Great Wall at Mutianyu

慕田峪长城

The best-restored section of the Great Wall near Beijing, with fewer visitors, dense watchtowers and abundant greenery. You can ride a cable car up and a toboggan down.

Mutianyu Great Wall lies in Huairou District, about 70 km from downtown. It was built in the Ming dynasty under the supervision of general Qi Jiguang. The section stretches 5.4 km with 22 watchtowers, the densest concentration of watchtowers of any Great Wall section near Beijing. It is much quieter than Badaling, making it a top choice for foreign visitors and families. Getting around: from the ticket office, take a shuttle bus (RMB 15 round trip) to the foot of the mountain. Then choose a cable car (RMB 140 round trip, up to Watchtower 14) or a chairlift-and-toboggan combo (cable car up, toboggan down, RMB 160). The toboggan is hugely popular with kids, but it closes in rain. Once on the wall, walking east to Watchtower 20, known as Ox Horn Edge, is the steepest and most spectacular stretch. Walking west to Watchtower 1 is gentler. Admission is RMB 40 and must be booked through the 'Mutianyu Great Wall' WeChat official account with real-name registration. To get there, take bus 916 from Dongzhimen Hub to Huairou North Street, then transfer to bus h23 or h24 to Mutianyu. Alternatively, take the 'Mu Bus' sightseeing line from Dongzhimen (RMB 80 round trip, including a discounted admission ticket). A taxi costs about RMB 250–300 one way. Arrive before 8 a.m. to avoid tour groups. Bring plenty of water and sun protection. The steps are uneven, so wear non-slip sports shoes. In autumn and winter, it is about 5°C cooler on the mountain than in the city.

Great Wall at Mutianyu

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