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Great Wall tours from Beijing: how to compare them

For a first visit, pick a tour to Mutianyu. How to compare Great Wall tours from Beijing: what's included, shopping stops, group size, and when to go alone.

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The Great Wall near Jinshanling, with watchtowers along the ridges

A Great Wall tour from Beijing is the simplest way to see the wall: transport, tickets and timing are handled for you. Below, we help you decide between a tour and going on your own, pick the right section, and compare tours.

Which section should your tour go to?

For most first-time visitors, choose a tour to Mutianyu. Badaling is the alternative, but it is the most visited and most crowded section near Beijing. The full side-by-side comparison (crowds, distance, rides, prices) is in Mutianyu vs Badaling, and what travellers report about both is in what 1,245 travellers say.

What types of Great Wall tours are there?

  • Small-group day tour: shared transport and a guide, with a fixed schedule. Check the group size and how much time you get on the wall.
  • Private tour with driver: a car and driver for your group only, sometimes with a guide. You set the pace and the start time, which helps you arrive early.

Some tours add other sights or offer different times of day; check each tour’s itinerary.

What to check before booking

  • Section visited: Mutianyu or Badaling (Badaling is the most visited and most crowded section near Beijing).
  • Hotel pickup: included, or a meeting point?
  • Entrance ticket: included or not? At Mutianyu it is 40 CNY per adult (45 CNY with a postcard option).
  • Cable car or toboggan: included or not? At Mutianyu, the chairlift up to Watchtower 6 and the toboggan down are run by a separate operator with separate tickets: about 100 CNY one way, or about 140 CNY for chairlift up + toboggan down.
  • Time on the wall: at Mutianyu, plan about 3 hours on the wall and about 6 hours in total by car or tour (longer by public bus).
  • Group size: how many people share the guide and the vehicle.
  • Free cancellation: check the cancellation deadline in the listing.
  • Passport: bring your original passport, even on a tour: tickets are real-name at both Mutianyu and Badaling.

Great Wall of China tours from Beijing

Before you book, see what 1,245 travellers report about Great Wall tours, including shopping stops and extra costs.

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Offered by GetYourGuide

Mutianyu Great Wall day tour with options

Check what is included, the meeting point and the cancellation terms on GetYourGuide before you book.

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Photo: Viator

Offered by Viator

Mutianyu Great Wall private tour from Beijing

Check what is included, the meeting point and the cancellation terms on Viator before you book.

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Can you visit the Great Wall without a tour?

Yes. Public buses go to both Mutianyu and Badaling, and trains go to Badaling. The options for Mutianyu (bus, private car or tour, with travel times) are compared in Beijing to Mutianyu; tickets, rides and booking steps are in Great Wall tickets. Want to see more around Beijing? See our day trips from Beijing.

When is the best time for a Great Wall day trip?

  • Beat the crowds: arrive at opening time, go on a weekday, and avoid Chinese public holidays (October 1–7, May 1–5 and Spring Festival week).
  • Mutianyu opening hours: from March 16 to November 15, 7:30–18:00 on weekdays and 7:30–18:30 on weekends; from November 16 to March 15, 8:00–17:30.
  • Weather: the toboggan only goes down, and it closes in rain and snow.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a Great Wall tour from Beijing?

For Mutianyu, plan about 3 hours on the wall and about 6 hours in total by car or tour (longer by public bus). Check the time on the wall in each listing.

Which section do Great Wall tours from Beijing visit?

It depends on the tour, so check the listing. For a first visit, Mutianyu is usually the better choice: Badaling is the most visited and most crowded section near Beijing.

Do Great Wall of China tours from Beijing include the entrance ticket?

It depends on the tour. Check the "what's included" section. For reference, the Mutianyu entrance is 40 CNY per adult (45 CNY with a postcard option).

Can I do a day trip to the Great Wall from Beijing by public transport?

Yes. To Mutianyu: express bus 916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou, then bus H24 to Mutianyu; allow 2–3 hours each way. To Badaling: bus 877 from Deshengmen (near Jishuitan station, Line 2): about 1 hour, 12 CNY.

How far is the Great Wall from Beijing?

Mutianyu is about 73 km northeast of central Beijing, about 1.5 hours by car.

Do I need my passport on a Beijing Great Wall day trip?

Yes. At Mutianyu, tickets are real-name and can be booked up to 30 days ahead, with one admission per passport per day; bring your original passport. At Badaling, booking is real-name with your passport, and booking ahead is strongly recommended.

When is the best time for a Beijing Great Wall day trip?

Arrive at opening time, go on a weekday, and avoid Chinese public holidays (October 1–7, May 1–5 and Spring Festival week).

Related guides

Planning

Beijing to Mutianyu: bus, car or tour

By car Mutianyu is about 1.5 hours from Beijing; by public bus, 2 to 3 hours each way. Beijing to Mutianyu by bus, car or tour, and what happens on arrival.

Sources and last checked

Facts on this page were last checked on against these sources:

See tours that include entry