Great Wall of China Guide
Compare 7 sections of the Wall. Find the right one for your fitness level, budget, and tolerance for crowds.
The Great Wall is not a single wall - it is a series of fortifications built over 2,000 years. Getting to the right section is what makes or breaks your visit.
Which section should I visit?
Seven sections within 3 hours of Beijing. Each offers a completely different experience.
| Section | Difficulty | Crowds | Travel | Tickets | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badaling (八达岭) | Easy | Very crowded | 80 min | ¥40 | First-timers, families, wheelchair access |
| Mutianyu (慕田峪) | Easy - Moderate | Moderate | 90 min | ¥45 | Families, toboggan ride, best balance |
| Simatai (司马台) | Moderate - Hard | Light | 120 min | ¥40 | Night visits, photography, Gubei Water Town |
| Jinshanling (金山岭) | Moderate | Light | 150 min | ¥65 | Hikers, photographers, half-day walks |
| Jiankou (箭扣) | Hard - Extreme | Very light | 120 min | Free | Adventurers, wild Wall, no restoration |
| Huanghuacheng (黄花城) | Moderate | Light | 80 min | ¥60 | Lakeside Wall, water views, quieter |
| Juyongguan (居庸关) | Easy | Moderate | 60 min | ¥35 | Closest to Beijing, steep climb, flower season |
💡 First-timers: Go to Mutianyu. It is well-restored, has a toboggan ride down, is significantly less crowded than Badaling, and the cable car saves your legs for the Wall itself.
Booking tickets & admission
Everything is online now. Cash is rarely accepted at ticket booths.
Online booking
- ✓ All major sections require online booking via official WeChat mini-programs or Trip.com
- ✓ Badaling: Book via "八达岭长城" official WeChat mini-program. ¥40 peak season (Apr - Oct), ¥35 off-peak
- ✓ Mutianyu: Book via "慕田峪长城" WeChat mini-program or Trip.com. Combo tickets (cable car + admission): ¥180 - 200
- ✓ Simatai: Part of Gubei Water Town (古北水镇). Combined entry: ¥140. Night tickets: ¥160
- ✓ Bring your passport - you need the exact passport number used at booking. The QR code on your phone is your ticket
Opening hours
- ✓ Most sections: Summer (Apr - Oct) 7:30 - 17:30/18:00, Winter 8:00 - 16:30/17:00
- ✓ Night visits: Simatai only (17:30 - 21:00). Badaling occasionally offers night slots on holidays
- ✓ Best time to arrive: 7:30 - 8:30 for morning solitude. 15:00 - 16:00 for afternoon light and fewer tour groups
How to get to the Great Wall
Transport from Beijing to each section.
Private car / Didi
- ✓ Most recommended for first-timers. A private car from central Beijing costs ¥400 - 800 round trip (including waiting time)
- ✓ Book through Didi or arrange via your hotel. Tour operators charge ¥500 - 1,000 per person - private car is cheaper for 2+ people
- ✓ Mutianyu drive: 90 min from central Beijing. Badaling: 80 min (more in traffic)
Tour bus
- ✓ Badaling: Take Beijing Metro Line 2 to Jishuitan (积水潭) station, exit B. The 877 express bus takes 70 min. ¥12
- ✓ Mutianyu: Dongzhimen (东直门) bus hub - direct shuttle. ¥30 one-way. Schedule: 8:00 - 14:00
- ✓ Simatai / Gubei Water Town: Direct bus from Dongzhimen at 9:00 and 13:00. Book in advance
Group tour (convenience option)
- ✓ A group tour via Trip.com or your hotel costs ¥300 - 600 per person (transport, guide, cable car, lunch included)
- ✓ Pros: Door-to-door, English guide, no logistics stress
- ✓ Cons: 6:30 - 7:00 hotel pick-up, fixed schedule (~2h on the Wall), mandatory stop at a jade shop or tea ceremony
- ✗ Warning: If you book a ¥100 "Great Wall tour" on the street - it is a scam. Only book through Trip.com, Klook, or your hotel front desk
High-speed rail (Badaling only)
- ✓ Beijing North (北京北) → Badaling Great Wall Station (八达岭长城站). 22 min. ¥21 - 28
- ✓ From the station, a free shuttle bus takes you to the ticket entrance (5 min)
- ✓ Book tickets on Trip.com or 12306. Very popular - buy your return ticket before you go up
What to pack
Comfort is key - the Wall is physically demanding in any season.
