Badaling or Mutianyu in short
Badaling lies in Yanqing district. Mutianyu lies in Huairou district. They are separate sections with separate operators, tickets and cable cars, so you choose one for your day on the wall, not both at once.
The real difference is infrastructure and access, not a ranking. Badaling can be reached on your own by train or bus. Mutianyu is covered in detail by our Mutianyu guide. This page sets the two side by side on price, transport and current works.
Badaling vs Mutianyu side by side
Prices in CNY for 2026.
| Badaling | Mutianyu | |
|---|---|---|
| District | Yanqing | Huairou |
| Wall ticket | CNY 40 in the high season, CNY 35 in the low season | CNY 45 entry |
| Shuttle | – | CNY 15 |
| Cable car | CNY 100 one way, CNY 140 return | CNY 100 one way, CNY 140 return |
| Slide | Sliding car to north tower 4, CNY 80 one way | Separate company, separate ticket |
| Own transport | High-speed train, S2 line and bus 877 | See the Mutianyu guide |
| Current works | North cable car out of service for maintenance until 25 December 2026, south line runs | Restoration on wall between towers 16 and 17 since 26 May 2026, inner passage at tower 16 open |
For most first-time visitors who travel on their own by public transport, Badaling is the simpler choice. If you book a car or a guided trip, either section can work, so pick by the works and the cable car you want. Confirm the Badaling cable car and sliding car prices at the ticket point.
Our pick: Badaling with a guide
Our take: if you pick Badaling, a group tour with driver and guide is the easy way there.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Great Wall tours and day trips from Beijing
Wall tickets and day trips from Beijing, with live prices and availability.
How they differ in practice
What matters when you choose.
Getting there
Badaling has a high-speed station called Badaling Great Wall, with trains from Beijing North in 30 to 60 minutes for roughly CNY 23 to CNY 31, and from Qinghe in 20 to 30 minutes for roughly CNY 16 to CNY 25. Bus 877 runs from Beitucheng for about CNY 12 and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The S2 line now starts in Nankou.
Getting to Badaling →Cable cars and slides
At Badaling the north line is an aerial cable car and the south line is a track-based ground cable car. The north line is closed for maintenance until 25 December 2026, but the south line stays open and tickets for either line are interchangeable. At Mutianyu the cable car and the slide are run by different companies, and tickets are not interchangeable. A return cable car ticket at Mutianyu means you ride back on the same line. Do not assume that an upward ride includes a free slide down.
Badaling cable car guide →Walking the wall
Badaling offers about 3,741 m of open wall, with a steeper north section and a gentler south section. Tower N8 is steep and windy. See the hiking guide for routes.
Hiking at Badaling →Crowds
Neither wall is reliably empty or full, so plan by the calendar and the time of day. In the red-leaf season, weekday mornings are calmer at Badaling, and public holidays bring heavy road and parking pressure.
Ticket and entry rules
Badaling lets children under 18 and visitors from 60 years in free, but people from 60 should reserve a free ticket in advance. Entry rules at Mutianyu may differ, so do not assume the same free groups.
Badaling tickets →Which wall for which traveler
A quick guide.
On your own by train or bus
Choose Badaling. The train and bus links are straightforward and the wall is open daily.
Want a ride down by slide
Both have one. At Badaling it is the sliding car to north tower 4. At Mutianyu it is the slide run by a separate company.
Pairing with other sights
Badaling combines with the Ming Tombs on a day trip. Juyongguan is a separate pass with its own ticket.
Ming Tombs and Great Wall →Prefer to avoid works
Check both before you book. Mutianyu has restoration between towers 16 and 17, and Badaling has the north cable car out of service.
See more of the wall
Three pages to read next.
Badaling vs Mutianyu: frequently asked questions
Which is better, Badaling or Mutianyu?
It depends on how you travel. Badaling is simpler by public transport. Mutianyu suits visitors who book a car or a guided trip. Neither is always emptier, so check the works and the cable car you want.
Is Mutianyu cheaper than Badaling?
No. Badaling charges CNY 40 or CNY 35 for adults, and Mutianyu CNY 45 for entry, plus CNY 15 for the shuttle. Cable cars cost CNY 100 one way at both, so the totals depend on what you add.
Can I visit both in one day?
They are in different districts, so a transfer is needed and time on the wall would be short. Most visitors choose one.
Is Mutianyu closed for restoration?
No. Work on the wall between towers 16 and 17 has been in place since 26 May 2026, and the inner passage at tower 16 stays open. Check the latest notice before you go.
Is the Badaling cable car running?
The north line is out of service for maintenance until 25 December 2026. The south line runs, and a north ticket can be used on the south line.