return.

3. Don't look down at the Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform

Travel time: 1–2½ hours

When it comes to glass-bottom viewing platforms and skywalks , China can't get enough. At last count, there were some 2300 across the country – the more daring, precariously perched and futuristic looking, the better.

Located 70km (43 miles) from Beijing, the Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform is no exception. This unique circular bridge juts out 32m (105ft) over – and 400m (1312ft) above – the Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge, like a UFO touching down on the clifftop. It's an exhilarating way to take in the beautiful Shilinxia Scenic Area, which stretches out more than 12km (7.5 miles).  

How to get to the  Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform from Beijing:

Take bus 852 from Dongzhimen Transport Hub to Pinggu Bus Terminal, then take bus 25 to Pinggu Shilixia Scenic Area. A private car costs around ¥600 for the return trip.

4. Check out Wanping's fabled multi-arched bridge

Travel time: 30–45 minutes

Just a short jaunt across town will take you to the walled city of Wanping , which is popular for its multi-arched Marco Polo Bridge . Dating to 1189 and spanning 265m (869ft) over the Yonding River, it's Beijing's oldest bridge, lined with 485 decorative hand-carved stone lions. The bridge was named for the famed Italian explorer after he impressed during his Silk Road journeys, as detailed in the Travels of Marco Polo . 

The bridge is also famous for a military clash between Chinese and Japanese soldiers in 1937, which incited the Second Sino-Japanese War; check out the nearby Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression for the lowdown. Wanping is also notable for its 17th-century Ming dynasty gate and 6m-high (20ft) walls that encircle the old town for 2km (1.2 miles).

How to get to  Wanping from Beijing: 

Wanpingcheng subway station is on Line 16, or you can take Line 14 to Dawoyao station. From there, it's a 1km (0.6-mile) walk to the East Gate of Wanping Town.

5. Escape to the country at Cuandixia

Travel time: 2 hours

The perfect antidote to the frenetic pace of Beijing life is a lovely country escape to Cuandixia Village. Nestled in a valley 90km (56 miles) west of Beijing, it's famed for its 500-year-old stone courtyard houses from the Qing and Ming dynasties, many of which have been converted into restaurants and inns. Set in a quaint atmosphere of cobblestone alleyways, it's just the place to soak up the old-world charm.

How to get to Cuandixia from Beijing:

Take bus 22 from opposite Jin'anqiao station to reach Zhaitang; from there, it's a short taxi to Cuandixia. Otherwise, expect to spend about ¥700–800 to hire a car from Beijing.  

This article was first published October 2022 and updated February 2024

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The 12 Best Day Trips from Beijing

Day trips from Beijing take you to some of the most iconic sights in the world. Sections of the Great Wall, imperial gardens, gorges, bridges, and even the Chinese cradle of civilization await those willing to venture outside the city limits. Plan to climb lots of stairs, bring plenty of water, and arrive early to avoid crowds.

Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall: Hiking and Toboggans

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Hike, ride a cable car or take a chairlift to the top. Once on the wall, it takes about two hours to walk the 1.4 miles of this section and explore its 23 watchtowers, replete with photo ops and views of the surrounding mountains and forests. If you go beyond tower 23, the wall is not restored, has no guardrails, and tourists are responsible for their own safety.

Come down via hiking, chair lift, cable car, or jump on a sled.

Getting There: From Dongzhimen station, walk upstairs to the North Bound Platform. Take the Express Bus 916 towards Huairou. Get off at Beidajie. Take bus H23 to Mutianyu or share a car with other tourists going there. Travel time is two and a half hours.

Travel Tip: Check out The Brickyard at the bottom of the wall. A restored tile factory turned restaurant, spa, and glass blowing studio, it offers made-from-scratch meals with local produce.

Marco Polo Bridge: Hidden Lion Sculptures

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Constructed in 1189 A.D., Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Qiao) was later trod upon and written about by Marco Polo. Pillars line either side of it with a stone lion atop each. Carved into the lions are smaller lions hidden in their manes, backs, and bellies, with over 400 lions in total. The lions were carved throughout different dynasties in China, and each is unique. The bridge was also the site of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident with Japan, beginning the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Getting There: A taxi or Uber will get you there in about 12 minutes from central Beijing.

