The Great Wall of China needs no introduction, right? But let me try to blow your mind anyway.
Picture this: you’re surrounded by layers of misty mountains stretching into the distance. And winding between them, like the spine of a sleeping dragon, is a long, ancient wall. It’s dotted with people who, from far away, look like tiny specks drifting along its ridges.
What you may not realize is that the Great Wall wasn’t built as one continuous structure. It was first made by connecting multiple defence structures already built and then rebuilt, and extended over centuries by various dynasties — eventually becoming the longest military structure in the world, spanning more than 20,000 kilometers.
Today, we’re going on a day trip to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China to take on the Hero’s Slope — and I can’t wait to show you why it’s worth the trip… and the sweat.
Location: 慕田峪
Cost: Have to purchase ticket
Length: ~5 h + travel time
How to get there: We used tourist buss service, but you can also get there by public transport
Check out my full China trip itinerary
What to expect on Mutianyu Great wall:
Why We Chose to Visit the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall of China
As we were based in Beijing, we had two logical options for our Great Wall visit — Badaling or Mutianyu. I had read that, while Badaling is easier to reach by public transport, it also tends to be the most crowded. Mutianyu, on the other hand, is a bit trickier to get to — but that also means fewer tourists. And “less crowded” sealed the deal for us. And getting there isn’t complicated if you choose to go by a tourist bus…
Visiting Mutianyu Great Wall of China By Tourist Buss
I wanted our day trip to Mutianyu Great Wall be as hassle-free as possible. While it’s technically doable by public transport, I wasn’t quite confident about navigating local buses in China just yet. So, I opted for a tourist buss service that goes directly to and from the Mutianyu Great Wall.
This option was more expensive than doing everything yourself via public transit, but still cheaper than a fully guided tour or hiring a private driver. A perfect middle ground!
Overall, I was very satisfied with the experience. We went to the designated pickup point in the morning, where the Mubus staff welcomed us onboard. On the way to the wall, they gave us a brief but helpful introduction to the Great Wall and explained the different hiking routes we could take once there.
We also bought our entrance tickets through them, which made things even easier. Once we arrived, they dropped us off at the Great Wall shuttle bus station (included in the tour price), and from there we were free to explore on our own for about five hours — plenty of time!
At the end of the day, we returned to the same pickup spot, and the same bus took us back to Beijing. A truly smooth and stress-free experience.
Best Advice About Visiting The Great Wall of China I’ve Heard
This one came from our tour guide.
Don’t visit the Great Wall on Monday. Because on Mondays all the museums in Beijing are closed, this is when most of the tourists plan to visit the Great wall of China making it very crowded. So better to pick any other workday.
I don’t know if you knew but there are actually 2 routes you could take when visiting the Mutianye great wall. And both of them require separate tickets as they are operated by different companies (at least that’s what they told us on the tourist bus). Today we are taking both starting with the West section.
What to Expect on the West route of Mutianyu Great Wall?
This section is considered to be steeper and more challenging than its eastern counterpart, but it also holds the highest viewpoint.
Cable Car up the Mutianyu Great Wall
We wait in line for a little while, but before long, we’re stepping into a glass-sided cable car, ready to take us up to the Great Wall. As we begin our ascent, the view below us is mostly a dense sea of treetops—green and endless—but not particularly exciting.
What is exciting, though, is the glimpse of the Wall itself that starts to appear in the corner of your eye. A pale line stretching along the ridge, growing larger with every second.
And then it hits me — we’re actually about to set foot on the Great Wall of China. After all the reading, researching, and dreaming… we’re here. I can’t hide my excitement!
Unforgettable Views of West Route of Mutianyu Great Wall
The next moment, you find yourself standing on top of the Mutianyu Great Wall.
There’s a bit of a crowd near the entrance, but once we get past that initial bottleneck, the wall opens up beautifully. Fortunately, it’s not too crowded today, so there’s plenty of space for everyone to explore at their own pace.
You’re surrounded by rolling green mountains, fading into the misty distance like a layered painting. The stone wall snakes along the ridges, interrupted time after time by watchtowers positioned at regular intervals.
In the past, these served as vantage points to monitor the surroundings and protect the wall. Today, they act as little resting oases during the hike—dark, empty, and slightly cooler than the air outside thanks to their thick stone walls.
Here’s an interesting fact I came across during my research: in addition to the watchtowers, beacon towers were built at strategically important points along the Great Wall and played a vital role in communication. Soldiers would send coded messages using smoke signals by day and fire by night, sometimes also using flags or drums. Isn’t that fascinating?
