Great Wall hiking Jiankou to Mutianyu: unrestored section

The Jiankou section has never been restored, which is why it still has the twists and turns of the original Ming Dynasty wall.

This private Great Wall hiking tour from Beijing takes you from the unrestored Jiankou section — steep, winding and built during the Ming Dynasty — across 3 hours of walking to the fully restored Mutianyu section. A professional guide who speaks English or Chinese leads the hike; hotel pickup, lunch at a local restaurant and all entrance fees are included. The tour runs 9 to 10 hours door to door.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike Great Wall from Jiankou to Mutianyu

• Pick up from hotel at 7:30am
• Drive 2 hours to Jiankou Great Wall
• Hike 3 hours from Jiankou to Mutianyu
• Choose cable car, toboggan, or walk down
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Return to Beijing hotel

The Experience

Your guide picks you up from your Beijing hotel at 7:30am and drives 2 hours to Jiankou, where the wall climbs the mountain ridge in sharp angles and switchbacks. This section has never been restored — it retains its original state with the weathered stone and uneven footing of a 500-year-old structure. The steepness is real; the guide will be with you the whole way. After 3 hours of hiking, you reach Mutianyu, the longest fully restored section open to tourists, where the wall stretches in both directions across the ridge.

At Mutianyu you have options for the descent: a cable car, a toboggan slide (both at your own cost), or simply walking down. Lunch follows at a local restaurant near the base. Your guide then drives you back to your Beijing hotel, arriving in the afternoon.

Bring hiking shoes and pack snacks — lunch comes late in the day. The hike is not easy; prior hiking experience is recommended, and the operator suggests it for travelers 8 years and older who are in at least moderate physical condition. Weather can occasionally close the wall, though the operator will arrange a visit to another section instead.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Beijing accommodation.
• professional guide speaking English or Chinese.
• entrance fees to both Jiankou and Mutianyu sections.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• private vehicle transport.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Beijing Tour Guide

Is this one for you?This tour starts at 7:30am and involves 3 hours of continuous hiking on steep, uneven terrain, so it suits travelers who are comfortable with an early start and moderate-to-strenuous walking. The unrestored Jiankou section is the draw — if you want the polished, accessible experience, the fully restored Mutianyu alone would be a shorter choice.

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Top questions

What makes Jiankou different from the restored sections of the Great Wall?

Jiankou has never been restored and retains its original Ming Dynasty state — uneven footing, weathered stone and the sharp twists and turns the wall originally followed up the mountain ridge, without any modern smoothing or reinforcement.

How much of the hike is actually walking, and how much time does it take?

You walk for 3 hours across the wall from Jiankou to Mutianyu, accompanied by your guide the entire way. The full tour, including the 2-hour drive each way and lunch, runs 9 to 10 hours.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the professional guide, lunch, entrance fees and private transport are all included. Cable car and toboggan tickets for the descent at Mutianyu are at your own expense.

Can I bring my child on this hike?

Children are welcome from age 8 and up, provided they are accompanied by an adult. The operator does not recommend the hike for children under 8.

What if the weather closes the Great Wall on the day of my tour?

If weather conditions force a closure, your guide will arrange a visit to another section of the Great Wall instead, so your tour still goes ahead.

Do I need hiking experience to do this tour?

Prior hiking experience is highly recommended. The hike is not easy, and the operator asks that travelers have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Wear proper hiking shoes and bring snacks, since lunch is served late in the day.