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
Frequently asked questions
Which section of the Great Wall should I visit first?
Mutianyu offers the best balance of restoration, accessibility, and crowd levels. Badaling is most visited but extremely crowded.
How do I book tickets for the Great Wall?
Most sections require online booking via WeChat mini-programs or Trip.com. Bring your passport - the QR code on your phone is your ticket.
What is the best time of year to visit the Great Wall?
Autumn (late October) offers the best weather, clearest skies, and stunning foliage colours.
How long does it take to get from Beijing to the Great Wall?
Travel times range from 60 minutes (Juyongguan) to 150 minutes (Jinshanling). Most sections are 80 - 120 minutes by car.
Is the Great Wall suitable for children?
Yes. Badaling and Mutianyu have cable cars and are wheelchair/pram-friendly. Mutianyu also has a toboggan ride that children love.
Can I visit the Great Wall at night?
Simatai is the only section offering night visits. The wall is illuminated and Gubei Water Town below is lit up. Night tickets cost ¥160.
Not answered here? 184 questions, answered in a sentence or two
Updated August 2026