I’m not sure if any of the towers we’re seeing today were used for that purpose, but the idea of this ancient, large-scale messaging system is very intriguing.
The surface of the wall is rough and uneven, with lots of steep ups and downs. It’s definitely not an easy walk, and I can’t help but worry about the tourists who showed up in sundresses and flip-flops—they might not have known what they were in for.
Honestly, the Great Wall is brilliant. It was originally built to protect China from the attacks of northern nomads. I consider myself in pretty decent shape, but if I had to climb this in full armor… I think I would just give up and turn around.
But the views from Mutianyu Great Wall are absolutely spectacular—so we just keep going. As the biggest challenge of the Wall is yet in front of us.
Conquering the Hero Slope of Mutianyu Great Wall
Have you heard of Watchtower 20?
It’s the highest point on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall that tourists can reach — and getting there is no joke. The final climb from Tower 19 to Tower 20 is so steep that it’s nicknamed the Hero Slope. Climbing it is seen as a symbol of perseverance, strength, and determination.
And let me tell you — it lives up to the name!
The stairs are relentless, and I have to stop more than once to catch my breath. My leg muscles are pulsing, and the incline feels almost vertical at times. But I know I can make it.
Just before reaching the top, there’s a bit of a bottleneck as the steps get very narrow. But everyone handles it gracefully, forming two lines — one for climbers heading up, the other for those coming down.
One final push and… we make it!
We’re standing at Watchtower 20. At the top, there’s a large stone with something written in Chinese on it — a popular photo spot for triumphant hikers — and a vendor selling cold water and beer. That’s a smart business move! And of course, you get to enjoy the views: endless ridgelines and the Great Wall stretching like a ribbon across the mountains.
To descend, you have to turn back the way you came and head back toward the cable car station.
They say the west route of Mutianyu takes around 2.5 hours on average, but we finished a bit faster — perhaps carried by the thrill of the challenge.
What is the Hiking East route of Mutianyu Great Wall Like?
This section is shorter (the average estimated time is about 1.5 hours, though we completed it faster) and generally less challenging—and at the end, you get to enjoy a toboggan ride down.
Ski Lift Up The Mutianyu Great Wall
The ski lift on the eastern side of the Mutianyu Great Wall feels a bit more thrilling — it’s an open lift, so your legs dangle freely in the air as you’re carried up toward the wall. The views are much the same as on the western cable car: a seemingly endless sea of green treetops rolling beneath you.
Slight Differences Between the West and East Sections on Mutianyu
Once you’re up top, though, you’ll notice some unique features. This side of the Mutianyu has slightly different watchtower designs — one of the highlights is a cluster of three towers sitting side by side, each topped with gently sloping roofs that look almost like hats. Apparently, this configuration is quite rare along the Great Wall.
And while walking you can hear ambient background music that makes you feel like you’re the main character in your own adventure movie.
The walk may be shorter, but I’m not entirely sure it’s any easier — the stairs here get pretty steep, too. It all culminates in a large watchtower, though unlike Watchtower 20, you don’t climb on top of it — instead, you step inside.
After a short rest in its cool stone chambers and snapping a few dramatic window shots, it’s time to turn around. But don’t worry — the adventure isn’t over yet.
Driving a Toboggan Down the Great Wall of China
The real highlight of this section of the wall is the toboggan ride down. You get to speed down the Great Wall on a little “car” that runs along a metal track. How cool is that!
Usually, my biggest complaint with toboggan rides is that they’re over in a blink — but not this one. At 1,580 meters long, it’s the longest I’ve ever been on, letting you glide through turn after turn. It’s a lot of fun!
With that thrilling ride, our adventure at the Mutianyu Great Wall comes to an end. We take the shuttle back to the tourist area to browse the souvenir shops and enjoy a Great Wall-shaped ice cream before boarding the tourist bus back to Beijing.
Thoughts?
Although I had dreamed of visiting the Great Wall, I was a bit nervous—everyone’s seen those photos of crowds packed like sardines at the top. But for us, the experience was nothing like that. It turned out to be a fun (though physically demanding) hike, capped off with a thrilling toboggan ride. I loved the views, the sheer scale, and the feeling of standing on something so historically important. I think the key is timing your visit right to avoid the crowds.
PS: if you’re planning a trip to China – check out my list of tips, tricks and things you need to know when planning a China trip. It covers the basics like payments, navigation and more.
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