Travel Tip: Marco Polo Bridge is a manageable day trip, but does not combine well with other day trips.

Longqing Gorge: Cruise the River or Attend the Ice Festival

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Hop on a boat and glide down the gorge’s green waters full of jagged karsts, then ride a cable car for aerial views. Hike to the summit, view the Longqing Dam, see a fantastical (though rundown) dragon escalator, or bungee jump.

In winter, the Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice & Snow Festival houses more than 100 ice and snow sculptures of animals, people, and lanterns, all beautifully lit up at night. Play in the snow, see a dance performance, ice skate, or watch fireworks.

Getting There: Take bus 919 or 919 Express from Deshengmen Station to Yanqing Dongguan Station. Catch bus Y15 and get off at Longqingxia (Longqing Gorge) Station (two to three hours).

Travel Tip: The flower cave is kitschy and best avoided.

Ming Tombs: Good Feng Shui with Chinese Emporers

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The Ming Tombs Scenic Area comprises the mausoleums of 13 emperors from the Ming Dynasty. This UNESCO World Heritage site was chosen as a place of burial by the Emperor Yongle for the feng shui properties of the valley. To reach the tombs, walk through the giant arch at the entrance, then head down "Spirit Way," a road with giant stone animals on either side.

To see the largest and most well-preserved tomb, go to the Changling Tomb. To explore the underground marble palace, head to the Dingling Tomb.

Getting There: Hire a private car (one hour) or take the subway to the Changping Xishankou station. There are private cars for hire outside to take you to the entrance.

Travel Tip: The Ming tombs are extensive (46.3 square miles), plan to spend at least three hours here.

Tianjin: Famous Street Food and a Ferris Wheel

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Head over to the Ancient Culture Street or Nanshi Food Street to sample authentic street food, like the warm Goubuli steam buns and the cinnamon-tasting guifaxiang fried dough twist. Hop aboard the Eye of Tianjin, a giant Ferris wheel straddling the river. See European architecture and impressive skyscrapers at the Five Great Avenues or The Bund, and go to Chifeng Street to see the China House, bejeweled with gems and porcelain pieces. Want afternoon tea? Go to the Astor Hotel.

Getting There: From the Beijing South Railway Station, take the bullet train to Tianjin (30 minutes).

Travel Tip: In the winter months, befriend locals at the river to try “chair skating.”

Summer Palace: Largest Imperial Garden in the World

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A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Summer Palace contains lakes, gardens, palaces, and temples. Rent a boat on Kunming Lake, then head to the Long Corridor (the longest corridor in the world), and marvel at the 14,000 paintings depicting stories from ancient Chinese literature and history.

Allow at least a half-day to explore the massive grounds, and take a picnic lunch, as food options inside can be limited.

Getting There: Take subway line 4 to Beigongmen station.

Travel Tip: Many Beijingers go here to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival.

Badaling Section of the Great Wall: The Most Famous Part of the Great Wall

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Everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to South African President Nelson Mandela has walked Badaling's ramparts. It's famous not only for celebrities, but also for its direct access from Beijing by public transport, amazingly restored wide walkways, and steep terrain. Like the Mutianyu section, it offers a cable car and toboggan rides for those who want to save their energy and feet.

Plan for one and a half hours to visit this section of the Wall and walk the 2.3 miles (3.74 kilometers) of its restored path.

Getting There: From the Huangtudian Railway Station in central Beijing, take the S2 train to Badaling Railway Station (90 minutes).

Travel Tip: If you purchase a roundtrip ticket for the cable car, a photo is included.

Nangong Scenic Area: Soak in Hot Springs and Catch Some Waves

Though Nangong Scenic Area encompasses several amusement parks and Buddhist shrines, the most relaxing thing to do here is to unwind at the Nangong National Hot Spring Health Park. However, those wanting a real Chinese water park experience can go to Nangong Hot Spring Water World to hit the wave pool, pirate ship, or Hawaiian beach.

Getting There: You can take an Uber or taxi for around 100 yuan (around $14) from central Beijing.

Travel Tip: Brace yourself for crowds in the water park areas.

