How To Visit The Great Wall Of China From Beijing (Mutianyu Section)
Everyone probably has a dream to tick off the wonders of the world, and visiting the Great Wall of China is one of the places on the bucket list.
I’ve only been on the Karakoram Highway in Pakistan, which is considered to be one of the Eighth World Wonder, the unbelievable trip I’ve ever been on.
So, to be able to step foot on the wall was a dream come true, and I am sure you must be pretty excited about planning your way there.
It can be confusing once you search for the Great Wall of China. The more you look into it, the more confusing it gets… which part do you go to? Is it Baidaling? Is it Mutianyu? Or maybe it’s better to go to Jinshanling?
I’ve done my research on how to visit the Great Wall of China. Here is a simple guide that you can follow to explore the Mutianyu Section.
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Why Should You Choose Mutianyu Over Badaling or Jinshanling?
The Great Wall of China spans over 21,000 kilometers across different sections, each with its own charm.
Some are fully restored, others left raw and wild. Here’s what I researched before choosing, plus the one thing my mom told me about Badaling that sealed my decision.
Crowd Level
My mom has visited Badaling on a group tour, and according to her, it’s packed. The upside: it’s also the most accessible for older travelers or anyone with knee or mobility issues, since the paths are gentler. The downside is the crowds and tour buses. Jinshanling and Jiankou, on the other hand, are said to be much quieter, with more untouched scenery.
Distance From Beijing
Here’s how the four sections stack up by distance, nearest to furthest:
- Badaling: ~70 km
- Mutianyu: ~80 km
- Jiankou: ~100 km
- Jinshanling: ~130 km
Badaling’s proximity is exactly why it’s the most popular choice — and exactly why it’s also the most crowded.
Fitness Level
Badaling needs the least physical effort, making it the easiest option overall. Mutianyu requires a moderate level of fitness, especially moving between watchtowers. Jiankou and Jinshanling demand more — expect steep, uneven sections. That said, all four involve some amount of climbing, so comfortable shoes are a must no matter which one you pick.
So why Mutianyu?
It landed in the sweet spot for me. It is quieter than Badaling, less demanding than Jiankou.
It’s got 23 watchtowers and is one of the best-preserved, fully restored sections of the wall. Plus the chairlift and toboggan ride, which still felt authentic without sacrificing comfort.
Hands down one of the best places I visited in Beijing.
Where To Buy The Tickets to Mutianyu
Quick thing I wish I knew before booking: the cable car and the chairlift aren’t the same company, and they don’t even drop you at the same spot.
The cable car takes you up near watchtower 14, while the chairlift (which is what we took) brings you up near watchtower 6.
There’s also a walking option if you want to hike up on your own two feet. It’s about a 30-minute climb up stone steps to get to around watchtower 8 or 10.
This matters because it affects which ticket combo you actually want. We went chairlift up, and were planning on toboggan down (until the rain ruined that plan lol).
It’s set up so if you go chairlift up, you can also come back down by chairlift on the same ticket. But if you mix companies (say, cable car up and toboggan down), you’ll need to buy two separate one-way tickets instead of one return ticket. Worth knowing before you check out!
If you decide to go on private tours, your driver can help you arrange them, just like we did with Mr Li. We paid about ¥400 (~60 USD) for the entrance tickets, chairlift, and toboggan ride for the two of us.
If you decide to DIY on your own using the official buses, you can buy the tickets on-site. However, the queue might be very long, and you will need to wait for your turn.
I highly suggest you get the ticket package online (inclusive of Mutianyu Great Wall ticket, shuttle bus, chairlift up the mountain, toboggan down the mountain) because the number of people that arrive using the shuttle bus is wild.
How Do You Get From Beijing to the Mutianyu Great Wall?
Now that the why and where are clear and concise, here are three ways to get to the Mutianyu Great Wall of China.
| Method | Duration | Cost (for 2) | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Tourist Shuttle | ~2 hrs each way | ~¥160 (~$22 USD) return | Budget travelers who don’t mind a fixed schedule | Book a shuttle transfer → |
| Public Transportation | 2.5–3 hrs each way | ~¥40 (~$6 USD) | Tight budgets, Mandarin speakers( | DIY |
| Private Tour (what we did) | ~1.5 hrs each way | ¥1,482 (~$205 USD) | No queues, flexibility, comfort | Book the same private tour we took → |
1. Direct Tourist Shuttle
This is highly recommended for those who would like to go on a visit without breaking the bank. The direct tourist shuttle is pretty straight to the point. You get on official buses that take you to the entrance of Mutianyu.
