How to visit the Great Wall of China from Beijing
The Great Wall of China is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world and one of those places that remain engraved in the retina and heart of visitors. It was not for less, since visiting it seemed to us an unforgettable experience.
If you are in Beijing, it is a must visit. But what is the best way to visit it? How do I get there? What services are there in the Wall itself? In this post we will try to give you our vision to visit the Great Wall of China in the most efficient way. We went to Mutianyu, but we will also give you the other ways to go, as we did a lot of research before selecting an option.
Data about the Great Wall of China
- The Great Wall of China was begun in the 3rd century BC, under the first Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang, to protect the people from threats. However, many sections were later built and joined by Chinese dynasties and kingdoms over the next 2000 years.
- Notably, most of the present-day sections and reconstructions were the work of the Ming dynasty, due to the constant Mongol threats of the time. The purpose was clearly military, but it also facilitated transportation between different points.
- It has a length of 21196 km including all sections.
- Watchtowers were used to facilitate communication. They did this by means of smoke signals, flags and fire. Yes, the scenes in Mulan are inspired by the time and real events.
- It is estimated that only 10% of the Great Wall of China is restored, the rest is in deteriorated or not so good condition.
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How to visit the Great Wall of China from Beijing
Beijing is ideally located to reach the Great Wall of China. There are 4 main options, different in terms of distance from the city and difficulty of travel:
- Badaling section: the most famous section, for its easy access and location. For this reason, it is overcrowded, having areas where you can not move and pass freely, especially in times of high tourism. We would not recommend it, it can become a bad experience.
- Mutianyu section: this is the one we visited and we ended up super happy. It is touristy, yes, but you can walk quietly and visit spectacular areas of the Great Wall of China that are very well maintained, Also within the section, you have two options to climb, and within the East option, you can go up and down by cable car or go up by cable car and down by toboggan.
- Jinshanling section: Much less touristic section but less well maintained and harder. Recommended for those in good physical shape.
- Jiankou section: this section is famous for being the most adventurous section, with really difficult sections since it is not restored.
How to get to the Great Wall of China (detail of each section)
Great Wall of China, Badaling Section
To get to the Great Wall of China Badaling section:
- Public transportation option: You should go to Beijing North Station (line 2) and take the Badaling Great Wall high-speed train. Approximate time to get there from downtown Beijing: 1 hour – 1 hour and a half.
- If you want to visit with a tour, we recommend this daily tour with bus transportation from Get Your Guide. Approximate travel time from the center of Beijing: 1 hour – 1.5 hours.
- Book private transportation, the most comfortable but also the most expensive option. Approximate travel time from downtown Beijing: 1 hour – 1.5 hours.
Summary of Badaling visit
Pros and Cons of visiting Badaling
Pros
- ✔️ The fastest way to visit the Great Wall of China.
- ✔️ Good tourist facilities (bathrooms, restaurants, stores).
- ✔️ It is the most restored section, so it is more comfortable.
- ✔️ Ideal for people with limited mobility, as it has cable cars.
Cons
- ❌ Overcrowded. In high season you can’t move almost.
- ❌ The least authentic, too much restored and touristy.
Great Wall of China, Mutianyu section
The way to get to the Great Wall of China Mutianyu section for free is by bus, with an approximate time from the center of Beijing of 2 hours – 2 hours and a half.
- Arrive at Dongzhimen subway station.
- Look for Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station.
- From there, take bus 916 Express and get off at Huairou Bei Dajie stop.
- When you stop, take cab or minivan to the entrance.
If you want to do this activity on a guided tour, you can get tickets through the Get Your Guide platform or. hire them with the Chinese agency MUBUS. Below we give more details of our experience. The duration of the trip is 1h 30 – 2 hours.
Summary of Mutianyu visit
Pros and Cons of visiting Mutianyu
Pros
- ✔️ A lot of tour that organizes transportation and access at a good price.
- ✔️ Even though it is touristy, it is not overcrowded.
- ✔️ It has scandalous views.
- ✔️ Well equipped in terms of services.
- ✔️ It has two sections and the possibility of going down a slide.
Cons
- ❌ Quite restored, not as authentic (though not as Badaling).
- ❌ If you go on your own, you will spend more than two hours.
- ❌ It has a steep climb of stairs on its western route, so it is not recommended for people with low physical capacity.
Jinshanling Section
If you visit the Great Wall of China, Jinshanling Section on your own, you can also get there by bus, a 2.5-3 hour ride:
- You must go to Dongzhimen Station (line 1).
- There is a long-distance bus (the 980) that takes you in about two hours to a nearby point, Jinshanling stop (附近). It costs about 4-5 euros.
- Then you will need to take a cab to the entrance point of the wall. I recommend you use Didi or ask someone local.
You can also take an organized tour (an option we would recommend for ease). You can opt for this Get Your Guide option with round trip transportation and avoid the hassle.
Summary of Jinshanling visit
Pros and Cons of visiting Jinshanling
Pros
- ✔️ Less touristy, offering a quieter and more authentic experience.
- ✔️ Breathtaking views of the wall and the landscape.
- ✔️ It preserves the original structure, which gives it a more historical feel.
- ✔️ Ideal for hiking enthusiasts, with several routes available.
- ✔️ Less commercialized, without large crowds or tourist stores.
