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

Mutianyu is the star of this Beijing day trip. Its restored towers, mountain views, and quieter setting give you a better feel for the Great Wall than a rushed city stop. You then move from military defenses to imperial gardens at Summer Palace, before ending at the ruined Old Summer Palace.

I like the strong value: admission tickets and bus transport are included, and the three stops show very different sides of Beijing. I also like the early departure, which can help you take photos before the biggest crowds arrive. The drawback is a long day with a large group of up to 47 people, plus extra charges for cable cars, toboggan rides, boats, and some tour options.

Key points before you book

• Mutianyu gets three and a half hours, enough time for a serious look at the wall rather than a quick photo stop.
• All three sites have a different character, from mountain fortifications to royal gardens and ruined palaces.
• The $23 price covers basic transport and entrance tickets, making it a strong budget choice.
• Cable cars and toboggan rides cost extra, at 140 RMB per person for either option.
• The bus can carry up to 47 people, so expect a shared sightseeing experience rather than a quiet private outing.
• Guide Aria is specifically praised for storytelling, and the buffet option includes beer according to the tour information.

Why this three-stop route works

This tour packs three major sights into roughly 10 hours. That is a demanding schedule, but the route makes sense. Mutianyu gives you Beijing’s mountain setting, Summer Palace shows you imperial leisure, and Yuanmingyuan adds a more painful chapter of the city’s past.

I like the contrast. You do not spend the whole day looking at similar courtyards or palace halls. Each stop asks you to look at Beijing in a different way.

The tradeoff is time. You will not see every corner of these very large sites. The tour is best for a first look, a short stay, or a layover-style visit when you want the headline sights without arranging several separate trips.

The base price is $23 per person. For Beijing, that is notably low for a full day with round-trip bus transport and admission to three major attractions. It becomes an even better deal if you do not need optional rides or a private upgrade.

Read the inclusions carefully before paying. An English-speaking guide and buffet lunch are included only if you choose the relevant option. Private hotel pickup and drop-off also depend on the option selected. The standard meeting point is Heping Xiqiao Station, at Exit B northeast, and the activity finishes somewhere different, so check the end point before planning your evening.

Mutianyu Great Wall: the main event

You get about three hours and 30 minutes at Mutianyu, with the entrance ticket included. This is the longest stop, and that is the right call. The wall is not something you should squeeze into 45 minutes between palace visits.

Mutianyu is known for its restored watchtowers and broad mountain views. The setting is more peaceful than the most heavily visited sections near Beijing, though the exact crowd level will depend on the day and season. An early departure helps. Guide Aria’s tour is specifically described as leaving early, which can give you a better chance at clear photographs before the wall fills up.

Expect slopes and steps. The wall follows the ridgeline, so this is not a flat stroll. You should be comfortable walking uphill and over uneven surfaces for part of the visit. The tour information says most people can participate, but your own fitness still matters here.

The free shuttle bus within the scenic area is included. That is useful because the entrance area and the wall access point are not simply one short walk apart. The shuttle helps preserve your time for the wall itself.

You can add a cable car or toboggan ride, but neither is part of the basic price. Each costs 140 RMB per person. The cable car can save energy on the climb and offer a broad view of the hills. The toboggan is the more playful choice for the descent. Treat both as optional extras, not hidden necessities.

One practical point deserves attention: confirm the price of any cable car or toboggan ticket before paying locally. A customer service response refers to confusion over cable car pricing on a changed booking. That does not mean the issue will occur on every departure, but it is sensible to make sure you understand the cost before handing over money.

Use your time well. Take the first part of the stop to get up to the wall, then walk a section between the restored towers. Save time for photos, but do not spend the entire visit posing at the first lookout. Mutianyu’s appeal comes from the changing views as the wall bends across the hills.

Summer Palace: imperial gardens beside the lake

After the wall, the tour allows about two hours and 30 minutes at Summer Palace, also called Yiheyuan. Your admission ticket is included.

This former Qing imperial retreat is built around water, gardens, bridges, pavilions, and long covered walkways. It feels less like a single monument and more like a huge royal park designed for movement, shade, and views. The setting beside Kunming Lake is the reason this stop works so well after the wall.

I like the change of pace. At Mutianyu, you work your way along a defensive structure in the hills. At Summer Palace, you slow down and see how emperors used gardens as a place for rest, ceremony, and display.

The allotted time is useful but limited. Summer Palace is large, and you will need to follow the guide’s route rather than wander everywhere. Look for the long corridor, the lakeside views, and the traditional garden details. The tour description also refers to the Tower of Buddhist Incense, known as Foxiang Ge, but this feature is closed on Mondays. Plan around that if this tower is important to you.

A tour boat is available for an extra 100 RMB per person. The boat can provide a pleasant view across the water and reduce some walking, but it is not needed to understand the site. If you are trying to keep the total cost close to $23, skip it and use your time on foot.

Keep an eye on the clock. It is easy to linger by the lake and then find yourself rushing through the rest of the grounds. You will get more from this stop if you treat it as a focused introduction rather than trying to cover every path.

Old Summer Palace: beauty, loss, and memory

The final stop lasts about one hour and 30 minutes at Yuanmingyuan, or Old Summer Palace. Admission is included.

Yuanmingyuan was once called the Garden of Gardens. It represented imperial wealth and cultural power, but much of the complex was destroyed. The remaining ruins give the site a different mood from Summer Palace. Instead of polished imperial buildings and carefully maintained spaces, you encounter a place shaped by loss and historical upheaval.