Gold Mountain: Rural Hiking

Nearly 5 miles (8 kilometers) long with a fairly gradual incline, Gold Mountiain Trail allows hikers to experience Beijing's more tranquil ouskirts. In winter, the grass withers, making the mountain appear gold. Enterprising locals had tiny gold mines along the mountain, but they have since been closed. There is a temple at the top of the mountain with scenic views.

Getting There: From either Tiaoqiao or Liuliqiao stations, take bus 917 to Bancheng village. Walk west towards the mountain, then hike to the top. Head down the opposite side of Golden Mountain until you arrive at Manjinyu village near the bottom. From Manjinyu, take bus 917 bus back to Beijing.

Travel Tip: Be careful of thorns.

Zhoukoudian: Fossils and Caves

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Known as the Chinese cradle of civilization, Zhoukoudian became famous for discoveries of fossils of teeth, skulls, and tools from the Paleolithic Era. The most well known of these was called, “The Peking Man,” and sparked controversy and mystery in the years to come, even after its disappearance in 1941.

Tourists can see original fossils, observe replicas of others, and go into the caves, which were part of the ancient village there.

Getting There: From Beijing West Railway Station, take bus 616 to Liangxiang Ximen, then change to Fangshan Bus 38. You may also take an Uber or taxi, as the site is only about 27 miles (43 kilometers) from central Beijing.

Travel Tip: Though it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s not very crowded compared to others in the Beijing area.

Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform: 360 Degree Gorge Views

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Surrounded by mountains, this glass behemoth looks like a giant UFO touched down in Shilinxia Scenic Area and decided to stay perched on the highest cliff of the Shilin Gorge. This viewing platform measures 246 feet high and 197 feet wide. Made of glass panels and titanium alloys, it ensures amazing (or perhaps terrifying) 360 degree views.

Visitors can hike (about one and a half hours) or take a cable car to the top.

Getting There: From Dongzhimen Transportation Hub, take bus 852 to Pinggu district. From there, grab bus 25 to the Pinggu Stone Forest Gorge or Valley, about two and a half hours travel time.

Travel Tip: Go when pollution levels are low for better views.

Old Dragon’s Head (Laolongtou): Where the Great Wall Meets the Sea

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See the beginning of the Great Wall and walk along the ocean. The wall extends into the sea, looking like a dragon’s head drinking water, hence its name. Visitors can explore a museum, castle, and go into a giant maze. You can also check out the Temple of the Gods of the Sea and walk along the top of the Wall.

Getting There: It’s about 190 miles (305 kilometers) from central Beijing and is best reached by hiring a private car.

Travel Tip: Go to the window of the dragon’s head and make a wish at the wishing area.

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16 Day Trips from Beijing (2023/2024)

Beijing is the best gateway city for understanding China with its unparalleled richness of iconic Chinese architecture, and it is an excellent springboard for other interesting China destinations.

If you are wondering how best to experience more of China from Beijing in a fulfilling but quick way, especially if you are based in Beijing , this article will help you find out the best 16 places for day trips from Beijing.

1. The Mutianyu Great Wall Section

Features: less crowded, the most child-friendly Great Wall section

Mutianyu is the l ongest fully-restored Great Wall section open to tourists. It is less crowded than the Great Wall at Badaling and is popular with foreign tourists.

At Mutianyu, a chairlift, cable car, and toboggan are available, and children can easily ascend/descend the wall with these. You can walk at your own pace to appreciate the beautiful scenery and take photos. If you enjoy picnics in the great outdoors, you should enjoy one there.

How to get there: Mutianyuis about 73 kilometers (45 miles) from Beijing, or 1½ hours'driving.

You could add a visit to the Forbidden City in the same day. The Forbidden City is the best place to learn about the history of China's Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasty rulers, as it was home to 24 emperors in the two dynasties.

With an expert guide, the stories about the emperors and concubines will make the Forbidden City come alive for you.

The Top 10 Great Wall Sections near Beijing could all make great Beijing day trips.

2. The Terracotta Warriors (Xi'an) by Train

Features: hundreds of ancient life-size terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots in battle array

The Terracotta Army is one of the most famous attractions in China. It was constructed to accompany the tomb of China's first emperor to guard him in the afterlife.

There are thousands of detailed life-size terracotta statues of soldiers, representing the troops who guarded the first emperor — Qin Shi Huang. They were molded in sections, fired, then assembled and painted.

