The Unique Elegance of Mutianyu: A Comprehensive Guide to the Great Wall

Located in Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District, Beijing, 73 kilometers from the city center, the Mutianyu Great Wall connects Juyong Pass in the west and Gubeikou in the east. As an important military barrier defending the capital, it is renowned worldwide as “the most unique section of the Ten-Thousand-Li Great Wall”. As one of the most intact and longest-preserved sections of the Ming Great Wall, it stretches for 5.4 kilometers, with 2.25 kilometers open to visitors. Featuring unique double-sided crenellations, dense watchtowers and high vegetation coverage, it stands out from other Great Wall sections. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 as part of the Great Wall of China, it was rated as a national 5A-level scenic spot in 2011, making it a top choice for international tourists seeking the beauty of the Great Wall in a tranquil atmosphere.

The historical context of the Mutianyu Great Wall dates back to the Northern Qi Dynasty. The existing main body was built by Xu Da, a famous general of the early Ming Dynasty, on the site of the Northern Qi Great Wall in 1368, and later renovated and expanded by Qi Jiguang and Tan Lun during the Longqing period, forming its current scale and layout. The name “Mutianyu” reflects the local people’s yearning for farmland, as the area is surrounded by mountains with scarce farmland. This longing is etched in the place name, adding a touch of humanistic warmth. Unlike other Great Wall sections with single-sided crenellations, Mutianyu features rare double-sided crenellations with embrasures on both inner and outer sides. This design for “defending against enemies from both sides” confirms its important strategic position and becomes a unique example of Ming Great Wall architecture.

The architectural layout of the Mutianyu Great Wall is a perfect integration of military defense and nature, following the concept of “adapting to the terrain and using dangers to build passes”. Winding along the steep mountain ridges, it rises from 486 meters above sea level to 1039 meters, with a height difference of 553 meters, known as “a dangerous pass on steep mountains” by Great Wall experts. The average height of the city wall is 7.8 meters, and the top width is 4.5 meters, accommodating three to four people walking side by side. The wall base is built with huge stone slabs, the wall body with city bricks, and the interior filled with rammed earth, making it extremely solid. What’s more amazing is its drainage system: the horse path slopes from outside to inside, with a longitudinal water trough brick ditch along the edge of the inner crenellated wall, connected to the protruding stone spouts to quickly drain rainwater out of the wall. This more reasonable design than other Great Wall sections has kept the wall well-preserved for centuries.

Dense watchtowers are another major feature of the Mutianyu Great Wall, with one watchtower every 100 meters or so. There are 20 watchtowers in the open section, including hollow and solid ones. Among them, 22 hollow watchtowers were built under Qi Jiguang’s supervision, divided into three types—”Tian”, “Men” and “Er”—according to the layout of the central room, each with different functions. The most representative Main Pass Tower, also known as “Three Towers”, consists of a central main tower connected to two side towers, with a total length of 40 meters, width of 30 meters and height of 20 meters. The layout of three parallel watchtowers is rare in the history of Chinese Great Wall architecture. Built in 1404 during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, as the lowest point of the Mutianyu Great Wall, it defends against foreign invasions on one side and protects the capital entrance and imperial mausoleums on the other, holding a crucial strategic position. A stone plaque inscribed with “Main Pass Tower” hangs in the center, and an archway and stone steps are set on the east wall for access.

The Great Corner Tower, located at the commanding height east of the Mutianyu Pass, is one of the iconic landscapes of the Mutianyu Great Wall. Named for looking like a city corner from any angle, it connects to the Great Wall on three sides: south to the inner branch wall “Tuweiba Bian”, west to Badaling Great Wall, and east to Gubeikou Great Wall. It is a vital passage for controlling advance and retreat, as well as the boundary between Jizhen Great Wall and Changzhen Great Wall. With a two-story structure, the ground floor is a passage where a viewing pavilion once stood, with door holes facing south and west, serving as a sentry post, garrison and station. Exquisitely built with high-quality materials, it combines practical value and aesthetic appeal. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of the mountains and the Great Wall with an extremely wide field of vision.

In addition to the core buildings, the Mutianyu Great Wall boasts charming natural scenery with a vegetation coverage rate of over 90%, presenting different charms in four seasons and suitable for visiting all year round. In spring, flowers bloom in full bloom, with Chinese redbud and peach blossoms along the wall, surrounded by green vegetation, full of vitality. In summer, dense shade provides a cool retreat from the heat, and after rain, the Great Wall is shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland. In autumn, red leaves all over the mountains set off against the ancient city wall, with layers of forests dyed, extremely beautiful. In winter, covered in white snow, the Great Wall is dressed in silver, adding a sense of grandeur. Besides, the scenic area is home to attractions such as Mandarin Duck Pine, Welcome Pine, Qi Jiguang Statue and Shayu Anti-Japanese War Monument, enriching the tour with more humanistic and natural charm.

For travel tips, the Mutianyu Great Wall requires real-name reservation tickets. International visitors can book tickets through the official website, mini-program or scenic spot ticket windows with their passports. It is recommended to book 1-3 days in advance during peak seasons (April-October) to avoid crowds. The scenic area is open from 7:30 to 17:30 (closing at 17:00 in winter). Recommended route: Take the cable car from the scenic entrance to Watchtower 14, climb northeast along the Great Wall to Watchtower 20 to admire the steep “Eagle Flying Upside Down” landscape, then return to the Main Pass Tower and Great Corner Tower. The whole tour takes about 3-4 hours. For transportation, take Metro Line 13 to Dongzhimen Station and transfer to a tourist special line bus directly to the scenic area, or choose a taxi or chartered car. The scenic area is equipped with round-trip cable cars, one-way cable cars and a slide. The slide down is exciting, suitable for tourists who enjoy experiences and helps save energy.

It is worth mentioning that the Mutianyu Great Wall has received many foreign heads of state such as Bill Clinton and John Major. The scenic area has complete supporting facilities, including multilingual signs, foreign-related restaurants and shopping centers, fully meeting the needs of international tourists. It should be noted that some sections have steep slopes, so please wear comfortable sports shoes and carry drinking water and sun protection products. Climbing unopened sections and carving on the city wall are prohibited; please protect this world heritage respectfully. From an ancient military fortress to a scenic landmark today, the Mutianyu Great Wall, with its unique architecture, tranquil atmosphere and stunning scenery, awaits tourists from all over the world to explore its unique elegance hidden among the green mountains