Great Wall at Mutianyu

There are two places to visit the Great Wall when visiting Beijing. Northwest of the city, Badaling is the most popular place to go. It is fairly crowded. We visited there on our last trip. This visit to Beijing we plan to go to Mutianyu, located in Huairou County about 45 miles northeast of Beijing. It is not as busy with visitors as Badaling.

The Mutianyu section of the great Wall was used as a northern barrier to protect the capital and the imperial tombs. It was originally built in the Northern Gi Dynasty (550 – 557) and then was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). It is in a strategic pass in a mountainous region and so is very steep. It is built mainly of granite and very well-preserved. The area is surrounded by forests and streams and perhaps we’ll be visiting at a time when the leaves are still changing color. This area of the wall is known for its scenic views.

There is a fairly long and arduous hike to the wall. Fortunately there is a cable car to take visitors up to the wall. With two young children (and maybe an out of shape adult or two) I expect we’ll make use of the cable cars.

Here’s an AP story about the Great Wall that was shot at Mutianyu.

There’s also a toboggan ride at Mutianyu.

It looks like a lot of fun but I suspect it will be closed at the end of November. Actually in 30°F temperatures, even if it is open, maybe it won’t be that much fun.