Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing: how to get there, tickets and cable car (2026)

Short answer: Mutianyu is a day trip from central Beijing. You have three ways to go: a public bus plus a short hop, a ride-hailing car or taxi, or a pre-booked tour or private driver. Buy your entry ticket and decide on the cable car before you go, carry your passport, and pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Exact prices, bus numbers and times change, so check them on the day you plan to go.

The official English site is en.mutianyugreatwall.com, and its ticket page is at en.mutianyugreatwall.com/reservation-center/tickets. The Chinese name of the site is 慕田峪长城. Tickets are real-name, so you book with your passport details.

Before you start

• Your passport. Mutianyu sells real-name tickets. Carry the passport you booked with, in case staff need to verify your identity. Each document can reserve only one ticket per visit date.
• A way to pay. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before you leave the hotel. Carry some backup cash too. Foreign cards are not accepted everywhere, so don’t rely on a card alone.
• Mobile data. Maps, ride-hailing and ticket pages all need internet. Install a travel eSIM before you fly.
• Your hotel address in Chinese. Useful for the return ride and for any driver. Our Beijing guide has more on getting around the city.
• A full day. Plan to be out most of the day, including travel each way. By public transport, guides put the one-way trip from central Beijing at roughly 2 to 2.5 hours. By car it is much shorter, but traffic varies. Allow 3 to 4 hours at the wall itself.

Step by step

1. Pick your date. Weekends and public holidays are busier. Tickets are real-name and can be booked up to 15 days ahead. In peak season (March 16–November 15) the reported opening hours are 7:30–18:00 on weekdays and 7:30–18:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. In off-peak season (November 16–March 15) the Great Wall is open daily 8:00–17:30. Ticket sales stop one hour before closing, and ticket inspection stops 30 minutes before closing. Check current official notices for changes, including holiday changes.

2. Buy your entry ticket. Use only the official channel for Mutianyu, not a look-alike site: en.mutianyugreatwall.com. Check the price on the official page before you pay. Entry, the shuttle and the lifts are priced separately unless you buy a package, and reported prices vary, so don’t rely on a figure from a blog. Children 1.2 m tall or shorter ride the shuttle and cable car free.

3. Choose how to get there.

   • Public transport. Take the metro to Dongzhimen (lines 2 and 13, and the Airport Express), then go to the Dongzhimen Public Transport Hub. Take the 916 Express (916快, not the ordinary 916, which stops far more often) to Huairou Beidajie (怀柔北大街). The Beijing government’s tourism page says to transfer there to bus H23, H3 or H71 and get off at the Mutianyu scenic area stop (慕田峪景区). Some guides list other transfer numbers, so check the route in your map app on the day. Fares and last-bus times are not reliably published, so check them locally.
   • Ride-hailing or taxi. Fastest and simplest for two or more people. Show the driver the Chinese name, 慕田峪长城, and set the destination to the scenic area visitor centre. From Huairou, a car takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Whether a driver will wait for you for the return varies, so agree it before you go.
   • Tour or private driver. Easiest if you don’t want to plan transport. Book only with a provider you trust and read what the price includes (entry, cable car, lunch). Inclusions differ a lot between tours, so don’t assume tickets and the cable car are covered.

4. At the gate. Go to the designated ticket gate and show your original booking document. The cable car uses the North Ticket Gate. If you booked with a foreign passport, no ticket exchange is required. Carry the passport you booked with in case staff need to verify your identity. The official site describes the booking QR code as the fallback for cases such as missing or damaged ID. Then follow signs to the wall.

   

5. Decide on the cable car. You can walk up, take the cable car, or combine them. The enclosed cable car runs from the North Ticket Gate up to Tower 14. The open chairlift and the toboggan (slide) are a separate set-up near Tower 6, run by a different operator, and their tickets are not interchangeable with the cable car. Buy lift tickets at the same time as entry if the official channel offers it. The cable car can stop in unsafe weather such as strong wind, and the toboggan depends on conditions too, so check notices on the day.

6. Walk the wall. Wear shoes with good grip, bring water, and expect stairs and steep sections. Guides suggest about 1 to 1.5 hours for an out-and-back walk from Tower 14, and 2 to 3 hours for the Tower 14 to Tower 6 traverse. Some sections may be closed for restoration, so check the official notices.

7. Head back. Check the last bus or the pick-up arrangement before you start walking. Tourist coaches won’t wait for late passengers. If you’re taking a car, agree the return before you go in or use a ride-hailing app at the exit. Some travellers find cars scarce at busy times, so order early.

If it doesn’t work

Problem	Why	Fix
Can’t buy a ticket online	Some channels need a Chinese phone number or ID	Try the official English site, or buy at the ticket service hall with your passport.
Foreign card declined	Not every terminal takes foreign cards	Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay, or use cash.
Can’t find a ride back	Few cars at the exit at busy times	Order a car early, or arrange a driver in advance.
Cable car closed	Weather or maintenance	Check on the day, and plan to walk or reschedule.
Gate staff ask for ID	Staff may need to verify who booked	Keep the passport you booked with on you, not in the hotel. Show the booking QR code if ID is missing or damaged.

FAQ

Is Mutianyu easy to do without a tour?

Yes, many travellers go on their own. It takes more planning than a tour, mainly for the bus connection and the return trip. A ride-hailing car cuts the effort.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, plan to. Tickets are real-name and can be booked up to 15 days ahead on the official site. Busy days may have limits, so book early for weekends and holidays.

Do I need cash?

Keep a little for emergencies. Mobile payment is the main way to pay in China. See our Alipay guide.

Is the cable car worth it?

It depends on your knees and time. If you’re short on time or with kids or older relatives, it helps. Check the current price and what’s included on the official ticket page.

Still stuck?

Do it yourself with the steps above — or get help from a real person.

Sources: official Mutianyu ticket page at en.mutianyugreatwall.com and the Beijing government tourism page. Some links are affiliate links — see our disclosure.