Mutianyu Great Wall is a good alternative for Badaling as it’s very quiet, not full of the tour buses and stops along the way. Mutianyu is less crowded, with complete facilities including a cable car, chairlift and toboggan. As the longest restored section of Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall is much more enjoyable to walk. If you don’t want to spend a whole day hiking on Wild Great Wall such as Gubeikou, Jiankou and Jinshanling, I hilghly recommend Mutianyu Walk with Views of Wild Lianhuachi plus Toboggan ride Tour for you. Getting there early in the morning you will enjoy the best short Great Wall hike with Mutianyu toboggan ride. You will be hassled along the way to the entrance when passing through the small market near the parking lot. Be careful of the vendors at the ”market”, they may be very push once you start talking with them on the price of stuff they sell.

 

Being well restored, Mutianyu Great Wall has the easier walking conditions and fewer crowds. Mutianyu is roughly 2.2 kilometers long and you are allowed to walk on tower 1 through tower 23. It takes around 2 to 3 hours to hike from tower 1 to tower 23. Make sure to go to the bathroom before reach Mutianyu Great Wall as there are limited places to relieve yourself. You will be hassled along the way to the entrance when passing through the small market at the foot of the hill.

 

The surface of Mutianyu Great Wall is generally smooth. The section between tower 19 and 20 (left towers as you’re facing the entrance) is really steep, with more than 450 steps. Walk along the stairways up toward tower 6, 8 or 10 (right towers as you’re facing the entrance) to reach the Wall. The section between tower 14 and 6 is more difficult than the section between 14 and 20; they have more steep stairways between towers. The sections between tower 6 and tower 1 looks like English letter “V” in shape with many vertical steps. If you are not in good shape, you will struggle. Be aware that the cable car and the chairlift/toboggan are operated by different companies and do not accept each others’ tickets. A return ticket for the cable car will not get you down on the chairlift or toboggan. You can buy tickets for all three at the top, so best to just decide as you go.

 

Mutianyu Great Wall also features a toboggan run for a fast return to the entrance – open hour: 8am-5pm in summer . 8:30am – 4:30pm in winter and costs 60RMB per person. Situated on between tower 6 and tower 5, no marking, a side gate on the Wall, toboggan was built and opened in 1998. The total length of the run is 1580m(5184ft). Toboggan uses the theory of acceleration of gravity and makes you dive along the mountain path like low – latitude flying or high – speed driving. Mutianyu toboggan ride goes down a series of zigzag bends, with an altitude difference of around 100m (328ft). Carts for single and double is available so that adult can keep their child accompany during the toboggan ride. Mutianyu toboggan is fun and not scary at all, although you may be backed up a little. Really easy to control – push handle forward = speed up, pull back = brake. Do not attempt to get stuck behind some toboggan riders who doesn’t have the confidence to go fast. It really does ruin your whole experience!  

Mutianyu Toboggan down cost: RMB 60

 

Mutianyu taboggan ride height restriction: According to an open letter to visitors from Mutianyu Great Wall Speed Chute Amusement Co., Ltd, Sick and elderly or children who is less than 130cm in height or under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

A 550meters long open chairlift will take you to tower 6 within 10 minutes or take you back to the parking lot from tower 6. This is an open style ski lift type cable car and fits 2  passengers side by side. You will enjoy the beauty of Mutianyu easily while riding the chairlift. Open hour: 8am-5pm in summer. 8:30am – 4:30pm in winter. When you get to tower 6 you can choose either the toboggan or the chairlift. The chairlift give you the chance to relax if you had  a longish hike, sit back, and enjoy the scenery.

Note: if you buy chairlift two way tickets, you can choose to get down by toboggan or chairlift, so the choice is yours. Check Mutianyu Great Wall chair lift down video

 

If you consider the intial climb up is too strenuous, a cable car lets you avoid the initial climb. Open hour: 8am-5pm in summer. 8:30am – 4:30pm in winter. Seating capacity: 6 passengers. The cable car brings you to the platform near tower 14 and you only need to walk downhill. Two separate companies that run cable car and chairlift at the wall. Taking red enclosed cable cars you reach the tower 14 then you either walk up or walk down along the Wall. 

 

Cable Car One Way: RMB 60

Children 12 & Under: RMB 30
Cable Car Two Way: RMB 80
Children 12 & Under: RMB 40

 

The main ways to get to Mutianyu is hire a private car or / and guide. If your schedule in Beijing is Not tight, you may get to Mutianyu by bus.