Do I need to book Mutianyu Great Wall tickets in advance?

Online booking is strongly recommended. Tickets open 15 days ahead via the official website or WeChat mini-program and require your passport. Same-day on-site purchase is technically possible if quota remains, but tickets sell out frequently on weekends and public holidays — visitors have been turned away at the gate without a booking.

How do I get to Mutianyu Great Wall from central Beijing?

There is no direct subway. The most convenient option for foreign visitors is a shuttle bus service: Mu Bus departs from Dongzhimen Exit B1 at 08:00 and 10:00; Zan Bus departs from Wangfujing Exit C from 08:00–10:00. Both include a dedicated drop-off. Budget around 1.5–2 hours travel time each way. Taxi from central Beijing costs approximately CNY 150–200.

What is the difference between the cable car and the toboggan slide at Mutianyu?

They are operated by two separate companies and tickets are not interchangeable. The cable car (enclosed gondola) runs to Tower 14 and offers a round-trip ticket. The ropeway and toboggan slide (open chairlift up, sliding track down) serves Tower 6. If you buy a round-trip cable car ticket, you must return via the cable car — you cannot switch to the toboggan for the descent.

Is Mutianyu Great Wall suitable for a short transit visit?

Yes, but it requires a dedicated half-day. Allow 4 hours minimum: roughly 1.5 hours travel each way plus 1.5–2 hours on the wall. Factor in the 15-day advance booking requirement — do not plan this as a last-minute addition to your transit itinerary.

Are there any photography restrictions at Mutianyu Great Wall?

Handheld photography is unrestricted throughout the scenic area. Commercial drones require a permit from the Huairou District aviation authority and are not permitted for casual visitor use — flying without a permit risks equipment confiscation. Tripods are allowed on the wall itself but may be restricted inside the cable car gondola. Aerosol-based lens cleaners are often confiscated at the security checkpoint; use wipes instead.

Beijing · Huairou

Mutianyu Great Wall

Verified 2026-05-08 · High confidence

Why this stop matters

Mutianyu is the Great Wall section most practical for transit visitors: it sits 70 km north of Beijing, requires a dedicated half-day, and offers cable car access that bypasses the steepest climb. Tickets must be booked online 15 days in advance with a passport — walk-in purchase is not available. Compared to Badaling, it draws fewer domestic tour groups, which means shorter queues at peak times. A standard visit covers Watchtowers 6 to 20, with a toboggan slide as an optional descent route.

AliasesMutianyu Great Wall慕田峪长城慕田峪長城

Mutianyu Great Wall Opening Hours

Peak season (Mar 16 – Nov 15):07:30 — 18:00 (Last entry: 17:30)
Off-peak (Nov 16 – Mar 15):08:00 — 17:30 (Last entry: 17:00)
Holiday notes: Open year-round. Night tours available for towers 10-15 during specific seasons.

Operational notes

• Ticket sales stop 1 hour before closing; inspections stop 30 minutes before.
• Daytime access covers Watchtowers No. 1 to No. 20.
• Cable car (to Tower 14) is operated by a different company than the ropeway/slide (to Tower 6); tickets are not interchangeable.

Mutianyu Great Wall Booking & Reservation

Reservation required:Yes
Reservation lead time: 15 days

Official website or WeChat mini-program. Tickets open 15 days in advance. 1 ticket per passport per day. Same-day on-site purchase may be available if quota remains, but is unreliable on weekends and public holidays — book ahead.

Official Website

Mutianyu Great Wall Tickets & Prices

Adult admission only: CNY 45
Adult + shuttle bus: CNY 60
Adult + shuttle + cable car (round trip): CNY 200
Student admission only (under 18 / enrolled ≤25): CNY 25
Student + shuttle bus: CNY 40
Student + shuttle + cable car (round trip): CNY 180
Same listed price for foreign visitors:Yes

Mutianyu Great Wall

[Adult] Postcard Ticket, Shuttle Bus and Cable Car Round-trip Ticket

¥ 200

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

[Student] Postcard Ticket, Shuttle Bus and Cable Car Round-trip Ticket

¥ 180

Important Reminders

Minors under 18 years old.
Students enrolled in undergraduate programs or below, aged 18 (inclusive) to 25.
Please present your passport and valid student ID for ticket inspection.

