The BEST Beijing Tours and Excursions

Welcome to Beijing, where ancient history meets modern energy. From the Forbidden City's grandeur to the Great Wall's breathtaking vistas, there's plenty to explore. If you're short on time, our Popular Beijing Tours below showcase handpicked itineraries covering the capital's best bits – perfect for experiencing iconic sights with local insights.

🔥Popular Beijing Tours

Badaling Great Wall

Visiting the Great Wall of China is a highlight of any trip to Beijing, offering both adventure and history. While the Badaling section is popular for its restored watchtowers and easy access, the Mutianyu section provides quieter trails surrounded by lush greenery. Walking along the ancient stones, you can imagine soldiers guarding the frontier centuries ago. If you’re visiting Badaling, don’t miss the chance to climb up to the highest vantage points for panoramic views. Early mornings or late afternoons are ideal to avoid crowds and capture stunning photos.

Getting to the Great Wall from central Beijing requires some planning. The cheapest option is taking Bus 877 from Beitucheng Station, reached via Subway Line 8 & 10. However, this may take more than two hours, depending on traffic. Tourist buses are more direct but often pricier. On my last trip, I opted for the train from Beijing North Station to Badaling Great Wall Station, which took just 35 minutes. I’d strongly advise booking tickets early – I learned the hard way when I nearly missed out due to last-minute plans! Here’s a quick guide to train options:

When choosing where to stay, hotels near Dongcheng District are a great base. I once stayed in a charming guesthouse near Jingshan Park, which offered easy access to the Forbidden City and quick subway links to the train stations. For those who prefer modern comforts, Wangfujing area hotels place you steps away from bustling shopping streets and metro lines. If you’re keen to explore Beijing’s artsy side, consider Chaoyang District – it’s close to the 798 Art Zone and has excellent transport links. Wherever you stay, prioritise locations near Beijing North Station or Qinghe Station to simplify your Great Wall day trip. After all, saving time on travel means more moments to soak in the wall’s timeless beauty.

Forbidden City

Exploring the Forbidden City is like stepping into a living museum of China’s imperial past. Wandering through its grand courtyards and ornate halls, you’ll find endless details to admire – from the intricate dragon carvings on the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the quiet beauty of the Imperial Garden. Don’t miss the Clock Exhibition Hall, where centuries-old timepieces showcase craftsmanship that still feels ahead of its time. For a quieter experience, head to the eastern and western palace wings, where smaller exhibitions reveal stories of royal life. Arriving just after opening time, particularly on weekdays, allows you to enjoy the complex with fewer visitors – a tip I learned after noticing how crowds swell by mid-morning.

When it comes to tours, options cater to different interests. Guided group tours are ideal for history buffs, with experts explaining tales of emperors and court intrigues. If you prefer flexibility, audio guides (available in multiple languages) let you explore at your own pace.

Choosing where to stay can make your Beijing trip smoother. Hotels near Dongcheng District place you within walking distance of the Forbidden City’s east gate, perfect for beating the morning queues. For those who want to balance culture with convenience, Wangfujing area hotels offer easy access to the palace’s south entrance and the lively snack street nearby. If you’re travelling with family, consider Chaoyang District for its modern hotels and quick metro links to Tiananmen Square. Wherever you stay, aim for accommodation near Subway Line 1 to reach the Forbidden City hassle-free. After a day of exploring, there’s nothing better than returning to a comfortable base – especially one that lets you dive straight back into Beijing’s wonders the next morning.

The Summer Palace

Wandering through the Summer Palace feels like leafing through a living album of imperial leisure. This UNESCO-listed marvel, with its harmonious blend of Kunming Lake’s mirror-like waters and the Longevity Hill’s architectural crescendo, offers more than postcard views – it’s a masterclass in classical Chinese landscape design. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge becomes particularly enchanting at golden hour, its stone lions casting elongated shadows across the water, while the Marble Boat near the western shore stands as a poignant metaphor for the empire’s fading glory.

For first-time visitors, I’d recommend beginning at the East Palace Gate to follow the same route emperors once took, pausing to admire the Long Corridor’s painted ceiling panels – each telling stories from folklore that even many locals haven’t fully deciphered. Hiring a paddle boat near the South Lake Island lets you appreciate the palace’s deliberate perspectives from the water, much as the imperial family would have done during moonlit parties. Those seeking quiet moments should venture to the Suzhou Street reconstruction in the northern section, where reconstructed Qing-era shopfronts create an immersive historical theatre without the main thoroughfare’s bustle.

When it comes to guided experiences, opt for specialist-led architecture tours that decode the site’s feng shui principles. For accommodation, please give priority to those within walking distance of the Summer Palace to extend your historical explorations.

The Temple of Heaven Park

Stepping through the vermilion gates of the Temple of Heaven always feels like entering a celestial conversation between earth and sky, where Ming emperors once performed solstice rituals on the very marble platforms that modern tai chi practitioners now grace shortly after the park opens in the morning. This 15th-century complex, with its iconic triple-gabled Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests rising like a sapphire-crowned jewel, showcases China’s cosmological precision – the entire layout forms a symbolic northern semicircle (representing heaven) meeting a square southern section (embodying earth). Morning visitors shouldn’t miss the Echo Wall, where whispered secrets still travel its 65-metre circumference with uncanny clarity, a quirk of 600-year-old acoustics that delights children and historians alike.

What makes the temple grounds particularly special is their dual role as both historical monument and living cultural space. Arrive before 8 AM to watch locals practising water calligraphy on the Danbi Bridge’s warm stones, or join weekend paper-cutting workshops held in the shadow of the Imperial Vault. For deeper insights, imperial ritual reenactment tours held during the autumn equinox offer costumed demonstrations of ancient ceremonies, complete with replica jade bi discs and bronze wine vessels.

Travellers preferring modern comforts might consider hotels near Qianmen Street, where glass-fronted high-rises like the Hotel Jen provide panoramic views of the temple’s circular architecture contrasting with the linear modernity of Beijing’s south axis. For those combining visits with other historical sites, the Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven offers direct subway access to both the Forbidden City and the railway station, its rooftop bar framing the Hall of Prayer’s silhouette against starry skies – an elegant reminder that in Beijing, ancient landmarks never feel far from contemporary life.

A visit to Beijing introduces travellers to famous sights like the Badaling Great Wall and the Forbidden City, alongside the peaceful gardens of the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. While these landmarks are essential, the city’s true character lies beyond. To uncover more of Beijing’s unique culture and hidden wonders, click below for additional must-see attractions.👇👇👇