Top Things to Do in Beijing

Top Things to Do in Beijing

12 must-see attractions and experiences

Beijing hits you first with scale, then with smells. Roasting chestnuts drift across avenues wide enough for armies. Glass towers rise. But the gates still stand. Forget the checklist. You'll bounce from temple silence to lamb smoke in one block. Monumental, intimate, state-approved, personal: all within a ten-minute walk. Pack tough shoes. Distances sprawl. Look up: birds in cages on balconies. Look down: polished palace stone. Finish the day with sharp zhajiangmian. Vinegar bite. You earned it. The Wall is a choose-your-own-adventure. Mutianyu gives pine ridges and elbow room. Jinshanling gives rubble and sky. Pick.

Hand-Picked Experiences in Beijing

The best of every kind, whatever you're in the mood for

Culture & History

★ Top Pick Beijing:Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Tour

Beijing:Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Tour

5.0 99 reviews from $188

A private and all-inclusive tour of the Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace for comfort and authenticity.

Insider tip Enjoy smooth door-to-door service in a private air-conditioned vehicle

Mutianyu Great Wall And Summer Palace Private Day Tour

Mutianyu Great Wall And Summer Palace Private Day Tour

5.0 67 reviews from $95

A private day tour of the Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace for travelers with limited time.

Insider tip your guide will help you take standout photos to capture the memories

Private Day to T-Square, Forbidden city, Temple of heaven, Summer palace Tour

Private Day to T-Square, Forbidden city, Temple of heaven, Summer palace Tour

5.0 66 reviews from $182

Cultural · rated 5.0 from 66 reviews · from $182

Insider tip Sample a tasty peking roast duck at lunch, an unmissable treat

Day Trips Further Afield

Jinshanling Private Tour with Night View of Simatai and Gubei Water Town from Beijing

Jinshanling Private Tour with Night View of Simatai and Gubei Water Town from Beijing

5.0 108 reviews from $278

Private tour · rated 5.0 from 108 reviews · from $278

Insider tip Spend daytime wandering the Wall for crowd-free, peaceful exploration

Food & Drink

Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef

Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef

5.0 65 reviews from $20

An online cooking class for Beijing dumplings and cuisine with a well-known chef.

Insider tip your teacher will share the recipes with you after the class

Adventure & the Outdoors

Mutianyu Great Wall 5-Kilometer Guided Hike with Uphill Cable Car

Mutianyu Great Wall 5-Kilometer Guided Hike with Uphill Cable Car

5.0 57 reviews from $65

A guided hike on the Mutianyu Great Wall with an uphill cable car.

Insider tip your guide will share fascinating stories and practical tips for the day

More to Explore

Even more of the best of Beijing

Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour

Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour

Private Tour
5.0 317 reviews from $80

Private Mutianyu trip, your pace, no herds. Cable car up, stone path between towers, pine wind in your ears. Linger at curves, shoot photos, no schedule breathing down your neck.

Full day. Expensive Early weekday morning.
Arrive at gate-opening; golden hour belongs to you.
Insider tip: Early weekday morning.
Beijing to Xi'an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer

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

Other
5.0 277 reviews from $564

Bullet train shrinks Xi'an to a side trip. You glide over the plain, then stare at clay soldiers who haven't moved since 210 BC.

Full day, very long. Expensive
Pack hotel lunch. Site food targets tour buses.
Insider tip: Skip Golden Week.
All-inclusive Private Day Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall

All-inclusive Private Day Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall

Guided Experience
5.0 112 reviews from $188

All-inclusive Mutianyu: car, driver, guide, fees. Hotel to foothills to parapets fading into haze.

Full day. Expensive Mid-week morning.
Ask upfront if cable ticket is in the bundle.
Insider tip: Mid-week morning.
Beijing Capital Airport Layover Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour

Beijing Capital Airport Layover Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour

Private Tour
5.0 221 reviews from $69

Layover escape: airport to Mutianyu and back. Need onward ticket for transit visa.

6-8 hours. Moderate
Insider tip: Flight sets the clock.
Mutianyu Great Wall Private Day Tour With English-Speaking Driver

Mutianyu Great Wall Private Day Tour With English-Speaking Driver

Guided Experience
5.0 93 reviews from $75

Driver only, English spoken. Door to Mutianyu, freedom inside.

Full day. Moderate Morning.
Ask for farmer's lunch after: chicken, mushrooms, honest price.
Insider tip: Morning.
Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

Private Tour
5.0 80 reviews from $99

Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Mutianyu in one gulp. Urban buzz to mountain hush.

Full day, very long. Expensive Weekday dawn.
Start early, wear marathon shoes.
Insider tip: Weekday dawn.
Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour with Options

Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour with Options

Private Tour
5.0 80 reviews from $80

Private wheels to Mutianyu, add guide or cable ticket as you like.

Full day. Moderate Morning.
Tell guide your knees' opinion before he picks the route.
Insider tip: Morning.

Planning Your Visit

Practical tips for getting the most out of Beijing

Best Time to Visit
Autumn rules. Late September to early November, humidity gone, sky blue.
Booking Advice
Book Forbidden City tickets days ahead. Quotas vanish.
Save Money
Ride the subway to the door, walk the last stretch. Save cash.
Local Etiquette
Offer business cards with both hands. That is all.

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