[Adult] Postcard Ticket and Shuttle Bus Round-trip Ticket

¥ 60

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

[Student] Postcard Ticket and Shuttle Bus Round-trip Ticket

¥ 40

Important Reminders

Minors under 18 years old.
Students enrolled in undergraduate programs or below, aged 18 (inclusive) to 25.
Please present your passport and valid student ID for ticket inspection.

[Adult] Postcard Ticket

¥ 45

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

[Student] Postcard Ticket

¥ 25

Important Reminders

Minors under 18 years old.
Students enrolled in undergraduate programs or below, aged 18 (inclusive) to 25.
Please present your passport and valid student ID for ticket inspection.

Shuttle Bus Ticket

3km from Comprehensive Service Area to Ticket Check

¥ 15

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

Cable Car Ticket

Cable Car Round-trip Ticket

¥ 140

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

Cable Car One-way Ticket

¥ 100

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

[Adult] Regular Ticket and Meal in Yisonglou Restaurant

[Adult] Regular Ticket, Shuttle Bus Round-trip Ticket and Meal for 2-3 People in the Yisonglou Restaurant

¥ 359

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

[Adult] Regular Ticket, Shuttle Bus Round-trip Ticket and Individual Meal in the Yisonglou Restaurant

¥ 158

Important Reminders

Show your passport or SMS QR code to enter the park

Climbing Exoskeleton Rental

Exoskeleton rental

¥ 100

Important Reminders

Requirements: Suitable for height 160cm-220cm and weight 45kg-120kg.
Basic Rental: 3 hours minimum charge starting from activation.
Overtime Charge: After 3 hours, an additional 20 yuan/hour applies (starts from 0.5 hours overtime).

Great Wall Spirtual Exhibition Hall

Admission Ticket of Great Wall Spirtual Exhibition Hall

¥ 30

Important Reminders

Include guide narration

Ticketed attraction; book through official channels where possible and keep cash or Alipay as backup for on-site purchases.

Guided tours

Great Wall Courtesy Series

Great Wall Luxury Tour Product

¥ 980

Important Reminders

Entry: Walk to the service area square and find staff in branded uniforms to verify your ticket and collect an arm sticker for park access.
Contact after booking: +86 010-61626022 or +86 13718791710 (WeChat-enabled).
Group minimum: 2 people; solo bookings not accepted. Some listing variants require 3+ — confirm at time of booking.
Arrival deadline: Be at the scenic area by 14:00.

Great Wall VIP Treatment Tour Product

Great Wall Premium Travel Products

¥ 1680

Important Reminders

Entry: Walk to the service area square and find uniformed staff to verify your ticket and issue an arm sticker for park access.
Contact after booking: +86 010-61626022 or +86 13718791710 (WeChat-enabled).
Group minimum: 2 people; solo bookings not accepted.
Arrival deadline: Be at the scenic area by 14:00.

Great Wall Luxury Tour Product

¥ 980

Important Reminders

Entry: Walk to the service area square and find uniformed staff to verify your ticket and issue an arm sticker for park access.
Group minimum: 3 people; solo and pairs not accepted.
Contact after booking: +86 010-61626022 or +86 13718791710 (WeChat-enabled).
Arrival deadline: Be at the scenic area by 14:00.

Scholar Guide

Independent Group

¥ 68

Important Reminders

Services: 2-hour guided tour + wireless headsets.
Route: No. 14 to No. 19 Watchtowers (approx. 2 hours).
Sessions: Starts every 30 mins from 8:00 to 16:00.
Meeting Point: Tourist Center Information Desk OR No. 14 Watchtower meeting point.

Private Guided Tour

¥ 680

Important Reminders

Services: Private guided tour + wireless headsets.
Route: No. 14 to No. 19 Watchtowers (approx. 2.5 hours).
Sessions: Flexible from 8:00 to 16:00.
Meeting Point: Starts from Tourist Center Information Desk at the entrance.

Scholar Guide Independent Group & Souvenirs

¥ 88

Important Reminders

Services: 2-hour guided tour + headsets + refrigerator sticker or 2 bookmarks.
Route: No. 14 to No. 19 Watchtowers (approx. 2 hours).
Souvenir Collection: Mutianyu official gift shop.
Meeting Point: Tourist Center Information Desk OR No. 14 Watchtower.