That contrast is valuable. Summer Palace shows the imperial world at its height. Yuanmingyuan asks you to think about what happened when that world was attacked and damaged. The visit is not just another garden stop. It gives the day a sobering final note.

An optional boat ride costs 80 RMB per person. As with the Summer Palace boat, you can skip it without missing the central purpose of the visit. With only 90 minutes here, your priority should be the sections included in the guide’s route and the historic ruins.

Do not expect Old Summer Palace to look like a fully restored palace complex. Its power comes partly from the gaps, broken stonework, and reminders of what has disappeared. If you prefer complete buildings and ornate interiors, Summer Palace will likely be the more immediately satisfying stop. If you want a place that connects scenery with China’s past, Yuanmingyuan may stay with you longer.

Transport, group size, and the shape of the day

The tour uses an air-conditioned bus for round-trip transportation. The maximum group size is 47 people, so this is a standard group excursion. That keeps the price low, but it also means you need to stay aware of meeting times and follow the guide’s instructions.

The day lasts about 10 hours. The three site visits add up to seven and a half hours, leaving the rest for travel between stops, boarding, and organizing the group. Beijing traffic can make a full day feel even longer, so do not schedule an important evening activity too tightly after the return.

The standard meeting point is near public transportation at Heping Xiqiao Station, Exit B northeast. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you choose the private tour option, not automatically with every booking. The tour ends in a different location from the start, so verify where you will be released before making dinner or airport plans.

An early start is part of the appeal. It helps with photographs at Mutianyu and gives the group a better chance of staying on schedule. The downside is obvious: you need to be ready early, and a long day of walking follows.

The air-conditioned bus matters in Beijing’s warmer months and after the exposed sections of the wall. Still, the bus is only as comfortable as the traffic allows. Bring water, wear shoes with a firm sole, and keep anything you need during the day easy to reach.

What the $23 price really includes

At $23, this is best judged as a transport-and-admission package. You receive the bus, entrance tickets, and the scenic-area shuttle at the basic level. Those items alone can make separate planning less attractive, especially if you have limited time.

The price does not cover every part of the day. Cable cars, toboggan rides, and both boat rides cost extra:

• Mutianyu cable car: 140 RMB per person
• Mutianyu toboggan: 140 RMB per person
• Summer Palace boat: 100 RMB per person
• Old Summer Palace boat: 80 RMB per person

A buffet lunch is available if you choose that option. It is worth considering if you want a simple meal without spending time finding food during a tightly scheduled day. The buffet option is also described as including beer, a small but useful detail for those who prefer a proper midday break.

Check exactly what your selected package includes. The guide, lunch, private transportation, and hotel pickup are not presented as automatic parts of every booking. A cheap base fare can become much higher once you add rides, boats, lunch, and a private arrangement.

For a budget visit, I would book the shared bus with admission and decide on optional rides only after considering your walking ability and budget. The cable car is most useful if the climb is a concern. The toboggan is a choice for fun, not a requirement. The boats are pleasant additions, but neither is essential.

Guide quality and the feel of the outing

An English-speaking guide is available with the appropriate option. Aria is singled out for friendly storytelling, and that matters on a day with three sites that can otherwise blur together. Good explanations can help you understand why Mutianyu was built, how Summer Palace functioned, and why Yuanmingyuan carries such a different mood.

The guide also has to manage time. At this price and group size, you should not expect a private lecture at every tower or pavilion. The value comes from getting clear orientation, practical directions, and enough context to make sense of each stop.

One warning is important. A separate booking problem resulted in a replacement package that included only the Great Wall and did not include Summer Palace. That was described as a last-minute cancellation, not the normal itinerary, but it shows why you should confirm the final schedule before departure if the three-site format is essential to your plans.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 62 reviews and a 98 percent recommendation figure. Those numbers suggest a strong overall record, while the cancellation issue is a reminder to value clear communication as much as a low price.

Who should choose this tour

I would choose this trip if you have one open day in Beijing and want the classic trio without building the route yourself. It is especially useful during a short stay or layover when private transport would cost much more.

It suits you if you are happy with an early start, a shared coach, fixed stop times, and a full day outdoors. The route gives you a good first look at three major places without shopping stops listed in the schedule.

It is less suitable if you want to linger at one site, take a slow garden walk, or photograph the Great Wall at your own pace. A private sightseeing or car tour would give you more control, but the price would be different.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the shuttle bus and optional cable car. People with limited mobility should still consider the steps and slopes at Mutianyu, despite the note that most people can participate.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund. That policy is worth noting because the Great Wall portion is strongly tied to outdoor conditions.

Should you book BusDa’s Beijing day trip?

Book it if value, coverage, and convenience matter more to you than a relaxed pace. For $23, the combination of Mutianyu, Summer Palace, and Old Summer Palace is hard to dismiss, especially with entrance tickets and shared transport included.

Before booking, check four things: your pickup arrangement, the exact guide and lunch option, the meeting and final drop-off points, and the prices of optional rides. If you want a budget-friendly introduction to Beijing’s wall, imperial gardens, and difficult past, this tour gives you a lot in one long day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 10 hours.

Which sites are visited?

The tour visits Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, and Old Summer Palace, also known as Yuanmingyuan.

Is transportation included?

Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned bus is included.

Are entrance tickets included?

Entrance tickets to the three sites are included.

Is hotel pickup available?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you select the private tour option.

How large can the group be?

The group can include up to 47 travelers.

How much do the optional cable car and toboggan cost?

The Mutianyu cable car costs 140 RMB per person, and the toboggan also costs 140 RMB per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.