Which Section of the Great Wall Should You Visit? Mutianyu, Badaling, Jinshanling and More

There is no single "Great Wall" visit. Near Beijing alone, several restored and wild sections are open to visitors, each with a very different feel. Choosing the right one is the difference between shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and having a watchtower to yourself.

Quick comparison

• Mutianyu: about 1.5 hours from central Beijing. Beautifully restored, with cable car, chairlift and a toboggan ride down. Best for most visitors and families.
• Badaling: about 1–1.5 hours, also reachable by high-speed train. The most famous and the most crowded. Best if time is very short.
• Jinshanling: about 2.5 hours. Partly restored, with long views and dramatic ridges. Best for photographers and keen walkers.
• Simatai: about 2 hours, next to Gubei Water Town. One of the few sections open for evening visits (book ahead).
• Jiankou: wild and unrestored, steep and crumbling. For experienced hikers only, with a local guide.

Mutianyu: our first choice for most travellers

Mutianyu has 20+ watchtowers along a forested ridge, wide restored walkways and far fewer tour groups than Badaling. A cable car or chairlift takes you up in minutes, so grandparents and small children can enjoy the wall too, and the toboggan ride down is a highlight for kids. In autumn the hills turn red and gold.

Badaling: famous, close and busy

Badaling is the section most leaders and tour buses visit. It is fully restored and well equipped, and the high-speed train makes it the fastest to reach. The downside is the crowds, especially on weekends and holidays. If you go, arrive at opening time.

Jinshanling: the photographer's wall

Jinshanling mixes restored and original stretches, with watchtowers marching over ridge after ridge. Walking a few kilometres here, especially at sunrise or sunset, gives the classic postcard views without the crowds. Good shoes are essential: some steps are steep and uneven.

Simatai and Gubei Water Town

Simatai is built on a sharp ridge above a reservoir, and it is one of the few sections you can visit after dark, when the towers are lit. Combine it with Gubei Water Town, a restored canal village at its foot, for an afternoon and evening outside the city.

Practical tips

• Go early. Arriving at opening time means cooler air, softer light and quiet walkways.
• Bring your passport. Tickets are registered with your ID.
• Wear proper shoes and bring water. Even restored sections have steep steps.
• Avoid Chinese holiday weeks (early May and 1–7 October) if you can. See our best time to visit guide.

How we help

With a private car and your own guide, you can choose the section that suits you, leave Beijing before the tour buses and stop wherever the view is best. See our Beijing page for more, or ask us on WhatsApp which section fits your group.

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