Our trip to the Great Wall was almost a disaster before it even started. Originally, we’d booked a tour to Jinshanling, known for its quieter trails and authenticity, but late last night, the tour operator messaged saying it was cancelled due to low sign-ups. Talk about last-minute stress! After a brief panic, we quickly scrambled to find an alternative and managed to book a tour to Mutianyu, the famous and more accessible section of the Great Wall.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Mutianyu has a reputation for being more crowded, but in the end, it turned out to be a pretty amazing experience.
Crowded Mondays at Mutianyu
The day we visited happened to be a Monday—usually a quiet day for sightseeing. However, in Beijing, most major attractions like museums and palaces are closed on Mondays. Because of that, everyone, including locals and tourists alike, flocks to the few spots still open. As a result, Mutianyu was pretty crowded.
We set out from Beijing around 9:30 AM and arrived about two hours later at the base of Mutianyu. The site was already filled with people. We hopped onto a shuttle bus that drove us up the mountainside to the cable car station. From here, the cable car brought us up the mountain to Tower 14.
Towers 14 to 20
We had about four hours in total to explore, and there were two recommended sections. The first was Towers 14 to 20, a beautifully restored section with panoramic views, and secondly, Towers 6 to 1 which are surrounded by greenery.
The walk from Tower 14 to Tower 20 is the more popular route, so yes—it got pretty crowded at times. There were moments when we found ourselves literally waiting in line to climb narrow stairs to reach the top. But despite the occasional congestion, the atmosphere was calm, and we were still able to enjoy the walk along the wall.
At Tower 20, which stands higher than the others in this stretch, we found ourselves at the highest lookout point. The views from here were breathtaking—layers of hills, wintery forests, and distant sections of the wall disappearing into the horizon. Even with the crowd, this was absolutely worth it.
After taking some pictures, we retraced our steps back down to Tower 14. Rather than continuing on foot, our tour guide recommended us to take the cable car back down and continue exploring another quieter section of Mutianyu that we’d heard was equally beautiful—Towers 6 to 1.
Towers 6 to 1
From the base station, we took a chairlift up to Tower 6, which was quite a different experience from the enclosed cable car we took to Towers 14 to 20. This open-air ride allowed us to fully appreciate the surrounding greenery and rest our legs from all the walking.
The cablecar to reach Tower 14 (left) and the chairlift to Tower 6 (right)
The stretch from Towers 6 to 1 immediately felt different. Far fewer tourists were walking this stretch, and the wall felt quieter and more peaceful. Instead of crowds, we found ourselves alone at several points, soaking up this greener and more natural part of Mutianyu.
Getting Back and Final Thoughts
Around 4:30 PM, after nearly four hours exploring, we took the chairlift back down to the base station and then hopped back onto the shuttle bus down to the parking lot. There was also an option to come back down the mountain by Toboggan, but as there was an immense queue so we decided to take the chairlift, where we could immediately step in.
Some tips if you’re planning to visit the Mutianyu Section:
- Avoid Mondays (if you can!) – Ironically, while weekdays usually mean fewer crowds, Monday closures at other sites funnel people here.
- Explore both routes – Definitely walk from Towers 14 to 20 for the views, but don’t skip Towers 6 to 1 for some peaceful reflection.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring water – There’s a lot of climbing, and parts of the path are steep.
