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 25 (Children); CNY 45 (Adult)
Bus Routes:	Take tourist bus No. 867 (936) from Dongzhimen to Mutianyu Great Wall.
	Bus No. 916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou Conference Center (东直门 - 怀柔会议中心), and then take a mini bus to the Mutianyu Great Wall.
	Take a tourist bus from the Arrow Tower of Qiamen (前门箭楼) or Xuanwumen (宣武门) to the Mutianyu Great Wall (available on weekends and Chinese legal holidays from April to October).

Related Reading:
White Mutianyu Great Wall Experience

Comments and Questions

Is the 867 bus to Mutian running on 2 February 2012? Tks for your help.

Reply1/31/2012 6:35:49 PMDavid Martinez

Emma :2/1/2012 4:44:55 PM

Bus No. 867 usually serves from late March to November 15th.

For information the direct bus 936 at dongzhimen is open only from the 15 of march to the 15 of november. In other case you have to take the bus 916 (11 yuan) and then the taxi or private car or minibus around 30 yuan

Reply1/7/2012 6:59:56 AMEleonore

Terry :1/7/2012 5:39:24 PM

yes, the bus No. 936, which is change to tourist bus No. 867, only runs from March 15 to November 15.

Hi !
I am my family will be visiting Badaling in mid April 2012, may i know the directions to get there if we stay in Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel?

Reply1/6/2012 4:17:40 AMClarissa, Malaysia

Mark :1/6/2012 4:42:57 PM

You have to take a taxi to Deshengmen first, and then transfer to Bus no. 919 to Badaling.

Hi, I would like to reach Mutianyu on Jnuary 21 or 22 2012... Is still bus 867 (936) running on those days? are the hours still the same?

Reply12/28/2011 6:35:35 PMStefano, Italy

Emma :12/28/2011 6:55:40 PM

yes, the bus is still running at the same hours, but the bus will stops if there is heavy snows.

Hi! I want to go to Mutianyu either this Friday or on Monday (2 December 2011 or 5 December 2011). I read above that the 867 bus is no longer running, is this true? If it is what is the easiest way to get to Mutianyu? Thanks so much! Luke

Reply11/30/2011 2:49:25 AMLuke, United Kingdom

Vic :11/30/2011 6:05:21 PM

Hi Luke,
Bus No. 867 is still running, and the earliest one departs at 07:00 from Dongzhimen station.

Hi will be visiting Badaling & Jinshanling in mid december, may i know the directions to get there by bus if i stay near dongzhimen? if via cab how much will it cost?

Reply11/27/2011 8:00:22 AMJacqueline, Singapore

Abby :11/27/2011 6:03:54 PM

Badaling and Jinshanling are not in the same direction, so i think you need at least two days for both of them. there are buses from Dongzhimen to Jinshanling, but you need to take bus No. 909 to Deshengmen and take bus No. 919 to Badaling.
it will be very expensive if you go by cab.

Can you please confirm that the 867 bus operates over the weekend in the month of November 2011 and does it take you direct to the Mutianyu cable car station? If not, can you please advise the exact stop at Mutianyu. And the exact location at Mutianyu for us to board the bus back to Dongzhimen Thank you.

Reply11/11/2011 4:21:25 AMJaime, Singapore

Bruce :11/11/2011 5:26:09 PM

Bus No. 867 will arrive outside the entrance of Mutianyu. You can still take the same bus back to Dongzhimen from Mutianyu.

Hi, I will be going November 9th (tomorrow) or 10th.

You said that the bus departs from Dongzhimen at 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM. What time does the bus (867) LEAVE FROM Mutianyu?

Also - are there other options for going on a weekday? My hotel is not too far from Tiananmen.

Lastly - what are some differences between Badaling and Mutianyu?

Thanks for your help.

-Winston

Reply11/8/2011 2:45:32 AMWinston, United States

Bill :11/8/2011 6:44:23 PM

Bus No. 876 leave from Mutianyu back to Beijing city at 14：00 and 16：00.
you can also take bus No. 916 and then a small bus to Mutianyu.
there are less tourists in Mutianyu Great Wall than Badaling.

Will special tourist bus 867 be available November 6, 7 or 8? I don't speak Mandarin Chinese. How do I ask for this bus at the long distance bus station? Do the ticket people speak English?

Reply11/4/2011 10:47:12 AMEdward, United States

Hank :11/4/2011 6:15:17 PM

Beijing Bus 867 operates all year round. There will be the No. 867 at the front of the bus, so please don't worry.

Hi!
I want to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall on Sep 16. Please let me know the cheapest transport from Beijing. What will be the total cost. I will be staying close to Tianamen Square.

Reply9/6/2011 12:52:58 AMPoonam, India

Bill :10/27/2011 1:44:18 AM

from Tiananmen Square, you can take the subway line 1 to Jianguomen station, then subway line 2 to Dongzhimen station. Exit from Exit H and walk eastward along the Dongzhimenwai Street from about 260 meters, turn left to the Dongzhimenwai Xiejie, and walk for about 240 meters, you can find the Dongzhimen Long-distance Bus Station, from there you can take the 867 Tourist Special Bus (936) directly to Mutianyu Great Wall. the bus departs at 07:00 and 08:30. if you can not catch the tourist bus, you can exit from exit H of dongzhimen Subway station, and take Bus No. 916 to Huairou North Avenue and take a taxi to Mutianyu.

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