Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City Private Tour
If you're short on time in Beijing but still want to hit the city’s biggest landmarks - the Great Wall and the Forbidden City - this GetYourGuide private tour might be your best bet. It promises fast-track access, private transportation, and a personal guide who makes the whole experience smooth and stress-free. After taking this tour in the heat of summer, here’s my honest take about what worked, what surprised me, and what you’ll want to know before you go.
Beijing’s summer heat is intense—especially in July and August, when temperatures can soar past 100°F (38°C). With all the walking, stairs, and sun-exposed courtyards, you’ll start sweating almost immediately. The earlier you start your day, the better. When we arrived at the Great Wall around 9 a.m., it was still relatively cool and manageable. But by the time we reached Tian’anmen Square in the early afternoon, the heat was brutal—blazing sun, concrete everywhere, and barely any shade.
If you're traveling in summer, plan for an early departure, and don’t forget sun protection: bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, plenty of water, a handheld/portable fan and wear breathable, moisture-wicking clothes. We brought water bottles and our tour guide showed up with a case of bottled water as well. We went through probably 2 bottles of water per person during the day.
There are several ways to reach the Great Wall at Mutianyu: hiking up, taking the gondola ride to Tower 14 or taking the chair lift to Tower 6. I kept saying we want the gondola up and the toboggan down, but that got lost in translation, so we ended up with the chair lift up and the toboggan slide down.
Morning: Mutianyu Great Wall
The first stop of the day was Mutianyu, one of the quieter, more scenic sections of the Great Wall. It’s about 90 minutes outside of Beijing and much less crowded than Badaling, the more touristy section. I’ve read that it is much less crowded here, but I truly expected to be packed in tourists and I was thankfully surprised. It was worth the drive and worth the early morning wake up call. There was still fog over parts of the mountains when we arrived at the top. Even though there was a handful of people on the wall, it was quiet and serene, and really beautiful.
Once you're on the wall, you'll walk along stone paths and steep steps between guard towers. The section between Towers 6 and 14 is well-restored and walkable, but the stairs are no joke - some are shallow, others knee-high, and some sections are lopsided from left to right. Wear grippy shoes, bring water, and take breaks in the shaded watchtowers.
Getting Up the Wall
Check out the slope of those uneven stairs!
There are several ways to climb the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, and how you get up (and down!) can totally change your experience especially in the summer heat. The chair lift/toboggan combination ended up being a great option for us, especially the kids, but if you’re afraid of heights, you might want to check out the gondola ride instead.
The hike up involves a long, steep staircase that winds through the forest, and it can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes depending on your pace. It's a great option if you're visiting during cooler months and want a physical challenge, but probably not ideal if you're traveling with young kids. Since we were trying to maximize our day and had Millie with us, we opted not to walk up the wall. Instead, we took the chair lift, which is a quick and scenic ride straight to Tower 6.
On the chair lift up the Great Wall looking down at the toboggan slide
The chair lift offers open-air views of the lush forest and mountains as you glide upward. It was quiet and peaceful but if you’re afraid of heights you need to skip this! It’s a pretty basic chair lift with one pull down bar holding you in. The chair lift operator put me in the middle of both of the girls although I would've preferred to have had Millie in the middle. It worked out since London got a little afraid of the height on the way up, so I was able to hold on to both of them. If you have two much smaller kids, go hands free on this ride so that you can hold on to both of them.
View going up the chair lift
Getting Down: Toboggan Slide = Must-Do!
Instead of hiking back down or taking the chair lift again, we opted for the aluminum toboggan slide and for the kids, it was a great way to head back down to the car. The track winds down the mountain through trees and rolling hills, and you control your own speed using a hand brake. It’s safe, fun, and surprisingly long, making it a hit for everyone! It felt like riding a luge through a forest, with just enough thrill to be exciting but not scary. If you're visiting Mutianyu, don’t skip the toboggan, it’s a fun and totally unique way to wrap up your Great Wall adventure.
About the Toboggan Slide
Not included – Some tours include toboggan or chair lift tickets, but many don’t. Double-check or be prepared to pay on site
Height requirement – Riders must be at least 132 cm tall to ride ALONE however, if the guy running the toboggan thinks you’re too short, then you’re too short. He will not measure.
Kids – Younger children can ride with a parent, but must sit in front and be able to hold the brake. Also, kids under 120cm are free.
Duration – The slide takes about 5–10 minutes depending on your speed.
Safety note – You control the brake. Go slow around turns and leave space between riders to avoid collisions.
Adults OVER 60 are not allowed - and they want to see your passport to verify. They turned my in-laws away and made them ride the chairlift down.
Afternoon: A Quick Stop at Tian’anmen Square
Before entering the Forbidden City, our guide quickly walked us around Tian’anmen Square, which sits directly in front of the palace gates. It’s one of the largest public squares in the world and if you’re already headed to the Forbidden City, it’s worth the few extra minutes.
