Mutianyu Great Wall: Stunning Autumn Scenery and Leaves

Autumn has to be one of the best times to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall! Located in Huairou Country, 73 km (45 miles) north of the Beijing city center, Mutianyu is one of the best preserved and most restored sections of the Great Wall, featuring 23 original-style watchtowers.

This section is also renowned for its beautiful autumn colors! I’ve visited the Great Wall nearly 20 times now, but have only visited the Mutianyu section once (in 2019), so I was excited at the prospect of returning to check out the famed autumn scenery here – and I was not disappointed.

Here is a photo journey of my solo trip to Mutianyu on October 24, 2022. For you autumn leaf hunters out there, I know dates are important for finding the peak autumn views!

Still deciding which section of the wall to visit? Read my post: Which Section of the Great Wall Is Best To Visit?

Transportation to Mutianyu Great Wall:

I ordered a Didi (Chinese taxi) to take me to the Great Wall – your girl has lived in Beijing for 4 years and China for 7 years now, and loves to indulge in travel conveniences when I can.

It cost me around 220 RMB (30 USD) one way and about 1 hour 10 minutes to get to the wall, and my driver was really friendly and offered to wait for me there while I hiked, then would take me back into the city. It works out great for these drivers, as they don’t waste a long return trip without a paying customer.

There is of course public transportation to the Mutianyu Wall. There are a variety of bus options and tourist lines to take. Read more on China Travel Guide’s Mutianyu Great Wall page.

Entrance Ticket + Shuttle Bus:

The entrance ticket cost 40 RMB, plus a 20 RMB fee for the shuttle bus. I booked my ticket one day in advance on the Mutianyu Great Wall WeChat mini program app. I needed to show my Beijing health kit and my green arrow travel code.

It’s highly recommended to take the shuttle bus, as its quite a walk from the ticket office to the base of the wall. (I’m not even sure if it’s an option not to take the shuttle bus to be honest.) You get more time hiking and walking on the wall, which is the main point!

The ticket office is surrounded by tons of food and shopping options. There is even a Burger King, Subway, some coffee shops, and other Western-ish options. On a weekday it was understandably quiet, but it was a huge contrast to the last time I came here. The tourism industry has been hit really hard in China in the last two years, and places like Mutianyu that used to be huge tourist hubs are now drawing way less visitors.

Mutianyu Cable Car, Chairlift and Toboggan Tickets:

Mutianyu Great Wall is a popular section for visitors not only because of its easy access from Beijing city center, but also because of its convenient routes up and down the mountain. You have the option to buy a cable car ticket, or a ticket for a chair lift up and slide down on a toboggan! It’s perfect (and so much fun) for all ages.

I decided to buy the chairlift ticket up and slide down the toboggan (140 RMB).

I was so happy that it wasn’t crowded at all on this day! No lines for the shuttlebus or chairlift up, and I got to ride by myself.

Hiking Mutianyu Great Wall During Autumn

I was absolutely blown away by the colors you could see right away on the wall! I was a little worried I was too late and the colors would be faded (or all dead). It was the perfect timing though for fall at Mutianyu Great Wall, with brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows dotted around the mountains. And you know, knowing me, I brought some fall outfits to take some pics!

Enjoy these Mutianyu Great Wall fall leaves, and as always, follow me on Instagram (@rachelmeetschina) for more daily updates about life in China, videos, and more 😉