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

Start with Beijing’s biggest sights. This $23 full-day tour links the Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, and Old Summer Palace in one well-packed outing. I like the early start for quieter wall photos, and I like that entrance tickets and air-conditioned transport are included. The main tradeoff is time: three major sites in about 10 hours means a steady pace, not a slow, lingering visit.

I also like the no-shopping format, which keeps the day focused on sightseeing. Guide Aria has earned special praise for her storytelling, and the optional buffet lunch even includes beer. You should, however, read the booking option carefully because pickup, an English-speaking guide, lunch, and private transport may depend on the package you choose.

Key points at a glance

• Three major sights in one day: Visit Mutianyu, the Summer Palace, and Yuanmingyuan without arranging separate transport.
• About 3.5 hours at Mutianyu: Enough time for wall views, watchtowers, and optional cable car or toboggan rides.
• Early departure helps with photos: The morning schedule can give you a better chance at clearer views and fewer people.
• No shopping stops: Your day is built around monuments, gardens, and scenery rather than forced retail visits.
• Optional extras cost more: Cable car, toboggan, and boat rides are not part of the basic price.
• Large group possible: The bus can hold up to 47 people, so this is a value-focused trip rather than an intimate small-group outing.

Why this Beijing day trip makes sense

Beijing’s most famous sights sit far apart, and public transport between them can eat up much of your day. BusDa’s route solves that problem in a simple way: you board once, ride in an air-conditioned bus, and let the schedule connect three very different places.

The price is the biggest attraction. At $23 per person, the tour can be excellent value if your selected package includes the listed admissions and transport. The basic price does not automatically cover every extra, though, so you need to check the exact option before paying. Some versions include hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, buffet lunch, or private transport, while other arrangements may use the central meeting point.

This is also a practical choice for a short Beijing stay or a layover-style visit. You get the Great Wall outside the city, an imperial lakeside retreat, and a former royal garden in one long day. That is a lot of Beijing in a single package.

The cost is convenience, and the cost is pace. You will spend time getting between sites, and the group may be large. If you want to stop whenever you like or study every hall and garden path, a private car tour will suit you better. If you want the classic highlights at a low fare, this bus trip has a strong case.

Meeting the bus and understanding the options

The listed public meeting point is Heping Xiqiao Station, Exit B northeast, in Chaoyang. That matters because the tour does not necessarily begin with hotel pickup unless you select an option that includes it. Confirm your chosen package and meeting instructions before the day starts.

The activity ends in a different location, with the exact details provided during booking. Plan your evening with some flexibility. A 10-hour schedule can be affected by traffic, especially on a route linking central Beijing with the Great Wall and two large parks.

The bus is air-conditioned, a welcome feature for a full day outside and on the road. The maximum group size is 47 people. That is not a tiny group, but it helps explain the low cost. You may need to stay close to the guide and listen carefully when the group regathers.

An English-speaking guide is included only if that option is selected. That distinction is important. A guide can add context at all three stops, help with meeting times, and make the day easier to follow. The strongest praise goes to Aria, who is described as a friendly storyteller. Selina is also named in the tour feedback, although one booking problem caused frustration, so I would keep your confirmation details and inclusions clear.

Mutianyu Great Wall: three and a half hours among the watchtowers

Mutianyu is the day’s headline stop, and the schedule gives you about 3 hours and 30 minutes there. This section is known for restored watchtowers, mountain views, and a quieter feel than some other parts of the Great Wall.

You will have time to walk along the wall and take in the setting rather than simply step off the bus, snap one photo, and leave. The restored towers give the route a strong visual rhythm, while the surrounding hills provide the views that make Mutianyu such a popular choice.

The wall is not a flat city pavement walk. Expect steps and uneven surfaces, and keep your pace sensible. The amount of walking depends on how far you go and which optional rides you use. The tour description says most people can participate, but you should still consider your own comfort with stairs and a long day on your feet.

The cable car and toboggan are optional. Each is listed at 140 RMB per person. Check the price and payment details carefully before choosing them. One booking issue involved confusion about cable car pricing, so do not assume an advertised tour total includes these rides.

The cable car can reduce the uphill effort, while the toboggan offers a more playful way down. Neither is required to see the wall, and the right choice depends on your energy, budget, and comfort. If you want to keep the day inexpensive, walk the section you can manage and skip both extras.

There is also a free shuttle bus within the scenic area. That can save energy and help the group move between the entrance area and the main sightseeing zone. Listen closely for instructions about where and when to meet the bus again. A missed departure would be a very expensive souvenir.

The early start is one of the tour’s practical strengths. A morning arrival can help you take photos before the busiest part of the day. It also gives Mutianyu the best chance to feel calm and spacious, though no schedule can promise empty walls.

Summer Palace: two and a half hours by Kunming Lake

After the Great Wall, the Summer Palace offers a very different experience. You get about 2 hours and 30 minutes in the former imperial retreat, a large complex built around gardens, water, pavilions, and royal buildings.

The change of mood is part of the route’s appeal. Mutianyu is about defensive walls and high mountain views. The Summer Palace is about careful garden design, long sightlines, water, and leisure. It shows how Qing emperors used a country retreat for rest and ceremony.

Two and a half hours is enough to see important sections, but not enough to explore every corner of the grounds. The site is extensive, so you will need to follow the guide’s route and keep an eye on the meeting time. You might find yourself wishing for another hour if you enjoy gardens or traditional architecture.

