Beijing

The Great Wall

A day out from Beijing, at Badaling or Mutianyu

By EvanFacts reviewed 4 October 2026

Book it with usUSD 7 per person per sight, plus the ticket at face value.

Why it's worth the trip

Climb to the first watchtower, turn round, and you will see why everyone wants to come once. The wall rides the ridgeline up, drops away, climbs the next mountain and runs on until it vanishes into the haze. The bricks underfoot have been walked for centuries, the hills fold away on both sides and the wind comes straight over the top. You have seen the photos a hundred times; standing on it is something else.

The Wall was never just a wall but a whole system of defence. It joined the ridges into one line, with a tower every so often where soldiers lived, and when they saw raiders, smoke and fire carried the warning from tower to tower. The sections near Beijing were mostly built under the Ming, to keep horsemen from the northern steppe away from the capital. Count the towers into the distance and you start to see how many people it took to hold this line.

Badaling is the classic. You can get there by train, and for a first trip to Beijing it is the easiest place to climb, though peak-season weekends are crowded. Mutianyu is further out but greener and quieter: the wall rises and falls through woodland, the hills turn red and gold in autumn, and early in the morning the wall is still quiet.

Don't miss

The steep climb at Badaling
Keep going to the highest point of Badaling's northern stretch, then turn round: the wall winds away below you along the ridge. Chinese visitors quote Mao up here: you are not a true hero until you have climbed the Great Wall.
Three towers side by side at Mutianyu
Three watchtowers stand shoulder to shoulder in one spot, a sight you will rarely find anywhere else on the Wall. Look out either way and the wall dips and climbs through green forest.
A rest inside a watchtower
When your legs need a break, duck into one of the brick towers. A few dozen soldiers once lived in each. Look out of the small windows and you see the next tower along, and the hills they watched day and night.

Fitting it in

Time to give it: Most of a day from central Beijing, with two to three hours on the wall. By train, Badaling can fit into a long half-day.
When to go: Autumn is the most beautiful season, with clear skies and the hills in red and gold. After snow the Wall looks like an ink painting, though it is windy and slippery. In any season, set off early on a weekday for the quietest wall.
Pair it with: Coming back from Badaling, stop at the Ming Tombs and walk the Sacred Way, lined with stone animals and officials. Near Mutianyu, Hongluo Temple has a bamboo grove and an old pair of ginkgo trees that turn gold in autumn.
Who can skip it: If you want wild, unrestored wall, neither of these is it: both are well restored and busy. With only two days in Beijing, the Wall takes a whole one, so decide first whether it or the Forbidden City matters more to you.

Questions travellers ask

Is the Great Wall worth visiting?

Yes, especially on a first trip to Beijing. However many photos you have seen, standing on the wall as it runs along the ridges to the horizon is a different thing. You don't need to be very fit: walk for an hour or two and turn back wherever you like.

Badaling or Mutianyu: which section should I choose?

Choose Badaling for the easiest first visit: it is the classic section and you can get there by train, but it is crowded in peak season. Choose Mutianyu for greener, quieter wall and better photos: it is further from the city and usually less busy. Both are well restored and suit most visitors.

How long does a Great Wall trip take?

Plan on most of a day from central Beijing, with two to three hours on the wall itself. Badaling by train can fit into a long half-day; Mutianyu is further out and usually takes the whole day.

When is the best time to visit the Great Wall?

Autumn, around October, brings clear skies and red leaves on the hills, and spring is pleasant too. After snow the wall is beautiful but windy and slippery. In any season, avoid the October and May Day national holidays and set off early on a weekday.

Do I need to book Great Wall tickets in advance?

Booking ahead is wise: peak-season weekends and holidays can sell out. At Mutianyu, the entry ticket, the shuttle bus and the cable car are bought separately. The rules change from time to time, and we can check them for your date and book for you.

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: The Great WallBeijing government: Badaling Great WallBeijing government: Mutianyu Great WallMutianyu Great Wall official siteVisit Beijing: 八达岭长城

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Full guide

Badaling Great Wall
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Mutianyu Great Wall
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