HOW THIS DAY FEELS
Wonder · Freedom
Feel wonder on the Mutianyu Great Wall, then let the pace soften as you walk through the Summer Palace beside Kunming Lake. It is Beijing seen at two very different scales: a wall following the mountain ridges, and a royal garden shaped around water, paths and open views.
Travelers Said
Melissa Werneck (Brasil)
“CGT takes good care of all of us during the trip. I liked everything, and Shanghai was the most impressive. I didn’t know China is like this before I really came!”
James Rosenfield (America)
Our Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative tour was fantastic. The CGT team is highly professional, organized and dedicated. Very knowledgeable and showed great passion, attention to detail, and enthusiasm throughout an intense and enjoyable tour of almost two weeks!
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Mutianyu Great Wall Above Beijing’s Northern Mountains
08:00 – Hotel Pickup and Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall
Your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Beijing before you travel north to the Mutianyu Great Wall. The drive takes approximately two hours, depending on traffic conditions, and carries you from the city into the mountain landscape beyond central Beijing.
On arrival, take the included round-trip cable car to reach the wall more comfortably. From there, walk at a pace that suits you along the stone ramparts and between the watchtowers. Your guide will explain how the wall was built, how its defence system worked and why this section remains one of the most rewarding places to experience the Great Wall’s scale.
Optional activity: A toboggan ride may be available at an additional cost if you would like to try.
Day 2: Flexible Beijing Lunch
After visiting the Great Wall, stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Your guide can recommend suitable options and suggest Beijing dishes according to your preferences, whether you would like a simple noodle meal, shared dishes or something more familiar.
This leaves you free to choose what and how much you would like to order, then pay the restaurant directly. The stop is designed as a practical pause between the mountain scenery of Mutianyu and the imperial garden experience waiting in the afternoon.
Note: Lunch is not included in the tour price.
Day 3: Summer Palace and Kunming Lake
After lunch, continue by private vehicle to the Summer Palace (aprox. 1 hour), a former imperial retreat arranged around Kunming Lake and the slopes of Longevity Hill. The drive takes approximately one hour, depending on traffic conditions.
Walk through the garden’s pavilions, lakeside pathways and historic corridors as your guide introduces the people and events connected with the palace. The scale here is different from the Great Wall: instead of mountain ridges and watchtowers, the experience centres on water, garden views and spaces designed for imperial leisure.
After your visit, return to your hotel by private vehicle.
Optional activity: Boat ride on Kunming Lake is available at an additional cost if you would like to see the palace grounds from the water.
Day 4:
| Pax(travelers) | 2-3 | 4-5 | 6 or more |
| Price in USD PP | $256 | $198 | $185 |
The price per person may vary based on group size. For group rates and booking details, contact us at our trip planning form.
Day 5:
What is included
- 1. Transportation: Private car usage for the desinated itinerary (5-seater for group of 2 or 3; 7-seater for group of 4-5, minivan for group of 6 or more)
- 2. Entrance: entrance and admission fee to the Mutianyu Great Wall (including round trip cable car, not including toboggan ride) and Summer Palace (not including boat ride).
- 3. Guide: Experienced English-speaking guide
- 4. Service fee
What is not included
- 1. Accommodation, meals, toboggan ride on the Great Wall, boat ride in Summer Palace
- 2. Personal expenses (telephone, souvenir, etc.)
- 3. Anything not mentioned in the "Price includes" section
