Our most recommended things to do in Great Wall of China

Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Transfer with Options

1. Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Transfer with Options

Save time and money taking this dedicated bus direct to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, one of the most famous sites in the world. Climb aboard the bus departing from downtown Beijing City and arrive at Mutianyu. Follow your guide from the parking lot to take a shuttle to the admission gate. Enjoy 4–5 hours of free time to climb up to the 20th Watchtower to take in the scenic view. Marvel at this amazing structure you have seen in so many pictures. If you choose, take the scenic cable car and see one for the most famous attractions in the world from another point of view. Upon exiting the Great Wall, take the shuttle back to the parking lot. From there a bus will take you back to Beijing City.

From Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Transfer with Pick-Up

2. From Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Transfer with Pick-Up

Explore the most well-known and preserved section of the Great Wall in Mutianyu. This section is a UNESCO heritage site has appeared in some Hollywood movies and has been climbed by former US President Barack Obama. Depart from Beijing at your hotel at around 7 AM with a shared pick-up or meet at the downtown station at around 8 AM. Head to Mutianyu with a convenient air-conditioned transfer. Arrive in Mutianyu at around 9-9:30 AM. Take amazing photos of the Mutianyu Wall from multiple angles - either down from the hill or up from the wall if you purchase the admission ticket option. Then, challenge yourself with a 5-6km hike from the bottom to the top of the highest station which was once a beacon. Or take an easier route with the cable car option so that you can ascend the later half directly. Enjoy around 3-3.5 hours to explore by yourself. Include a 10-dish authentic Chinese lunch at checkout and enjoy the lunch at around 12:30 PM just next to the parking lot. After finishing lunch, the bus will take you back to the famous shopping street in Wangfujing or the National Stadium (know as the "Bird's Nest") in the heart of Beijing city. If you are interested in the Chinese acrobatic show, remember to add the Acrobatic show add-on before checkout, stay on the bus and the bus will take you there to enjoy the 5:30 PM show.

Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Tour

3. Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Tour

Meet your private guide in your hotel's lobby at your preferred time in Beijing. Then heading directly to Mutianyu Great Wall which will take about 1.5 hours, your tour guide will explain the related histories and stories on the way, sit back and enjoy the countryside sceneries along the way. Once arrive at the The Mutianyu Great Wall, you’ll take the cable car or ski lift up to the Wall, spend some time to hike up and down for about 1.5 hours at the various sections of the Wall, exploring the watch and beacon towers. Afterwards, stop at a local restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, continue to explore a well-preserved royal garden: the Summer Palace. Follow your tour guide to stroll around the garden, learn the stories and histories behind the buildings. Get to know the famous " Dragon Lady" and her life in the Summer Palace. After the tour finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel or other sites you want to go in Beijing city.

Beijing Private Transfer Services to Great Wall of China

4. Beijing Private Transfer Services to Great Wall of China

A private transfer is the best way to start your holiday and will avoid you having to search for a taxi or ride in a crowded bus to reach your destination. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Beijing city center and will drive you to the Great Wall. Once arrived, your driver will assistance you to purchase your tickets(at your own cost), and tell you where he will be waiting for you, then you will enjoy your own time to explore the Great Wall. After your self guided tour, meet your driver, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing. Please note this is only a private transfer service, entrance fee, meals and tour guide are not included. Your driver speaks basic English only, and if you have any questions on the road, you can use the driver's mobile phone to reach out the local operator. Here are some sections of the Great Wall you can choose: 1: Mutianyu Great Wall - most popular section among foreign tourists It is 75km away from Beijing downtown, offers great landscape of well-preserved walls and towers as well as beautiful surrounding greenery. Its road steps are also well paved. Driving Time: 1.5 hours Entrance fee 60rmb p/p, cable car round trip or ski lift up and toboggan is 140rmb p/p 2: Huanghuacheng Great Wall – unique lakeside Great Wall Some parts of Huanghuacheng are submerged by a big beautiful lake, which make the Great wall look like paddling in the water. It is less crowded than the other sections. Driving Time: 1.5 hours Entrance fee 65rmb p/p, no cable car 3:Juyongguan Great Wall - the closest section of the wall to visit from Beijing Unlike most of other sections of Great Wall which are just walls and towers, Juyongguan has an impressive fortress which used to controlled the access to Beijing for centuries. Driving Time: 1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes Entrance fee 45rmb p/p, no cable car 4:Badaling – the most famous as well as most crowded section of Great Wall Open to tourism in 1957. Badaling Great Wall is the most visited section as well as the most commercialized section. No recommend to visit during public holiday, traffic will be bad. Driving Time: 1.5 hour Entrance fee 45rmb p/p, cable car 120rmb p/p

