Mutianyu Great Wall
The restored, less-crowded Great Wall section with a toboggan descent.
Visitor info
- Opening hours
- 07:30-18:00
- Ticket
- 45 CNY + shuttle
- Suggested visit
- half day
Price is indicative — final quote on inquiry.
Why it's worth it
The Great Wall section locals and expats actually choose: same Ming-dynasty stone as Badaling but with a fraction of the crowds, watchtowers marching across pine-covered ridges 90 minutes from the city. Restored enough to walk, wild enough to feel it.
Don't miss
- Cable car up, toboggan down — the wheeled sled run through the forest is the famous finish
- Tower 14 onwards gets quiet fast; most day-trippers never walk past Tower 10
- The views back down the valley on a clear day stretch to the Miyun reservoir
Getting there
No metro. Easiest: a direct tourist bus or pre-booked driver (about 90 minutes each way); public option is Bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen to Huairou, then a local minibus or taxi.
Tips
- Go on a weekday and start early — after 11am tour groups from Badaling overflow arrive
- Wear real shoes: steps are uneven and steep between towers; bring a layer, it's windy up there
- Tickets and cable car can sell out on Chinese public holidays — book online the day before
Photos
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