Badaling Great Wall is located in Yanqing District, Beijing, and Mutianyu Great Wall is in Huairou District, Beijing, both being national 5A-level tourist attractions. As one of the best-preserved and most renowned sections of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, Badaling Great Wall has an average wall height of 7.8 meters, a top width of 5 meters, and a base width of 6.5 meters, with a total of 43 watchtowers (enemy towers). Stretching 5,400 meters in length, Mutianyu Great Wall is the longest existing section of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, boasting a wall integrity rate of 90%, 25 watchtowers, and a forest coverage rate of up to 96%. Famous for its "elegant beauty," it features the unique "double-sided battlements" design.
History and Culture
Badaling Great Wall was first constructed in the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1505) and rebuilt under the supervision of Qi Jiguang during the Longqing reign. It served as a crucial military barrier in northwestern Beijing and a major transportation hub of the Ming Dynasty's "Jundu Pass" historically. The existing pass city was built in the 30th year of the Jiajing reign (1551), with the plaques "Juyong Outer Town" (East Gate) and "Northern Lock and Key" (West Gate) inscribed during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. Opened to the public for the first time in 1953, it is the earliest Great Wall scenic spot opened in New China.
Mutianyu Great Wall was initially built in the Northern Qi Dynasty (557) and officially established as a pass in the 2nd year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1404). Qi Jiguang reinforced the fortifications and added watchtowers here in the 3rd year of the Longqing reign (1569). Historically, it was an important defense line safeguarding Beijing, and most of the existing watchtowers date back to the Ming Dynasty. Among them, the main pass platform's "three connected towers" structure is rare in Great Wall architecture. Officially opened to the public in 1983, it served as a cultural exhibition window to receive Chinese and foreign guests during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Main Attractions
Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Pass City is the core of the scenic spot, covering an area of approximately 50,000 square meters. The plaque "Juyong Outer Town" on the East Gate was inscribed during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, while the "Northern Lock and Key" on the West Gate is a imperial calligraphy work by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Tower 8 North (Heroes' Slope) is the highest point of Badaling Great Wall, with an altitude of 888 meters and a watchtower height of 15.8 meters, being a must-visit for tourists. The wall here is well-preserved, offering a 360-degree view of the Yanshan Mountains. The section from Tower 4 South to Tower 7 South is relatively gentle, suitable for family tourists, and Tower 4 South retains the living relics of Ming Dynasty garrison soldiers.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Main Pass Platform: Built in the 2nd year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1404), it consists of three parallel watchtowers. The central tower is 12 meters high, and the left and right towers are each 10 meters high, forming a "pin" (品)-shaped defense system. As the only "three-way watchtower" on the Great Wall, it could garrison hundreds of soldiers internally. The existing plaque "Mutianyu Pass" was inscribed during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty.
Big Horn Tower: Located at Tower 1, it is the eastern starting point of Mutianyu Great Wall. Named for its horn-like shape and location surrounded by cliffs on three sides, it has an altitude of 686 meters. The tower has two floors: the upper floor serves as an observation post, and the lower floor can accommodate garrison soldiers. It is one of the best locations for shooting panoramic views of the Great Wall.
Jiankou Great Wall (Unopened Area): Located west of Mutianyu, it gets its name from the Great Wall's terrain resembling a fully drawn bow with an arrow. The "Eagle Flying Upside Down" section has a slope of 70 degrees, and the wall forms a "V" shape on the mountain ridge. It is a classic shooting location for photographers but is currently closed to tourists due to high danger.
Tower 20 (Heroes' Slope): The highest point at the western end of Mutianyu Great Wall, with an altitude of 1,015 meters and a watchtower height of 11 meters. Offering a broad view overlooking the entire Huairou mountain area, the wall here retains relics of Ming Dynasty defense facilities such as "pot-supporting stones."
Tour Routes
Badaling Great Wall Classic Route (3 hours): Enter from the North Gate of the Pass City → Hike from Tower 1 North to Tower 8 North (Heroes' Slope) → Return via the same route or take the cable car down the mountain. The entire hiking distance is approximately 4.2 kilometers with about 1,500 steps, suitable for tourists with good physical fitness. Easy Route: Take the cable car to Tower 7 North → Walk to Tower 8 North → Take the cable car down the mountain, taking 1.5 hours in total.
Mutianyu Great Wall In-depth Route (4 hours): Take the cable car to Tower 14 → Hike west to Tower 20 (Heroes' Slope) → Return to Tower 14 → Hike east to Tower 6 → Take the alpine slide down the mountain. The entire hiking distance is approximately 6 kilometers, passing 12 watchtowers, allowing visitors to appreciate special landscapes such as "double-sided battlements" and "pot-supporting stones." Photography Route: Take the cable car to Tower 14 → Shoot the Main Pass Platform to the east → Go to Tower 10 to shoot "Great Wall Connecting Springs" → Take the cable car down the mountain, taking 2.5 hours in total.
