Mutianyu Great Wall + Summer Palace 1-day tour [Private English-speaking guide for 2-7 travelers with hotel pickup]

Friendly reminder

1. Elderly travelers aged 60 and above must ensure they are in good health and suitable for travel, and must be accompanied by at least one adult traveler under 55 years old throughout the journey;

Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least one adult traveler under 55 years old throughout the entire trip.

3. Pregnant women, individuals with heart disease, acrophobia, or other special conditions are not recommended to join this tour, as there is a risk of being denied participation. Please book with caution.

We regret to inform you that visitors aged 80 and above cannot be accommodated. We appreciate your understanding.

The Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Huairou District, Beijing, connecting to the Juyongguan Great Wall in the west and Gubeikou in the east. It has been a crucial military stronghold guarding Beijing since ancient times and is renowned as the "Magnificent Pass on Perilous Peaks." The Mutianyu Great Wall features a unique architectural style with densely distributed watchtowers, particularly the distinctive Zhenguan Platform where three watchtowers stand together—a rare sight along the Great Wall.

22 densely packed watchtowers

The Mutianyu Great Wall was mostly built along the steep cliffs on the outer side, following the mountain's contours to utilize the natural terrain for defense. The wall stands 7-8 meters high with a top width of 4-5 meters, primarily constructed with granite, making it majestic and sturdy. The Mutianyu Great Wall features densely distributed watchtowers, with 22 towers along the currently open 2,250-meter section. Notably, within a span of less than 500 meters from Tower One (Great Corner Tower) to Tower Four (Zhengguan Tower), there are four watchtowers. This concentration of watchtowers is unique to the Mutianyu Great Wall and not found in other sections of the Great Wall.

Great Wall Hiking Route Reference

Most visitors hike up the Great Wall via the ascending trails. The attraction features two trails starting from the north and south ticket gates respectively. The north ticket gate provides access to hike up the wall from Tower 10 or Tower 8, while the south ticket gate leads to Tower 8 or Tower 6. Both trails are similar in distance, approximately 1,500 meters. For those who wish to conserve energy, a cable car is available near the north ticket gate, with its upper station located near Tower 14.

Summer Palace

Originally serving as an imperial retreat and garden during the Qing Dynasty, also known as the Summer Palace, it was built around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill following the design principles of Jiangnan-style gardens. As one of China's largest and most well-preserved royal gardens, it boasts exceptionally elegant scenery and houses numerous precious cultural relics, earning its reputation as the "Museum of Royal Gardens."

Traveler photos

Park Overview: The Summer Palace is vast in scale and can be divided into three main areas: the political activity zone centered around the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity; the imperial living quarters primarily consisting of the Hall of Jade Ripples and the Hall of Joyful Longevity; and the scenic garden area featuring the Long Corridor, Back Hill, and Western Section. Approximately three-quarters of the entire park is occupied by Kunming Lake, along whose shores stand over a hundred structures including pavilions, terraces, towers, halls, corridors, and waterside pavilions, totaling more than 3,000 rooms. Iconic landmarks such as the Tower of Buddhist Incense, Long Corridor, Marble Boat, Suzhou Street, and Seventeen-Arch Bridge are must-see attractions when visiting the Summer Palace.

Explore the Summer Palace with a cruise on Kunming Lake. In addition to admiring the magnificent palace architecture, taking a cruise on the lake offers a relaxing and enjoyable way to appreciate the scenic views. The attraction features eight cruise docks: Bafang Pavilion, Wenchang Pavilion, Yulan Hall, Paiyun Hall, Shizhang Pavilion, Bronze Ox, Marble Boat, and South Lake Island, with five types of boats available: pedal boats, rowboats, electric boats, dragon boats, and large painted pleasure boats.

Traveler photos