A Summer Palace tour boat costs 100 RMB per person and is not included. The boat can offer a different view of the water and buildings, but it also takes time. If this is your first visit, I would treat the boat as optional rather than essential. Use your time on the paths and main sights first unless the guide’s schedule strongly favors the ride.

The Tower of Buddhist Incense is listed as closed on Mondays. Do not build your whole visit around seeing it if your tour falls on that day. The wider grounds still form an important part of the visit, but a Monday schedule may limit access to that particular feature.

This stop can feel rushed after a morning of walking. Drink water, keep your camera ready, and avoid spending too long at the first area you see. The value here comes from understanding the relationship between the buildings, water, gardens, and imperial use of the site.

Old Summer Palace: one and a half hours at Yuanmingyuan

The final stop is Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, with about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This place carries a different mood from the Summer Palace. Once known as the Garden of Gardens, it is now also a powerful reminder of destruction, loss, and cultural resilience.

You will not simply see another polished imperial garden. Yuanmingyuan gives the day a more reflective ending. Its remains and park setting point to the scale of what once existed, while the surviving spaces help you think about Beijing’s imperial past in a less comfortable and more honest way.

Ninety minutes is a short visit for such a large park. Follow the suggested route rather than trying to cover everything. The Old Summer Palace tour boat costs 80 RMB per person, and that fee is separate from the main booking. As with the Summer Palace boat, the ride may be worthwhile if you want a different view, but the limited time means you should choose carefully.

Ending here works well thematically. The morning presents the Great Wall as a living monument, and the two palace visits show different sides of imperial Beijing. The Summer Palace remains grand and carefully maintained. Yuanmingyuan asks you to consider what survives after war and upheaval.

Lunch, optional rides, and what the $23 covers

The buffet lunch is available if you select the appropriate option. It is not automatically part of every booking. One positive detail is that the buffet can include beer, which is a pleasant surprise after a long morning, though you should confirm that lunch is included in your package rather than relying on the headline fare.

At the base price, the important inclusions are round-trip air-conditioned bus transport and entrance tickets to the sites. A free shuttle bus operates within the scenic area. Depending on your selected package, you may also receive hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, and lunch.

The extra fees are easy to list but important to budget:

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

These optional costs can quickly make a low-cost day trip more expensive. I would decide in advance which, if any, you want. The Great Wall rides are the extras most likely to tempt you, while the boats are more dependent on your interest and available time.

The tour does not include personal expenses. Bring money for optional activities and anything else you may need during a full day out. Since the route is long, a little planning will help you avoid spending simply because you are tired or rushed.

The pace, group size, and guide quality

The schedule is well packed. Three stops, transportation, and possibly lunch fit into roughly 10 hours, but this is not a relaxed private excursion. You will need to return to the bus on time and accept that each site receives a fixed block of attention.

A group of up to 47 people can make the tour affordable, but it may also make regrouping slower. Keep the guide’s instructions in mind and note the bus location. If you select a guided option, Aria’s storytelling is a real plus. Good explanations can turn a quick stop into a more meaningful visit, especially at Yuanmingyuan, where context matters.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 62 reviews and is recommended by 98 percent of customers. Those figures suggest strong satisfaction, but they do not remove the need to check your booking details. One serious complaint involved a last-minute cancellation of the planned package, leaving the customer with only the Great Wall and no Summer Palace visit. That is not the normal promise of the route, but it shows why you should confirm the final itinerary before departure.

The operator apologized for the disruption and for cable car price confusion. I would treat that as a reminder to save your confirmation, verify the sites included, and ask about optional fees before boarding.

Who should book this full-day route?

I would recommend this tour to you if you have limited time in Beijing and want the major sights handled in one day. It suits first-time visitors who value low cost, included admissions, and simple transport over a custom schedule.

It is also a good fit for people who want the Great Wall without adding a shopping stop. The route gives you a proper block of time at Mutianyu, followed by two important imperial sites. Early departure is useful if clear photographs matter to you.

You may prefer a private car tour if you dislike fixed meeting times, large groups, or long bus transfers. You may also want more time at one site instead of a broad overview of three. Families and older visitors should think about the stairs at Mutianyu and the total length of the day, even though most people can participate.

The trip is offered in other formats, including private sightseeing, half-day, and car tours. Those alternatives may be better if you need hotel pickup, more personal attention, or a slower schedule. The $23 bus option is for efficiency and value.

Should you book it?

Book this BusDa trip if you want three landmark stops, included entrance tickets, and a very low starting price. The best reasons are the no-shopping route, the useful 3.5 hours at Mutianyu, and the chance to see both the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan without arranging complicated transfers.

Before paying, confirm four things: your meeting point or hotel pickup, whether an English-speaking guide is included, whether lunch is included, and which optional rides cost extra. If you accept the large-group format and full-day pace, this is an efficient introduction to Beijing’s Great Wall and imperial sights.

FAQ

How long is the BusDa full-day tour?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours.

Which sites does the tour visit?

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

Are entrance tickets included?

Yes, entrance tickets to the listed sites are included.

Are the cable car and toboggan included?

No. The cable car costs 140 RMB per person, and the toboggan costs 140 RMB per person.

Is lunch included?

A buffet lunch is included only if you select the option that includes it.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.