Beijing: the best 5-hour hiking tour from Jiankou to Mutianyu on the Great Wall 2025

GWPA15-Trail of Great Wall:
One-day from Jiankou to Beigou village (possible Mutianyu, private)

The guards at Mutianyu (Tower 18) now try to stop hikers from Jiankou, you’re very likely to go downhill to Beigou village directly instead of Mutianyu (the bottom trip map). The trip will be shortened to 4 hours averagely. If you’re keen to Mutianyu, then you have to go uphill through the main gate, minimum another 2 hours. If you’re lucky enough (the guards are off duty), then you may climb up to Mutianyu directly.

Trip name: Trail of Great Wall: One-day from Jiankou to Beigou (possible Mutianyu, private)
Trip code: GWPA15
Trip length: 1 Day
Hiking sections: Jiankou and Mutianyu

Meeting point and time: Your hotel at 08:00

Finishing point and time: Your hotel at 17:00 – 18:00 (Depending on traffic)

Hiking duration: 5 hours
Hiking distance: 9.5 km

Best time to go: Late March to early November
Physical rating: ★★★★★ Strenuous

Departure: Your selected date, start and finish in Beijing, all year round

Prices

Group Size	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Price USD	128	134	138	146	156	168	196	318

All Prices shown are in USD (United States Dollar) and based per person and for twin-shared accommodations for multi-day hiking.For group sizes over 9 please send us an email request to obtain the best possible rate.

Children under age 12 receive 50% discount. Children under 5 are free. Children’s price is based on adult travelers. Please send us children’s details in email.

Remember when comparing price, you get what you pay for. We don’t earn money by taking you to commissioned shopping stops, a common practice in China, wasting your time. Our guides are carefully selected, highly trained and well-paid to be friendly and patient travel companions. We are not the cheapest, but we are one of the best.

Highlights

Wild Great Wall at Jiankou
Partially restored Great Wall at Mutianyu
Stunning photo opportunity of the Great Wall
Toboggan ride downhill (optional)

Detailed itinerary

This hiking will start from the unrestored section at Jiankou, and then continue to the renovated wall eastward at Mutianyu. Jiankou is the steepest section of the wall around Beijing. When we complete the hiking and arrive at Mutianyu, there’s a sharp contrast between restored wall and original wall.

Pick you up at your hotel in Beijing at 8 am and drive to Jiankou (2.5 hrs). You will start the hiking around 10:30, and it will take about 5 hours hiking on the wall. A late lunch at a local restaurant will be organized after the hiking before returning your hotel. Please note that you’re very likely to go downhill to Beigou village directly instead of Mutianyu.

Jiankou to Mutianyu offers a wonderfully satisfying experience of the Wall. It has superb scenery, dense vegetation and many fine watch-towers in an excellent restored section which is about six meters broad. The brickwork is elaborate, with crenellations on both sides and finely curved eaves on some watchtower roofs. There are decorative gables with animal statues, and tablets bearing calligraphy above some entrances. The first one hour is going straight up and reaching the wall, and then hike unrestored towers. The wild Wall to the west is the original Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with fine stonework, and there are almost no other people. You will be rewarded when you approach Zhenbeilou Tower, where you will have a breathtaking view of Jiankou section.

Additional Information

Included

Air-con vehicle with experienced driver
Personal expert English-speaking hiking tour guide
Entrance fees for the Great Wall
Unlimited bottled water; snacks; late lunch at local farmer’s restaurant after the hike
A certificate of completion for hiking on the Great Wall of China

Not included

Travel insurance
Cable car, chairlift, toboggan (slideway) or any other additional local facilities
Personal expenses
Tipping of hiking guide/driver recommended on good service on a 2:1 ratio separately

What to take

Comfortable shoes or boots
Sunscreen
Sun-glasses
Lip balm, cap
Day pack

Notes

There is no toilet along the path on the Wall. There are toilets at the entrance of Jiankou and Mutianyu. Please prepare before hiking and always carry toilet paper by yourself.
Please don’t make any appointment after the trip as the return depending on the traffic between 5-6 pm.
Unlimited bottled waters are stored in our car/van today, and you need a day pack to carry them.
We will bring trekking poles in our car/van and please tell your guide if you need one.
Since this trip will go through jungles and bushes, then shorts are not recommended in summer time.
It’s recommended to prepare some snacks before your departure from Beijing if you don’t like snickers.
Travel insurance is optional and is the sole responsibility of travellers. It is strongly encouraged to have coverage of injury or accident.
As responsible travellers, we “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprint”.

Customized Pick-up & drop-off:

If you plan the hike on the first or last day of your duration in Beijing, we can include a customized pick-up or drop-off at the following points without additional cost. It’s safe to store your luggage at our car/van.

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK at T1/T2/T3): arrival before 7am or departure after 7pm
Beijing Railway Station: arrival before 8am or departure after 7pm
Beijingxi (West) Railway Station (train to/from Xi’an): arrival before 8am or departure after 7:30pm
Beijingnan (South) Railway Station (train to/from Shanghai): arrival before 8am or departure after 7pm
Beijing Fengtai Railway Station (train to/from Pingyao/Datong): arrival before 8am or departure after 7:30pm
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) is a little further out of the city. Please email us for customized pick-up & drop-off. Additional cost is applied.