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

Mutianyu is the star here: a quieter, beautifully restored section of the Great Wall with mountain views, watchtowers, and the option to ride a cable car or toboggan. You then move from military history to imperial gardens at the Summer Palace, before ending at Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace.

I like two things right away. First, the route packs three major sights into one day without adding a shopping stop. Second, the early departure can help you reach Mutianyu before the biggest crowds, which is useful if you want clear photographs. The main drawback is the pace: 10 hours is a long day, and the optional rides and boats can add a noticeable amount to the low starting price.

Key points at a glance

• Three major sights in one day: Visit Mutianyu Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and Yuanmingyuan.
• Mutianyu gets the most time: You have about 3 hours and 30 minutes for the Great Wall.
• No-shopping sightseeing: The day focuses on cultural sights rather than commercial stops.
• Optional rides cost extra: Cable car, toboggan, and tour boats are not included in the base price.
• A useful budget option: The $23 starting price includes round-trip bus transport and entrance tickets.
• Guide choice matters: An English-speaking guide and private hotel pickup are available when selected.

Why this Beijing day trip works

This is a practical way to see three very different sides of Beijing in a single outing. Mutianyu gives you mountains, stone walls, and watchtowers. The Summer Palace shows how Qing emperors used gardens, water, and grand buildings as a royal retreat. Yuanmingyuan adds a quieter and more reflective stop, tied to the loss of an important imperial complex.

I like that the day does not try to pad the schedule with shopping. You spend your limited time at places that help explain Beijing rather than at stores chosen to fill the bus route.

At $23 per person, the base price is unusually low for a full-day outing that includes transportation and admission to all three sites. The value is strongest if you want a straightforward group day and do not need a private vehicle. You should still read the inclusions carefully, since lunch, a guide, hotel pickup, and certain rides depend on the option you choose.

The bus can carry up to 47 people, so this is not a quiet custom tour unless you select a private version. A larger group may mean more waiting when people return to the bus, but it also keeps the basic fare down.

Mutianyu Great Wall: three and a half hours on the ridge

Your first major stop is Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved and most scenic sections of the Great Wall. The scheduled visit lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes, giving this stop the largest share of the day.

That timing makes sense. The Great Wall is not a quick photo stop. You need time to reach the wall, walk between watchtowers, pause for mountain views, and manage the slopes and steps. The route is known for restored watchtowers and dramatic scenery, so you can expect the experience to be as much about the hills as the stonework.

The early start is one of the better practical features. Guide Aria has been praised for making the morning enjoyable with clear storytelling, and an early departure can help you take photographs before the site fills up. Exact crowd levels depend on the day, but starting early is generally a smart choice for a popular landmark.

A free shuttle bus within the scenic area is included. That matters because the wall is not simply beside the city bus parking area. The shuttle reduces some of the walking needed before the main visit begins.

You can also pay for a cable car or toboggan ride. Each is listed at 140 RMB per person. These charges are separate from the tour price, so budget for them before you arrive. The cable car may appeal if you want to save energy for the wall itself. The toboggan is the more playful choice, but availability and your comfort with the ride will determine its value.

The tour does not promise that either option is necessary. I would treat them as add-ons, not hidden requirements. If your main goal is the wall and its watchtowers, the included visit is the core experience. If you want the easiest access or a more memorable descent, the extra fee may be worthwhile.

Mutianyu is also the part of the day that requires the most physical effort. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not describe the route as step-free or easy. Give yourself enough energy for uneven paths and stairs, and choose footwear for walking rather than appearance.

Summer Palace: imperial gardens beside the water

After the Great Wall, the tour continues to the Summer Palace, known in Chinese as Yiheyuan. The scheduled visit is about 2 hours and 30 minutes, enough time to see the setting as more than just another grand palace complex.

The Summer Palace was a retreat for Qing emperors. Its appeal comes from the way buildings, water, gardens, and hills work together. You are not only looking at individual halls. You are seeing how the imperial court shaped an entire recreational setting around nature and ceremony.

This stop changes the mood of the day. Mutianyu is open, high, and tied to defense. The Summer Palace is more composed, with views across the water and traditional Chinese garden design. After a demanding morning, the slower setting can feel welcome.

A tour boat is available for an additional 100 RMB per person. That is not included in the $23 base cost. The boat can offer a different view of the grounds, but you should decide based on your budget and how much walking you want to do. The Tower of Buddhist Incense, also called Foxiang Ge, is closed on Mondays, so Monday departures may have a more limited visit at that particular feature.

The stop is long enough to feel worthwhile, but it is still part of a tightly arranged day. You will not have unlimited time to explore every corner. If you prefer to study one palace complex in detail, a single-site tour would give you more breathing room. If you want a broad first look at Beijing, the allotted time is useful.

