Hui Lin
Quick Look Inside
Let me guess you booked a Badaling tour online, saw the sea of heads, and now wonder if Mutianyu would have been better. I have led hundreds of travelers to both sections, and here is the blunt truth: Mutianyu is the better choice for 9 out of 10 foreign tourists. It has half the crowds, way better scenery, and a toboggan ride that makes you feel like a kid again. Badaling is iconic, yes, but often a logistical nightmare. In this guide I will break down everything so you can pick the perfect wall — and actually enjoy it.
Why Mutianyu Wins for Most Travelers
Mutianyu Great Wall is further from central Beijing than Badaling, but that extra distance saves you from the tourist tsunami. I have been there on a sunny Saturday in October — still comfortable walking room. The restoration is beautiful (all brick, no fake concrete), and you get watchtowers with original archways. The cable car takes you up in 6 minutes, and the famous toboggan slide down is a blast — speeds up to 30 km/h if you dare. For families, the gentle slopes and fewer steep sections make it a win.
Key Mutianyu details at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Huairou District, 73 km from city center |
| English address | Mutianyu Great Wall, Bohai Town, Huairou District, Beijing |
| Opening hours | 8:00–17:00 (peak season Apr–Oct), 8:30–16:30 (off-peak) |
| Ticket price (adult) | ¥45 (wall only); cable car round-trip ¥120; toboggan+ropeway ¥120 |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings, arrive by 8:30 to beat tour groups |
| Accessibility | Cable car is wheelchair-friendly, but wall walkways have steps |
Badaling: The Popular Choice with Caveats
Badaling is the section every tourist sees on postcards — steep, majestic, and swarming with people. It is the closest fully restored section to downtown Beijing (only 60 km), so almost every group tour goes there. On a holiday weekend, you might be shuffling shoulder to shoulder. The wall itself is impressive: the highest point reaches 1,015 meters and the slopes are steep enough to make your thighs burn. There are two ways up: the cable car (4-person cabin) or the north/south walkway. But honestly, unless you want the “I climbed the Great Wall” badge with maximum crowds, I would skip it.
Badaling details at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Yanqing District, 60 km from city center |
| English address | Badaling Great Wall, Badaling Special Town, Yanqing District, Beijing |
| Opening hours | 6:30–19:00 (peak), 7:30–17:00 (off-peak) — note it opens earlier than Mutianyu |
| Ticket price (adult) | ¥40 (wall only); cable car one-way ¥100, round-trip ¥140 |
| Best time to visit | Arrive at 6:30 opening to avoid the worst crowds |
| Crowd level | Extremely high on weekends and holidays |
How to Get to Mutianyu Great Wall
Getting to Mutianyu requires a bit more planning, but the extra effort pays off with a peaceful experience.
Option 1: Private car or Didi (recommended for groups of 3+)
From central Beijing (e.g., Dongzhimen), a one-way Didi ride costs around ¥200–300 and takes 1.5–2 hours depending on traffic. Show the driver this Chinese address: 北京市怀柔区渤海镇慕田峪长城. Make sure your Didi app is linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay — cash is rarely accepted. Coming back, you can easily get a Didi from the parking lot, but wait times can be 15 minutes.
Option 2: Tourist shuttle bus (best budget choice)
Several daily buses run from Dongzhimen W Bus Station (东直门外公交站) — look for bus H24 or the direct line “Mutianyu Express.” Fare is about ¥30 one-way. The first bus leaves around 7:30 AM, and the journey takes 2 hours. The bus stop is a 5-minute walk from the ticket office. Check the latest schedule on Trip.com as times change seasonally.
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall
Badaling is easier to reach but comes with its own headache: massive queues.
Option 1: High-speed train (fast but limited tickets)
From Beijing North Railway Station (北京北站) or Qinghe Station, take the high-speed train to Badaling Great Wall Station. The ride takes about 25 minutes, ticket price ¥20–30. Book in advance via Trip.com or 12306.cn (the official railway site). The station is about 1 km from the entrance — a 10-minute walk or a free shuttle bus. Warning: return tickets sell out fast, so book your return as soon as you arrive.
Option 2: Tourist bus 877 from Deshengmen
Bus 877 departs from Deshengmen Arrow Tower (德胜门) every 30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Fare ¥12 with a Beijing public transport card, or ¥16 cash. The ride takes about 1.5 hours. It drops you right at the entrance. Cash is accepted but only exact change.
Ticket Booking & Practical Tips
Foreigners cannot buy tickets on-site with cash or credit cards — you must book online in advance using your passport number. This is where most travelers mess up. Here is how to do it without stress.
- Best platform for foreigners: Use Trip.com (international site) or Klook. They accept Visa/Mastercard and show clear English instructions. You will receive a QR code — show it at the entrance along with your passport.
- Mutianyu specific: The official WeChat mini-program only works in Chinese, so do not bother. Just use Trip.com.
- Badaling specific: Same advice. But note that Badaling sometimes sets a daily cap on visitors during Golden Week — book at least 3 days ahead.
- Payment on site: Almost everything (snacks, souvenirs, cable car tickets) requires WeChat Pay or Alipay. Carry a small amount of cash (¥100–200) just in case, but do not expect change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified and fact-checked by the editorial team. This content has been fact-checked to ensure informational precision.
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