The Great Wall of China is one of the Wonders of the World and a must-visit for travelers to Beijing, both domestic and international. All tourists now know the saying, “You are not a real person until you have climbed the Great Wall. ”

The Great Wall comprises walls, passes, watchtowers, castles and fortresses. The walls are made of large stone strips. From east to west, the sections at Shanhaiguan, Jinshanling, Mutianyu, Badaling and Jiayuguan have become tourist attractions.

Mutianyu Section, located in Huairou County, is 73 kilometers from Beijing. It is one of the best-preserved and best-known sections of the Great Wall, with fewer crowds and better architecture.

Why Visit Mutianyu Great Wall?

• The Mutianyu Great Wall is relatively less known among tourists in China compared to Badaling, resulting in fewer crowds.
• Mutianyu Great Wall has been well preserved, retaining more of its original appearance than Badaling. This allows visitors to have a more authentic experience and a better appreciation of the historical significance of the Great Wall.
• Mutianyu Great Wall is a picturesque landscape throughout the year, in particular during autumn. The crimson leaves further enhance its beauty, making it an ideal destination for experiencing the autumn foliage in Beijing.

How to get to mutianyu great wall from beijing?

From Beijing, travelers have many convenient options to Mutianyu Great Wall, and you can choose between public transport, shuttle bus or hiring a private car.

1. Dongzhimen Tourist Bus Line

• Tourists can take bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen Bus Hub and get off at Huairou North Street Station.
• Then walk to the bus stop across the road and take the H23 bus to the Mutianyu Great Wall.
• Get off at Mutianyu Roundabout Station and walk about five minutes to the entrance of Mutianyu Great Wall.

2 . By MUBUS

• Departure: 8:00 am and 10:00 am
• Departure point: Swiss Apartment
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Interval: There are only two scheduled departures at 8:00 am and 10:00 am per day.

Also, you can also call a taxi or a private car from Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall. It takes about 1.5 hours to take a taxi to the Mutianyu Great Wall, which is the easiest and best way to get to the Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing. However, the price of taking a taxi is much more expensive than taking a shuttle bus.

Mutianyu Great Wall ticket price and opening hours:

The ticket prices for Mutianyu Great Wall are divided into adult tickets, senior tickets, and children's tickets.

• Adult ticket price: CNY 45
• Seniors (60+ with valid ID or passport): CNY 25
• Children (between 1.2 and 1.4 meters): CNY 25
• Children (under 1.2 meters): Free of charge

Opening hours:

• March 16th to November 15th:  07:30-18:30
• November 16th to March 15th:  08:00-17:00

How to Visit Mutianyu Great Wall?

Mutianyu Great Wall has two different entrances: the North Entrance and the South Entrance. Visitors can enter from either of them.

Map of Mutianyu Great Wall. Original photo

From the North Entrance:

• Walk up to watchtower  8 or 10.
• Take the cable car up to watchtower 14.

From the South Entrance:

• Walk up to watchtower  8 or 6 (Zhengguan Terrace).

There are two ways to climb the Mutianyu Great Wall here: by cable car, or by walking. The cable car is suitable for most people, especially the elderly and children. I recommend you take the cable car first and then walk down or board the toboggan to enjoy both views.

Cable car prices: 

• One way ticket: CNY 100 
• Round Trip: CNY 140

Chairlift / Toboggan tickets:

• One way: CNY 100 
• Round Trip: CNY 140

Tips：

The northward route between watchtower 14 and watchtower 23 has the most spectacular scenery.

The southward route has the Zhengguan Terrace and the Big Corner Tower.

Our recommendation would be:

• Take the cable car up to watchtower 14 to save energy.
• Go to watchtower 23 to enjoy the best views.
• Walk south to visit the Zhengguan Terrace and the Big Corner Tower.
• Return to watchtower 6 and take the Chairlift/Toboggan.

The best time to Visit the Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall is a year-round attraction that you could in theory visit any month you want. However, I think the best time to visit is spring and autumn, especially autumn, so you can see the brilliant yellow leaves of the Great Wall and the beautiful scenery.

In terms of time of day to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, I recommend visiting as early as possible so that you can beat the crowds, and enjoy the Great Wall of China without too many people.