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7 Great Wall Tours from Beijing: Find Your Perfect Adventure 🗺
The Great Wall of China is Beijing’s crown jewel, but with so many sections to choose from, it’s like picking your favorite dumpling at a feast—tricky! From iconic hotspots to wild trails and even underwater views, we’ve rounded up seven top sections accessible from Beijing, along with tips on what to expect and how to choose the perfect one for your vibe. Let’s find your Great Wall adventure!
1️⃣ Badaling (八达岭长城): The Classic Crowd-Pleaser
Just 1–1.5 hours from Beijing, Badaling is the Wall’s rockstar—fully restored, with epic views and crowds to match. Cable cars, paved paths, and facilities (restrooms, snack stalls) make it super accessible. Expect a lively vibe, especially on weekends.
💡 Pro tip: Venture past North 8 for quieter spots.
❤️ Fun fact: Badaling opened to tourists in 1957, making it the OG visitor section.
💥 Best For: First-timers, families, or those short on time.
2️⃣ Mutianyu (慕田峪长城): The Scenic Sweet Spot
About 1.5–2 hours away, Mutianyu is a traveler's favorite for its lush forest views (90% greenery!) and slightly fewer crowds than Badaling. With cable cars, chairlifts, and a thrilling toboggan ride down, it’s great for families or thrill-seekers. The 5.4 km wall features 20 watchtowers, perfect for epic photos.
💡 Pro tip: Hit it on a weekday for calm vibes and snap the hills at sunset.
❤️ Fun fact: Mutianyu’s name, meaning “admire the fields,” nods to its nearby orchards.
💥 Best For: Photographers, families, or those seeking a blend of history and fun.
3️⃣ Jinshanling (金山岭长城): The Hiker’s Dream
A 2–3 hour drive, Jinshanling is a photographer’s paradise with 10 km of partially restored walls and 67 watchtowers. It’s quieter, with moderate-to-challenging hikes over uneven paths and jaw-dropping views.
💡 Pro tip: Pack water and hiking shoes; facilities are basic.
❤️ Fun fact: Watchtowers here have poetic names like “Flower Tower.”
💥Best For: Hikers and photographers craving solitude. Opt for a private hiking tour.
4️⃣ Juyongguan (居庸关长城): The History Buff’s Pick
Just 1–1.5 hours from Beijing, Juyongguan is a historic pass with well-preserved walls and stunning mountains; less crowded than Badaling. As a key military stronghold, it’s rich in stories, with shorter trails for quick visits. Cable cars and some wheelchair-friendly paths add accessibility.
💡 Pro tip: Snap the Cloud Platform gate for a unique shot.
❤️ Fun fact: Its name, “common valley pass,” reflects its strategic role.
💥 Best For: History lovers or those wanting a quick, less hectic trip.
5️⃣ Jiankou (箭扣长城): The Wild Adventure
About 1.5–2 hours away, Jiankou is the Wall’s untamed side—unrestored, steep, and thrilling. Crumbling watchtowers and rugged trails offer stunning views but demand fitness and caution. There are no facilities, so bring snacks and consider hiring a guide for safety.
💡 Pro tip: The 4-hour Jiankou-to-Mutianyu hike is bucket-list-worthy.
❤️ Fun fact: The “Sky Stair” climb is as epic as it sounds.
💥 Best For: Adventure seekers and fit hikers.
6️⃣ Huanghuacheng (黄花城水长城): The Lakeside Stunner
Roughly 1.5–2 hours from Beijing, Huanghuacheng is nicknamed the “Water Great Wall” for its unique reservoir views, with parts of the wall submerged under a shimmering lake. It’s partially restored, with moderate hiking trails and serene scenery, perfect for nature lovers. Expect fewer crowds but basic facilities.
💡 Pro tip: Snap the wall meeting the lake for a surreal photo.
❤️ Fun fact: The reservoir was created in the 1970s, giving Huanghuacheng its one-of-a-kind look.
💥 Best For: Photographers, nature enthusiasts, or those seeking a peaceful and scenic escape.
7️⃣ Simatai (司马台长城): The Nighttime Magic
A 2–3 hour drive, Simatai stands out for its dramatic, steep terrain and exclusive night tours, where the wall glows under lights. Partially restored, it’s less crowded and offers a mix of rugged trails and restored sections. Night tours (seasonal, check availability) are a unique draw.
💡 Pro tip: Book a private tour for night access and capture the lit-up watchtowers.
❤️ Fun fact: Simatai’s 10 watchtowers include the famous “Fairy Tower” with panoramic views.
💥 Best For: Night owls, photographers, or those seeking a unique experience. Private tours ensure access.
❓ How to Choose Your Vibe
➜ Short on time? Badaling or Juyongguan are the closest and easiest.
