Mutianyu Great Wall tour from Beijing: Hike the watchtowers
Climb watchtowers on the best-preserved stretch of wall near Beijing
A group coach tour from Beijing to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, departing at 7:50am from Hepingxiqiao subway station. You hike 6km through forested terrain for about two hours, climbing watchtowers that have stood for over 750 years and taking in views of Mutianyu Village nestled in the mountains. The tour includes an English or Chinese-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. Entrance tickets and cable car descent are optional add-ons.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall and hike
- Meet guide at Hepingxiqiao subway exit B
- Drive 1.5 hours to Mutianyu Great Wall
- Hike 6km along Mutianyu Great Wall
- Enjoy views from watchtowers
- Explore surrounding Mutianyu Village area
- Optional: Take cable car descent
- Drive back to meeting point
What’s included
- Group tour guide in English or Chinese.
- air-conditioned coach transport from Beijing to Mutianyu and back to the meeting point.
- booking service charge.
- Every day 07:00 07:30 08:00
Information
Group coach tour from Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall with English or Chinese guide, a 6km hike through dense woods, and watchtowers standing 750 years.
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The experience
You meet your group guide at 7:50am at exit B of Hepingxiqiao station on subway line 5, then ride an air-conditioned coach for 1.5 hours to Mutianyu. This section of the Great Wall is known for its dense placement of watchtowers, more than most other restored sections, and for being one of the best-preserved stretches of the entire wall. The surrounding landscape is thick with woods and pastures that shift color through the seasons, and you're standing where guards once defended the capital and the imperial tombs.
The hike covers about 6km and takes roughly two hours, giving you time to move at your own pace between the watchtowers and take photographs from different vantage points. You'll walk through the forested terrain that surrounds the wall, with comfortable shoes essential for the uneven stone and earth paths. The guide points out details about the structure and history as you go, and you can spend as long as you want at each tower before heading back down. After the hike, you return to the coach for the drive back to Hepingxiqiao station, arriving in the late afternoon.
Entrance tickets to the wall are not included in the base tour price but can be added at checkout. If you want to skip the hike down, a cable car descent is available for an additional fee. You pay this option when you book. The tour operates in all weather, so bring layers and rain gear if the forecast calls for it. Lunch is not provided, so eat before departure or bring snacks for the day.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
How long is the hike on the Mutianyu Great Wall tour?
The hike covers approximately 6km and takes about two hours, moving through forested terrain between the watchtowers. You set your own pace and can spend as much time as you want at each tower before returning to the coach.
What makes the Mutianyu section different from other parts of the Great Wall?
Mutianyu is one of the best-preserved sections of the entire Great Wall and has a notably dense placement of watchtowers, giving you more opportunities for different views and photographs. The surrounding area includes Mutianyu Village and thick woods that change with the seasons.
Do I need to buy entrance tickets separately?
Entrance tickets to Mutianyu are not included in the base tour price. You can add them at checkout when you book, or purchase them separately if you prefer. A cable car descent is also available as an optional add-on if you don't want to hike back down.
What time does the tour start and where do I meet the group?
The tour departs at 7:50am from exit B of Hepingxiqiao station on Beijing subway line 5. The coach then drives for 1.5 hours to reach Mutianyu, so plan to arrive at the station by 7:45am.
Is lunch included in the tour?
Lunch is not included. The tour runs for 8 to 9 hours total, so eat before you depart or bring snacks to have during the day on the wall.
Operated by Private China Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
Mutianyu Great Wall tour from Beijing: Hike the watchtowers
8h–9h · EN +1
from US$ 24 per person
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