1Highlights
Mutianyu is ~70 km north of Beijing in Huairou District. Foreign visitors choose Mutianyu over Badaling for three reasons: 60–70% fewer crowds, higher restoration quality, and the toboggan slide down. It is also the most-visited Great Wall section by foreign heads of state — Clinton, Merkel and many others walked this stretch.
- Built
- Ming, 1368
- Restored
- Qi Jiguang
- Length
- 5,400m open
- Towers
- 23
- Highest
- 1,039m
- Duration
- 4–5 hrs
- From Beijing
- ~70 km
- Best
- Apr–May / Sep–Nov
2Tickets
Three parts: entry ticket + shuttle bus + cable car/toboggan. Recommended combo: cable car up + toboggan down (experience both).
| Adult entry | ¥45 | Peak (16 Mar–15 Nov). Off-peak ¥35 (16 Nov–15 Mar) |
|---|---|---|
| Shuttle bus (mandatory) | ¥15 return | Parking lot to mountain base ~3 km |
| Cable car (up) | ¥100 one-way / ¥120 return | Enclosed gondola, ~6 min to Tower 14 |
| Toboggan (down) | ¥100 one-way | 1,580m stainless steel track from Tower 6. Control your own speed — children ride with an adult |
| Best combo | ¥45+15+100+100=¥260 | Entry + shuttle + cable up + toboggan down |
Hours：Peak (16 Mar–15 Nov) 8:00–17:00. Off-peak (16 Nov–15 Mar) 8:30–16:30.Cable car and toboggan typically close 30 min before the wall — be at the toboggan by 16:30 at the latest.
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3Getting There
Best option. ~1.5 hr each way, driver waits. Split 3 ways ~¥150–200/person
8:00 from Dongzhimen. Entry + shuttle + English guide included
Luggage storage：The Visitor Centre offers free luggage storage. If you're heading straight to the airport after the wall, leave your bags here — the cable car and toboggan cannot accommodate large luggage.
4Route & Photos
Cable to Tower 14 → west to 20 (summit) → back east to Tower 6 → toboggan down. ~4–5 km with significant stairs.
Towers 14 to 20 is a steady climb. If your fitness is average, turn back at 18–19 — no need to force the summit.
Recommended Route
- 1
Shuttle → Cable station
Shuttle bus 3 km from the ticket office to the cable base
- 2
Cable up → Tower 14
6 min gondola. The first view when you step out — the Yanshan mountains and the wall unfolding together — is the most breathtaking five seconds of the visit
- 3
14→20
Westwards uphill to the 1,039m summit. Restored, panoramic — the wall snaking across ridges without Badaling's crowds
- 4
20→6
Turn east. Towers 15–18 are wild, unrestored wall — crumbling brick, overgrown grass. A completely different aesthetic from the postcard section
- 5
6→Toboggan
1,580m steel slide, ~5–8 min down. Brake with the lever in front of you. No language needed — everything's hand signals. Children ride with an adult. Closes in rain or wind above Force 5
Best Photo Spots
Tower 14 · look west
Step out of the cable car, walk 50m west, turn around — the wall climbing the ridge
Tower 20 summit
Highest point (1,039m). West for the wild Jiankou wall, east for the wall's descent to the valley
5Food & Stay
| Site restaurantsSimple meals | ¥40–80 | At the base. Mediocre — bring your own sandwiches |
|---|---|---|
| The BrickyardWestern, craft beer | ¥120–200 | Converted brick kiln, award-winning design. 5 min drive from the wall. Wood-fired pizza + local craft beer — the best post-wall lunch |
No food on the wall itself — carry your lunch and at least two bottles of water.
6Tips & Pitfalls
- 👟 Hiking shoes or trail runners. Steps vary hugely in height (up to 60 cm) and the surface is uneven. No heels, no sandals.
- 🕗 Leave Beijing before 7:00. Arrive by 8:30 for the quietest window. Tour buses arrive after 10:00.
- 📱 Download offline maps. Signal is patchy on the mountainside.
- ☀️ Sun + wind protection. Zero shade on the ridge. Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. Windproof jacket in autumn/winter.
- 🛷 Be at the toboggan by 4:30 PM. Later and both cable car and slide may be closed.
- 🎒 Pack light — water, snacks, sunscreen, power bank, passport. A backpack leaves your hands free for the steep sections.
7Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mutianyu better than Badaling for foreign visitors?
For most visitors, yes. Mutianyu has 60–70% fewer crowds, higher restoration quality, and offers both a cable car up and a 1,580 m toboggan slide down. Badaling is closer to the city but is the most crowded section by a wide margin.
How do I get from Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall?
The most practical option is a private car or DiDi (about 1.5 hours each way, ¥400–600 per car with the driver waiting — roughly ¥150–200 per person split three ways). The Mubus departs Dongzhimen at 8:00 and includes entry, shuttle and an English-speaking guide for around ¥180 per person.
How much does a full Mutianyu visit cost?
The recommended combination is ¥260 per person: ¥45 entry (peak) + ¥15 return shuttle + ¥100 cable car up + ¥100 toboggan down. Off-peak entry drops to ¥35. Transport from Beijing is extra.
When does the Mutianyu toboggan close?
The cable car and toboggan typically stop running 30 minutes before the wall itself closes, so be at the toboggan entrance by 16:30 at the latest. Both are also suspended in rain or when wind reaches Force 5 or above.
Combine With
Other Beijing sights that genuinely pair well with this one
Before You Go
The practical guides you will actually need here
Sort Your Visa First
All Beijing attractions
Klook
Book tours, tickets and activities in China
Klook lists tickets, tours and activities for many major attractions in China with an English-language booking flow. Product inclusions, available payment methods, reservation steps, ID requirements, voucher redemption and cancellation terms vary by listing and attraction, so check the product page and the attraction's official rules before paying.
- English-language listings for attraction tickets, guided tours and day trips
- Available payment methods are shown on the individual checkout page
- Reservation and real-name ID details vary by attraction and product
- Voucher format and on-site redemption instructions are product-specific
- Read the cancellation policy and official attraction notices before booking
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
GoChinaTravel Editorial Team
Our team of China travel researchers combines on-the-ground contributor insights, official government sources, and traveler community feedback to create the most detailed English-language China guides available. Every guide is fact-checked against primary sources (NIA, 12367, official attraction websites, Railway 12306) before publication.