BusDa-Full-Day Bus Trips: Mutianyu, Summer & Old Summer Palaces

Mutianyu is the star here: a restored, scenic stretch of the Great Wall with mountain views, watchtowers, and optional cable-car or toboggan rides. You get about three and a half hours there, enough time to walk, take photographs, and set your own pace. Aria, one of the listed guides, is praised for clear storytelling and a friendly manner.

I like the efficient mix of imperial sights. The Summer Palace shows royal leisure beside Kunming Lake, while Yuanmingyuan adds a quieter and more sobering look at China’s past. I also like the early departure, which can mean cooler air and better photographs before the wall grows crowded.

The tradeoff is a long day with three major stops and up to 47 people on the bus. The $23 price is excellent if your selected option includes transport and entrance tickets, but optional rides, boat trips, lunch, and some pickup arrangements can change the final cost.

Key points at a glance

• Three major sights in one day: Combine Mutianyu, the Summer Palace, and Yuanmingyuan without arranging separate transport.
• Three and a half hours at Mutianyu: The longest stop gives you time for wall walks, watchtowers, views, and optional rides.
• Early start helps: An early departure can bring quieter paths and cleaner photographs.
• Optional costs matter: Cable car or toboggan rides cost 140 RMB each, while boat trips cost 100 RMB at the Summer Palace and 80 RMB at Yuanmingyuan.
• Lunch depends on your package: The buffet option can include beer, but lunch is not part of every booking.
• Large shared group: The bus can carry up to 47 people, so this suits flexible sightseers more than those wanting a private pace.

Three Beijing landmarks without three separate bookings

This full-day outing gives you a useful sweep of Beijing. You begin with the Great Wall in the mountains north of the city, then return to the imperial garden world of the Summer Palace, and finish at Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace.

That order makes sense. Mutianyu requires the most physical effort and the longest visit, so it comes first while you have more energy. The two palace stops then offer a slower change of pace, although you should still expect plenty of walking.

The total duration is about 10 hours. That is a full day, not a casual half-day outing. I would choose it when you have limited time in Beijing and want the classic sights in one organized run. If you prefer lingering over one palace or taking long breaks, the schedule may feel tight.

The tour is offered with round-trip air-conditioned bus transport. A private sightseeing version with hotel pickup and drop-off is available when you select that option, while the standard meeting point is at Heping Xiqiao Station, Exit B northeast, in Chaoyang. Check your exact booking carefully because pickup, guide service, and lunch depend on the option you choose.

Mutianyu: the day’s big reward

You get around three hours and 30 minutes at Mutianyu, with admission included. This is enough time to experience more than a quick photo stop, which is important because the wall deserves time for its setting as well as its stonework.

Mutianyu is known for restored watchtowers, broad mountain views, and a more peaceful feel than some sections closer to Beijing. The wall rises and falls along wooded ridges, so even a short walk can bring changing views and a real sense of the terrain.

You can use your time in different ways. Walk between watchtowers if you want the main experience, pause for photographs, or choose the cable car and toboggan options if you want to save energy on the ascent or add a bit of fun to the visit. The cable car costs 140 RMB per person, and the toboggan also costs 140 RMB per person.

Those extras are not small compared with the tour price. I would decide before departure if you want one, then budget for it separately. Do not assume that the admission ticket covers either ride.

The early departure is one of the better features of the day. The guide Aria is specifically praised for making an early start worthwhile, with fewer people around for photographs. Early timing also gives you a better chance of enjoying the wall before the strongest heat of the day, though weather conditions can vary.

The main caution is physical effort. Mutianyu includes slopes, steps, and uneven walking surfaces. The tour information says most people can participate, but your comfort will depend on how much walking and climbing you normally manage. If you take the cable car or toboggan, confirm the current arrangement with your guide, since optional rides are paid separately.

A royal retreat at the Summer Palace

The second stop lasts about two hours and 30 minutes at the Summer Palace, also called Yiheyuan. Admission is included, and the visit shifts the mood from mountain fortifications to imperial gardens, pavilions, water, and long views around Kunming Lake.

The palace was a Qing dynasty retreat. Its appeal comes from the way buildings, paths, hills, and water work together. You are not simply looking at one grand hall. You are moving through a large royal complex designed for views, shade, ceremony, and leisure.

Two and a half hours is a sensible amount of time for a guided introduction. You can see important areas and get a feel for the scale without giving the palace an entire day. Still, this is a large site, so you should not expect to see every corner at a relaxed pace.

A tour boat is available for an additional 100 RMB per person. It may appeal if you want to rest your feet and see the grounds from the water, but it will add both cost and time pressure. Ask the guide how long the boat ride takes before committing, especially if you want enough time for the rest of the visit.

The Tower of Buddhist Incense is listed as an optional sight within the Summer Palace, but it is closed on Mondays. That detail matters if the palace’s high views are a priority for you. A Monday visit may require adjusting your expectations, and the tower should not be treated as a guaranteed part of the day.

