Mutianyu Great Wall tour: chairlift, hike, toboggan
Three ways down the wall, one morning to decide which suits you.
This full-day group tour from Beijing takes you to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved sections near the capital, with a professional guide, hotel pickup and entrance included. You choose how to ascend and descend: cable car up and down, chairlift up with chairlift or toboggan down, or hike the wall itself. The tour runs 6 to 9 hours depending on your pace and route choices, and you return to your hotel at the end.
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing
- Hotel pick-up in downtown Beijing
- Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall
- Take cable car or chairlift up
- Hike and explore the Great Wall
- Descend by cable car or toboggan
- Return to hotel
The Experience
Your guide and driver collect you from your downtown hotel and drive northeast about 75 kilometers to Mutianyu, a section of the Great Wall famous for its lush forests and seasonal landscape changes. The wall here served as a northern defensive barrier protecting Beijing, and it remains one of the most picturesque stretches you can visit. Once you arrive, the day is yours to shape: take the cable car up to Tower #14 and explore the wall on foot, or ride the chairlift to Tower #6 if you want a different vantage point. The choice of descent matters—cable car, chairlift or toboggan—and each one changes how the afternoon unfolds.
Hiking along the wall itself is the option if you want to move at your own rhythm and take in panoramic views without mechanical assistance. The toboggan descent is a single-track ride down the mountainside that takes the exertion out of the return journey, though it's not available for guests over 60, pregnant women, children under 3, or during bad weather or long queues—in those cases, the chairlift becomes your alternative. The cable car up and down is the most straightforward route if you want to spend maximum time on the wall itself without worrying about descent logistics. All three approaches work; the difference is what you want the day to feel like.
The tour includes your entrance fee, the cable car or chairlift ticket (depending on which descent option you select), a licensed guide who speaks English or Chinese, and your return transfer to the hotel. The total time is flexible—6 to 9 hours—so you're not rushed through the wall or held to a rigid schedule. Lunch is available to purchase on-site if you want it. Because the tour depends on weather, the operator asks that you book carefully if you have an evening train or flight; delays can happen, and severe weather may require rescheduling or a full refund.
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from your downtown Beijing hotel.
- entrance fee to Mutianyu Great Wall.
- cable car up and down to Tower #14, or chairlift up to Tower #6 with chairlift or toboggan descent.
- licensed guide speaking English or Chinese.
- all taxes, fees and handling charges.
Operated by Lily's Tour Company
Is this one for you?Book the group tour with pickup if you want a guide explaining the wall's history as you walk; choose driver-and-tickets if you'd rather explore at your own pace without narration.
Traveler reviews
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How far is Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing, and how long is the drive?
Mutianyu Great Wall is approximately 75 kilometers northeast of Beijing in Huairou District. The drive from your hotel takes place in the morning as part of the tour, and the total tour duration is 6 to 9 hours including travel time, exploration and return transfer.
What's the difference between the cable car, chairlift and toboggan options?
The cable car goes up to Tower #14 and back down the same way. The chairlift goes up to Tower #6 and you can descend by chairlift or toboggan—the toboggan is a single-track ride down the mountainside. Toboggan is not available for guests over 60, pregnant women, children under 3, or during bad weather or long queues; the chairlift is the backup option in those cases.
Is a guide included, and what language do they speak?
A licensed guide is included with the group tour options and the private guide option. Guides speak English or Chinese. The driver-only option does not include a guide.
What's included in the tour price?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fee to Mutianyu Great Wall, cable car or chairlift ticket (depending on your descent choice), all taxes and fees, and a licensed guide are included. Lunch is available to purchase separately on-site.
Can I hike the wall instead of taking the cable car or chairlift?
Yes. You can hike along the wall to enjoy panoramic views at your own pace instead of using mechanical ascent. Many visitors combine hiking with one of the descent options to manage the return journey.
What happens if the weather is bad or the tour is delayed?
The tour is weather-dependent. If severe weather cancels the tour, you can choose an alternative date, a different tour, or receive a full refund. The operator asks that you book carefully if you have an evening train or flight, as delays can occur for various reasons.
Mutianyu Great Wall tour: chairlift, hike, toboggan
6h–9h · EN · ZH +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 78 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.981,064 reviews

























