Which Great Wall section should you visit?
Seven sections within a day trip of Beijing, from the restored and easy to the crumbling and steep. Answer three questions for the one that suits you; the full comparison is below.
Badaling 八达岭长城
Restored: full Walking: easy Crowds: high
Best for: First-timers short on time who want the easiest trip by train
| Distance | about 70 km northwest of central Beijing |
|---|---|
| Getting there | High-speed train from Beijing North or Qinghe to Badaling Great Wall station (about 20-30 min, book on 12306); bus 877 from Deshengmen; or the slower S2 suburban train from Huangtudian |
| Travel time | about 1-1.5 hours each way by car or bus |
| Ticket | ¥40 Apr-Oct, ¥35 Nov-Mar; under 18 and 60+ free, with real-name admission tickets still needed |
| Booking | Real-name daytime tickets are available online and on site, including during peak holidays; advance booking through official channels is recommended. Bring your passport |
| Hours | 6:30-16:30 Apr-Oct; 7:30-16:00 Nov-Mar |
| Lifts | north cable car and south ground cable car, ¥100 one way, ¥140 round trip; under 1.2 m free |
| Night visits | Night Great Wall ran Apr 30-Oct 6, 2026: entry 18:30-21:00, ¥198 weekdays, ¥298 Fri, Sat and holidays; also some Spring Festival nights |
The most crowded section; go early on a weekday and avoid Chinese holidays
Sources: www.badaling.cn, www.visitbeijing.com.cn, www.visitbeijing.com.cn
Mutianyu 慕田峪长城
Restored: full Walking: easy Crowds: medium
Best for: Families and first-timers who want a restored wall with fewer crowds
| Distance | about 70 km northeast of central Beijing |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Tourist buses from Qianmen, Dongzhimen and other hubs (about ¥80 round trip, morning departures, returns 13:00-16:00); or bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen to Huairou, then a local bus (H23, H24 and others) or taxi; or a tour or driver |
| Travel time | about 1.5-2 hours each way by car |
| Ticket | ¥40-45 entry (¥45 is the postcard-style ticket on the official site), plus ¥15 round-trip shuttle bus from the parking lot; lifts extra |
| Booking | Real-name tickets on the official website (English Reservation Center) or WeChat, one ticket per passport per day; bring the same passport |
| Hours | Mar 16-Nov 15: 7:30-18:00 weekdays, 7:30-18:30 weekends; shorter hours in winter (about 8:00-17:30) |
| Lifts | enclosed cable car (to Tower 14) and chairlift up with toboggan down (Tower 6), run by different companies; each about ¥100 one way, ¥140 round trip |
The toboggan ride down is the highlight for kids; cable car and toboggan tickets are not interchangeable
Sources: en.mutianyugreatwall.com, en.mutianyugreatwall.com, en.mutianyugreatwall.com
Jinshanling 金山岭长城
Restored: partly Walking: moderate Crowds: low
Best for: Photographers and hikers who want sweeping views and few people
| Distance | about 130-150 km northeast of central Beijing, in Hebei |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Easiest with a tour or driver; some guides list a slow train from Beijing North to Gubeikou plus a 20-minute taxi, or a weekend bus from Dongzhimen |
| Travel time | about 2.5 hours each way by car |
| Ticket | about ¥65 Apr-Oct, ¥55 Nov-Mar; online discounts are sometimes sold |
| Booking | Real-name tickets online (Ctrip, Meituan and similar) or at the gate; bring your passport |
| Hours | about 6:00-18:00 in summer, 6:30-17:30 in winter |
| Lifts | cable car, about ¥40 one way, ¥60 round trip; ¥10 shuttle bus to the gate |
Mix of restored and crumbling stretches; the old hike through to Simatai is closed
Sources: www.chinatravel.com, touch.piao.qunar.com
Simatai (Gubei Water Town) 司马台长城（古北水镇）
Restored: partly Walking: moderate Crowds: medium
Best for: A sunset-and-night visit, combined with an overnight in the water town
| Distance | about 120 km northeast of central Beijing, in Miyun |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Gubei Water Town bus from Dongzhimen Transport Hub (about ¥48 one way, ¥80 round trip, morning departures, returns into the evening); or a tour or driver |
| Travel time | about 2-2.5 hours each way |
| Ticket | Simatai ¥40 plus Gubei Water Town ¥140 (you must enter through the town); combos are sold |
| Booking | Real-name tickets on the Gubei Water Town website (wtown.com) or WeChat mini program, with your passport; book night visits ahead, as the quota sells out on weekends |
| Lifts | cable car from the town to Tower 8, about ¥80 one way, ¥120 round trip |
| Night visits | The only section with regular night climbs on a lit wall; entry from about 17:30, night ticket about ¥180 |
Steep and narrow in places; easiest as an overnight trip rather than a day trip
Sources: www.wtown.com, mychina.guide, www.trip.com
Jiankou 箭扣长城
Restored: wild Walking: hard Crowds: low
Best for: Experienced hikers only, and only if a legal route opens
| Distance | about 75-80 km north of central Beijing, in Huairou |
|---|---|
| Getting there | No official access; hiking tours start from villages such as Xizhazi |
| Travel time | about 2-2.5 hours each way by car |
| Ticket | No official ticket; it is not an approved visitor site |
| Booking | None; the section is not open to visitors |
| Lifts | none |
Unrestored and dangerous, with frequent rescues; climbing unopened wall is banned and can be fined, and the hike to Mutianyu was reportedly walled off in Aug 2025
Sources: www.news.cn, www.bjnews.com.cn, wanderinchina.com
Juyongguan 居庸关长城
Restored: full Walking: moderate Crowds: medium
Best for: A quick, close trip with a big fortress pass and few lifts or crowds
| Distance | about 50-60 km northwest of central Beijing, in Changping |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Bus 919 from Deshengmen (check you board one that stops at Juyongguan); or Changping Line metro then a local bus or taxi |
| Travel time | about 1 hour by car; 1.5-2 hours by bus |
| Ticket | ¥40 Apr-Oct, ¥35 Nov-Mar; under 18 and 60+ free |
| Booking | Tickets sold at the gate; no advance booking needed (per Beijing's official listing) |
| Hours | about 8:30-17:30 in peak season, 8:30-16:30 off season; some gates open earlier |
| Lifts | none |
| Night visits | Evening openings on some dates, e.g. May-July 2026 |
A short but very steep loop; fully rebuilt, so it feels less authentic
Sources: english.beijing.gov.cn, m.bj.bendibao.com, wildgreatwall.com
Huanghuacheng 黄花城水长城
Restored: partly Walking: moderate Crowds: medium
Best for: A lakeside wall that dips into the water, good in spring and summer
| Distance | about 70 km north of central Beijing, in Huairou |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Weekend and holiday tourist bus from the city (about ¥80 round trip); otherwise bus H21 or H22 from Dongzhimen, or a driver |
| Travel time | about 1.5-2 hours each way by car |
| Ticket | about ¥58-60 |
| Booking | Tickets at the gate or online (official WeChat mini program and travel apps); bring your passport |
| Hours | about 8:30-17:00 in summer (longer on Saturdays), 8:30-16:30 in winter |
| Lifts | none; boat rides on the reservoir cost extra |
The partly flooded wall is unusual; some stretches are steep and unrestored
Sources: english.beijing.gov.cn, www.chinatravel.com
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