Three rides, three different jobs
The cable car runs in closed cabins, goes up and down, and reaches the wall at tower 14. The chairlift has open seats, also goes up and down, and reaches the wall at tower 6. The toboggan starts at the chairlift side and is for the descent only. You cannot ride it uphill.
The cable car and the chairlift with the toboggan belong to different companies. Their tickets are not interchangeable, and none of the ride prices include the entry ticket. Prices are those listed in 2026, and they change.
The rides compared
Adult prices in 2026. Entry is a separate ticket.
| Cable car | Chairlift | Toboggan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Closed cabins | Open seats | Sled run through the forest |
| Direction | Up and down | Up and down | Down only |
| Wall access | Tower 14 | Tower 6 | Starts at the chairlift side |
| Price | CNY 100 one way, CNY 140 return | Around CNY 100 one way | Around CNY 100, around CNY 140 with the chairlift up |
| Run by | One company | A second company | |
| Closes in rain or snow | Weather can close it | Weather can close it | Usually yes |
A return cable car ticket means you come back on the cable car. It does not give you a toboggan ride. Going up by cabin and down by toboggan takes two tickets from two companies and a walk along the wall between the two top stations.
Our picks: cable car and toboggan
Tours and tickets where the lift or the toboggan is part of the includes.
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 Great Wall tour with cable car or toboggan
Hotel transfer, entry, an English-speaking guide and a private car. The Mutianyu option includes either the cable car or the chairlift with toboggan; food and tips 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 ticket with chairlift and toboggan
Entry, the internal shuttle, the chairlift up and the toboggan down. A guide and meals are not included, and neither is the closed-cabin cable car; a city transfer is an optional add-on.
Check availability →Mutianyu tours with the cable car or toboggan
Trips from Beijing that include the wall, with options for the cable car or the toboggan, with live prices and availability.
The cable car to tower 14
The cable car is the sheltered choice. The cabins are closed, and the top station sits at tower 14, where there is a platform with a view along the wall. From there you can walk on toward the higher towers or turn back. A return ticket brings you down the same way.
It costs CNY 100 one way and CNY 140 return. Children up to and including 1.2 m ride free, and taller children pay the full fare. The internal shuttle from the visitor center to the wall area is a further CNY 15 return.
The chairlift and the toboggan
The chairlift has open seats and takes you to the wall at tower 6, which is lower on the slope than the cable car's platform. The toboggan starts on this side and runs down through the forest.
Expect about CNY 100 for one ride and about CNY 140 for the chairlift up and the toboggan down. Confirm the price at the ticket window. A guided hike that adds the toboggan for the descent charges CNY 100 for it as an extra.
Children under 10 usually ride in a double sled with a parent. Older visitors (around 60 and over), pregnant women and people with certain health conditions are usually advised not to ride. If you are close to a limit or unsure, ask at the station before you pay.
Which ride to take
It depends on who is with you and what the sky is doing.
You want the least effort
Take the cable car both ways. It stops at tower 14 and keeps the climb short. It also works for visitors who do not want an open seat.
You want the toboggan
Go up by chairlift or on foot, walk along the wall and ride the toboggan down. The chairlift and the toboggan belong to one company, and the combined price for the chairlift up and the toboggan down is around CNY 140.
You are traveling with small children
The toboggan has age rules, so check them at the station. The cable car is free for children up to 1.2 m. A walk between towers 14 and 15 is short.
Photo spots →Rain or snow is forecast
The toboggan usually closes in rain or snow, and the chairlift may be the only option. That is not guaranteed, because the operator can close parts of the site or all of it.
Best time to visit →Summer evenings and works on the wall
In summer 2026 the shuttle and the cable car ran from 07:30 to 21:00 between 25 June and 31 August, with towers 10 to 15 lit from 19:30 to 21:00, depending on sunset. That evening program does not apply to the chairlift and the toboggan, and it does not run all year. Ask about the current evening program before you plan around it.
Works on the wall between towers 16 and 17 have been under way since 26 May 2026. The inside of tower 16 stays walkable.
For prices and entry see tickets. For the ways to reach the wall from the city, see getting there from Beijing.
Mutianyu toboggan and cable car: frequently asked questions
How much is the Mutianyu cable car in 2026?
CNY 100 one way and CNY 140 return, without entry. Children up to and including 1.2 m ride free, and the internal shuttle is a further CNY 15 return.
Can I ride the toboggan up?
No. The toboggan is for the descent only. Take the chairlift or walk up, then ride down.
Does one ticket cover the cable car and the toboggan?
No. They belong to different companies, and a return cable car ticket gives you the cable car back down, not a toboggan ride. To go up by cabin and down by toboggan, buy two tickets and walk between the top stations.
What happens to the toboggan in bad weather?
It usually closes in rain or snow, and the chairlift is the alternative. The operator can close part or all of the site, so keep a plan B that does not depend on one ride.
Are there age limits for the toboggan?
Children under 10 usually ride with a parent in a double sled. Visitors around 60 and over, pregnant women and people with some health conditions are usually advised not to ride. The exact limits can differ, so ask at the station.
Which is better for photos, the cable car or the chairlift?
The cable car lands you at the platform at tower 14, a good place for a view along the wall. The open chairlift gives you a view of the slopes on the way. See photo spots.