The Great Wall of China, commonly known as the ‘Ten Thousand Li Great Wall,’ reflects China’s rich cultural heritage related to the Great Wall.
Introduction
The Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Mutianyu Village, Huairou District, Beijing, within the Jundu Mountains, approximately 70 kilometers from the city center. It corresponds to the Juyong, Zijing, and Daoma Passes, serving as an important military barrier to protect the capital. It is the best-preserved and longest section of the existing Ming Dynasty Great Wall. The Mutianyu Great Wall features high vegetation coverage, fresh air, and diverse seasonal scenery, making it a year-round tourist destination.
The Mutianyu Great Wall was initially built in the second year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty; however, it was subsequently damaged multiple times due to natural causes and warfare. In 1983, the Mutianyu Great Wall Tourist Area was approved for development by the State Council, and as a result, it officially opened to the public the following year. Main attractions include ZhengguanTai, DajiaoLou, NiujijiaoBian, and Yingfeidaoyang, among others. In 1987, the Great Wall was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Great Wall was constructed as a military engineering project to defend against invasions from the north. But how does it work? It can, in fact, be viewed as an ancient ‘highway’ for troop movements. Once enemies are detected in a certain area, soldiers can quickly rush to provide support from nearby or even farther locations via the Great Wall. Moreover, the Wall also serves as a deterrent, making it ‘easy to enter but difficult to exit.’ For instance, if the cavalry of northern nomadic tribes breaches the Great Wall and enters the interior to seize a large amount of goods, retreating with too much loot would, therefore, become extremely challenging.
Best Time to Visit
In autumn (every October), it is the best time to visit the Great Wall, with clear skies and cool weather. The trees on both sides of the Mutianyu Great Wall are interwoven with golden, orange, and red leaves; as a result, they create a magnificent scenery.
During holidays, there are many tourists, creating a crowded scene. Here are two recommended times to visit when it’s less crowded: one is between 7 AM and 8 AM, when the park has just opened—there are fewer people, great for photos, and it’s not too hot; the other is between 4 PM and 5 PM, when most visitors have arrived, marking the last wave of tourists.
Tour Route
Most people first arrive at the entrance of the scenic area, where there is a ticket office. A small number of people (such as those taking the bus from the Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch) can go directly to the foot of the mountain (at the base of the Great Wall) without needing to take the shuttle bus within the scenic area.
After entering the scenic area, purchase tickets at the ticket office (it is recommended to buy tickets online in advance to avoid them selling out on the day). You can choose to walk (approximately 2.8 kilometers, taking about half an hour) or take the shuttle bus to the foot of the mountain.
A little further ahead, there are three ascending entrances in order.
- The ‘Shibide’ cableway entrance provides cable car services for ascending (or descending) the mountain, as well as a slide for descending. Taking the cable car up leads to Watchtower No. 6, and the slide down also departs from Watchtower No. 6.
- South Ticket Checkpoint, this is the entrance for hiking up the mountain, allowing access to Watchtower No. 6 or Watchtower No. 8.
- North Ticket Checkpoint, where you can either take the cable car or hike up the mountain. The cable car goes to Watchtower No. 14, while hiking allows access to Watchtower No. 8 or Watchtower No. 10.
West Line
Watchtowers No. 14 to No. 20.
Enter from the third ascending entrance (North Ticket Checkpoint) and it is recommended to take the cable car to reach Watchtower No. 14. From there, head west; the entire route consists of slopes and stairs, making it relatively easy and suitable for most elderly people and children. It takes about 1 hour to walk from Watchtower No. 14 to Watchtower No. 20, and as you go higher, the view becomes more expansive and the scenery more beautiful.
Along the way, you’ll encounter a graffiti wall, and Watchtower No. 15 is one of the filming locations for the movie ‘If You Are the One.’ The last long slope is called ‘Hero Slope’; reaching the top brings you to ‘Hero Terrace’, which is Watchtower No. 20, where you can see the best views of Mutianyu. The final section of stairs to the top is very steep, so please be sure to pay attention to safety.
After reaching Watchtower No. 20, return to Watchtower No. 14 along the same route, which will take about 2 to 3 hours for the round trip.
East Line
Watchtowers No. 1 to No. 13.
Enter from the first entrance (the ‘Shibide’ cableway entrance) and take the cable car up to Watchtower No. 6. Then head east; after passing ZhengguanTai (Watchtower No. 4), the path becomes quite steep and may not be suitable for the elderly. Reach DajiaoLou (Watchtower No. 1), which is the eastern terminus, and then return along the same route. If you’re feeling fatigued when back at Watchtower No. 6, you can end your visit there (and descend). Alternatively, you can continue west along a relatively flat path all the way to Watchtower No. 13. At this point, you can choose to return to Watchtower No. 6 via the same route and take the cable car or slide down, or you can hike down near Watchtower No. 10.
