Small Group Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs Tour with Cable Car and Lunch

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We will reconfirm the 7:30 AM pick-up time with you 1 day prior to your tour. Your dedicated guide will be waiting for you in your hotel lobby, holding a sign with your name. Once meet your guide, board a comfortable private minivan to kick off your unforgettable Great Wall adventure. The scenic 1.5-hour drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall will be both informative and interactive: your guide will share fascinating stories about the Great Wall’s 2,000-year history, military significance, and cultural legacy. Feel free to ask any questions along the way—we’re here to make your journey as insightful as it is enjoyable. Renowned for its well-preserved architecture and stunning mountain views, the Mutianyu Great Wall boasts 23 watchtowers restored to their original Ming Dynasty glory. Upon arrival, you can choose your preferred way to ascend the wall: take the chair lift up to Tower 6 (and experience the thrilling toboggan ride down later) or opt for a round-trip cable car to Tower 14.

   2 hAdmission included

2. Your guide will accompany you to explore the wall, offering vivid explanations of the watchtowers, beacon towers, and their historic roles in ancient China’s defense system. After the guided tour, you’ll have plenty of free time to wander at your own pace—climb further along the wall, capture postcard-perfect photos of the sweeping landscapes, or simply soak in the grandeur of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. When your exploration comes to an end, we’ll head back the same route. If you chose the chair lift option, don’t miss the highlight of the trip: the exhilarating toboggan descent down the mountain slopes! Afterward, we’ll treat you to a delicious local lunch to refuel after your exciting day.

   1 hAdmission included

3. Following lunch, we’ll embark on a 1-hour drive through winding mountain roads to the Ming Tombs. The journey itself is a feast for the eyes: rolling green hills stretch as far as the eye can see, and on clear days, you can catch a glimpse of the wild, unrestored sections of the Great Wall in the distance—their weathered ramparts standing as a silent testament to centuries of history. As one of China’s most iconic imperial mausoleum complexes, the Ming Tombs house the final resting places of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, a UNESCO World Heritage Site steeped in royal grandeur and ancient ritual. Among these magnificent tombs, we will focus our visit on Dingling Mausoleum.

   1 hAdmission included

4. Dingling Mausoleum is the only one among the Ming Tombs that has been fully excavated, offering a rare peek into the opulent afterlife envisioned by Ming royalty. Constructed in the late 16th century for Emperor Wanli and his two empresses, this underground palace is a marvel of Ming Dynasty engineering and craftsmanship. Led by your knowledgeable guide, you will venture deep into the subterranean chambers, where you can marvel at the grand stone arches, intricate carvings. You will also get to view a collection of exquisite cultural relics unearthed from the tomb, including delicate jade ornaments, silk garments, and royal treasures that once adorned the imperial court—each artifact telling a story of the dynasty’s prosperity and artistic prowess. Afterwards, your guide will escort you back to the private minivan. We will then drive you safely and comfortably back to your downtown hotel, bringing your full-day journey through Beijing’s ancient wonders to a perfect close.

   30 minAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 31 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Beijing

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 3624 experiences we list in Beijing.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 251 of 3624.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Beijing

Beijing, China's capital for centuries, holds imperial palaces, sacred temples and stretches of the Great Wall within reach of its modern boulevards.

At the city's heart, the Forbidden City spreads behind vermilion walls, a labyrinth of halls and courtyards that housed the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Tiananmen Square lies to its south, and the hill of Jingshan Park to its north gives the finest view over its golden roofs. The Temple of Heaven, set in a park where locals practise tai chi and dance, is a masterpiece of imperial design.

Top-ranked sights in Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang).

See all 3624 experiences in Beijing