Travel Tips
- Wear high-top non-slip shoes (Great Wall steps are 15-20cm high, and some sections are severely worn). Bring a water bottle of over 300ml in summer (mineral water is sold at 5 yuan/bottle in the scenic area) and a windproof jacket in winter (wind speed on the top can reach level 6).
- The north slope of Badaling Great Wall is relatively steep (the slope from Tower 4 North to Tower 8 North is about 30°), so it is recommended to go up the north slope and down the south slope. The west slope of Mutianyu Great Wall is gentle (steps from Tower 14 to Tower 20 are wider), suitable for family tourists.
- The best location to shoot Mutianyu's "double-sided battlements" is at Tower 10. To shoot Badaling's "Great Wall Sea of Clouds," arrive at Tower 8 North before 6:30 AM (high probability after rain in summer).
- During the peak season (May-October), it is recommended to arrive at the scenic area before 8:00 AM to avoid queuing at the entrance. The light at Mutianyu Great Wall is soft after 3:00 PM, suitable for portrait photography.
- Bring light snacks (such as energy bars, beef jerky). There is a KFC at Badaling Pass City Square, and a simple dining pavilion near Tower 14 of Mutianyu (fried noodles cost 35 yuan/serving), but the prices are relatively high.
Notes
- The section from Tower 8 North to Tower 12 North of Badaling Great Wall is under maintenance (as of June 2025) and is closed to traffic. Towers 1-5 of Mutianyu Great Wall are unopened areas, and unauthorized entry will result in a fine of 200 yuan.
- Carving on the Great Wall is prohibited (violators will be fined 500-2,000 yuan). Pay attention to safety when taking photos by the battlements (some battlements have no railings, with a drop of up to 5 meters).
- The speed limit of the Mutianyu Great Wall alpine slide is 30km/h. Passengers over 100kg, under 6 years old, or over 65 years old are prohibited from riding. The Badaling cable car will be suspended in strong winds (wind force ≥ level 6).
- Pets and drones are prohibited in the scenic area. Backpacks must be opened for security checks at the entrance (controlled knives and alcohol are prohibited).
- Badaling Great Wall Tourist Center provides free wheelchair rental (with a deposit of 500 yuan). There is a medical station at Tower 14 of Mutianyu Great Wall (equipped with AED devices). It is recommended to download the "Beijing Great Wall" APP in advance to obtain real-time passenger flow information.
Transportation
- Badaling Great Wall:
- Bus: Take Bus No. 877 from the north side of Deshengmen Arrow Tower (6:00 AM-12:00 PM, every 15 minutes). The journey takes 1.5 hours, and the fare is 12 yuan (6 yuan with a transportation card).
- High-speed Railway: Take the high-speed railway from Beijing North Railway Station (Xizhimen) to Badaling Great Wall Station. There are 12 trains daily from 6:49 AM to 8:18 PM. The journey takes 29 minutes, and the fare is 25 yuan. After exiting the station, take the scenic area shuttle bus (10 yuan/person) to the entrance.
- Self-driving: Exit at Badaling from Jingzang Expressway (G6), navigate to "Badaling Guntian Gou Parking Lot." There are about 2,000 parking spaces, with a fee of 10 yuan/hour.
- Mutianyu Great Wall:
- Special Line Bus: Take the "Mutianyu Bus" from the east side of Qianmen Arrow Tower (7:30 AM-10:00 AM, every 30 minutes). The journey takes 1.5 hours, and the fare is 80 yuan (including round-trip bus ticket + scenic area ticket).
- Bus: Take Bus No. 916 Express from Dongzhimen Bus Hub to Huairou North Street, then transfer to Bus No. H24 to Mutianyu Great Wall. The entire journey takes about 2.5 hours, and the fare is 20 yuan.
- Self-driving: Exit at Huairou from Jingcheng Expressway (G45), navigate to "Mutianyu Great Wall P4 Parking Lot." There are about 1,500 parking spaces, with a fee of 20 yuan/day.
Opening Hours
Badaling Great Wall: Peak season (May-October) 6:30 AM-7:00 PM (last entry at 6:00 PM); Off-season (November-April) 7:00 AM-6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM). Cable car operating hours: 8:30 AM-5:30 PM. Mutianyu Great Wall: Peak season (May-October) 7:30 AM-6:30 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM); Off-season (November-April) 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM). Cable car/alpine slide operating hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Opening hours may be adjusted on special dates (such as Spring Festival, National Day), subject to official notice.
Tickets
Badaling Great Wall ticket: 40 yuan/person. Search for the official WeChat public account "八达岭长城" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Mutianyu Great Wall ticket: 45 yuan/person. Search for the official WeChat public account "慕田峪长城" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
