Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Review
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.
Wriggling Mutianyu Great Wall in Summer
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.
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| Mutianyu Great Wall in Late Autumn |
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.
| Admission Fee | Adults (including children above 1.5M): CNY45; Children (1.2-1.5M): CNY25; Free for children below 1.2M |
| Cable Fee (Optional) | Adults (including children above 1.3M): CNY45 for a single trip, CNY65 for a round trip; Children (1.2M-1.3M): CNY25 for a single trip, CNY35 for a round trip; Free for children below 1.2M |
| Slideway Fee (Optional) | Adults: CNY50 for a single trip, CNY65 for a round trip; Children: CNY40 for a round trip |
| Opening Hours | 8:00-16:00 |
Mutianyu Travel Tips
Mutianyu Great Wall Transportation
By Bus
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| Mutianyu Great Wall in Winter |
The most convenient way to get to Mutianyu Great Wall is taking Tourism Bus No. 867 at Dongzhimen. One can take Bus No.106, 107, 123, 132, 206, 24 etc or Subway Line 2, Line 13 and Airport Express Train to Dongzhimen.
a. Visitors could take Tourism Bus No.867 at Dongzhimen Outer to Mutianyu Great Wall directly in about 2.5 hours. The bus leaves from Dongzhimen Outer for Mutianyu at 07:00 and 08:30 and comes back from Mutianyu to Dongzhimen at 14:00 and 16:00. The bus ticket for a single trip is CNY 16 by cash and CNY6.4 by using Beijing Transportation Smart Card. Please note that the Tourism Bus No.867 is only available during the high season (usually from late March to November 15th). b. Visitors could also take one of the Buses No. 916 or 916快 (express line) which go from Dongzhimen to Huairou Bus Station first, get off at Qingchun Lu Beikou, Huairou Bei Dajie or the terminus and then hire a mini-bus to Mutianyu. The Bus No. 916 (express line) is recommended and its duration time is about 60-70 minutes. The mini-bus ride takes about CNY30-40 and 20 minutes; one can also share the mini-bus with others to save money.
Notes: Bus No.867 and 916(express line) depart from Dongzhimen Transport Hub in Dongzhimen Waixiejie, which is about 10 minutes' walk from Dongzhimen Subway Station (Exit B). Bus 916 can be found in the bus stop close to Exit B of the subway station.
Transportation from Beijing Capital International Airport to Mutianyu Great Wall:a. Take Airport Express Train to Dongzhimen Station, get off and then go to Mutianyu Great Wall by bus according to the ways mentioned above. b. Take Airport Shuttle Bus Line 2 and get off at Dongzhimen Station, then head for Mutianyu by bus as indicated above. Transportation from Beijing Railway Station to Mutianyu Great Wall:a. Take Subway Line 2 at Xizhimen Station to Dongzhimen, and then take a bus to Mutianyu Great Wall according to the ways indicated above. b. Take Bus No. 24 from Beijing Railway Station to Dongzhimen, get off and then proceed to Mutianyu by bus as mentioned above. Transportation from Forbidden City to Mutianyu Great Wall: a. From South Gate of Forbidden City (Meridian Gate) to Mutianyu Great Wall:
Take Subway Line 1 at Tiananmen Square East to Jianguomen Station, get off and change to Subway Line 2 to Dongzhimen, then take a bus to Mutianyu Great Wall following the ways mentioned above.
Take Bus No. 5 at Xihuamen or Tiananmen Square East to Qianmen, change to Subway Line 2 to Dongzhimen to take bus 867 or 916 to Mutianyu Great Wall.b. From North Gate of Forbidden City (Gate of Divine Prowess) to Mutianyu Great Wall:
Take bus no. 101, 109, 609 or 619 from Forbidden City bus stop to Chaoyangmen inner, get off and then walk to Chaoyangmen subway station to take subway line 2 to Dongzhimen, then proceed to Mutianyu Great Wall by bus 867 or 916.
By Car
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
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| 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 
Cable Car
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 
Slideway
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 Travel Review Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking
Recommended Tours including the visit to Mutianyu Great Wall:
One Day Luxury Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall - Summer Palace (Temple of Heaven)
One Day Great Wall Tour: Juyongguan Great Wall - Badaling - Mutianyu Great Wall
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