Day Trips from Beijing. Excursions, Nearby Cities, Tours

Several compelling destinations are within easy reach of Beijing, ideal for a day trip.

Accessible Locations Within Day-Trip Distance:

Great Wall Sections: Mutianyu (1.5-2 hrs, scenic), Badaling (1.FIVE hours, famous, crowded), Jinshanling (2.5-A three-hour period, wild hiking), Simatai (2.5-3 hrs, near Gubei Water Town).
Ming Tombs (明十三陵): Burial site of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors, about 1.5 hours. Often combined with a Great Wall visit.
Gubei Water Town (古北水镇): Picturesque resort town near Simatai Great Wall, about 2.5-3 hours. Features canals and traditional architecture.

Transportation Options: Organized bus tours (direct), private car/driver (flexible), public bus (longer, transfers needed).
Tour vs. Independent: Organized tours offer ease, but a fixed schedule. Independent travel allows for more freedom, but separate transport arrangements.
Time & Itineraries: Great Wall (Mutianyu) & Ming Tombs: a full day (8-A ten-hour duration). Great Wall (Jinshanling/Simatai) & Gubei Water Town: a full day, possibly a late return (10-A 12-hour period).

Exploring Beyond Beijing

Extend your trip with excursions into nature, cultural sites, or multi-day regional travel.

Discover parks and scenic landscapes outside the immediate city.

Fragrant Hills Park (香山公园): Great for long-distance hiking and autumn foliage. About 1 hour from central Beijing.
Shidu Scenic Area (十渡风景区): Features river landscapes, rafting, and hiking. About 2.5-3 hours drive.
Mountainous areas are present, though coastal coastlines are further away.

Expand your cultural exploration to historical sites beyond Beijing's core.

Eastern Qing Tombs (清东陵): UNESCO site, imperial tombs of Qing Dynasty. About THREE hours by car.
Marco Polo Bridge (卢沟桥): Historic bridge with lion sculptures. About 1 hour drive.
Tanzhe Temple & Jietai Temple: Ancient Buddhist temples in the Western Hills, about 1.5 hours.

Xi'an: Rich history and old wonders, accessible by high-speed rail (4.5-SIX hours).
Shanghai: Modern metropolis with the Bund, colonial architecture, and nightlife. High-speed rail (4.5-6 hours).
Pingyao Ancient City: Well-preserved UNESCO city with walls, a step back in time. High-speed rail (3-4 hours).

Connections: All destinations are reachable via high-speed rail, offering efficient travel.
Route 1: Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu (for pandas) → Shanghai.
Route 2: Beijing → Pingyao (ancient culture) → Xi'an (history).

For a wide selection of short excursions from Beijing, explore choices at GetYourGuide.com.