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Great Wall of China Mutianyu Tour Review: Everything I Wish I Knew

ByRoseanne Ducut

Visiting the Great Wall was a highlight from my Beijing trip and a top bucket list moment I still think about.

I was traveling China solo and wasn’t exactly sure how to go about visiting, since the Great Wall is located outside central Beijing — but I knew I couldn’t skip it.

It turns out, visiting the Great Wall turned out to be much simpler than I expected by doing a group tour — the option most travelers (and even locals) go for.

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Great Wall of China’s best route (Mutianyu side), plus a review of the Viator tour I chose after tons of research.

If you’re visiting Beijing for the first time, read my essential Beijing travel guide tips.

🚌 Join a Great Wall of China Mutianyu group tour (what I did)

Choosing the Right Section of the Great Wall (Without the Crowds)

Tourists hiking down a steep stair section of the Great Wall of China Mutianyu side, surrounded by hazy mountain views and golden autumn foliage.

There’s several sections of the Great Wall you can visit, and each would require separate day trips from Beijing, as the wall stretches over 21,000 km (13,000 miles)!

Here’s a quick summary of the major Great Wall routes:

  • Mutianyu: Popular for its scenic views and rides like cable cars and toboggan slide.
  • Badaling: The most visited section that’s often featured in movies. The main downside is it can get crowded.
  • Jinshanling: Known for its architecture and watchtowers, this section is less crowded but a bit harder to reach and navigate.
  • Simatai: This section is more rugged and also less crowded, and is popular for being open at night.

Why Mutianyu is the Best Option for Most Travelers

From my research and reading through many travel forums, the most recommended section is the Mutianyu route.

The Badaling section may be a famous side because it’s shown more in movies, but after seeing so many photos of packed crowds, I knew Mutianyu was the clear winner.

Mutianyu is known for its lighter crowds, scenic views, and the popular toboggan slide.

➡️ I booked this Mutianyu Great Wall tour on Viator, which I’ll go over in detail.

🎫 Ready to visit the Great Wall? Book the most popular tour here

Mutianyu Tour Choices: DIY, Group, or Private?

You have three choices to explore the Great Wall, specifically the Mutianyu section:

Why I chose a group tour:

Woman in a denim jacket and plaid scarf smiling with the steep, winding Mutianyu section of the Great Wall rising dramatically behind her.

Since I was traveling solo, the group tour seemed like the best option.

I usually DIY everything, but from my research, planning a self-guided visit to the Great Wall involves extra logistics and admin that are easier handled by local tour companies.

The tour takes care of:

  • Ticketing (entrance fee, shuttle fee, cable cars which are operated by different companies)
  • Transportation
  • Lunch

They also provide guidance on which sides to explore first, what to look out for, where to access the cable cars, and timing for hiking each side.

Even though I prefer exploring at my own pace, this tour gave me plenty of time to do that without losing the support of a guided tour.

If you’re traveling with others, a private tour may save you money.

🎫 Reserve your Great Wall time slot before it sells out!

Review of Mutianyu Great Wall Tour with Viator

A colorful illustrated route map of Mutianyu Great Wall highlighting two main routes and four attractions, including the cable car and toboggan areas.

Viator is a well-known tour company with tours across the world, so I knew I’d be in good hands.

Most of the Great Wall tours are operated in partnership with MuBus, the main company running bus tours to the Great Wall.

I sometimes book with Klook.com for Asia tours too, but Viator’s tour looked more organized.

What’s Included in the Viator Tour

The highest-rated Great Wall tour on Viator was the one I chose:

Screenshot of a Viator booking page for the "MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options from Beijing," showing a group of smiling tourists posing on the Great Wall, with booking details starting at $28.00 per person and options to select date, travelers, and availability.

It includes:

  • Chartered bus transportation to and from the Great Wall
  • Round-trip shuttle service from the bus drop-off to the main wall entrance
  • English-speaking guide
  • Entrance ticket to the Great Wall (wasn’t included initially when I did the tour)
  • Free tea and snacks at the MuBus Service Center (where the tour begins and ends)
  • Buffet lunch at the MuBus Service Center

What’s not included:

Photo of a laminated flyer listing prices and services at the MUBUS Traveler Service Center, including shuttle, tickets, food, and beverages with discounted rates.
  • Cable car rides to reach the top or return from certain parts of the wall
  • The famous toboggan slide down the east side of the wall

Why aren’t those add-ons included?