Getting to Mutianyu Great Wall

Main Scenic Entrance (Shuttle Bus Station)Primary entry

Bus

Parking Lot P4

Official Tourist Line (Hub for Tour Dispatch)

Departs from Qianmen (07:00-11:00), Dongzhimen Exit H (09:10), or Shaoyaoju Exit E (09:30). Return 13:00-16:00. Round trip: ¥80.

Bus

Dedicated Drop-off

Mu Bus / Busda / Zan Bus

Most popular for foreigners. Mu Bus: Dongzhimen Exit B1 (08:00, 10:00). Zan Bus: Wangfujing Exit C (08:00-10:00). Busda: Hepingxiqiao Exit B (08:00-15:30).

Bus

Huairou Beidajie

Public Bus 916 Express

Cheapest but requires transfer. Take 916 Express from Dongzhimen, then transfer to H7, H23, H24, H35, or H36 to reach the scenic area.

Taxi

Self-drive / taxi

Take Exit 13 of Jingcheng Expressway (Beitai Rd) and follow signs to the scenic area. Taxi from central Beijing: approx. ¥150–200, 60–90 min.

Taxi reference
Recommended to use 'DiDi' app for real-time pricing from your location

Best Time to Visit Mutianyu Great Wall

Aim to arrive by 7:30 AM to beat the tour buses. Late October offers the most spectacular red foliage. If you’re visiting in the afternoon, note that the cable car service stops at 5:00 PM – allow plenty of time to get back, or you may end up hiking down in the dark.

Insider Tips

Beat the Crowds

Arrive at the scenic area by 07:30 AM to be among the first on the wall. The morning light at this hour is perfect for photography.

Best Panoramic View

Watchtower No. 14 offers the most breathtaking panoramic views. It's the primary stop for the cable car and a great starting point for hiking.

Classic Experience Route

Take the cable car up to Tower 14, hike to Tower 20 (the highest point), then return to Tower 6 to take the toboggan slide down. Note: This requires separate one-way tickets.

Mountain Weather

Temperatures on the Great Wall are 3-5°C lower than in central Beijing. Bring a light jacket even in summer.

Foreign visitor tips

Passport needed at entry

Yes

Survival Tips

Comfort First: Wear athletic shoes; even 'easy' routes involve steep, uneven stairs.
Shuttle Bus: The main entrance is 3km from the wall. Purchase the shuttle bus ticket to save energy for the actual climb.
Smart Packing: Bring your own snacks and water as mountain-side food is overpriced.
No Aerosols: Use sun cream instead of aerosol sprays (often confiscated at security).
Scam Alert: Avoid 'Tea Ceremony' invitations in the village—these are often traps.
Modern Facilities: Non-squat toilets are available at the base area.
Rescue Contacts: Scenic Area Rescue: +86 10-61626537; Cable Car Rescue: +86 10-61626849.

Ticketing Tips

Passport Required: Bring your original passport/ID for check-in (required for entry).
Booking: Online booking via the official website or WeChat mini-program opens 15 days ahead and is strongly recommended. Same-day on-site purchase is technically possible if tickets remain — but sell out frequently on weekends and holidays, leaving walk-in visitors turned away at the gate.
Digital Payment: Ensure your foreign card is linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Transport Warning: The Cable Car (enclosed) and Ropeway/Slide (open chairlift/toboggan) are operated by separate companies. Round-trip tickets are NOT interchangeable; you must return via the same system.

Skip Mutianyu Great Wall if

Skip Mutianyu if you’re traveling with children under 2 or anyone with serious knee problems. It’s best to schedule this visit toward the end of your trip – the intense leg workout can leave you so sore that walking may be difficult for several days afterward.

Also in Beijing

Forbidden City Temple of Heaven Summer Palace Tiananmen Square Jingshan Park Beihai Park Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple)

Plan your Beijing transit stay

Itinerary builder — turn these attractions into a timed day plan
Dining cards — order and communicate without Chinese, saveable to your phone
Payment setup — Alipay, WeChat Pay, and cash fallback before you land
App guide — DiDi, maps, and booking apps configured before departure

See the Full Guide

Need more history?

Read on Wikipedia

Data sources

Mutianyu Great Wall Official WebsiteVerified 2026-05-07
Mutianyu Great Wall: Official Guided Tour & Experience ProductsVerified 2026-05-08

Last reviewed: 2026-05-08 · Phainon · China Transit Guide Editorial