Meet your personal guide and driver on arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, and settle into the comfort of your private vehicle. You're transferred to the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, located about 1 hour away. Spend a few hours exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site with your guide. You'll find this fully restored section less crowded than the Great Wall at Badaling, and the ascent is made easy with an optional round-trip cable car ride, or take the toboggan down (own expense.)
Once you've worked up an appetite, sit down at a nearby restaurant for a lunch featuring authentic Chinese dishes. Afterward, it's about a 1.75-hour drive back into Beijing, depending on traffic.
The first stop on your city sightseeing is Tiananmen Square. Your guide will show you around the Great Hall of the People, National Museum of China, and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall where the revolutionary leader's remains are preserved for posterity.
From here, it's about a 15-minute walk to the World Heritage–listed Forbidden City, Beijing's centuries-old imperial palace. Learn about the Ming and Qing dynasties that ruled here and spend time among the many entrance halls, private quarters, gardens, and museums.
Conclude your full-day layover tour with drop-off at the airport in time for your onward flight.
