Mutianyu in a nutshell
Mutianyu is a village in Bohai town, Huairou District, in the municipality of Beijing. It lies in Huairou, not in Yanqing, and about 70 km from the city center. The Ming-era wall here has closely spaced watchtowers, battlements on both sides and connected side walls. Zhengguan Pass and the Dajiaolou tower are among its named structures.
This guide covers tickets, the cable car, chairlift and toboggan, opening hours, getting there from Beijing, tours, hiking, how Mutianyu compares with Badaling, history, the best time to go, photo spots, where to stay and practical tips. For the city itself, the Forbidden City has its own guide. This is an independent site, not run by the scenic area, the Beijing authorities, a bus operator or a tour company. Prices are in Chinese yuan (CNY), as listed in 2026, and they change.
Our picks: Mutianyu tours
A guided bus tour, a chairlift and toboggan day, and a private tour with hotel pickup.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private Mutianyu tour with hotel pickup
A private air-conditioned car with hotel transfer, entry and water. You get an English-speaking driver or guide, depending on your choice; lunch and cable car, chairlift or toboggan are extra.
Check availability →
Mutianyu with cable car or chairlift and toboggan
Guide and driver, entry, water and tolls. The cable car both ways, or the chairlift up and toboggan down, is included; meals are not.
Check availability →Mutianyu bus tour with guide and entry
Air-conditioned bus both ways, entry, one shuttle ride up and down, and a guide in the language you pick. The general cable car and toboggan fee is not included.
Check availability →Great Wall tours from Beijing to Mutianyu
Group trips by bus, private cars with a guide and guided hikes, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Start with tickets and the way to get there, then pick the pages you need.
Mutianyu tickets
Entry, postcard ticket, reduced prices, real-name booking and passport rules.
Tours compared
Group bus, private car and guided hike: what each price covers.
From Beijing to Mutianyu
Bus with a change in Huairou, tour bus, taxi or your own car.
Cable car, chairlift and toboggan
Which ride goes where, what it costs and what stops it.
Opening hours
Main-season times, last ticket sales and last check-in.
Hiking and Jiankou
Walks at Mutianyu and the rules for wall sections that are not open.
Mutianyu or Badaling
Two sections, two ways to get there, different rides.
History of Mutianyu
From the Ming fortification to the restoration of the 1980s.
Best time to visit
Climate by month, autumn leaves and public holidays.
Photo spots
Viewpoints around the cable car platform and the towers.
Where to stay
Sleeping near the wall or in Beijing.
Travel tips
Passport, payment, toilets and entry rules for China.
Beijing day trips
Mutianyu, the Ming Tombs and what else fits a day.
What a visit costs in 2026
Adult prices in Chinese yuan. Tickets for the rides are sold separately.
| Item | Price in 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | CNY 40 | CNY 45 with a postcard |
| Reduced entry | CNY 20 | CNY 25 with a postcard; proof needed |
| Internal shuttle, return | CNY 15 | Visitor center to the wall area |
| Cable car, one way | CNY 100 | Entry not included |
| Cable car, return | CNY 140 | Entry not included |
| Chairlift or toboggan | Around CNY 100 | Around CNY 140 for chairlift up and toboggan down |
| Group bus tour from Beijing | From CNY 140 | Rides are extra |
Entry, shuttle and a return cable car ride add up to CNY 195, or CNY 200 with the postcard ticket. Details are on the tickets page, and the rides are explained on the cable car and toboggan page.
Good to know
A few things to know before you plan.
Two entry prices
A normal adult e-ticket costs CNY 40. The ticket with a postcard costs CNY 45. Reduced prices are CNY 20 and CNY 25. There is no single flat price.
Ticket prices →Two kinds of shuttle
The internal shuttle runs from the visitor center to the wall area. The coach from Beijing is a separate service with its own price.
Getting there →Rides run by different companies
The cable car and the chairlift with the toboggan belong to different companies. Their tickets are not interchangeable.
Rides compared →Not every tower is open
The open section ends somewhere between tower 18 and tower 23. Works on the wall between towers 16 and 17 have been under way since 26 May 2026, and the inside of tower 16 stays walkable. Ask at the gate which towers are open on your day.
Photo spots →Wall protection rules since 1 March 2026
Beijing's wall protection rules ban organised activities on wall sections that are not open to visitors. Buying a tour does not create a permit.
Hiking rules →More independent guides to Beijing
Separate guides from the same team.
Mutianyu: frequently asked questions
Where is Mutianyu and how far is it from Beijing?
Mutianyu is in Huairou District in the north of the Beijing municipality, about 70 km from the city center. By car in good traffic, plan on roughly 1.5 hours. The page on getting there from Beijing compares the options.
How much is a Mutianyu ticket in 2026?
Adult entry is CNY 40, or CNY 45 with a postcard. Reduced entry is CNY 20 or CNY 25. The cable car costs CNY 100 one way and CNY 140 return, and the entry ticket is not included. See the tickets page.
Do I need to book in advance and bring my passport?
Book ahead with your real name. The booking asks for your name, phone number and document details, and a passport is accepted. Bring the original of the document you used. Plan to book before the day rather than relying on a ticket at the gate.
Is Mutianyu or Badaling the better choice?
They differ in access and rides. Badaling has a high-speed train from Qinghe or Beijing North. Mutianyu is reached by bus or road and has a cable car, an open chairlift and a toboggan for the way down. The comparison page sets them side by side.
Do I need a visa for China?
As of October 2026, ordinary passports from countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain can enter without a visa for up to 30 days, and this rule runs until 31 December 2026. A separate 240-hour transit rule needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. Read more on visa-free entry to China and check your own government's advice.
Is mutianyu.org run by the scenic area or a tour operator?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the scenic area, the Beijing authorities, any bus operator, tour company or hotel.