When planning your trip to Beijing, a visit to the Great Wall is undoubtedly a highlight. While many are familiar with the renowned Badaling Great Wall, the Mutianyu section is also very popular with tourists. Below, I'll introduce you to both the Badaling and Mutianyu Great Walls and provide guidance on how to choose between them.

Construction of Badaling in Yanqing County，Beiling, started in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and underwent 18 rebuilt from the Hongwu to the Wanli reign (1368-1620). Badaling leads to Beijing in the south, Yanqing in the north, Xuanhua and Datong in the west. Hence, the name Bade means reaching out in all directions. The wall, built with huge stone slabs on the outside, is 7. 8 meters high on the average and 5.8 ~6. 5 meters wide. The crenellated wall has parapets; and watchtowers and fighting platforms are built at 250 ~ 500 meters intervals. The castle was built in 1505 (the 18th year of the Ming Hongzhi reign). The best preserved section of the Great Wall, Badaling locates at a very important position and has a beautiful surrounding scenery and its structures show a special grandeur.

Lies in Huairou County, Mutianyu section is 73 kilometers away from Beijing City. It links with Juyong section in Changping County in the west and Gubeikou section in Miyun County in the east. Commanding the strategic importance, Mutianyu section is called as the Majestic Pass on Precipitous Mountains. It is integrated with Juyong section and Frontier Fort, and constitutes a complete defensive system. It is one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall.

Due to its relatively gentle terrain, watchtowers of Mutianyu section were built in large numbers to strengthen its defensive functions. The closest watchtowers spaced less than 50 meters apart. Both arms of Mutianyu section stretch upwards along the ridges of continuous mountains. Mainly built on precipitous mountains and 5—7 meters high, the mutianyu section we see today is expanded on the foundation of Ming Wall. IH is characterized with a thick cluster of watchtowers atop, strategic passes, majestic vigor and unique structure. The gate tower is the most unique building of mutianyu section.

How to choose between Badaling and Mutianyu Great Wall?

I recommend you choose the Mutianyu section because, while Badaling, being closer to Beijing, tends to be more crowded, Mutianyu offers a more serene experience. Of course, if you want to feel the overwhelming crowd of visitors at the Great Wall, you can choose the Badaling section. Moreover, the Mutianyu section has been well preserved, retaining much of its original appearance, unlike Badaling, which has undergone extensive modern restoration and modification. This allows visitors to have a more authentic experience and better appreciation of the historical significance of the Great Wall.

I hope this was helpful to you. And if you're planning to visit the Great Wall soon, I hope you have a nice trip.

I thought the Great Wall of China would be overhyped and not live up to my expectations, but it really did! It was amazing and is absolutely a must-visit for everyone!

The Badaling section is my favorite part of the Great Wall, as it captures the very essence of this iconic structure. It features numerous cliffs and elevations, offering spectacular views. However, the popularity of Badaling also means it tends to be overcrowded with tourists. So, if you want to visit Badaling, it's best to avoid the crowds.

To avoid the crowds at the Badaling Great Wall, I recommend not going there on weekends or during Chinese holidays. There will be many more people, and you might miss out on fully appreciating the sights. Instead, consider visiting on weekdays or during off-peak seasons for a more serene experience.