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Summer Palace

Hi , is the better to go to Summer Palace after temple of heaven or summer palace after Mutianyu Great Wall.

Please advice

Thanks

When planning a day in Beijing that includes both the Summer Palace and other major sites like the Temple of Heaven or Mutianyu Great Wall, it’s important to consider location, travel time, and energy levels.

The Summer Palace is located in the northwest of Beijing, relatively closer to the city center compared to Mutianyu Great Wall, which is farther northeast.

  • Option 1: Summer Palace after Temple of Heaven
    • The Temple of Heaven is in southern Beijing, fairly central.
    • Traveling from Temple of Heaven to Summer Palace will take approximately 45–60 minutes by taxi or private car.
    • This option keeps you mostly in city areas and is convenient if you want to avoid a long day trip outside the city.
  • Option 2: Summer Palace after Mutianyu Great Wall
    • Mutianyu is about 1.5–2 hours northeast of central Beijing.
    • After the Great Wall, going to Summer Palace will add another 1–1.5 hours travel back toward the city.
    • This makes for a very long and tiring day, especially if you plan to hike or take the cable car at Mutianyu.

Recommendation: It is generally better to visit the Summer Palace after the Temple of Heaven rather than after Mutianyu Great Wall. This keeps travel within the city manageable and avoids the fatigue from a long day trip outside Beijing. Alternatively, you could dedicate a separate day just for Mutianyu Great Wall and nearby areas, leaving city attractions like the Summer Palace for a city day.

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The attractions mentioned in this question

Mutianyu Great Wall
Beijing
Great Wall
northeast
Summer Palace
northwest
Temple of Heaven

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