Photos and Videos
Basic Information
Is it free? No
Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Is luggage storage available? Yes (and it’s free)
Customer service phone number: +86 10-61626022
WeChat official account: mtygreatwall
Official website: Mutianyu Great Wall
Operating Enterprise: Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Tourism Service Co., Ltd.
| Item | Price | Description |
| Scenic Area Ticket | ￥40（Approx. USD 5.6） | This is the price of a regular ticket. There is also a postcard ticket, which costs 45 yuan. |
| Shuttle Bus – Round Trip | ￥15（Approx. USD 2.1） | Optional. Children with a height of 1.2 meters and below can enter for free. |
| Shuttle Bus – One Way | ￥10（Approx. USD 1.4） | Optional. Children with a height of 1.2 meters and below can enter for free. |
| Cable Car – Round Trip | ￥140（Approx. USD 19.6） | Optional. Children with a height of 1.2 meters and below can enter for free. |
| Cable Car – One Way | ￥100（Approx. USD 14） | Optional. Children with a height of 1.2 meters and below can enter for free. |
Tickets must be purchased with real-name registration, requiring identification documents. Passports, homecoming permits, Taiwan compatriot permits, and foreign permanent resident ID cards are accepted.
The shuttle bus takes visitors from the entrance of the scenic area to the foot of the Great Wall (which is also the entrance for ascending the Wall and the ticket check point). Since the scenic area is quite large, there is a distance of approximately 2.8 kilometers from the entrance to the Great Wall.
The cable car transports visitors from the foot of the Great Wall to the Wall itself and serves as a means of transportation for ascending and descending. For those with time and good physical condition, hiking up the mountain is an option, which takes about half an hour for young people.
The cableway/slideway requires on-site ticket purchase, and the ticket price is the same as the cable car. You can choose the slideway for the descent.
The cable car and cableway are operated by two different companies, and you can only take the slideway down if you purchase a ticket from the cableway company. The cable car has a closed cabin, while the cableway features an open cabin.
Transportation Options
How to Get to the Scenic Area from the City Center?
- Bus from the Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch
- Other Buses (Mu Bus/Zan Bus/Bus Da)
- Self-Driving
- Taxi
Bus from the Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch
There are buses providing round-trip services, with 3 to 4 departure locations in the city center, including Qianmen, Shaoyaoju, and Dongzhimen. Buses depart continuously or at fixed times every morning. The return time from Mutianyu is between 14:00 and 16:00, with continuous departures, and the final stop is Qianmen. The travel time from the city center to the scenic area is approximately 1.5 hours.
It can go directly to the foot of the Great Wall within the scenic area (the entrance for ascending), saving the cost of taking the shuttle bus within the scenic area.
Round-trip ticket price: ￥80. For details, please refer to the official WeChat account ‘北京旅游集散中心’.
Important Notes
In summer, pay attention to sun protection by bringing sunscreen, protective clothing, and a hat. In autumn, be mindful of temperature differences; evenings can be quite cool, so make sure to wear a jacket. It can get colder when it’s windy or on overcast and rainy days. Snacks and water are available for purchase on the Great Wall, but prices can be high, so it’s advisable to bring some from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there many mosquitoes on the Mutianyu Great Wall?
There are quite a few millipedes (commonly known as “thousand-leggers”), and they tend to increase after rain; mosquitoes are present in the summer evenings.
Where can I park if I drive?
You can park in the Mutianyu underground parking lot and then take the shuttle bus to the Great Wall ticket check point.
How much is the parking fee at Mutianyu?
It is 20 yuan per day.
Can children ride the slideway?
Yes, children under 1.2 meters in height need to be accompanied by an adult.
Are there restrooms on the Mutianyu Great Wall?
Yes, there are restrooms available, and a few watchtowers have them, so please plan your itinerary accordingly.
Can seniors over 60 ride the slideway?
No, they cannot.
Do I need to make a reservation for the Mutianyu Great Wall?
No reservation is required, but it’s advisable to purchase tickets online in advance during holidays.
Which watchtower does the closed cable car go to?
It goes to Watchtower No. 14.
Why are there no tickets for the cableway (slideway) sold online?
Cableway (slideway) tickets are sold on-site at the scenic area.
When can I see the red leaves outside the Great Wall?
Typically, this occurs at the end of October and in November.