✅ Essentials
- Comfortable hiking shoes - the Wall is not flat. Steps vary 30 - 50 cm
- Water - 1 litre minimum. Vendors charge 3 - 4× markup on the Wall
- Sunscreen - there is no shade on the Wall
- Hat and sunglasses - the sun reflects off the stone
- Cash - some vendors take only cash or QR
- Passport - may be asked to verify booking name
- Phone power bank - cold weather drains batteries fast
✅ Nice to have
- Small backpack - leave large suitcases at the hotel
- Snacks - food on the Wall is limited and overpriced
- Gloves - for Jiankou or Jinshanling, the stones are rough
- Umbrella / rain jacket - summer thunderstorms are sudden
- Binoculars - for spotting watchtower details
- Hand warmers - winter temp is 5 - 10°C colder than Beijing
Best time to visit
Seasons change everything on the Wall.
🌸 Spring (March - May)
- ✓ Pros: Cherry blossoms at Juyongguan, pleasant temperatures (15 - 25°C), moderate crowds
- ✗ Cons: Occasional sandstorms from the Gobi Desert (March - April). Check AQI before going
- ✓ Best section: Juyongguan (flower viewing), Mutianyu (comfortable hiking)
☀️ Summer (June - August)
- ✓ Pros: Longest daylight hours, green mountains, vibrant atmosphere
- ✗ Cons: Heat (30 - 35°C on the Wall), afternoon thunderstorms, peak season crowds
- ✓ Best section: Simatai (cooler due to elevation), go as early as possible
🍂 Autumn (September - October) ★ Best season
- ✓ Pros: Clear blue skies, autumn foliage (reds and golds), perfect hiking temps (15 - 25°C)
- ✗ Cons: National Day holiday (Oct 1 - 7) - absolutely avoid. The Wall is packed beyond comfort
- ✓ Best section: Jinshanling (photographer's paradise), Mutianyu (autumn colours)
❄️ Winter (November - February)
- ✓ Pros: No crowds, snow on the Wall is magical, cheapest tickets and hotels
- ✗ Cons: Bitter cold (−10 to −20°C on the Wall), some facilities closed, shorter hours
- ✓ Best section: Simatai (night lights on snow is unforgettable), Badaling (quieter)
⚠️ Not all sections are open in winter - check ahead before visiting.
Cable cars, chairlifts & the toboggan
Getting up and down is half the fun.
Mutianyu
- ✓ Cable car: ¥140 round trip (¥100 one-way). 6-person cabins, ~6 min. Recommended for families and elderly
- ✓ Chairlift: ¥100 one-way. Open-air single-seat. Scenic but not for vertigo sufferers
- ✓ Toboggan slide: ¥100 (one-way down only). A 1,500-metre winding stainless steel slide. You control the speed with a handbrake. The #1 reason families choose Mutianyu
Badaling
- ✓ Cable car: ¥100 round trip. Goes to the North 4th watchtower
- ✓ Chairlift: ¥80 round trip. Less crowded but slower
- ✓ Balloon ride: Near the entrance - tethered hot air balloon for panoramic photos. ¥100, 5 - 8 min
Simatai
- ✓ Cable car: ¥80 round trip. Essential for night visits (no walking access at night)
- ✓ Boat: Across Gubei Reservoir from Water Town to the Wall base. ¥60
Tips for a great visit
On the Wall
- ✓ Graffiti is prohibited - fine of ¥200 - 5,000. Do not carve names
- ✓ Use toilets before you go up. Toilets on the Wall are basic (squat toilets, no toilet paper)
- ✓ No drones without a permit. Security will confiscate them
- ✓ Smoking is banned on the Wall. Fines apply
- ✓ Stay on the restored paths. Climbing damaged sections is dangerous and prohibited
Photo tips
- ✓ Sunrise to 9:00 - empty views with the best light
- ✓ Golden hour (16:00 - 17:00) - great light on the stone. Watchtower windows frame beautiful shots
- ✓ Winter afternoon - low sun casts long shadows along the Wall. Extraordinary photography
- ✓ Best spots: Mutianyu Watchtower 14 (highest point), Jinshanling Watchtower 5 (S-curve view)
Food on the Wall
- ✓ Badaling and Mutianyu: sit-down restaurants near the entrance (¥40 - 80 per person)
- ✓ On the Wall: Snack vendors sell bottled water (¥10), instant noodles (¥15 - 20)
- ✓ Gubei Water Town (Simatai base) has excellent restaurants - cumin lamb skewers, noodles, craft beer
- ✓ Bring your own snacks for Jinshanling and Jiankou - almost nothing available
Getting to Beijing → Airport Transport Guide
Travel between cities → China City Transit Matrix
Updated August 2026