They offer a return trip that allows you to sit back and sleep while you’re on the way! 😛 No hassle of taking public transportation.
However, you will need to make your way to Qianmen or Dongzhimen to meet your bus. Make sure to check your meetup point properly the night before.
Once the bus is full, it will make a move and head to the Mutianyu entrance.You will then need to take the shuttle bus to go to the main area for the cable car or chairlifts.
2. Public transportation
If you are very tight on a budget or are not willing to spend more, then this is the option for you. It is definitely the cheapest way to get there, but it would require a translator or basic Mandarin to make your way to the final destination and back.
Here is how you can do it :
- Take the 916 Express bus from Dongzhimen to Huairou North Avenue.
- From there, you will need to take a local taxi directly to the scenic area or continue with the bus (lines H23, H24, H35, H36).
- If you continue with a bus, the buses will stop quite a distance away from the main entrance, so you will need to walk or take a taxi (the main entrance is 3 km away from the bus stop).
- Then, from there, take the official shuttle available to everyone to get to the ticketing area.
The downside of this route is that there will be many stops since you are using public buses, and the travel time can be slightly longer than the other options.
One more thing to watch out for on this route: because it’s public transport, you’ll likely get approached by unofficial “guides” or drivers near the bus stops offering a “faster way” or a “special deal” to Mutianyu.
Politely say no and keep walking. Stick to the official buses and taxis, and you’ll be totally fine.
I just wanted to flag it so it doesn’t catch you off guard like it did for a few other travelers we met along the way 😉
3. Private Tour (My recommendation & What I Did)
One of the best decisions I made throughout our stay in Beijing was taking a private tour to Mutianyu. It costs more than the other two options above, but trust me when I say it is the most practical and time-optimised choice.
I stayed at this hotel in the center of the First Ring Road. We left around 7.00 AM and reached Mutianyu entrance around 8.30 AM.
Usually, all transport vehicles need to park there and make a move to the ticketing area using the shuttle bus. However, we had special access, and we went straight up to the ticketing area in a car, the same way the shuttle bus goes.
By 9.00 AM, we were already up on the Great Wall of China with no crowds!
This option is convenient and hassle-free, taking off the responsibility from your shoulders to think about where to go, what to take, etc. So more time for you to explore the walls on your own.
They offer picking you up and dropping you off at the hotel, with complimentary snacks and drinks in a comfortable car. Some even offer package tours as well, like to the Tomb or the Summer Palace, which I went to with the same driver.
I went on this tour with a private driver, and had Mr Li, who is amazing. He didn’t hesitate to take out his translator and share with us stories about Beijing and the Great Wall of China.
Book the exact private tour we took — driver pickup, skip-the-line access, and snacks included. We paid ¥962 for two of us for the Mutianyu + Summer Palace combo.
How to Purchase a Ticket to Visit the Great Wall of China
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
If you’re planning on doing it yourself, head over to the official website of Mutianyu to get your tickets : Mutianyu Official Website. Here’s what you can do :
1. Go to site and select the date you are visiting.
2. Choose the ticket type you wish to purchase.
3. Fill in your payment details and make the payment,
4. Check your email on booking confirmation with a QR code.
Honestly, save yourself the hassle and skip the official site altogether and book your Mutianyu entrance + shuttle + cable car/chairlift combo here.
It’s the exact same access, just without the checkout headaches (trust me, we tried the official route first). One ticket, no queuing at multiple counters, and you’re sorted before you even land in Beijing.
Please remember to have your passport with you at all times in China because it is basically your lifeline.
If you are taking a bus tour, then don’t worry. Usually, the tickets are sold as a package, and the entrance fees are included.
If you are taking a private tour, as I did, tickets may not be included. You can use the official website to purchase the tickets, or the driver can help you to purchase the tickets 🙂
Here’s my full cost breakdown for the private tour (2 of us):
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private tour (Mutianyu + Summer Palace, booked on Klook) | ¥962 |
| Entrance ticket, chairlift & toboggan (driver bought this for us) | ¥400 |
| Summer Palace entrance | ¥120 |
| Total for 2 people | ¥1,482 (~$205 USD) — about ¥741 (~$103) per person |
Duration: 9–10 hours (half day at Mutianyu, half day at the Summer Palace)
Book the exact package we took → — same driver-included, skip-the-line private car charter, covering both Mutianyu and the Summer Palace in one day.