How to get there:

High-speed train is the best way, which takes 4½–6 hours. Flights are less recommended as the time needed is similar, but flights are more stressful and expensive.

Compared to trains, you would waste you a lot of time on getting to/from airports and checking in/out.

At least 2 hours' visiting time is needed for the Terracotta Army, so you should take the first train from Beijing to Xi'an (G89 06:53–11:24) to visit the site properly. When going back, you could take the G90 train (18:26–22:52)

You can book a private tour with us to make full use of your time. When you arrive in Xi'an, your guide will pick you up and escort you directly to the Terracotta Army. After the tour, you will be driven back to the railway station.

See How to Plan a Beijing and Xi'an Trip (Itinerary, Cost, Transportation)

• 1-Day Private Xi'an Tour .

3. Shanghai by Train

Features: iconic building clusters around the Bund,prosperous modern China

Beijing and Shanghai are the most famous two China cities that most foreign tourists want to visit. Compared to Beijing's rich cultural and historical atmosphere, Shanghai has a modern and fashionable ambiance.

For a classic day trip in Shanghai,first, you should go to Yu Garden , which is another symbol of Shanghai, to see the classical Chinese beauty and the difference between Western and Chinese gardens.

Then explore the French Concession and learn about the colonial past of Shanghai, appreciating the elegant residences. Before going to the railway station, you must pay a visit to the Bund and experience the prosperous Nanjing Road.

How to get there: High-speed train is the most recommendedway, which takes around 4½ hours.

You should arrive in Shanghai before 12pm to ensure plenty of time to explore the highlights of the city. The suggested trains are G1 (Beijing 07:00–11:30Shanghai) and G28 (Shanghai 19:00–23:29 Beijing).

The best option for visiting Shanghai is to join in our 1-Day Shanghai Layover Tour which includes railway station/airport transfers. You can save a lot of time otherwise spent finding a taxi or metro train links.

Features: foreign and Chinese architecture, international commercial city

Tianjin, along with Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing , is one of China's four municipalities . Tianjin has long been a transport hub for international commerce , and so a great deal of history has accrued in the city.

For a day trip to Tianjin, you must visit the Five Ancient Avenues and Porcelain House , which well represent foreign and Chinese architecture there.

The Five Ancient Avenuesare a sight not to be missed, from which you can have a view of Tianjin's rare architectural treasure, which was left by Western nationsfrom 1860 to1903. A jumble of fascinating buildings seemingly from various countries are brought together uniquely inthis small area.

The Porcelain House is a traditional French building furnished with antiques. It is located on Tianjin's Chifeng Road.There you can find exquisite pieces of porcelain ware, as well as stone items of white marble, crystal, agate, and other decorative materials.

If you still have spare time in Tianjin, arelaxing experience is toenjoy a 360-degree view of modern Tianjin from the Eye of Tianjin — Tianjin Yongle Ferris Wheel. >>See more interesting things to do in Tianjin .

How to get there: Tianjinis 120 kilometers from Beijing or 25 minutes by bullet train.

5. The Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottos (Datong)

Features: amazing cliff-face architecture, medieval Buddhist artwork

The Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes are the must-sees in Datong. Both of them represent Buddhist masterpieces.

The Hanging Monastery — a Buddhist temple built on a cliff face — is considered to be a work of art as well as a marvel of medieval engineering. The whole temple is a wooden frame structure. It was constructed by drilling holes into the cliffside and inserting beams into the holes up to 2–3 meters (7–10 feet) deep.

The Yungang Grottoes are superb Buddhist artistic achievements from the 5th to the 6th century.Theystretch some 1,000 meters (1,100 yards) continuously from east to west and are one of the Four Famous Grotto Complexes in China.

First, you need to get to Datong prefecture.A high-speed train service between Beijing and Datong is available, with a travel time of around 2 hours.

You are suggested to catch the first train to depart Beijing (G2503, 08:10–10:00), and go back on the last train (G2520, 19:00–20:24).

• 4-Day Datong Hanging Temple and Pingyao tour

6. The Juyongguan Great Wall Section

Features: most wheelchair-friendly Great Wall (within the lower level of the fort), closest section to Beijing

Also called the Great Wall at Juyong Pass , it was considered one of the three most important fortified passes in the whole length of the Great Wall. It is famous for big battles against Jurchens and Mongols, and then later against the Japanese.

