The Great Wall - Badaling and Mutianyu

长城·八达岭与慕田峪

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Synopsis

The Badaling Great Wall and the Mutianyu Great Wall are the two most famous sections of the Great Wall in Beijing. Badaling is the earliest opened Great Wall scenic area, famous for the saying, "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man." Mutianyu is renowned for its beautiful scenery and is the most popular among foreign tourists. The Great Wall was initially built during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, connected and expanded by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty into what we see today. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Badaling receives over 10 million visitors annually, while Mutianyu welcomes around 3 million.

Overview

The Badaling Great Wall and the Mutianyu Great Wall are the two most famous sections of the Great Wall near Beijing and are also two of China's most representative Great Wall scenic areas. The Badaling Great Wall was the first section opened to tourists and is renowned for its grandeur and magnificence. Mao Zedong's famous line, "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man," has made Badaling a must-visit destination for everyone traveling to Beijing. The Mutianyu Great Wall is known for its beautiful scenery and fewer crowds, making it a favorite among foreign tourists and photography enthusiasts. Both sections have their own unique characteristics, collectively showcasing the majestic and imposing beauty of the Great Wall.

The Great Wall was initially built during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (7th century BC). After unifying the six states, Emperor Qin Shi Huang connected and expanded the various state walls to form the Great Wall. Subsequent dynasties carried out repairs and additions. The existing Great Wall was mainly built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Ming Great Wall stretches approximately 8,851 kilometers and is one of the greatest construction projects in human history. In 1987, the Great Wall was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Badaling Great Wall

Item	Details
Location	Yanqing District, Beijing, about 70 km from the city center
Elevation	Highest point about 1015 meters
Total Length	Open section about 3741 meters
Initial Construction	18th year of the Hongzhi reign, Ming Dynasty (1505)
Annual Visitors	Over 10 million
Honors	World Cultural Heritage, National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit

The Badaling Great Wall is the most well-preserved and representative section of the Ming Great Wall. The wall averages about 7.8 meters in height and 6.5 meters in width, wide enough for five horses to walk abreast. The battlements and lookout holes on the wall are clearly visible, transporting visitors back to the ancient battlefields of clashing weapons and armored horses. Standing at the highest point, North Eighth Tower, and looking out, the Great Wall winds like a giant dragon through the lofty mountains and ridges, presenting a magnificent and imposing sight.

"He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man" – this line from Mao Zedong's 1935 poem written during the Long March has made the Badaling Great Wall a spiritual pilgrimage site that every Chinese person must visit in their lifetime. Every year, over 10 million tourists ascend Badaling, including hundreds of foreign heads of state and government leaders.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Item	Details
Location	Huairou District, Beijing, about 73 km from the city center
Elevation	Highest point about 1039 meters
Total Length	Open section about 5400 meters
Feature	Vegetation coverage over 96%, most scenic
Annual Visitors	About 3 million
Reputation	The most beautiful section of the Great Wall

The Mutianyu Great Wall is known as the most beautiful section of the Great Wall. Unlike the grandeur of Badaling, Mutianyu wins with its scenic beauty – the wall is flanked by dense vegetation, with blooming mountain flowers in spring, lush green trees in summer, colorful forests in autumn, and a silver-white landscape in winter, offering distinct scenery in each season. The Mutianyu Great Wall retains the original appearance from the Ming Dynasty without excessive restoration, giving it a greater sense of historical vicissitude.

Mutianyu is most popular among foreign tourists – many choose Mutianyu over Badaling because it has fewer crowds, more beautiful scenery, and offers a better experience. Numerous foreign dignitaries, including former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and former US Presidents Clinton and Obama, have visited Mutianyu.

Practical Information

Item	Badaling	Mutianyu
Transportation	Suburban Railway S2 Line or Bus 877	Tourist shuttle bus or self-driving
Ticket	Peak season 40 RMB	Ticket 40 RMB + shuttle bus
Cable Car	Available	Available
Best Season	Autumn (Sep-Oct)	Autumn (Sep-Oct)
Crowd Density	Very crowded	Relatively less crowded
Suggested Duration	3-4 hours	4-5 hours
Suitable For	First-time visitors to Beijing	Photography enthusiasts, foreign tourists

Visiting Suggestions

For the Badaling Great Wall, it is advisable to depart as early as possible in the morning to avoid the peak crowds between 10 AM and 2 PM. You can take the Suburban Railway S2 Line from Beijing North Station, arriving in about 80 minutes, and enjoy the pastoral scenery along the way (with flower fields at Juyong Pass in spring). If time permits, it is recommended to allocate a full day.

For the Mutianyu Great Wall, it is suggested to allocate half a day to a full day. You can choose to take the cable car up the mountain and then walk east or west along the wall. Heading east leads to "Eagle Flies Facing Upward" – an extremely steep section of the wall suitable for adventurous visitors. Nearby farmhouses offer authentic Beijing suburban农家菜 (farmhouse cuisine).