Mutianyu Great Wall - Day Trip

I had a 15-hour layover in Beijing during my most recent trip to Japan, so I decided to use it as best as possible, by taking a trip to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China from Capital International Airport.

Mutianyu is one of the most famous sections of the Great Wall of China, and since it is located only around 70 km from Beijing (in Mutianyu Village, Huairou District), it makes a day trip there possible from either the Capital or Daxing International Airport.

Opening times and admission

Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 18:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 to 18:30.

Admission varies, depending on what type of ticket you want to purchase.

A standard ticket is 45 yuan/£5 (25 for students and under 18's).

A ticket including the shuttle bus and cable car (round-trip) is 200 yuan (£20)

You can purchase the cable car and shuttle bus separately if need be.

You can buy the tickets online, up to 2 weeks in advance, or from the ticket booth on the day.

How to get there

You can get there via public transport, via the routes recommended by their official website, but I would recommend booking via GetYourGuide or Klook for the best/most convenient experience.

I landed at Beijing Capital International Airport around 6 am. After going through customs, I was on time for the meeting time of 7 a.m., just outside the arrivals area.

There, the 4 of us who randomly booked this tour and time slot were greeted by our guide. From there, he drove us to the Mutianyu portion of the Great Wall of China, which was the closest and overall best option for us, as we all had a flight to catch later that evening, from the same airport.

After parking in the downstairs parking lot, some of us (who hadn't booked online) went to buy our entry tickets, which included a cable car ride up to the wall and a short bus ride to the cable car area. We decided to walk back down for a change of scenery.

Between the ticket gates and the bus station, there is an area which has quite a few shops offering souvenirs (be warned, everyone will try and sell you everything all the time) and a few restaurants.

We climbed a few steps to reach the cable cars, then had a quick journey up. If you're not too comfortable being high up in the air, I would perhaps recommend walking up as well. The views from the cable car are great, but you will see the same ones as you get there, so you won't be missing out on much. The only downside is the extra time you need to take into account, and how much stamina you have for this activity after a long flight.

We took a few pictures there, then made our way along the walk, stopping every now and again to take in the view and take a few more pictures.

The Great Wall of China, or at least the Mutianyu part of it, is impressive, fascinating, and very well kept.

Overall, there is quite a bit of walking to be done, so please wear very comfortable shoes. When it comes to clothes, layers are advised, as it can get a bit warm while you walk, but it can still be quite windy.

We were there bright and early in the morning, and it wasn't too busy, but I expect it to get a bit crowded as the day goes by. If possible, try and be there as early in the morning as you can.

After an hour or so of walking along the wall, we turned around and made our way to the opposite side, as that's where the exit nearest to the car was. Every now and again, there are signs and maps telling you where you are and how long until the next point, so no chance of getting lost.

It did get quite warm, and I was happy I had enough water with me, so please, make sure to pack some with you before you start climbing.

On the way down, we saw a few stalls with souvenirs and some selling snacks or ice cream, so if you're looking for gifts/souvenirs, there are a few places to choose from if you haven't found anything at the ones just past the ticket gates.

On our way back, most of us fell asleep in the car, as a 10 hour plane journey combined with walking on the Great Wall of China can be a bit exhausting, which is why I recommend getting yourself a guide who will drive you around wherever you need to go, rather than choosing public transport.

If you're there visiting for longer, then it might be different, but with a flight to catch 14 hours later, I didn't want to take any chances.

Some of these guides include extra things to see, such as the Forbidden City or a City walk, but I'm not sure I can fully recommend adding anything else. On our way back, we got stuck in traffic in Beijing for quite some time. Two of the four who booked with this specific guide also booked to see the Forbidden City (for which you need to book a slot in advance, at least the day before), and they did so, while me and the forth person had a nice stroll around the Park, just outside the Forbidden City.

After all of this, we made it back on time and got our flights, but it can be hit and miss with seeing anything else, depending on traffic or any unforeseen events.

Overall, if you have a decent layover in Beijing Capital Airport (at least 10 hours), I would highly recommend a visit to the Mutianyu Great Wall; it is certainly a must-see.

Have you ever been there? If so, I would love to hear about your visit there, in the comment section below.

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I hope life is treating you well.

Take care.