There is a 9.5-meter-tall (31-foot-tall) platform that can be visited. It was built by the Yuan Dynasty in 1342. There are still Mongolian and Uyghur inscriptions on it. The top of the highest part of the wall has a wonderful panoramic mountain scenery view.

There are no lifts or cable cars. Instead of doing the "long hike" of 2½ km (1½ miles) on the Wall on the west side, you can take the shorter east side wall, which is 1½ km (1 mile) long, and only ascends about 200m (700 ft).

Another option is to just walk around the valley bottom fort from the entrance, and not climb up the hill.

Juyongguan is 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Beijing, 1½ hours' drive. It is much more recommended to take a private tour , so that you are able to visit the Ming Tombs or another Great Wall Section as they are also north of Changping District.

7. The Jinshanling Great Wall Section

Features: half restored and halfwild, most beautiful GW scenery, lovely hiking

The Great Wall at Jinshanling is one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall with many original features. It got its name because it was built on the Greater and Lesser Jinshan ('Gold Mountain') Ranges.

Jinshanling is the most popular Great Wall hiking section, because it is relatively isolated and offers great views. You can get the most out of China's legendary landmark as you tread across the wall's centuries-old stone steps or walk through the ruins of an ancient watchtower.

The hiking on the Wall takes about 3 hours.Forthe bestday trip to Jinshanling, you should start very early in the morning, say 7:00, and return home very late.

How to get there: It is 2½ hours' drive from Beijing.

• 1-Day Great Wall Hiking: from Simatai to Jinshanling
• 1-Day Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour

8. The Simatai Great Wall Section

Features: originalappearance,only section open for a night tour

Simatai's section is the best among the Great Wall sections that retain their original appearance .The wall is divided east-west by Simatai Reservoir, with 16 towers east and 23 towers west.

The eastern part of Simatai's Great Wall seems perilousness as it was built along steep mountain ridges.

Hiking is a great experience at Simatai's Great Wall. A popular route is to ascend and descend east Simatai: fromalong the reservoir (1.5 km), via East Tower 1, up to East Tower 10 (where there is a cable carstation nearby) takes about 2 hours.

Simatai is the only Great Wall section that is lit up at night and open for touring. After a day's hiking, you can enjoy thewell-lit Great Wall in the evening,it is less crowded, making for a pleasant, atmospheric, andeasyeveningwalk in a special setting.

For an evening tour there, you should start very early from Beijing and plan to arrive back very late, for example, from 7:00 am to 11:30 pm.

How to get there: It's120 kilometers (75 miles) from Beijing, 3 hours' drive.

>> Find out more interesting things to do on the Great Wall.

9. Chengde Summer Resort

Features: expansive Chinese royal gardenarchitecture and landscaping

Chengde Summer Resort, also called Chengde Summer Palace, is where emperors of China's Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) spent their summers to escape the summer heat in Beijing.

It is the largest surviving royal garden in China, occupying an area of 5.6 square kilometers (2.2 square miles), twice the size of the Summer Palace in Beijing.

The architectural style is more like one of the classical gardens in the 'South of the Yangtze River' area, because the two most successful emperors of the Qing Dynasty loved the scenery of that area, represented by today's Suzhou and Hangzhou.

To have a day trip to Chengde, you are suggested to start at 8:30 in the morningfor the drive of about 3 hours to get to Chengde.

Then, have some Chengde food: taste some typical local snacks of Chengde, such as almond tea, almond tofu, and stir-fried doughballs.It is suggested to spend 2 hours in the summer resort in the afternoon.

How to get there: Chengde Summer Resort is in Hebei Province, 3 hours' drivingnorth of Beijing.

You may find inspiration from our 3-Day Chengde Tour with Gorgeous Great Wall

10. The Eastern Qing Tombs

Features: underground palaces, largest imperial mausoleum, less crowded

Short for Eastern Royal Tombs of the Qing Dynasty, Eastern Qing Tomb covers an area of 80 square kilometers, is the largest existing imperial mausoleum complex with the most appropriate layout in China.