Cons
- ❌ Access more difficult, it is recommended to take a tour or rent a car.
- ❌ Some sections are not restored and may be dangerous.
- ❌ Limited services, with few food and bathroom options.
- ❌ Long and physically demanding hikes, especially on the more difficult route.
- ❌ Some parts are unstable and may not be recommended for people with limited mobility.
Jiankou Section
This is the most complicated way to get to the Great Wall of China, as it is not very accessible. A pretty good idea would be to go by train to Huairou (the nearest town) and then take a cab to the entrance. Once at the access point, you will have to trek for an hour to go to the wall.
The recommendation is to take a local guide to help you and guide you, as it is not very well indicated and you can get lost. In addition, there are poorly preserved sections, so it can be dangerous to go alone and it would be advisable to be accompanied by an expert. There are about 90km on roads that are not very well maintained, so you will have to be patient with the time of arrival.
Summary of Jiankou visit
Pros and Cons of visiting Jiankou
Pros
- ✔️ Low tourist influx, ideal for a quieter experience.
- ✔️ It offers a more authentic, less restored feel.
- ✔️ Beautiful natural scenery and panoramic views.
- ✔️ Ideal for hiking, with less traveled routes.
- ✔️ Accessible by private transportation or organized tours.
Cons
- ❌ Difficult to access, especially without private transportation.
- ❌ Poor infrastructure, with fewer services available.
- ❌ Some sections of the wall are deteriorated.
- ❌ Poor signage, which can make orientation difficult.
- ❌ The route is physically demanding due to uneven terrain.
Our choice to visit the Great Wall of China
We decided to visit the Great Wall of China Mutianyu section on a guided tour. Our reasons are:
- China is not an easy country for communication and we had just arrived. Although we believe that it is not as complicated as people say, when you arrive and you are acclimatizing you can be a bit scared.
- The management with the tour was very easy, as they take you there and back and buy you the tickets. Once there, you have 5 hours on the wall on your own, more than enough time to enjoy it. In our case, we wanted to visit it on our own.
- Mutianyu is not as crowded as Badaling, and we felt like walking quietly for a long time. It has two different routes, which if you apply yourself you can complete in the time they give you.
That is why our recommendation would be to do it this way. It is true that you pay a little more, but the management is perfect and you focus on enjoying the Wall. As we have said, if you want to go on your own, we believe that you will be able to do it without any problem, since we do not think it is so complicated.
Tour operation of the Great Wall of China, Mutianyu Section
The tour we took with MUBUS was perfectly managed. We paid about 30-35 euros for the whole tour.
These are the steps that are followed during the whole tour:
- You meet at Dongzhimen station, so that they make your identification and give you the bus that will take you.
- You get on the bus and they give you a presentation about the Wall and the options to visit Mutianyu. Basically, you have the east and west route, each with its own peculiarities. The west route is a bit harder as you end up reaching a very high tower after climbing many steps from where you can have good views of the Wall. The east section has the peculiarity of having the slide down. You can do both, they are connected, but the recommendation of the tour is that if you want to do the downhill slide, do it in the morning, so you avoid overcrowding.
- They take note on the bus of what you want to do and give you your ticket for the east or west entrance and if you want to go by cable car.
Once there, they take you to their office to explain how to checkout. The idea is that after about 5 hours, you can go there between 14.30 and 16.30 and tell them you want to leave and when they get 40 people, they put you on the bus. They have a restaurant to eat and a store to buy basic food and drink. - After that, you have 5 hours of free visit on the Great Wall of China.
When you want to go back, you go back to their center and they take you back to Dongzhimen.
Other questions about visiting the Great Wall of China from Beijing
The most recommended sections are Badaling and Mutianyu, which are more accessible. If you enjoy challenges, you can explore Jiankou or Jinshanling.
The entry price varies depending on the section. Badaling costs around 40 CNY, Mutianyu 45 CNY, and Jinshanling 65 CNY. Additional costs apply for the cable car and toboggan.
The travel time ranges from 1 to 2 hours, depending on the section you choose and the mode of transport (bus, taxi, or private car).
It is not possible since the distance between sections and the closing hours (usually around 6 PM) make this option unfeasible.
Usually, we are quick visitors, and we spent about 3–4 hours in Mutianyu. It's very photogenic and worth exploring at a leisurely pace.
If you go to the restored areas, there is no danger as they are fully prepared for safe walking.
Many parts of the Great Wall are restricted, so you can only visit designated sections. Once you reach the end of a route, you won’t be able to continue.
It’s not a requirement for Badaling and Mutianyu, but there are steep stairs in Mutianyu that can be challenging. If you can't manage them, you can avoid this part, as it’s the endpoint of the west route.
In China, it’s essential to check holiday periods. As a recommendation, try to avoid holidays and weekends, especially Chinese New Year (February) and the holiday week in October.
Any type of clothing and footwear that is comfortable for walking, especially in Mutianyu, Jiankou, and Jinshanling, is recommended.
Like most top attractions in China, there are signs in English and Chinese, making navigation easy.
The Great Wall of China is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world and the great Chinese icon. We believe it is mandatory to visit it if you visit Beijing, that’s why we have tried to create a complete post where we give you different points of view so you can decide how to visit it.
If you have any questions, you can contact us in comments or through social networks and we will answer your questions with pleasure.
