Mutianyu Great Wall hiking guide & routes

There is only one way up on the Mutianyu great wall, from tower No.1 to tower No.20, so it is easy to walk on the great wall by yourself, from tower to tower.

To get on the great wall from the foot of mountain, you can either climb the steps (takes more time) or ride cable car or chairlift from the foot of the mountain to up on the wall. we suggest following ways to hike the Mutianyu great wall.

Please note: Cable car round trip is from “north ticket check” to Tower No.14; Toboggan/chairlift round trip is from “south ticket check” to Tower No.6, they are different company and checkin places, the distance between Tower No.14 to No.6 is around 5KM, about 2 hours walk.

1. Take cable car up and down. (hiking difficulty: easy)

Take the cable car at the North checkin, which goes up to the tower No.14, you can walk from No.14 tower to the highest tower No. 20, then return to No.14 tower and take cable car down the hill. the whole round trip hiking walk through 12 towers and take about 2.5 hours on the wall.
This itinerary cover the western line of Mutianyu Great Wall which has the most beautiful landscape view of Mutianyu great wall, also you can reach the highest tower “Haohanpo”, that’s why this itinerary is the toursits most chosen one.

2. Take chairlift up and toboggan down. (hiking difficulty: easy)

Take the chairlift up at the South checkin, which goes up to the tower No. 6, you can walk from No. 6 tower to No.1 tower (Big corner tower), pass by Zhengguantai tower, then return to No.6 tower to take toboggan down the hill. the whole round trip hiking walk through 12 towers and take about 2 hours on the wall.
This itinerary cover the eastern line of Mutianyu Great Wall and you can experience the toboggan fun.

Note: you can also choose cable car up and toboggan down, buy the two companies’ tickets, walk from tower No.14 to tower No.6 for 1.5-2 hours.

3. Hiking from the entrace of the Mutianyu great wall (hiking difficulty: middle, steep steps)

A. If you have more than 3.5 hours, you can start hiking from South checkin, about 800 steps to No.6 tower, then walk towards west to No.14 tower, then return, back to No.12 tower and go down the hill. please note: the steps are a little steep.

B. If you have more than 5 hours, you can start hiking from South checkin, about 800 steps to No.6 tower, then walk towards west to No.20 tower, then return, back to No.12 tower a tower and go down the hill. please note: the steps are a little steep.

C. If you have more than 6.5 hours, you can start hiking from South checkin, about 800 steps to No.6 tower, then walk towards east to No.1 tower, then go west to as far as you can (No.20 is the farest tower), finally go back to No.12 tower and go down the hill. please note: the steps are a little steep.

Reminder: please remember to bring passport with you, because E-tickets only use passport for check-in (senice shuttle bus, great wall entrance, cable car all use passport for checkin)

Mutianyu Great Wall Fast Pass: skip the in-park shuttle bus, private car, drive to checkin point directly.