Most tours, regardless of where you book, don’t offer pre-booking for the cable cars or toboggan slide.

You’ll need to purchase them either on the bus or at the site.

Here’s what to expect:

👉🏻 The tour company verifies your passport on the bus and that you’re able to go down the slide (there are some restrictions like age).

👉🏻 Then you pay on the bus using cash or Alipay (see my recommended apps for China). There are also ATMs available at the Great Wall rest area or service center.

Screenshot of an Alipay payment confirmation screen showing ¥288.40 paid, including a ¥280.00 base charge and ¥8.40 transaction fee, with “Payment Successful” displayed in English and Chinese characters.

Total Tour Costs:

Viator tour with lunch included: $35 ($28 without but I recommend the buffet)

Add-ons of cable car and toboggan slide: $40

Total: $75

More Great Wall tours

Here’s some other tour companies that provide Great Wall tours:

🎥 Watch my Beijing Vlog

You can check out my Great Wall experience in my Beijing vlog here, starting at timestamp 1:55.

5-Day Beijing Itinerary + Top Things to Do for First Timers ✈️ Solo China Vlog

🎫 Ready to visit the Great Wall? Book the most popular tour here

Full Great Wall Tour Itinerary: What to Expect

Here’s a detailed itinerary on what to expect on the Mutianyu Great Wall Viator tour I did. 

Note: You can choose to hike the west or east route of the Mutianyu Wall, or both sides, which takes around 3 hours in total.

There are some sections with lots of steps though, so make sure to bring good walking shoes and water.

Groups of tourists climbing a steep section of the Great Wall, with gray stone battlements snaking across a forested mountain ridge.

Schedule:

Meeting time in Beijing: 8:00am (you can also choose the 10:00am slot)

Arrival: 9:30am

Meet up for lunch: 2:20pm

Leave for Beijing: 3pm

Arrival: 4:30-5pm depending on traffic

Total length: 8-9 hours

Morning

You meet up at your selected time, 8:00am or 10:00am, usually near central Beijing.

The ride to the Great Wall takes 1.5 hours.

During the bus ride:

  • The tour guide will provide a brief history of the Great Wall.
  • They’ll explain the different treks of the Great Wall, how long it takes to walk each part, and any popular movie filming locations and towers to look out for.
  • If you’re opting for the cable cars, toboggan slide, or buffet lunch (if you didn’t prebook the lunch), you can pay during the bus ride.

Arrival

  • You’ll first walk to the MuBus Service Center which is located in a rest stop area with restrooms, stores, and restaurants.
Paved plaza with scattered trees, modern wooden buildings, and a restaurant labeled “MUBUS FAMILY” under a clear blue sky in Mutianyu, China.
  • You can use the restroom and take any photos while the tour guide picks up the tickets.
  • Take a short 5-minute shuttle ride to the entrance of the Great Wall. You scan your passport to use the shuttle.
White tourist buses parked near a small terminal building surrounded by trees with autumn leaves at the Mutianyu Great Wall shuttle stop.
  • Enter the Great Wall by scanning your ticket and passport.
  • Before you split up, the tour guide will provide more background on the Great Wall and reiterate the different paths to take, plus the final meeting time.

Eastern Route First

The guide recommends taking the eastern route first. On arrival, you take a chairlift cable car that fits 1-2 people (I rode it solo).

It takes about an hour to walk this side before you reach either the toboggan slide or cable car to go back down.

Open-air chairlift ascending a hillside at the Mutianyu Great Wall, with stone terraces and trees in the background under a clear sky.

Toboggan slide

I loved taking the slide down, and would absolutely do it again.

You can adjust your speed, but it also depends on the person in front of you.

View from behind a rider speeding down a curved metal toboggan track through forested terrain, under a red archway sign reading “Curve Way Reduce Speed.”

Western Route

At this point, you can just relax and walk around, head back to the MuBus Service Center, or continue with the western side, which more known for its views.

To go up, you’ll take a cabin cable car, this time with other visitors if you’re going solo.

Orange cable cars ride up a hillside covered in autumn foliage toward the Mutianyu Great Wall, set against a vivid blue sky.

