The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is one of the best-preserved and most scenic parts of the Great Wall in China. It is located in the mountainous area 70 kilometers northeast of Beijing. I prefer this section of the city wall to the Badaling section.
You can either follow a tour group or go there on your own. If you go alone, you need to take Bus No. 916 at the Dongzhimen Transportation Hub and get off at Huairou North Avenue, the terminal station. Then cross the road and take Bus H23, and get off at the Mutianyu Roundabout. Then walk back a little, and you will see the entrance to the ticket office.
There are parking lots, souvenir shops, and cafes in front of the entrance to the city wall. You can buy a cable car ticket and take the cable car to Tower 14, and then walk in either direction. I also recommend buying a ticket for taking the toboggan down from the Great Wall, which costs 100 yuan.
The city wall itself stretches along the mountain ridges, reaching an altitude of up to 1,000 meters. The scenery is simply amazing – the endless serrated walls wind along the mountain ridges and disappear into the distance. It is especially beautiful on a clear day.