Beijing Private Day Trip: Mutianyu Great Wall and Temple of Heaven

At around 9am, your private guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Beijing.

Your first stop is the Temple of Heaven, surrounded by ancient pine trees and what were once royal gardens. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was built in 1420 for emperors to worship heaven and pray for a good harvest, and spreads across 675 acres (273 hectares).

Both the buildings and the complex as a whole are designed to reflect the relationship between heaven and earth, which played a central part in the ancient Chinese world view, as well as mimicking the role of the emperor in this relationship.

After you've explored the shady grounds, drive out of the city to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, around 90 minutes away. This stretch of the UNESCO-listed Great Wall is known for its beautiful surroundings, including dense forest and rich pastures: you'll have some time to hike along the wall and capture pictures. You can even choose to ride a cable car up to the wall or toboggan down (own expense)!

Lunch is at your own expense: your guide will be happy to recommend specialty restaurants in Beijing, be they vegetarian cuisine, Beijing duck, or dumplings. Or you can choose to eat at Mutianyu, although the food offering there is more limited.

You'll finish at Mutianyu around 3:30pm, arriving back at your hotel around 5pm.