Beijing Great Wall Tours - Journey Beyond the Guidebooks and Stand Upon One of the World's Greatest Wonders
Imagine standing on top of a stone fortress stretching over mountains and valleys as far as the eye can see. Trace the footsteps of emperors and soldiers as you feel the cool breeze that has blown for centuries. This is more than just a sightseeing trip: it is a pilgrimage to the heart of Chinese history and human achievement. A tour of the Great Wall of China is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Our expertly curated tours are designed to take you beyond the ordinary. We venture beyond the popular, crowded sections to provide a more authentic and profound encounter with this legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Top 6 Beijing Great Wall Tours
The "Top 6" model ensures each type finds a recommendation tailored to their needs:
The First-Timer / Family / Comfort-Seeker: They need the easiest, most accessible, and safest option. (e.g., Mutianyu).
The Active Adventurer / Hiker: They want authenticity, a physical challenge, and to avoid crowds. (e.g., Jinshanling to Simatai).
The Photographer / Thrill-Seeker / Purist: They are chasing the most dramatic, iconic, and raw experience, and are willing to accept more difficulty for it. (e.g., Jiankou).
1-Day: Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
- Explore at your own pace
- Ride the cable car to access the gorges parts of the Mutianyu Great Wall
- Enjoy hotel pick-up and drop-off services
1 Day: Forbidden City and Great Wall Tour
- Benefit from knowledgeable guides
- Delve into the grandeur of the iconic Forbidden City
- Immerse in the majestic Great Wall
8-Hour Bus Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall
- Travel to Mutianyu Great Wall with Mubus
- It is both efficient and cost-effective
- Entrance fee, transportation, and English-speaking guide service are included
Half Day Great Wall Layover Tour with Round-trip Airport Transfer
- Layover transfers between Beijing Capital International Airport and Mutianyu Great Wall
- Maximize your time at the Great Wall
- Engage with your guide to learn the history of the Great Wall.
Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Night Tour
- Embark on a historical adventure in Beijing
- The mix of restored and unrestored sections
- Navigate through rugged terrain and steep sections
1-Day Great Wall Hiking Tour from Jiankou to Mutianyu
- Traverse two distinct sections - the wild, unrestored Jiankou and the well-preserved Mutianyu
- Hiking offers a good physical workout, pushing your endurance and stamina
- Encounter a mix of steep ascents, descents, and uneven paths
More Popular Beijing Great Wall Tours
Join us as we guide you through the Great Wall's wonders and unravel the mysteries of this historic treasure.
More Great Wall Bus Tours
Explore the majestic Great Wall of China with convenient and cost-effective bus tours. Enjoy hassle-free transportation and guided experiences to various sections of this iconic UNESCO World Heritage site.
MyBeijingChina Tour Reviews
Calm city
My experience in Beijing was fantastic. Our local guide, Ethan, made the visit very enjoyable in a perfect English. He attended to all requests and he was very attentive. So many recomendable.
Family of 4 had a great time in Beijing
We are a family of 4, which includes 17-year-old twins. We just completed two weeks in China. We started in Beijing, then went to Xi'an, and then to Guilin, and we ended in Shanghai. We had such a great time in Beijing, thanks to Nina! We felt really lucky that we were assigned to Nina because she is such a caring person and is passionate about her job. She took great care of us and made sure that we were able to see everything we wanted to see. Nina went above and beyond to help us even after the tour was done. She was a godsend because we have two people with celiac disease, and they can't eat gluten, so you can imagine how stressful this was for us, our first night trying to navigate finding food. Nina took care of us and took us to a hot pot restaurant and made sure to explain to them the importance of no soy sauce or wheat. She was very careful when ordering our food every day and made sure to find food that was enjoyable for the members with celiac. We greatly appreciate how well she took care of us. Beijing was a wonderful experience and a great start to our trip. We highly recommend Nina as a tour guide.
