Mutianyu (慕田峪) Great Wall, is one of the most famous and best preserved sections of the Great Wall together with Badaling (八达岭) and Jinshanling (金山岭) sections. Located in the northeast of Beijing Municipality, Mutianyu is connected with the smaller hotspot sections of Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi in the east. This section used to serve as the northern wall defending the capital city and the Imperial power, like a giant galloping dragon on mountain peak preserving the entrance to emperors' kingdom. Important section of the Great Wall, Mutianyu is filled with a great amount of historical and cultural relics as well as the most important number of watchtowers. About 20 of them are distributed along the opened tourism area that stretches for about 2250 meters long. Travelers visiting the Mutianyu Great Wall have the possibility to experience the Great Wall in different ways, whether using the thousands stone steps or a cable car. Definitely one of the best places to hike for experiencing the Great Wall, Mutianyu and its surrounding lush forest and woodland transports everyone back to ancient times, back in Imperial China.
Oldest section of the whole Great Wall masterpiece, Mutianyu was first built in the mid-6th century, during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557). The foundation construction of the defensive wall started during the Qi, while the present wall supervision to strengthen its defensive potential was operated by Generals Xu Da, Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Emperor Yongle's reign (1402-1424). Mutianyu was built on a strategic pass and served quickly as the northern protective screen guarding the capital. The walls of the section were built using the materials coming from the nearby Qian'an County. Working everyday for the accomplishment of the Emperor's wish of a material barrier with the outside world, the construction of the Mutianyu Great Wall Gateway was finished to build up in Emperor Longqing's reign (1567-1572). Due to wartimes and the effects of Nature, the wall had to be reconstructed several times such as in 1568 and 1569. Playing its role as a wartime barrier with invaders, the Mutianyu section was a pivotal point on the Great Wall as aliens forces attacked on every sides of the wall. This was only in 1987 that the section was appraised as one of the 16 best scenic spots of Beijing city. Recognized as the World Best of Beijing Tourism in 1992, the Mutianyu Great Wall was then ranked as a 4A grade scenic area in 2002. Mutianyu is since then definitely the largest construction scale of best quality among all sections of the Great Wall.
When visiting Mutianyu Great Wall during your tour in China or stay in Beijing, we can recommend you some travel tips about accommodations and restaurants that are worth a visit.Around Mutianyu, some farmhouses with preserved authentic architecture and lifestyle can be discovered by the most adventurous. The Fugui Hong Farmhouse (富贵宏农家院, Fugui hong nongjia yuan), Baosheng renjia Farmhouse (宝生人家农家院, Baosheng renjia nongjia yuan) are worth a stay before, in the middle or after your visit of the Great Wall. Place appraised since 2000 as the second grade of hotel in the area, the mountain lodge Great Wall Villa (长城山庄, Changcheng shanzhuang) is sitting at the foot of the Great Wall. Ancient style architecture and elegant court, the villa is perfect for enjoying the fresh air and scenery of the Great Wall. Finally, the Master Fish Restaurant (鱼师傅餐厅, Yu shifu canting) will know how to fill your appetite after a half day hike on this section of the Great Wall.
Location: on the east side of Huanghua County, Huairou District, 73 kilometers north from Beijing Municipality, Northern China
Total length of Great Wall : 6,260 km (3,890 miles)
Length of Mutianyu section: about 2,5 km
Tourism Bus: No. 867 (take at Dongzhimen Outer Station: leave everyday at 07:00 and 08:30 a.m. (2,5-hour drive), only available from March 15th to November 25th), No.106, 107, 123, 132, 206, 24 (from Beijing Railway Station to Dongzhimen, then mini-bus to Mutianyu), No. 916 (around 1-hour drive, fast line, take at Dongzhimen to Huairou Bus Station, then get off and hire a mini-bus to Mutianyu).