From Beijing: 3-Day UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private Tour

5. From Beijing: 3-Day UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private Tour

This private 3-day tour gives you plenty of time to explore Beijing's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and The Great Wall of China. If you have extra time, you can add other sites into the itinerary(entrance fee at your own cost): Beihai Park, Jinshan Park, Miaoyin Temple or other sites you are interested to go (within the 3rd ring road of Beijing city)Since this is a private tour, please list any special interests you have while booking, from art and architecture to history and culture, so the guide can better prepare for your Beijing experience. Day 1: After meet your tour guide, start by exploring one of the world’s largest public areas, Tian'anmen Square. Pass through the south gate to the Forbidden City, stroll around the courtyards and halls of the Forbidden city with your tour guide, and learn the histories and stories about this massive palace. You will visit most important buildings inside the Forbidden City. Stop in a local restaurant for lunch, then discover the Lama Temple in the afternoon. Lama Temple is one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. For evening, you can enjoy an amazing Chinese show, such as the Acrobatic show, Kongfu show or Peking opera.(at your own cost) After the show finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing Day 2: After meet your guide, heading to Mutianyu Great Wall. Once arrive at the The Mutianyu Great Wall, you’ll enjoy a less hurried experience and take time to marvel at this wondrous structure and the surrounding hillsides. Hiking up and down for about 1.5 hours at the various sections of the Wall, exploring the watch and beacon towers. Stop at a Local Restaurant for lunch. On the way to city stop to take photos at the iconic "Bird's Nest"– the Beijing National Stadium, where hosts many spectacular events of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Continue to the Drum Tower area, stroll around the local Hutong neighborhood. Get to know the local life and people. You also can explore the Houhai lake area and Nanluoguxiang Hutong allays. After the tour finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing. Day 3: Begins with the Temple of Heaven, once visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual prayer ceremonies. Follow your tour guide to explore many important buildings including: Hall of Prayer for good harvest, Danbi Bridge. 9 dragon Juniper and more Spend time in the pearl market to purchase your China souvenir, your guide will teach you how to negotiate price in the market. Next, see the pandas in the Beijing Panda House and have a delicious duck lunch in the local restaurant Continue to the Summer Palace, a well-preserved royal garden that's renowned for its beautiful landscape and spectacular architecture, and is considered one of the most classical gardens in the world. After the tour finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing.

Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall&Dule Temple

6. Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall&Dule Temple

Your English-speaking guide will wait for you at the exit of the Arrival Hall with your name sign, hop into your private air-conditioned vehicle heading directly to Huangyaguan Great Wall. During your 2.5 hour journey, take in views of the Tianjin countryside and the Tianjin Xingang Port. On the way, your tour guide will tell the histories and stories about the Great Wall, as well as the Chinese histories, culture and life. Please feel free to ask questions if you have. Upon arrival, your tour guide will arrange your ticket and lead the way, follow your tour guide to spend 1.5 hours here to absorbing the spectacular views over the mountains. Get an insight into the history behind this world’s longest manmade project. Don’t forget to snap plenty of pictures of the breathtaking scenery! Huangyaguan Great Wall runs on the ridge of mountains to the north of Ji County, Tianjin. Part of the cultural heritage of the world, it was initially built in Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577) and later renovated and lengthened during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Huangyaguan Great Wall possesses many features including antiquity, grandness, steepness and gracefulness, and it is regarded as an 'Impregnable Pass' in Tianjin. This section is the longest restored section of the Great Wall with a length of 3052 meters. After lunch in the local restaurant. Continue to visit the Dule Temple.  Dule temple is of historical as well as architectural significance. Its oldest surviving buildings are two timber-frame structures, the front gate and the central hall (pavilion) that houses a colossal clay statue of the Eleven-Headed manifestation of the Bodhisattva Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara). Both structures date back to the Liao dynasty and are among the oldest surviving wooden buildings in China.[ Stroll through the halls and courtyards, learn many history and stories behind, your tour guide will also share the religions in China and more. Afterwards, your guide and driver will take you back to Tianjin Xingang International Port.