This side of the hike will take about 1 to 1.5 hours to reach the very top.

There are both flat paths and steeper areas with lots of stairs. You don’t have to walk the entire route, of course.

The view from the top:

Breathtaking aerial view of the Mutianyu Great Wall stretching across mountain ridges, with a long line of visitors walking along its path.

Tour Buffet Lunch

After completing the western section, you walk back to ride the cable car again. Once at the bottom, you take the shuttle bus to the MuBus Service Center.

If you opted for the buffet lunch, which I do recommend unless you brought your own lunch, you have around 30-40 minutes to eat.

Decorated buffet station at a restaurant near the Mutianyu Great Wall, featuring hot trays, fresh vegetables, ornate floral arrangements, and a cozy, sunlight-filled dining atmosphere.

I’m a vegan and found plenty of options and grabbed two plates. The food is all organic and locally sourced, and there’s plenty of seating.

Back to Beijing

You leave for Beijing around 3:00pm. It may take longer going back depending on afternoon traffic.

They drop you off right near a subway station, and the tour guide bids you farewell.

I went back to my hotel smiling. It felt so satisfying completing the trip!

🎫 Ready to visit the Great Wall? Book the most popular tour here

Practical FAQs Before You Go

Can you roam around on your own?

Yes! Besides the beginning and end of the tour, you’re free to explore on your own schedule. You can befriend other travelers too, though it’s nice to be able to hike at your own pace.

Difficulty of hiking the Great Wall?

It was an easy-to-moderate hike, though you don’t have to walk everything. You can choose to visit parts of the wall and just walk back. It’s the sections with steps, especially towards the end of the western route that were the hardest.

Visitors climbing steep, narrow stone stairs up to a watchtower on the Great Wall, with bright blue skies above.

Is it child/family-friendly?

Most of the local tourists I saw were families with children, and a good amount of elderly people too!

As mentioned, you don’t have to walk every part and still experience the grandness of the Great Wall from several viewpoints.

Is it ADA-friendly?

While parts of the Mutianyu section are accessible, some can be difficult to navigate for wheelchair users. The Badaling section is more wheelchair-friendly and is generally recommended for accessible visits.

Do you need cash or payment apps?

Make sure to bring some cash or install the Alipay app (which I recommend in general for your trip to China). You’ll need it to pay for add-ons like the cable car rides.

How to contact the guide during the tour?

The guide provides their WeChat app if you need to get in touch. Otherwise, just make sure to be on time at the final meeting times.

What if you arrive late?

From my experience, they gave a 10-15 minute grace time for late-comers before taking off. Contact them ASAP if you’re running behind. If you’re very late, there are MuBus staff on site to help.

What to wear?

Definitely dress for the season! In summer, wear light layers and bring a hat.

I went in the first week of November when temps were in the 50s °F (10s °C). I was traveling through Southeast Asia and hadn’t packed for the cold. I bought a tourist-priced scarf at a shop in the rest area — but it really saved me as a California-raised tourist. 😜

Can you bring food?

Yes — you can bring snacks and drinks. There are recycling and trash bins at the Great Wall. I brought a water bottle and snacks like almonds and candy I got from Lawson, a convenience store near my hotel.

Why I’d Choose This Great Wall Tour Again

Viator’s tour was honestly one of the best I’ve taken. The tour guide and company took care of all the local logistics that would’ve been harder if I’d tried to DIY it.

I especially loved the freedom to roam while still getting helpful guidance and learning more about the Great Wall.

Even though I’ve already visited the Great Wall with a tour, I’d happily do it again.

It was such a great experience — one I recommend to everyone who gets the chance!

🎫 Reserve your Great Wall time slot before it sells out!

My recommendations for your Beijing trip:

📶 China eSIM card — eSIM I used that includes access to apps like Google, Instagram, etc.

🚐 Airport ride — schedule a pickup for stress-free arrival

🏨 Best hotels in Beijing: Booking.com | Trip.com (what I use for China)

🎫 Top Beijing day tours — most popular picks for first-timers

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Roseanne Ducut is a Filipina solo female traveler of over 10 years from the Bay Area, California. She creates ultimate travel itineraries + vlogs inspired by the rich history and pop culture in Asia. A veghead for over 17 years, Roseanne also writes vegan guides to help others plan their trips.