Yuanmingyuan: beauty, loss, and a quieter finish

The final stop is Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, for about one hour and 30 minutes. Admission is included. Compared with the active wall visit and the polished imperial setting of Yiheyuan, this stop has a more reflective tone.

Yuanmingyuan was once known as the Garden of Gardens. Today, it is also a reminder of destruction, cultural loss, and the endurance of historical memory. Ruins and open grounds give the place a different character from the restored Summer Palace.

I value this stop because it adds meaning to a day that could otherwise become a parade of famous photographs. You see not only what imperial China built, but also what was damaged and left behind. The site helps put Beijing’s grand palaces into a wider historical frame.

An optional boat trip costs 80 RMB per person. With only 90 minutes here, I would first follow the guide’s route and decide if you have enough spare time. The stop is shorter than the Summer Palace visit, so a boat ride may not suit anyone who wants to walk through the grounds or listen to the historical explanation.

This is also the point where the day may feel long. After Mutianyu and the Summer Palace, you may be ready for a meal or a quiet seat on the bus. The shorter final stop keeps the schedule moving, but it does not allow the same freedom as a dedicated Yuanmingyuan visit.

What the $23 price really covers

At $23 per person, this is priced as a value-focused sightseeing day. The strongest value comes from combining transportation and entrance tickets for three major places. Organizing these stops independently would require more planning, more transfers, and careful timing.

Still, read the selected package rather than assuming every feature comes with the base fare. Round-trip air-conditioned transportation and site admission are listed inclusions. An English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and buffet lunch apply if you choose the appropriate option.

The buffet lunch option deserves a special note. It can include beer, which is an unusual and useful detail for a budget day tour. If lunch matters to you, choose the package that includes it instead of expecting food to appear during the schedule.

Your extra budget should include the activities you care about:

• Cable car: 140 RMB per person
• Toboggan: 140 RMB per person
• Summer Palace boat: 100 RMB per person
• Old Summer Palace boat: 80 RMB per person

Personal expenses are not included. I would carry enough Chinese currency or confirm accepted payment methods before leaving, especially if you plan to use several optional services.

Group discounts are available, and the shared bus can hold up to 47 people. That keeps the price low, but it also means the guide must keep everyone moving. If you want personal commentary, flexible meal stops, or extra time at one site, the private car or private sightseeing version may be worth the higher price.

Timing, meeting point, and the shape of the day

The standard meeting point is Heping Xiqiao Station, Exit B northeast, in Chaoyang. It is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying in Beijing and can reach the station easily.

A pickup service is offered, but hotel pickup and drop-off are tied to the option selected. Do not assume that every $23 booking includes door-to-door service. Your confirmation should show the correct meeting details and end point, since the activity finishes in a different location from the start.

The early departure has two clear benefits: it can help you reach Mutianyu before the largest crowds, and it leaves enough time for all three stops. The cost is an early morning and a long day. I would prepare the night before, bring water, wear shoes suited to steps, and keep your day bag light.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For a schedule built around outdoor walking, that policy is sensible, but keep some flexibility in your Beijing plans.

Free shuttle transportation within the scenic area is included. That can reduce unnecessary walking in the larger sites, though the full experience still involves substantial time on your feet.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this trip to you if you have one full day for Beijing’s best-known sights and prefer a ready-made plan. It is especially useful for a first visit, a short stay, or a layover-style schedule where private transport would cost more.

It also suits you if you want a classic Great Wall visit without shopping stops. The advertised focus is sightseeing, and the day moves from one major site to the next rather than detouring to shops.

You should think twice if you dislike group schedules. A bus of up to 47 people cannot wait indefinitely for late arrivals, and the three-stop plan leaves limited room for wandering. A private option would give you more control.

The tour is also less suitable if your main goal is an exhaustive visit to one palace. You get a good introduction to the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan, but neither receives the attention it would get on a dedicated half-day visit.

Should you book Busda’s three-stop Beijing day?

Book it if you want maximum sightseeing for a low starting price, value included admission and shared transport, and accept a long, structured day. Mutianyu receives the time it deserves, while the two palace visits add variety and historical weight.

Before paying, confirm four things: your meeting or pickup arrangement, whether an English-speaking guide is included, whether lunch is included, and which optional rides you want. If you make those choices in advance, the $23 starting price can be very good value.

I would skip it only if you need a slow pace, guaranteed private service, or a detailed visit to every part of the palaces. For everyone else, this is a practical way to fit Beijing’s Great Wall and two major imperial sites into one well-packed day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours.

Which attractions are included?

The tour visits Mutianyu Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the Old Summer Palace, also called Yuanmingyuan.

Are entrance tickets included?

Entrance tickets to the sites are included.

Is transportation included?

Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned bus is included. Hotel pickup and drop-off apply when you select the private tour option that offers them.

Is lunch included?

Buffet lunch is included only if you select the option that includes it. The buffet may include beer.

How much do the optional rides and boat trips cost?

The cable car costs 140 RMB per person, and the toboggan costs 140 RMB. The Summer Palace boat costs 100 RMB, and the Old Summer Palace boat costs 80 RMB per person.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of bad weather?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.