Great Wall of China From Beijing: Mutianyu, Badaling, or Jinshanling?

If it’s your first trip to China, Mutianyu (also searched as Mu Tian Yu) is the section I recommend. It’s fully restored, surrounded by nature, and has excellent facilities, including restrooms, restaurants, shops, and cafés. You can take the Mutianyu cable car up and down, or ride the famous toboggan down.

Although it’s generally less crowded than Badaling, don’t expect an empty wall. Visitors tend to gather around the first watchtowers near the cable car station. The farther you walk, the fewer people you’ll encounter.

Mutianyu is about 73 km (45 miles) from Beijing, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours away depending on traffic. There’s no train, so you’ll need to take a bus or arrange a transfer. Plan for half a day at the Wall, plus the journey.

Once you reach the top, the Wall extends in two directions. If you choose to come down on the famous toboggan, you’ll explore a shorter stretch and need to wait in line.

You don’t need to walk the entire section to enjoy your visit. If you do want to cover it all, be ready to spend some time and energy. I reached the last watchtower, and it took me almost four hours because some of the staircases are extremely steep.

In the guide, I explain how to explore each side and how to cover both in a single visit. See the guide →

If you’re looking for a more rugged experience, some sections of the Great Wall retain much of their original structure, with little restoration and far fewer visitors. Three of the best-known options from Beijing are:

• Jinshanling and Gubeikou are next to each other. You can hike them separately or connect them on a full-day trek.
• Jiankou is the wildest of the three. A common hiking route starts on the unrestored section and finishes at Mutianyu, where you can descend by cable car or toboggan.

Because these sections are largely unrestored, they’re much more demanding. There are no restrooms or restaurants along the way, the bricks can be loose, and some stretches involve more climbing than walking. They’re best suited to experienced hikers or travelers in good physical shape, and I wouldn’t attempt them in rain or icy conditions.

For these sections, I recommend booking a tour. They’re farther away, and a tour takes care of transportation and the hiking route. You can find Jinshanling tickets, transportation, and tours below.

One thing to know before booking: shared Great Wall tours often work more like transportation with a coordinator than a guided visit. You meet at a designated pickup point, travel to the Wall, and explore on your own. There’s usually very little commentary during the journey.

One useful thing the tour coordinator can do is help you arrange extras on site. For example, if you didn’t book the Mutianyu toboggan in advance but decide you want to try it once you arrive.

If your tour includes a buffet lunch, keep your expectations low. My experience at Mutianyu wasn’t good at all: the food was poor, there was little variety, and I would have preferred eating at one of the restaurants near the Wall.

If you want someone to explain the history and accompany you as you walk along the Wall, a private guided tour is a better fit. There are two private options to choose from: a guided tour to Mutianyu, or one that pairs Badaling with the Summer Palace in the same day. Keep in mind that these often require a minimum number of participants.

The second option combines Badaling with the Summer Palace in a single day, with a private guide for both stops.

Walking an entire section of the Wall can be physically demanding. If you’d rather explore a shorter stretch and make the most of the rest of the day, some full-day tours combine Mutianyu with the Summer Palace.