From Beijing: Return Bus Transfer to Badaling Great Wall

7. From Beijing: Return Bus Transfer to Badaling Great Wall

Save time and money taking this dedicated bus direct to the Badaling section of the Great Wall. Climb aboard the bus departing from downtown Beijing City and arrive at Badaling (the tour guide will offer the tickets service on the bus). Start to explore the area by yourself.  Enjoy 4 hours of free time for hiking and exploring the museum. See the "Hero Slope", named after Chairman Mao's famous saying: "Before you reach the Great Wall, you're no hero". Marvel at this amazing structure that has been visited by many celebrities including President Nixon. Upon exiting the Great Wall, meet your guide at the meeting point at a dedicated time and take the bus back to Beijing City. You can choose to get off at the iconic Water Cube and Bird's Nest stadiums, instead of the departing location.

Great Wall Hiking: Small Group

8. Great Wall Hiking: Small Group

your guide will meet you at 8am and then drive to Simatai West. You will start the hiking around 10:30am, and it will take about 3 hours to complete. A lunch at a local farmer’s restaurant will be organized after the hiking before returning to the city. This section offers arguably the finest hiking anywhere on the Great Wall. It is extremely photogenic, with over 15 watch-towers, and steep gradients that give constantly changing perspectives and wide, open views. There is fascinating variety in the watch-towers here. Some have two storeys, others three. Some have flat roofs, others rounded and others again are pitched with upturned eaves. This section of the wall is wild, ruined, preserved and original. On a clear day, it is difficult to fail to take good photographs here. 

From Beijing: Badaling Great Wall & Ming Tomb Full-Day Tour

9. From Beijing: Badaling Great Wall & Ming Tomb Full-Day Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel, located within the second ring road of Beijing, between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. On your way to the Great Wall, travel to the Ming Tombs 55 miles away from downtown requiring about an hour of driving. The thirteen Ming Tombs are the best-preserved Chinese imperial tombs with a 600-year history. The tour of the Ming Tombs takes about an hour and finishes up at 10:45. Before lunch at 11:30, you will have 45 minutes for a short visit to the Jade Gallery. Jade carving is an important and famous blend of the excellent skills in carving and Chinese traditional cultures. Have a traditional Chinese lunch at the restaurant inside the Jade Gallery. After lunch, travel to the entrance at Juyonguan of the Badaling Great Wall. There you will have 1.5-hours to hike and take in the appeal of this ancient location which is also where the first emperor of Beijing, Emperor Yongle, and his Empress Xu are buried. On the way back to your hotel, experience the Chinese tea ceremony and culture at a tea house and then transfer back to your hotel within Second Ring Road of Beijing.

Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Small-Group Tour with Lunch

10. Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Small-Group Tour with Lunch

Escape the hustle and bustle of Beijing city center and travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned van to the northeast Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Benefit from the services of a local guide and enjoy a tasty lunch before you decide whether to take the chairlift or brave the long hike of around 4,000 steps to reach the ramparts. Get stunning views of the surrounding forest from the top. Take a closer look at the restored brickwork and watchtowers that helped protect the imperial city and tombs from invasion. Enjoy 3 hours to explore at your own pace. Then, brave the single-rider toboggan ride back down to the foothills and experience this legendary attraction from a different perspective.

Add dates

Things to do in
Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China
15 activities found
Sort by:

Go beyond Great Wall of China

Explore all

Frequently asked questions about Great Wall of China

What top attractions are a must-see in Great Wall of China?

The must-see attractions in Great Wall of China are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Great Wall of China

Want to discover all there is to do in Great Wall of China? Click here for a full list.