China Guide
Around Beijing
Mutianyu
Opening time: Daily 8am–5pm
Price: Wall ¥35; cable car ¥35
Address: 90km northeast of Beijing
A two-kilometre stretch of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu Great Wall is more appealing to most foreign visitors than the Badaling section of the Great Wall, as it has rather fewer tourist trappings. Passing along a ridge through some lush, undulating hills, this part of the wall is well endowed with guard towers, built in 1368 and renovated in 1983.
From the entrance, steep steps lead up to the wall; you can get a cable car up though it's not far to walk. The stretch of wall you can traverse here is about 3km long (barriers in both directions stop you continuing any further). The atmospheric Mutianyu Great Wall Guesthouse (010/69626867; ¥80-139), situated in a reconstructed watchtower 500m before the eastern barrier, is a good place for a quiet overnight stay, though be aware it has no plumbing; you have to call ahead.
Minibuses for Mutianyu leave from Dongzhimen and Xizhimen stations in Beijing every morning (¥10 one way), but they take in photo stops and dubious amusement parks along the way. Alternatively, you can get tourist bus #6 (mid-April to mid-Oct, weekends only, outward journeys daily 7–8.30am; ¥50) from the south cathedral, near Xuanwumen metro stop, or the #42 bus station, just south of Dongsi Shitiao metro stop; they'll wait around at the site for an hour or two before heading back to Beijing. Returning by other means shouldn't be a hassle provided you do so before 6pm, as plenty of minibuses wait in the car park to take people back to the city. If you can't find a minibus back to Beijing, get one to the town of Huairou, from where you can get regular bus #916 back to the capital – the last bus leaves at 6.30pm.