Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Review

Wriggling Mutianyu Great Wall  Mutianyu Great Wall Photos  Mutianyu Great Wall Map

Located in Huairou County about 45 miles from Beijing, Mutianyu Great Wall enjoys a long history and is part of the glorious culture of China. It connects Juyongguan Pass in the west and Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. The wall was first built in Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 557). In Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang, two famous patriotic generals, rebuilt it in order to strengthen its defensive potential when they guarded the strategic pass. It served as the northern protective screen, guarding the capital and imperial mausoleums for generations.

Mutianyu Great Wall winds 1.4 miles through lofty mountains and high ridges, many sections of which are made of granite. The unique structure makes the wall almost indestructible. It measures 23 to 26 feet high and four to five yards wide. Both of the wall's inner and outer sides have parapets to defend against enemies coming from the two sides. Some parapets are saw- tooth shaped instead of the regular rectangular form. Below the parapets, there are square embrasures the top of which are designed in an arc structure, different from the traditional round embrasures.

There are 22 watch towers distributed at close intervals along the wall. They are located not only in the main wall but also at the distinctive 'branch cities'. Branch cities are built on the hill ridge against the inner or outer side of the wall. They measure from several yards to dozens of yards across. On the northwest over 3,281-feet hills, lies a section of the wall called 'Ox Horn Edge'. On the steep and lofty peaks, there are two walls named 'Flying Eagle Flies Facing Upward' and 'Arrow Lock'. What is more rarely seen on the southeast side is a general gateway platform guarded by three watch towers together. In locations of strategic importance, batteries are set up to reinforce the defense capabilities. Mutianyu Great Wall really deserves to be the archetype of the ten thousand li Great Wall.

Besides its strategically important location and compact layout, the Mutianyu Great Wall is also famous for the breath-takingly beautiful scenery. Woods cover over ninety-six percent of the total scenic area. The wall presents different aspects of beauty in the four seasons. Flowers bloom all over the mountains in spring.  Grasses dress the hillside green in summer. Trees are laden with sweet fruits in autumn, and especially in October, leaves are turning red or yellow, touching the mountain tops with gold. In winter, the wall is covered by snow, making it seem more magnificent. The pine trees around Mutianyu Great Wall are well-known. There are more than 20 pines over 300 years old and about 200 pines over 100 year old. Besides, spring water at the foot of the wall tastes pure and fragrant, much appreciated by visitors.

Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing

What's more, the national first-rate cable car is installed in Mutianyu Great Wall. A sled named 'Speed' will give you an opportunity to experience thrills by taking you swoop down from the high mountains. China Stone City collects weird and beautiful stones, attracting more and more visitors to come and see.

 Mutianyu Travel Tips

Mutianyu Great Wall Transportation
 By Bus
a. Visitors can take tour bus No.936 at Dongzhimen and arrive at Mutianyu Great Wall. The No.936 bus runs between 07:00 and 15:00 on every one hour from Dongzhimen to Mutianyu. The last bus runs from Mutianyu Great Wall to Dongzhimen starts at 17:30. The bus ticket of a single trip costs CNY 16.
b. Take No.916 or No.936 bus at Dongzhimen and get off at Mingzhu Square (Huairou International Conference Center), and take a mini-bus to Mutianyu Great Wall.

 By Train
During the "Golden Week" of National Day, visitors can take a tourist train at Beijing North Railway Station at 07:10 and get off at Beizhai Railway Station, and take a minibus to Mutianyu Great Wall, and get back by taking the tourist train at Beizhai Railway Station at 16:00.

 Drive Travel
Start from Airport Expressway – Beigao Exit – Jing Shun Lu – Turn left at Kaifang Rotary – Go from the fourth exit – Drive along Bei Rotary on Ying Bin Lu – Drive along Bei Rotary on Qing Chun Lu – Mutianyu Great Wall (The signs along the road will guide you to find the way)

Mutianyu Dining & Accommodation

Discarded cannon at Mutianyu

 Fu Gui Hong Farmhouse
Chinese name: 富贵宏农家院 (fù guì hóng nóng jiā yuàn)
Location: Xisan Minsu Village, at the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall, Huairou District
Special dishes: braised donkey hoof in brown sauce, braised donkey legs in brown sauce, wild herbs, rainbow trout, braised chicken with mushrooms, millet gruel, polenta, cornmeal dumpling with vegetable stuffings and barbecues
Accommodation: Nine guest rooms to accommodate 20 guests: CNY 40 for ordinary room and CNY 50 for standard room. CNY 60 for heated brick bed. (Low season price); Establishment in room: TV, air conditioner, public lavatory
Entertainment: Mutianyu Great Wall sightseeing, Karaoke, Chesses & Cards, Mahjong and Picking
Surrounding scenic sites: Mutianyu Great Wall, Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Xiangshui Lake, Hongluo Temple, Shengquan Temple and Huiyuan Valley

 Bao Sheng Ren Jia Farmhouse
Chinese name: 宝生人家农家院 (Bǎo Shēng Rén Jiā Nóng Jiā Yuàn)
Location: Xisan Minsu Village, at the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall, Huairou District
Special dishes: stewed black bone chicken, stewed meat with chestnuts, sauce stuffed meat in eggplant, homemade bean curd with meat, scrambled egg, handmade noodle, congee with pork and preserved eggs, oil-fried handmade noodle and nourishing congees
Drinks: chrysanthemum tea, juice of wild dates and apple vinegar
Entertainment: Bonfire, Karaoke, Chesses & Cards, Mahjong, Picking, Flying Kites, Playing on the Swing and Playing Badminton
Accommodation: Ten guestrooms to accommodate 25 guests. CNY 50 to CNY80 for standard room; CNY 100 to CNY 120 for luxury room, CNY 60 for heated brick bed; Establishment in the room: TV, air conditioner, 24-hour hot water and toilet.
Surrounding scenic sites: Mutianyu Great Wall, Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Xiangshui Lake and Shengquan Temple

 Great Wall Villa
Chinese name: 长城山庄 (Cháng Chéng Shān Zhuāng)
Location: 1000 meters to the right of Mutianyu Huandao, at the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall
Accommodation: Over 40 guest rooms to accommodate about 100 guests; All the rooms are equipped with TV, Air conditioner, telephone, toilet, carpet and 24-hour hot water; The advanced sauna equipments introduced from Finland help guests release pressure.
Dining: The restaurant in the villa can hold 100 people to dine at the same time. It mainly serves Sichuan and Shandong cuisines and traditional peasant's food.

 Master Fish Restaurant
Chinese name: 鱼师傅餐厅 (Yú Shī Fu Cān Tīng)
How to get there: Drive along Jingmi Lu from Dongzhimen in Beijing, keep going until you reach Qingchun Lu Huandao, choose the direction to Mutianyu Great Wall and you will find it. (The signs along the road will help you find the way)
Due to special location, cool and clear springs, Huairou District is fertile in the production of trouts. Master Fish Restaurant is a good place to taste the delicious trouts. There are over 20 cooking ways of trouts, including uncooked, fried, steamed and stewed. Moreover, the fried Chinese prickly ash leaves, fried Chinese toon buds and green onion pancake are all visitors' favorite dishes.

 Related Links:
 Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking
 Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Review