We passed famous landmarks like:
The Monument to the People’s Heroes
The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
The iconic Tian’anmen Gate, with its enormous portrait of Chairman Mao overlooking the entrance to the Forbidden City
The whole family in Tian’anmen Square
Why Tian’anmen Square? It’s not necessarily beautiful, but undeniably historic. For one, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China in the square on October 1, 1949. Most of the western world knows it for the Tian’anmen Square Massacre in 1989. Following seven weeks of protests by Chinese university students in Beijing who opposed the authoritarian rule of their government, the Chinese Liberation Army rolled in to Tian’anmen Square with tanks and armed soldiers and began an assault on the protestors. The complete death toll is unknown, it’s estimated between several hundred to several thousand and the reaction to the protests set limits on political expression in China that have lasted up to the present day. The events remain one of the most sensitive and most widely censored topics in China
The square is under HEAVY security, with ID checks, bag scans, and lots of cameras. Our guide handled the logistics, which made it easy to walk through without getting overwhelmed. I’ll be honest - I was actually surprised by how much security there was from the time we parked, until the time we finished at The Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City
By the time we reached the Forbidden City, the summer sun was blazing, and the crowds had rolled in. The most surprising? The sheer volume of domestic tourists. Chinese tour groups are big, loud, and not shy about pushing to get ahead. Personal space? Doesn’t exist. I was constantly getting elbowed or bumped from behind, not maliciously, but definitely unapologetically. It’s just a different cultural norm and that’s saying a lot for someone that has spent nearly 7 years living in and adjusting to the lack of personal space in South Korea. If you’re someone who values personal space, be prepared. Patience and flexibility go a long way here.
The reason we still travel with a stroller
Chinese nationals must book their tickets 7 days in advance and there is a limited number of tickets available each day. However, foreigners can now buy tickets using their passport at the Forbidden City ticket office on the day of their visit. I booked this tour in advance and had to send passport numbers to confirm booking. That being said, our Forbidden City tickets were not purchased in advance. In fact, our guide told me to take all of our passports and his phone (for payment) to the ticket booth to purchase the tickets when we arrived, and “if they ask why you didn’t purchase beforehand, tell them you weren’t sure if you were going to come today.”
By the time we reached the actual inside of the Forbidden City, we were D O N E. Done. From Tian’anmen Square until the time our guide left us to enter the Forbidden City, we had gone through not one, not two but FOUR (4!!!) security check points. We were hot, we were tired of being pushed around and we were exhausted. Did we hightail it from one end of the Forbidden City to the other end in an attempt to avoid the crowds? Yes. There were pockets of quiet and less crowds along the side corridors where we slowed down a bit but we wasted no time finding the exit.
The crowd at the Forbidden City
Unpopular opinion: I’m not sure the Forbidden City is worth all of the added security check points and crowds but feel free to convince me otherwise..
Pros & Cons of the Tour
One of the best parts of this tour was how seamlessly everything was handled. From hotel pickup to final drop-off, the logistics were completely taken care of. Our English-speaking guide was friendly, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. Since it was a private tour, we moved at our own pace, paused for breaks when we needed them, and never felt rushed. Instead of stressing over tickets, navigating transportation, or trying to beat the crowds on our own, we got to just focus on enjoying the experience..
That said, there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. It’s a long, hot day - especially in the peak of summer - so if you’re not used to walking for hours in high heat, prepare accordingly. While the Great Wall was relatively peaceful, the Forbidden City was far more crowded than we expected, and the lack of personal space can be intense. Lastly, the tour isn’t cheap.
I paid just about $450 for this tour for 6 people. That included pick-up/drop-off at our hotel, the Great Wall entrance fee, a private car and driver all day, and tickets to the Forbidden City. I did have to pay extra at the end of the day because our hotel was outside of the initial pick up zone (we were made aware of this within minutes of booking, so we were prepared) and for the chair lift/toboggan tickets. Still, for everything that was included, I felt the value matched the price. It’s definitely a premium experience, but if you’re someone who values comfort, efficiency, and zero logistical stress, it’s worth the cost.
London and Pappy outside of the Forbidden City
If you’re short on time and want to hit the highlights of Beijing, this GetYourGuide tour is a great option. However, if you have more time in the city or want to spend more time at the Great Wall, I would recommend other options like this one with all day or night access to the Great Wall. Initially we were going to do an evening tour to beat the heat, but pairing it with the Forbidden City wasn’t an option, so we opted for the private tour.
What Not to Do in China as an American Tourist
While China is generally safe and welcoming for foreign travelers, cultural norms and political sensitivities are very different from back home. Here are a few quick things to avoid:
Don’t talk politics – Avoid asking locals about the Chinese government, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Tibet. Criticizing the Communist Party, even jokingly, is taken very seriously and could get you (or them) into trouble.
Avoid posting politically sensitive content online – Social media in China is monitored, and even posts made outside the country can raise flags.
Don’t mention Tian’anmen Square protests unless you’re very sure of your audience – It’s heavily censored and not openly discussed in China.
Don’t assume people speak English—or that they want to – Many Chinese tourists and locals aren’t fluent, and being loud or demanding can come off as rude.
Be mindful with photos – Don’t take close-up photos of military, police, or security checkpoints, including in places like Tian’anmen Square.
It should go without saying, but be respectful of the country and the culture. Small cultural misunderstandings are normal, but being polite and observant goes a long way. And when in doubt, just keep your mouth shut.
The Great Wall ice cream bar
If you're a U.S. military family stationed in Asia, there's a chance you can visit China visa-free in 2025—but there are strict rules you need to follow. Read my full guide to visiting China visa-free as an American military family.
