Mutianyu Great Wall's Information and Tips
This is a family friendly section. It's a part of the wall with easy accessibility; it's less crowded than Badaling. The cable cars, toboggans on the site make climbing/hiking easier. There's a newly installed graffiti board at tower 14 allows children to leave graffiti.
Mutianyu is quite a globalized section as more foreign visitors tend to go there. A climbing at Mutianyu Great Wall takes around 2-3 hours with few steep parts.
Great Wall at Mutianyu in autumn is the best season to visit
Only 1.5 hours' drive (95 km northeast of Beijing) from the capital, the Great Wall at Mutianyu section has been guarding the imperial city since the Northern Qi Dynasty (550). It's the slightly untamed Badaling, with equal beauty; it's less crowded and enjoys higher popularity among foreign visitors.
Mutianyu under the blue sky
The Mutianyu Great Wall has 22 watch towers and stretches over two kilometers; it was built up high (around 23-26 feet) and made of granite blocks, these features make Mutianyu Great Wall quite indestructible. Mutianyu was restored in 1983 and reopened to the public three years later. It was the second part of the Great Wall being seen by the world, only later than the Badaling Great Wall.
What to Do:
1. From the 8th watchtower, you could either hike east (plain part) to the 1st tower; or bound west (steep part) to the 20th watchtower; which takes you about 1.5hrs and 3 hrs respectively to finish the hiking.
2. Toboggan was installed at the 6th watchtower, and the cable car was installed at the 14th watchtower.
3. To do extensive hiking, you can hike westbound to Jiankou Great Wall; along the way, you're able to see both the restored and wild parts of the wall. The whole journey normally takes around five hours. However, it's strongly suggested that you hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu, as 3/4 of the route is downhill.
4. You can also cycle along the villages near Mutianyu to enjoy the wall view or to take some pictures of rural Chinese life.
Tips:
1. Comparably less crowded than Badaling, Mutianyu is still busy especially during the Chinese holidays and at the end of every week; waiting for toboggans could take you more than one hour in busy time.
2. Autumn is regarded as the best season to visit Mutianyu; when its surrounding trees (over 96% coverage) turn into different colors.
3. Walking on the snow-covered wall in winter (late November to early March) is slippery, be cautious.
4. Mutianyu Great Wall is a great spot for family tours. Equipped with cable cars, toboggan, and graffiti boards, these could all make an unforgettable trip for families.
More: Jiankou, Gubeikou, Jinshanling, Simatai, Huanghuacheng, Badaling Great Wall & Badaling Remnant Great Wall
To know more details and tips about the Great Wall, you can reach us via trip@odynovotours.com.
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