Yuanmingyuan: the day’s quiet historical note

The final stop is Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, with about 1 hour and 30 minutes scheduled. Once called the Garden of Gardens, it represents imperial ambition, cultural achievement, and the damage caused by later historical events.

This is a different kind of visit from the Summer Palace. The current experience is not simply a polished royal retreat. Yuanmingyuan carries a strong sense of loss and survival, making it a meaningful place to end the day.

You can pay an additional 80 RMB per person for a tour boat at Old Summer Palace. Again, this is optional and separate from the base fare. Since the stop is shorter than the Summer Palace visit, check how much time you want to give the boat before choosing it.

I like the inclusion of Yuanmingyuan because it keeps the trip from becoming a simple parade of attractive buildings. The site adds historical weight and gives you a chance to think about what has been preserved, what has disappeared, and how China presents its past.

At the same time, 90 minutes is not enough for an exhaustive visit to a large park. You should expect an introduction rather than a complete exploration. That is a fair trade if your priority is seeing several major Beijing sights in one day.

What the $23 price really includes

The headline price is the strongest selling point. For $23 per person, the standard package includes round-trip transportation by air-conditioned bus and entrance tickets to the three listed sites. It also includes the free shuttle bus within the scenic area.

That makes this a good fit for you if you want to control costs and avoid arranging three separate admissions and transport connections. The price is especially attractive for a first visit or a short stay, including a layover-style sightseeing day if the timing works with your schedule.

The low fare does not cover every part of the day. You may need to add:

• 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
• Buffet lunch, if you choose that option
• English-speaking guide, if you choose that option
• Hotel pickup and drop-off, if included in the option you select

The buffet option has one particularly useful detail: it can include beer. That makes lunch more appealing after the Great Wall, but you should confirm that you selected the meal package rather than assuming it is part of the base fare.

The same caution applies to hotel pickup. The standard meeting point is Heping Xiqiao Station, Exit B northeast entrance, in Chaoyang, Beijing. Private hotel pickup and drop-off are available when that option is selected. The activity ends at a different location, so check the final drop-off details before booking.

Group tour, private option, or a shorter day

The standard experience is a group bus trip with a maximum of 47 people. That format is efficient and affordable, but it will not offer the same flexibility as a private car. You should expect a fixed route and fixed stop lengths.

A private sightseeing version is also available, along with half-day and car-tour formats. These alternatives may suit you better if you have mobility concerns, need hotel pickup, want to spend longer at one site, or dislike waiting for a large group.

The full-day version is best for someone who values coverage. You see the Great Wall and both Summer Palaces in one sweep. The cost is a long day and less control over how much time you give each place.

Guide quality can shape the experience. English-speaking guides are available when selected, and Aria is specifically associated with warm storytelling and a well-managed early start. Another guide name connected with the operation is Selina. Since guide assignment can vary, treat those names as examples rather than a guarantee for your departure.

Timing, weather, and booking details

The tour lasts about 10 hours. That includes the three sightseeing stops and the bus transfers between them. You should keep the rest of your evening flexible, especially if you are using this as part of a short Beijing visit.

The meeting point is near public transportation, which helps if you are not using hotel pickup. You receive confirmation at booking, and most people can participate. Still, the Great Wall portion involves walking and steps, so consider the physical demands before choosing the standard group itinerary.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this bus trip

I would recommend it to you if you have one full day, want the major sights, and prefer a low-cost plan with transport already arranged. It is also a strong match if shopping stops are a deal-breaker and you want a day centered on monuments, gardens, and scenery.

Families and first-time visitors may appreciate the clear structure, included admission, and scenic-area shuttle. The optional cable car and toboggan also let you adjust the Mutianyu visit to suit your energy and interests.

I would be more cautious if you dislike early starts, large groups, or fixed schedules. The day asks you to keep moving, and the $23 price can rise once you add a guide, lunch, rides, and boats.

Should you book BusDa’s full-day route?

Book it if your goal is maximum Beijing sightseeing for a low starting price. Mutianyu receives a useful 3 hours and 30 minutes, while the two imperial garden sites give you a strong contrast in history and atmosphere.

Skip it in favor of a private or shorter tour if you want deep exploration of one place, hotel-to-hotel convenience, or a slower pace. Before paying, select the package carefully and total the extras you actually want. For a budget-minded first look at Beijing, this is a sensible, well-packed day.

FAQ

How long does the BusDa tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours.

Which attractions are included?

The route includes Mutianyu Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the Old Summer Palace, also called Yuanmingyuan.

Are entrance tickets included?

Yes. Entrance tickets to the listed sites are included.

Is transportation included?

Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned bus is included. A free shuttle bus within the scenic area is also included.

Is hotel pickup available?

Private hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you select that option. The standard meeting point is Heping Xiqiao Station, Exit B northeast entrance, in Chaoyang, Beijing.

Do the cable car, toboggan, and boats cost extra?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refundable. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.