Our Experience Wandering on the Great Wall of China
The experience was surreal. To even imagine being on top of one amazing historical site kind of blew my mind away.
I for once never imagined going to Beijing, even in my life; ticking off the Great Wall of China does seem even more unrealistic. Hence, the experience was one of a kind.
The chairlift going up was a wonderful way to enjoy the greenery of the mountain and Mother Nature.
Our driver recommended that we walk from tower 6 to tower 1, meaning taking a right turn right after the small stairs.
When we reached tower 6 (where the chairlift station is), we had to climb a small set of stairs to get onto the section within the two walls.
Our driver recommended that we walk from tower 6 to tower 1, meaning taking a right turn right after the small stairs.
Ho and behold, the view was unimaginable. The whole scenery was beautiful. It’s like the backbone of a dragon laid at rest on top of the mountains.
There was no crowd at all, and I thanked my driver for his wonderful work. He helped us take some photos.
We spent about an hour just climbing steep stairs, taking cute pictures of mountain cats, pictures of us, and just enjoying the scenery.
While walking on an ancient fortification that was built as early as the 6th century, it really got us thinking about the workforce they used to build the walls for protection. It’s extraordinary how the ancient civilization built amazing things.
Walking from tower 6 to tower 1 involves a lot of walking and climbing. Yes, no kidding when I say climbing.
The stairs are steep, and the steps are uneven. In certain parts, you drop down on all four and climb up slowly. Be careful and know your limits if you have health problems.
It was cloudy the day we visited, but it wasn’t until we reached tower 1 that it started to rain. From light drizzle, eventually the droplets got somehow heavier. But it did not stop us from enjoying the walk back.
The downside of it, because of the rain, we couldn’t go on the toboggan ride down, which was sad since I was really looking forward to it. Eventually, we made our way down using the same chairlift and enjoyed a cup of tea near the ticketing area.
Travelling tips: Toboggan rides will be closed if it is raining for safety reasons.
What Should You Know Before You Go?
- Choose the right section that fits your preferences.
- Book ahead and plan early if possible to avoid last-minute availability.
- Avoid going during public holidays or festivities.
- Have a translator with you if you don’t speak Mandarin.
- Use very good footwear like non-slip shoes for steep, uneven stairs.
- Bring water, light raincoat and some snacks because certain areas are unsheltered and you will use a lot of energy from one watchtower to another.
- Be wary of the public transportation timing, reliability, and connectivity if you are going on your own.
- Check the weather to plan your journey. Toboggan may be closed if it is raining.
Is Visiting the Great Wall of China Worth It?
I personally enjoyed visiting the Great Wall of China and loved it despite the weather. The wall has its own story, and just by walking on it, it was captivating. Happy to have ticked one of the wonders of the world.
I really appreciate the work of preserving an ancient monument and architecture because it tells you a story that has existed long before I was born.
It’s a side of history that the place has seen more than any of us, and it has lived throughout the time.
Visiting the Great Wall of China is definitely worth every penny. But, is a private tour to Mutianyu worth the extra cost? In my opinion, yes. It is worth it for the comfort, the time saved, and the hassle-free experience, especially if you have kids.
The half day spent at the Great Wall was indeed truly enjoyable, and we are really glad to be able to insert it into our 5-day Beijing itinerary! Definitely one of a kind experience.
A Few Quick Questions I Get Asked A Lot
Is Mutianyu or Badaling better?
Depends what you want. Badaling is easier to get to and easier on the legs, so it’s great if you’ve got mobility concerns or you’re short on time.
But it’s also packed with tour buses. Mutianyu takes a bit longer to reach but it’s quieter, and honestly, more scenic. We’d pick Mutianyu again in a heartbeat.
How long does it take to get from Beijing to Mutianyu?
With our private driver, it took about 1.5 hours each way. Public transport and shuttle buses will take longer, closer to 2–2.5 hours depending on traffic and how many stops you make.
Can I visit Mutianyu without joining a tour?
Yes. You can DIY it with the public bus or the direct tourist shuttle, both of which we break down above. It just takes a bit more planning (and patience) than booking a private tour.
Is one day enough for Mutianyu?
Yes, easily. We did it as half a day and paired it with the Summer Palace in the same trip.
