The Great Wall is 21,000 km long and has been built, rebuilt, and extended by multiple dynasties over 2,000 years. The Ming dynasty sections (1368 to 1644) are the ones you see in photographs: solid stone towers, battlements, watchtowers with arrow slits. Different sections are in very different condition and offer very different experiences. The one you choose determines whether the Great Wall is the highlight of your China trip or an overcrowded car park with a wall behind it. For the Beijing context: Beijing Travel Guide.
Section Comparison
| Section | Distance from Beijing | Condition | Crowds | Best For |
| Mutianyu (慕田峪) | 90 min | Well restored | Moderate (low on weekdays) | First-timers. Families. Cable car and toboggan. |
| Badaling (八达岭) | 60 min | Very well restored | Very high (always) | Accessibility. Nothing else. |
| Jiankou (箭扣) | 3h by car | Wild. Unrestored. | Very low | Experienced hikers. Photography. |
| Simatai (司马台) | 2h by car | Restored + night tours | Low to moderate | Night experience. Couples. Long weekend. |
| Mutianyu to Jiankou hike | 90 min + hike | Mix of restored and wild | Low | Half-day hikers wanting solitude. |
Mutianyu: The Right Choice
Getting there
Option 1 (public transport): Bus 916 express from Dongzhimen bus station to Huairou (1h, ¥15). Then minibus H23 or H24 to Mutianyu (30 min, ¥15). Total: ¥30, about 1.5 to 2 hours. Option 2 (DiDi/private car): ¥150 to ¥200 from central Beijing. Takes 90 minutes. Book return DiDi from Mutianyu village before you ascend the wall.
Tickets and access
Entry ¥65. Cable car up ¥65, cable car down ¥55. Toboggan ¥55. All tickets can be purchased at the gate or on WeChat mini-program. The wall section at Mutianyu runs 2.25 km between tower 6 and tower 23. The toboggan runs parallel to the lower cable car route and takes 10 minutes at controlled speed. It is genuinely fun and children enjoy it enormously.
What to do on the wall
The restored section at Mutianyu is long enough to walk in one direction for 45 minutes, then return. The east end (toward tower 23) is hillier and has better views and far fewer people. Most visitors stay near the cable car landing. Walk 15 minutes east and the crowds thin dramatically. On a clear autumn day, the views from the ridge extend over forested hills in every direction.
Jiankou for Hikers
Jiankou is 12 km east of Mutianyu along the same ridgeline. The wall here has never been restored. Bricks are missing, towers are crumbling, the steps are uneven. There are no guardrails. It is also the most dramatic section of the wall in existence. The UNESCO Great Wall listing notes sections like Jiankou as having outstanding universal value precisely because they remain in their original state.
The classic Jiankou to Mutianyu traverse: take a taxi from Beijing to Xizhazi village (3 hours, ¥300 to ¥400), hike the ridge east to west (3 to 4 hours), descend at Mutianyu by cable car. Not for casual walkers.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Beijing full guide: Beijing Travel Guide. For day trips from Beijing that include the wall: Day Trips from Beijing.