Mutianyu Great Wall of China, Mutianyu Tour Guide, Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall

The Mutianyu Great Wall lies in Huairou District, 73 kilometers (45.4 miles) from Beijing proper. It is a superb location to appreciate the grandness of the Great Wall as well as to avoid the crowds at Badaling. The Mutianyu section, 2,500 meters (2,734 yards) long, connects the Juyongguan Pass in the west and Gubeikou in the east. Rimmed by mountains, it is filled with beautiful flowers in spring; abundantly verdant in summer; charming with red-leafed maple trees in autumn and enchanting covered in pure white snow in winter.

The wall was reconstructed during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) on the ruins of the wall built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557). Hence, the wall has a history of over 1400 years. In 1404, the Mutianyu Pass was added to the wall and in 1569 it was restored again. This fortified section was the site of many battles which took place during the Ming Dynasty. The wall, which stands seven to eight meters (23-26 feet) high and four to five meters (13-16 feet) wide, is mainly made of slabs of granite, which make it extremely strong.

The Mutianyu section has its own characteristics. The coping on both sides of the wall has parapets and battlements, which made it possible to repel foes from either side. The bases of the indented battlements have square holes arched at the top from which soldiers shot at the besiegers. Additional walls with watchtowers were built in order to relieve the enemy's assault on the main wall which is densely distributed with watchtowers, twenty-two in total. The wall runs up and down following the contours of the steep mountainsides. In one section it rises with a gradient of nearly 90 degrees on bare rock posing a challenge to any climbers. In Zhengguantai, three watchtowers stand on the same terrace, a rare occurrence in the structure of the Great Wall.

Comfortable cable cars are available to facilitate climbing this section of the wall. A single trip cost CNY35 and a round trip enjoys a favorable price at CNY50.

Admission Fee:	CNY 40
Bus Route:	916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou International Conference Center (东直门-怀柔国际会议中心), and then take a small bus to the Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城).
Bus Route:	Take a tourist bus from Tiananmen (天安门) or Xuanwumen (宣武门) to the Mutianyu Great Wall (available on weekends and Chinese legal holidays from April 7 to October 15)

Comments and Questions

I am going to Beijing on May 6th till the 8th and want to visit Mu Tian Yu. I will be staying near DongCheng area. I would like to take public transport to Mu Tian Yu. I have heard differing opinions about bus 936 and 916. Some people say it can take you directly to Mu Tian Yu. Some say it can only take you to Huairou. Which is it? Will it be able to take me to Mu Tian Yu directly, around the time I am in Beijing. May 6th through 8th? Thank you!

Reply3/8/2010 1:30:00 AMjesse , Japan

Linda :3/8/2010 8:21:00 PM

Neither Bus 936 nor Bus 916 will take you to Mutianyu directly. The simplest way to Mutianyu from Beijing is take Bus 916 to Huairou first and then take a taxi to Mutianyu.

Bus 936 will take you to the entrance of Mutianyu Great Wall directly. The bus terminal of 936 is only 5 minutes walks from Subway Station Dongzhimen and it is located outside the building of the main bus terminal.

Reply6/19/2009 11:09:00 AMrosa

Tim Bueckers :10/24/2009 11:26:00 PM

Does this bus run daily and how much did it cost to get there and was the bus crowded?

I have never been to Beijing. I want to go to Mutianyu on July 31. I am worried I won't make it to the bus station. Can anyone help me with how to get the bus station? How much it cost? How long will it take by bus to get there? Thank you

Reply7/21/2009 8:10:00 AMJacob Lett , United States

BeijingTrip.com :7/21/2009 9:32:00 PM

Thanks for inquiry.
The Bus No. 936 and 916 go to the Mutianyu and the bus station is located at Dongzhimen. The ticket price is CNY 12. The journey usually takes about three to four hours.

Thanks for supporting beijingtrip.com!

I am interested in going to Longqing Revine. Is it possible to visit Mutianyu part of the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and the Longqing Revine all in one day by public or private transportation?

Reply4/14/2009 4:56:00 PMChaheem , United States

BeijingTrip.com :4/14/2009 9:24:00 PM

Hi, Chaheem
One day is far not enough for visiting these three attractions together. Commonly it requires one day for each of them. You may use the public transportation or rent a car.

Thanks for visiting beijingtrip.com!

I am currently in Beijing and want to go to Mutianyu this Friday, March 20. Could you let me know if I can book that with beijingtrip.com? Please let me know soon. I'm leaving on Saturday.

Reply3/18/2009 6:07:00 AMMarisol , China

BeijingTrip.com :3/19/2009 3:00:00 AM

Hi, Marisol
Welcome to travel with beijingtrip.com! Our tour department is writing to you!

Thanks for supporting beijingtrip.com!

I am currently in Beijing staying near Dong Si. I would really like a tour guide to go to Mutianyu but don't want to go anywhere else. I would like to do it this Monday 16th February. If you can do this what is the cost and how can I pick up the tour bus? If this is not possible, can you suggest the best way of going by myself from Dong Si?
Many thanks

Reply2/14/2009 7:57:00 AMTessavan Gelderen , United Kingdom

TravelChinaGuide would like to offer Beijing Bus Tour to meet your needs. Usually, the tour guide will pick you up from your hotel(downtown area) directly. If you are interested in it, please visit the following Bus Tour page for detailed info.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/package/bus-tour/

Reply1/23/2009 8:07:00 PMtravelchinaguide

Hi I am flying in to Beijing on the 27th of May for a week to see the Great Wall and other sites. Emptying my Bucket list. Whats it like to get around Beijing? Do many people speak English? Will I be able to be a freedom traveller or should I take a tour to see the Great Wall?

Reply1/23/2009 4:49:00 AMAnnette , Australia

I would like to go Mutianyu on Dec. 26th. Can I catch the 916 bus from Dong Zhimeng? and when I get to Huairou, how easy is it to find a taxi?

Reply12/22/2008 7:56:00 AMPeter , China

BeijingTrip.com :12/22/2008 7:52:00 PM

Yes, you can take Bus 916 from Dongzhimen station to Huairou. It's easy to find a taxi to Mutianyu Great Wall, cost at 20-30Yuan. Have a nice trip!

Definitely not. You may only take Bus No 916 to Huairou, and then take a taxi there. (Taxi Fare: CNY40) Hope you are lucky.

Reply9/4/2008 9:40:00 PMBreeze , China

Are there going to be any tourist buses to Mutianyu after October 15?
I arrive in Beijing on October 17 and want to go on the 19th to Mutianyu.

Reply9/4/2008 7:21:00 AMFanny Farkas , United States