2021, Revisiting Mutianyu Great Wall

Number of days: 1 day
Time: March
Average cost: 120 yuan
With whom: and friends

Due to the epidemic, I haven't been out for a long time. With the arrival of spring, I finally went out again and went to the surrounding areas of Beijing, climbing mountains, wading in water, and also relieved stress.

I went to Mutianyu Great Wall with friends three years ago. At that time, transportation was inconvenient, so we took the bus because taxis were expensive. However, the bus required a transfer along the way, and it stopped at every stop. By the time we arrived at the Great Wall, I was so tired that I almost vomited.

I made a travel plan for Mutianyu in advance. Now there are many direct buses to Mutianyu. After comparing several, I finally chose Zan Bus. Because of my previous experience, motion sickness is really a lifelong pain for me. The meeting point of Zan Bus is at Exit B of Hepingxiqiao Station on Metro Line 5. The North Third Ring Road is less than 2 kilometers away from the Beijing-Chengde Expressway. It takes 5 minutes to get to the Beijing-Chengde Expressway, completely avoiding the traffic jams in the city. If you go from the Beijing Second Ring Road to the Beijing-Chengde Expressway, if there is traffic jam, it may take more than an hour to get out.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Why choose Mutianyu instead of Badaling?

There are very few people, and the weather is great. The blue sky, white clouds, lush green trees, and the gray Great Wall are a perfect color combination for photos. Previously, Mutianyu was usually visited by foreign tourists. We all go to Badaling, so the Badaling Great Wall is always crowded. And this is regardless of the peak or off-season. Choosing Mutianyu for a trip will definitely be worth your time.

Let's sort out the itinerary:

1. First, book the bus online and buy your tickets together. Many Beijing scenic spots now accept ID card entry, eliminating the need for ticket exchange. After booking, ask customer service to buy your tickets. Just bring your ID on the day of departure. At 7:50 AM, we arrived at Exit B of Hepingxiqiao Station on Metro Line 5. We met our ZanBus guide. We scanned the boarding code using the app and boarded the bus. Due to the pandemic, there were not many tourists, so our entire group arrived before 8:00 AM. Our guide checked our health status and we all boarded the bus by scanning the QR code. We then set off for Mutianyu. (A word of advice: If you're meeting by subway, be sure to use the restroom there first.) If you prefer a later departure, ZanBus also has a midday bus departing at 10:00 AM. Bookings are essential. 2. After arriving at the scenic area and before exploring, let's first learn about the tour options, starting with choosing your transportation. There are three ways to visit Mutianyu Great Wall: ①: Take a round-trip cable car to Beacon Tower 14. Reaching the summit takes about an hour and a half. ②: Take the cable car up the mountain. You can use the cable car or slide down the mountain, both round-trip from Beacon Tower 6. However, you'll need to walk through all 14 towers to the summit, which takes about two hours and requires a high level of stamina. ③: Walking up the mountain requires the most stamina. The cable car is recommended for those traveling with the elderly, children, or those with average stamina. After Beacon Tower No. 20, you enter the ancient Great Wall section. While this section retains its charm, it's undeveloped and unsafe, so climbing it isn't recommended.

As for the cost, the package offers excellent value: a round-trip cable car ride costs 120 yuan, a one-way trip 100 yuan per person, while a round-trip ropeway ride or a ropeway up and down the slide costs 120 yuan round-trip, a one-way trip 100 yuan per person. If you want to go higher and then go down to the exciting slide, you'll need to take the cable car up and down the slide. This combination requires two one-way trips, costing 200 yuan.

Our suggestion: take the cable car up and down, allowing you to take photos as you ascend, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the most beautiful views of the Great Wall.

Mutianyu Cable Car

3. Most of the beautiful scenery is between Beacon Towers 19 and 20 (there's also a section between Beacon Towers 14 and 16). Beacon Tower 20 is the most challenging, with its steepest section comprising 544 steps. Only after experiencing the hardship can you truly appreciate the hardships and wisdom of the ancients and immerse yourself in the history of the Great Wall. After arriving at Beacon Tower No. 20:

Looking up, the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the geese flying south are visible.

&nb ---Chairman Mao

The Great Wall

Food and Other:

On the Great Wall, only the area near Beacon Tower 14 has a small shop and toilets. Beacon Tower 20 has individual vendors selling water and beverages. Mineral water is 20 yuan per bottle. It is recommended to bring plenty of water and some dry food. However, in the scenic area's Mutianyu Town, there are also restaurants such as Burger King, Subway, Xian Lao Man, and Yi Song Lou. Passengers of the Zan Bus can enjoy discounts and choose according to their tastes without being forced to pay.

Xian Lao Man Chinese Restaurant

Hidden Game:

On the way from Beacon Tower 14 to Beacon Tower 15, there's a graffiti wall, perfect for tourists who want to leave their names on the Great Wall. Graffiti here won't damage the cultural relics, ensuring civilized graffiti. There's also a 360-degree panoramic camera on the nearby plank road. You need to scan a QR code to pay for it, and you can experience 720-degree panoramic photos and show off to your friends, hahahaha.