A wonderful of a private tour Beijing
Picked up at the airport, stayed in a 4 star hotel, visited the Forbidden City, the Chinese wall, Sumner Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and brought to the Tianjin Cruise terminal. Everything is "thanks" to enthusiastic guide Tina and cheerful female driver Lily from China Highlights. We heard and saw everything in a great atmosphere, from beautiful places to a special culture, history and social life. A wonderful experience of a private tour, reliable and well organized. Recommended!
Customers' Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Section to Visit: Mutianyu or Badaling？
Both Mutianyu and Badaling are iconic sections of the Great Wall near Beijing, but they cater to different travel preferences. For most visitors seeking a balanced, enjoyable experience, Mutianyu stands out as the superior option.
Crowd Density: Peace vs. Crowds
Mutianyu: Located 15km farther from downtown Beijing than Badaling, it attracts far fewer tourists (roughly 1/5 of Badaling’s volume). Visitors can walk along the wall freely, take photos without jostling, and fully immerse themselves in the Great Wall’s grandeur without the hustle of crowds.
Badaling: As the earliest developed and most famous Great Wall section in China, it draws massive crowds year-round—especially during holidays, when the wall can feel overcrowded. Long queues for tickets, cable cars, and photo spots are common, which may disrupt the sense of tranquility.
Hiking Difficulty: Accessible vs. Challenging
Mutianyu: Its slopes are significantly gentler, with well-preserved, relatively flat paths between watchtowers. Even beginners or families with kids can hike comfortably. Additionally, the cable car reaches directly to the 14th Watchtower, minimizing strenuous walking for those who prefer ease.
Badaling: The wall has steep, uneven steps in many sections, requiring moderate physical strength. Elderly visitors, children, or those with limited mobility may find it tiring to climb.
2. What are the Opening Hours of Popular Great Wall Sections?
Badaling Great Wall
- Peak season (April 1 – October 31): 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM, park closes at 5:30 PM).
- Off-season (November 1 – March 31 next year): 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:00 PM, park closes at 4:30 PM).
Mutianyu Great Wall
- Peak season (April – October): 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM (ticket sales end at 5:00 PM, entry stops at 5:30 PM).
- Off-season (November – March): 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:00 PM, entry stops at 4:30 PM).
Note: Always check the official website for updates, especially during holidays.
3. How to Get to the Great Wall from Downtown Beijing?
To Badaling
- High-speed rail: Take trains from Beijing North Station or Qinghe Station to Badaling Great Wall Station (30–40 mins), then a 10-minute walk to the scenic area.
- Bus: Take Bus 877 from Deshengmen Bus Station (1.5 hours, fare ~12 CNY; avoid "black cars" pretending to be Bus 877).
To Mutianyu
- Private car/charter: 1.5–2 hours (most flexible, book via trusted platforms).
- Shuttle bus: Take tourist shuttles from Beitucheng Subway Station (Line 10/8, Exit C) – departs 8:00 AM, returns 3:00 PM (round-trip fare ~80 CNY).
4. Do I Need to Book the Great Wall Ticket in Advance?
Yes, it is highly advisable to book Great Wall tickets in advance, especially for popular sections like Badaling and Mutianyu.
Badaling Great Wall
Online platforms: Tickets can be reserved up to 10 days in advance via the official website (http://www.badaling.cn), the official online ticketing system (ticket.badaling.cn), or the official WeChat account 'Badaling Great Wall' (Badaling Great Wall). You will need to provide your real name, ID number, or passport number when booking.
Mutianyu Great Wall:
WeChat Official Accounts: Follow 'Great Wall Inside and Outside Tourism' (长城内外旅游) or other relevant official tourism accounts. Then click on the ticket booking section, select Mutianyu Great Wall, and fill in the required reservation information. Tickets can usually be booked 7-10 days in advance.
Official website: Visit the Mutianyu Great Wall Scenic Area website. Navigate to the ticket booking page, select your visit date and the number of tickets required, then enter your personal details to complete your reservation.