Located at Huairou County some 73 kilometers (about 45 miles) northeast of Beijing urban area, Mutianyu Great Wall winds along lofty, cragged mountains from the southeast to the northwest for approximately 2.25 kilometers (about 1.4 miles). Connected with Juyongguan Pass to the west and Gubeikou to the east, this section of the Great Wall holds a prominent place in Chinese military history.

Construction
Construction of Mutianyu Great Wall was started in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 577) and was restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). A pass was officially set up there in 1404. Carefully repaired in 1569, this section has been extremely well-preserved through the ages. In 1982, a new program began to establish the Mutianyu Great Wall Tourist Area. Finished in 1986, the area now has become an AAAA national tourist attraction, complete with cable car transportation. Mutianyu is a bit more rugged and slightly less crowded than the more famous Badaling. There are abundant natural springs which feed a great variety of verdant plants and ancient trees. In fact, over 96% of Mutianyu is covered with greenery, more than any other section of the Great Wall.

Features
Being recognized as the essence of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section is not only noted for the quality of its construction but also for its distinct style and features compared to other sections of the Great Wall.

First, it is built mainly from granite, with the walls being 7-8 meters high and the top about 4-5 meters wide. Along its 2.25 kilometers' span, Mutianyu Great Wall has watchtowers built at some 100-meter intervals. The 22 watchtowers are considerably more than one would find in other sections, suggesting a more significant military importance.

Secondly, the structure and appearance of the watchtowers on Mutianyu Great Wall also vary from those of other sections. A typical example is called Zheng Guan Tai consisting of three inner-connected watchtowers. The central watchtower is the largest while the two smaller ones, each with its own gate, stand on either side. The main gate of the whole watchtower is in the east side, which is also unwonted among other sections.

Additionally, the outer and inner parapets on the Wall have merlons. Merlons are the solid intervals between shooting holes which are usually built on the outer parapet intending to provide cover for the soldiers. Having merlons on both sides indicates that soldiers were fighting invading forces from both sides of the Mutianyu Great Wall. Another interesting feature is a moat near the wall designed to ward off the enemy's war horses.

Finally, another unique feature of Mutianyu is the coexistence of the two extensions on either side of the main wall. These two extensions were built along lofty and steep ridges to create advantageous defense positions. One of them is the famous some 1,000 meters' extension called 'The Tail Wall'.

Besides these particular features, there are many well-known strategic fortifications near Mutianyu Great Wall such as Huanghuacheng and Jiankou (Arrow Nock), etc. They jointly form a northern barrier protecting the capital and the imperial mausoleums. With its picturesque scenery, the former barrier has become one of the Great Wall's hottest tourist destinations and a good alternative for visitors who would like to avoid crowded Badaling section during the peak seasons.

Facilities
Nowadays, Mutianyu Great Wall Tourist Area has already become a comprehensive tourist attraction with many newly-developed attractions. One popular attraction is the China Dream Stone City which combines 'Great Wall culture' with stone cutting and sculpting. Another is the Luming Zoo featuring local wildlife. There's fun for the kids on Speed Slideway, a wheeled toboggan riding down from the wall on a winding metal track. There are also numerous restaurants and entertainment venues along with convenient transportation including the aforementioned cable car.



Admission Fee: CNY 40
Cable Fee (Optional) Single Trip: CNY 35
Round Trip: CNY 50
Slideway Fee (Optional) CNY 55
Opening Hours 08:30 ¨C 18:30
Transportation Take the No. 6 Tourist Bus at the Xuanwumen Gate or the Dong Si Shi Tiao stop

See more about Mutianyu Great Wall

About Mutianyu Great Wall

. The Badaling Fragmentary Great Wall beauty spot . The Buddha Rock Temple . The Peace Wall . The Memorial to Zhantianyou . Seeing Beijing In Two Days . Seeing Beijing In One Day . Seeing Beijing In Three Days . Seeing Beijing in a day . The Great Wall at Mutianyu trips . Mutianyu Great Wall

	For payment, trip cancellation, please refer to the Terms & Conditions
	For more information, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-865-6221 or email to us at info@chinacustomtours.com