Things to do in Great Wall of China

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. Have the option to buy the ticket combination for the wall and cable car and save time when you arrive. 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.

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. 

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.

The full-day group tour begins between 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM with a pickup from your hotel within the second ring road of Beijing. Drive from there to the Ming Tombs, the underground mausoleum of Emperor Zhudi. Enjoy a typical Chinese lunch and visit a jade carving factory. After lunch, continue to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. This is one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall, and at one time served to defend the capital and the imperial tombs. To reach the highest point on this part of the wall, a cable car ride is a good choice (not included in the tour price). Before returning to your Beijing hotel, enjoy Chinese tea ceremony at a teahouse. Arrive at your hotel at around 17:00 PM.

Depart from your hotel in downtown Beijing at approximately 6:00 am. Enjoy a simple breakfast before starting the trip to the Jinshanling Great Wall. Start your 3-hour hike on the eastern section of the wall at 10 am with plenty of photo opportunities of the surrounding foliage, architecture, and towers along the way. Be surrounded by ancient architecture to marvel at the along this 6 km hike. Take time to enjoy the breathtaking sights along the parapets on this relatively less crowded section of the wall with room to stop and admire the views. This section of the Great Wall offers a look at each unique tower along the way, ensuring there is always something new to discover. After the included lunch, your adventure will conclude and you will be transferred back to the city. Hotel pick up is only available from select hotels located within the second ring road in central Beijing.

Benefit from early morning pickup at your hotel in Beijing city center, and then relax in air-conditioned comfort on the 2.5-hour journey to the Jinshanling Great Wall.  Located 140 kilometers (87 miles) northeast of the imperial capital, the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China connects to the Simatai and Gubeikou sections to the east and west, and is acclaimed for its brick-built watchtowers and dragon-like form as it snakes across the mountains. Get 3.5 hours to explore the wall and go for a peaceful walk without the usual tourist crowds to enjoy the amazing views. Break for a typical lunch at a local restaurant before the drive back to Beijing, where you will get dropped off at a subway station for your convenience. 

See the Great Wall of China and discover the most important sights of the Forbidden City, with a stop at Tiananmen Square. Learn about the history and architecture of the areas you visit from your local expert guide. Day 1: Pick-up service from Tianjin Port, Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City(L) Your Beijing English-speaking guide will be holding a sign with your name on it and waiting in the lobby of Tianjin Port at 08:00. After 2.5-hours of driving, you will visit Tiananmen Square to observe monuments created from Mao's influence on China's modern history. From there, proceed to the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palace with 600 years of history in the world. Visit the Forbidden City along the central axis from south to north for approximately 2-hours. Then, you will have a chance to visit a Silk Museum and learn about traditional silk culture. After having a short stop, have a typical Chinese lunch for about 40 minutes in a local restaurant. Later, go back to your hotel. Day 2: Great Wall and the Summer Palace(L) On the second day, you will experience China's No.1 highlight attraction, the Badaling Great Wall through Juyongguan entrance side. This is the less crowded and quieter part of the Great Wall. After your visit, enjoy a Chinese lunch at the authentic Jade Gallery Restaurant, then you can also experience interesting ancient Chinese Jade culture there, later on visit the most impressive and beautiful Summer Palace, the largest and most beautiful Chinese imperial garden. Stay for about 1.5-hours before you leave to enjoy an amazing Chinese tea ceremony at a local tea house. Then, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Please note the hotel is not provided.

Day 1: Tianjin International Cruise Port to Beijing - Tiananmen - Forbidden City (L) Once the cruise ship docks in Tianjin International Cruise Port, your private guide will welcome you at the exit of the arrival hall, assist you with your luggage, then begin the 2.5-hour journey to Beijing. On the way, your guide will keep you entertained with fun facts and trivia about the city and its countless sights. Once arrival in Beijing, your tour will start from the Temple of Heaven. The magnificent and colorful Temple of Heaven was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would make offerings to heaven and pray for full harvests.  Then, you will stop at a local restaurant for a traditional Chinese lunch. Afterwards, you will explore the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City area. Spend about 2 to 3-hours to explore the palace and learn the detailed history and stories with your knowledgeable tour guide. After that, your will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing.  Day 2: Summer Palace - Great Wall - Tianjin International Cruise Port (L) Check out of your hotel in the morning to begin your tour. Your first stop will be the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is the best-kept existing royal garden in Beijing. With a concentration of the best of ancient buildings as well as styles of gardening, it is a virtual museum of traditional Chinese gardening. Then after about a 1-hour drive to the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section, stop at the local village for a delicous Chinese lunch. Then, set off on a 30 minute journey along the scenic mountains and villages to the Great Wall as your guide explains the stories and histories of the the Great Wall. Have plenty of time to enjoy the surrounding mountains and ride in a cable car or ski lift with toboggan at your discretion. Your shore excursion will then conclude back at Tianjin International Port in time for your cruise departure. The journey back will take approximately 3.5-hours. Your tour guide and driver will ensure your timely return back to the ship at Tianjin International Cruise Port.