Construction of the Eastern Royal Tombs of the Qing Dynasty began in 1661 and lasted for 247 years. Five emperors, 15 queens, 136 concubines, three princes, and two princesses were buried there.

It is less touristy and much quieter than the 13 Mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty, which are closer to Beijing.

You will see magnificent "palaces" and halls on the grounds, and you can also go into the underground "palaces" where the coffins of Emperor Qianlong and the 'Dragon Lady' Cixi lie.

How to get there: The site is in the city of Tangshan, Hebei Province, 125 kilometers (80 miles) east of Beijing — about 3 hours' driving.

11. The Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

Feature: the largest collection of Homo erectus fossils

Also called Peking Man Museum or Zhoukoudian Anthropological Museum, it has the l argest collection of Homo erectus fossils of any single site.

The fossils at houkoudian represent about 40 individuals and account for about one-third of the fossils from the species worldwide.

Among the bones discovered were five skullcaps, numerous facial and cranial elements, and 147 teeth. The most famous of these remains is cranium XII, which is commonly referred to as "Peking Man."

How to get there: It is located southwest of Beijing, 46 kilometers (29 miles) from the downtown area.

12. Tanzhe Temple

Features: an ingenious layout of temple architecture, most well-known and worshipped by visitors

Tanzhe Temple was the first temple to be built after the introduction of Buddhism to Beijing.

With an inner temple area of 25,000 square meters (about the size of a city block) and an outside temple area of 112,000 square meters (5 city blocks), Tanzhe Temple is grand in scale.

It has received many tourists and pilgrims throughout its history. You can still see a great number of people worshipping there every day. You can also wander around to see the ancient ginkgo and magnolia trees and appreciate the temple's architectural style.

Most travelers like to combine it with Macro Polo Bridge as they are on the same walking route. If you are interested in bridge architecture or listening to China-Japan history, it is worthy of astop.

How to get there: Itis about 20 kilometers (6 miles) west ofdowntown Beijing.

Contact us for a tailor-made day trip to Tanzhe Temple (and Marco Polo Bridge).

13. Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan)

Features: beautiful landscape, maple leaves in fall

Xiangshan Park was a royal garden,and it has 900 years of history. In the 10th year of the Emperor Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1735), Jingyi Garden was set up there, which consists of 28 scenic sports and was known as the famous 'Three Hills and Five Parks'in the suburbs of the city.

It features a beautiful landscape , especially in fall, when the maple leavesmake you feel like you are walking in a sea of red. Apart from the beautiful scenery, you can appreciate imperial architecture and visit temples and memorials.

The best time to visit is in mid-October,whenthe maple leaves begin to fall and you can join in the Fragrant Hills Red Leaves Festival .

How to get there: It is in Haidian District, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of the city center. Contact us for a tailor-made day trip with private transport.

14. Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge (Shilinxia Gorge)

Features: glass sightseeing platform,forest views with a waterfall, stone pillars

The number one highlight of this site is the glass sightseeing platform . Claiming three world records, the walkway is supposedly the world's largest glass platform with a circular surface area of 415 square meters (4,470 square feet).

Protruding 33 meters (108 feet) over the cliff edge in Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge , it is also the longest in the world. The third record is for the first time aviation titanium was usedin the construction of a "building".

How to get there: The gorge is 100km (60 miles) east of Beijing city —a 2-hour drive.

15. Qinglongxia Scenic Resort

Features: forest park, outdoor activities

Qinglongxia ('Green Dragon Gorge') Scenic Resort is a good place for people to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoy a quiet atmosphere, and return to nature. You can take a boat trip to appreciate the beautiful scenery alongside the river.

You can go swimming, play football or volleyball, or sunbathe on the beach in summer. A variety of exciting activities are often provided such as bungee jumping, rock climbing, and downhill racing.

How to get there: Itis located in Huairou District, 65 kilometers (40 miles) or about a 1-hour drivenorth from central Beijing.

16. Nanshan Ski Resort

Features: Skiing, hiking, water fun, harvest activities

Nanshan Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in northern China. You can enjoyall four seasons at the resort: skiing in winter, hiking in spring, playing in the water in summer, and joining in with the harvest in autumn.

How to get there: It is in Miyun County, which is 78 kilometers (50 miles) northeast from central Beijing —1½ hours'driving.

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