Mutianyu Great Wall: A Practical Day Trip from Beijing
Mutianyu is the section of the Great Wall most independent travellers pick from Beijing: about 73 kilometres northeast of the centre in Huairou District, restored but not polished smooth, and served by a cable car that saves the steepest climb. Plan a full day door to door. The ride out takes about 1.5 hours by car and longer by public bus. You will want three to five hours on the wall, and you buy entry, the shuttle bus and any lift as separate tickets. The scenic area currently opens Towers 1 to 20 to day visitors.
The rest of the trip is in the Beijing travel guide. This page is only about the wall day.
What you pay for (four separate tickets)
Prices below are from the scenic area's official ticket page and 2026 listings that match it. Children under 1.2 metres ride the shuttle and cable car free.
| Item | Price (2026 listing) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket | 40 yuan (45 with a souvenir postcard) | Real-name, bookable up to 30 days ahead |
| Shuttle bus | 15 yuan | Service area to the ticket gate, about 3 km; almost everyone needs it |
| Enclosed cable car | 140 yuan return, 100 yuan one way | Lands near Tower 14 |
| Chairlift / toboggan | Toboggan 100 yuan one way down; chairlift sold separately | Based on the Tower 6 area |
The cable car and the chairlift-toboggan are run by two different companies and the tickets are not interchangeable. You also enter through different checkpoints: cable-car ticket holders use the north checkpoint and chairlift or toboggan holders use the toboggan checkpoint. Decide which lift you want before you buy.
Booking is real-name. Each passport can hold one entry ticket per day, and you show the original document at the gate. Weekend and holiday dates have their own capacity, so book ahead in October foliage season and on public holidays.
Which lift, which walk
Cable car up and down (Tower 14). This is the predictable option for families, older travellers and anyone with knee trouble. From the Tower 14 platform you can walk uphill towards Tower 20, the current end of the open section and the steepest stretch, or back down towards the lower towers, then return to Tower 14 for the ride down. If you bought a return, come back the same way.
Chairlift up, toboggan down (Tower 6). The toboggan is a metal track that winds down the hillside, and it is the reason many people pick Mutianyu. It stops in rain, snow and strong wind, and riders have age limits, with small children only allowed with an adult, so check the rules for anyone over 60 or under 12 in your group. You cannot ride the toboggan from the cable-car landing at Tower 14. If you want both, buy a one-way cable car up and a toboggan ticket down, then walk the stretch from Tower 14 to Tower 6 on the wall, which is the way most people do it.
Walking up. It is free once you have the entry ticket, and it is a real climb on worn stairs. Fine for fit walkers in cool weather. In July heat it uses up energy you would rather spend on the wall.
Opening hours
The official listing for 2026:
- Peak season, 16 March to 15 November: Monday to Friday 07:30 to 18:00; Saturday and Sunday 07:30 to 18:30.
- Off season, 16 November to 15 March: 08:00 to 17:30.
Ticket sales stop an hour before closing and the gate stops checking tickets half an hour before closing. The cable car runs on the same hours. Night openings have been offered in some seasons and cancelled in others (the scenic area dropped them from 13 July to 10 August 2026 and extended daytime hours instead), so do not plan around a night walk without checking that week's notice.
Getting there from central Beijing
No metro line reaches the wall. The realistic choices:
- Private car or ride-hailing. About 1.5 hours each way on the Jingcheng Expressway in light traffic. This is the most flexible choice for two to four people. Agree the return time with the driver, or check that a return ride can be booked from the parking area before you let the car go.
- Hotel or agency tour. The least effort. Many tours bundle a lunch stop and sometimes a shop visit; read the itinerary for those before you pay.
- Public bus. Buses leave from the Dongzhimen transport hub with a change in Huairou, and the trip often takes two and a half to three hours each way. Routes and seasonal direct services change, so check the current timetable instead of a years-old blog post.
Leave central Beijing by 07:30 or 08:00. You reach the wall before the late-morning groups, and you get back before the evening traffic jams on the Second and Third Ring Roads.
Mutianyu or Badaling?
Badaling is closer, has a train link from the city and is the section most tour groups visit. Mutianyu is farther out and needs a car or bus. It has more trees, a longer open stretch, and the toboggan. For a first visit with a free day, Mutianyu is the better pick. If you only have half a day, or you want to reach the wall by rail, Badaling is the sensible choice and nothing to apologise for.
Building the day
The wall takes the whole day. On the way back, the only stop worth adding is dinner in town. The Summer Palace is in Haidian, in the wrong direction from Huairou, and the Forbidden City has its own timed booking that will not survive a late return. The wall is also a good use of a Monday, when the Palace Museum is closed.
Things to confirm before you go
- Entry, shuttle and lift tickets in your booking, and that the lift ticket matches the checkpoint you will use.
- The weather forecast: the toboggan shuts in rain and wind, and haze can hide the next tower.
- Peak or off-season closing time, and the earlier ticket-sale cut-off.
- Your return transport, booked or at least checked, before you start walking.
- Shoes with grip. The stones are uneven and steep in places.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need at Mutianyu?
Three to five hours on site, plus about three hours of road travel by car. With the bus it becomes a long full day.
Is the cable car worth it?
For most visitors, yes. It saves a steep stair climb and lands at Tower 14, which is a good base for walking in either direction. Walk up only if you are fit and the day is cool.
Can foreigners book Mutianyu tickets online?
Yes. The scenic area sells real-name tickets with a passport as the ID, up to 30 days ahead. Bring the same passport to the gate.