➜ Want photos? Mutianyu, Jinshanling, or Huanghuacheng deliver stunning backdrops.
➜ Craving adventure? Jiankou or Simatai’s night tours bring the thrill.
➜ Family-friendly? Mutianyu’s toboggan and Badaling’s cable cars win.
➜ On a budget? Take public transport to Badaling or join a group tour.
💡 Pro tip: Visit in spring or fall for comfortable weather.
Your Great Wall snaps will be epic! Search "Beijing" to get more ideas and travel tips from our Local Guide!
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The Great Wall is definitely worth visiting, but it's definitely a test of your physical fitness and knees, so I'd recommend getting more exercise. The expansive views from the Great Wall are truly refreshing. There were also people from around the world climbing the wall with their national flags, including the Chinese five-star red flag 🇨🇳, which was quite impressive!
Juyongguan Great Wall Tourism Value Unique Sightseeing Experience You can climb the steps of the Great Wall and experience its majesty firsthand. As you ascend, you'll enjoy a variety of views, from the ancient structures within the fort, such as gates and watchtowers, to the natural scenery along the wall, including valleys and streams. Furthermore, the fortress section of Juyongguan Great Wall is relatively well-preserved, allowing visitors to gain a more intuitive understanding of the ancient Great Wall's architectural style. Cultural and Educational Significance Juyongguan Great Wall is an important venue for historical and cultural education. It allows visitors to deeply appreciate the diligence and ingenuity of ancient Chinese workers and understand China's ancient military defense system. Schools can organize visits to Juyongguan Great Wall for students. Through field trips, students can better learn about history and strengthen their sense of national pride and patriotism.
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Integration of nature and humanity Juyongguan is famous for its "Juyong Greenery", with overlapping mountains and lush forests. The landscape varies in different seasons: in spring, the mountains are full of flowers, in autumn, the sky is full of red leaves, and in winter, the mountains are covered with snow. It is both majestic and beautiful. Yuntai is a relic of the Yuan Dynasty. Its archway reliefs and six kinds of scriptures are artistic treasures.
Juyongguan, known as the world's first grand pass, is magnificent and steep. Every Great Wall is almost the same, but each Great Wall has its own unique features. The stairs of Juyongguan Great Wall are narrower and more amusing, the stairs of Juyongguan Great Wall are broken and tired, and the downhill is very panicky. People who climb high are afraid of a sudden feeling-haha. When you are afraid of the interests of No. 15, the feeling of climbing the top will make you very proud. Looking at all the hills is small, maybe that's the way it is.
Because I don't want to crowded people, I chose Juyongguan, and because I want to see Hanpo better, I climbed the East Great Wall. The Eastern Great Wall is much slower and easier to climb than the Western Great Wall, but the scenery is not inferior, and the number of people climbing the Eastern Great Wall is very small, and there are few people along the way, most of them are crooked nuts. The view of the city building is very open, and the hawk is hovering overhead. It feels good.
It is recommended to go to Juyongguan Great Wall. There are few visitors, mainly foreigners. Really tired and tired, the idea of giving up halfway has not been eliminated. Fortunately, if we persist, everything will suddenly be bright. Be sure to get more water. The water on it is very, very expensive. The scenery is still very admirable; exclamation of the wisdom and perseverance of the ancients, I climbed the process has been thinking that we are so tired of leisurely climbing. In ancient wars, when we get halfway, our fighting power will be exhausted. It's worth visiting. There are too many people on the Badaling Great Wall. I strongly recommend Juyongguan Great Wall.
It was May Day. After playing the Thirteen Tombs, I wanted to climb the Great Wall. There were too many people in Badaling and I had been there before. So I decided to go to Juyongguan. Juyongguan is really magnificent, with mountains on both sides and only one road in the middle. The city wall extends from the front and back doors to the hills on both sides, enclosing a huge fortress, forming a three-dimensional defense. It is really a closed door. When climbing the first step from the west, the gradient is nearly vertical, which is a challenge to the body. When climbing the beacon tower, I found that it was warm-up. There are several sections to climb, but the gradient is gentle. First make adjustments here, and then continue to climb to find that not as tired as the front, there is a rest area in the beacon tower. So we went all the way to rest, and finally reached the top. This beacon tower can also climb up and overlook the whole picture of Juyongguan. After seeing enough, I went down another road and felt no pressure. It was a relatively steep section as soon as I got to the bottom, and my physical strength also declined slightly, a little more leisurely. At the crossing, you can take pictures on the city buildings and take pictures with the inscriptions of Chairman Mao. After coming down, he went out of the iron door. If you have time, you can climb the Great Wall in the East and see different scenery. Ctrip has a discount on ticket purchases, so it's a worthwhile trip to Juyongguan.