Though the Great Wall is over 6,000 kilometers long, the best 10 sections to visit are around Beijing's north and east: 1) the best-restored, Mutianyu, 2) the most beautiful, Jinshanling, 3) the wildest, Jiankou, 4) Simatai, 5) Huanghuacheng, 6) Gubeikou, 7) Juyongguan, 8) Huangyaguan, 9) Shanhaiguan, and by far the most crowded 10) Badaling.
(We list the top 10 below in order of recommendation, followed by a listing of Great Wall sections throughout China that are open for tourism.)
1. Mutianyu - the most magnificent fully-restored Great Wall section
Mutianyu Section of the Great WallThe Mutianyu section is the most popular among international travelers. This is the most child-friendly section.
- Location: 73 kilometers (45 miles) from Beijing, 1½ hours drive
- Features: A superb example of Great Wall fortifications, Mutianyu is uniquely-designed with watchtowers and fortresses densely spaced along its length, and crenellations on both sides. First Lady Michelle Obama has visited it.
- Activities: sightseeing, hiking
- Tour Time: half a day
- Facilities: cable cars or chairlifts up/down and toboggan down
See more on why Mutianyu is so popular with international travelers >>>
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour with Mutianyu Walk
- 1-Day Beijing Highlights Tour with the Great Wall at Mutianyu
2. Jinshanling - most popular Great Wall hiking route
Jinshanling Section of the Great WallThe Jinshanling section is part of a popular hiking route from Jinshanling to Simatai. The Great Wall at Jinshanling is half restored and half-wild. It is also the most beautiful section of the Great Wall.
- Location: 154 kilometers (96 miles) from Beijing; 2–3 hours drive.
- Features: half restored and half-wild, quiet with fabulous vistas of the wall snaking up and down
- Activities: hiking, photography
- Tour Time: a day
- Facilities: cable car
Continue to read: the breathtaking vista of the Great Wall at Jinshanling >>>
3. Jiankou - totally wild; the most challenging/steep section
Jiankou Section of the Great WallThe Jiankou section's broken wildness and perilous steepness make it the most dangerous section of the Great Wall.
- Location: 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Beijing, about 3 hours' drive.
- Features: Completely original, wild, and untouched, some sections are really steep and dangerous. It winds its way along mountain ridges in the shape of a "W".
- Activities: photography, serious hiking
- Tour Time: a day
- Facilities: none
See how steep and dangerous Jiankou's Great Wall is >>>
- 1-Day Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour
- 2-Day Jiankou Wild Great Wall Camping Tour
- 3-Day Jiankou to Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Discovery Tour
4. Simatai - great for a night tour
Simatai Section of the Great Wall at NightThe Simatai section incorporates different characteristics of each section of the Great Wall. And visitors can have a night tour of the Great Wall.
- Location: 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Beijing, 2–3 hours' drive.
- Features: Steep and inspiring, Simatai was acknowledged as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The red leaves there is a fine sight in fall.
- Activities: hiking, photography
- Facilities: cable cars; battery carts; boat ride
Continue to read: Incredible architectural features of the Simatai Great Wall section >>>
5. Huanghuacheng - unique wall and water scenery
Huanghuacheng Section of the Great WallHuanghuacheng's section of the Great Wall is noted for its perfect blend of lake scenery and ancient wall.
- Location: 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Beijing, 1½ hours' drive.
- Features: Some parts of the wall are immersed in water, and there is a 500-year-old Ming Dynasty chestnut orchard at the foot of the wall.
- Activities: hiking, camping (May–September recommended)
- Facilities: cruise boats
Read more on Huanghuacheng's Great Wall section >>>
- 2-Day Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall Hiking and Camping Tour
- 5-Day Huangyaguan to Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hiking Tour
6. Gubeikou - Wild Wall, Ancient Battle Site
Gubeikou Section of the Great Wall- Location: 146 kilometers (90 miles) from Beijing, 2 hours' drive.
- Features: Wild and unrestored, Gubeikou protected an important pass to Beijing from northern Mongol areas. Over 130 battles happened there.
- Activities: hiking
- Facilities: None
Find more on why Gubeikou was so important to defend ancient Beijing >>>
- 3-Day Jiankou, Gubeikou and Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking
- 5-Day Great Wall Hiking Tour including Gubeikou
7. Juyongguan - one of the greatest Great Wall forts
Juyongguan Section of the Great Wall- Location: 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Beijing, 1½ hours' drive.
- Features: The closest section to Beijing, it is wheelchair-friendly, so suitable for handicapped travelers. It is one of the greatest forts defending ancient Beijing. Genghis Khan once led his troops through Juyong Pass during his conquest of Chinese territory.
- Activities: hiking
- Typical tour time: 1½–2 hours
Continue to Read: Secrets to China's ancient military stronghold in Juyongguan Pass >>>
8. Huangyaguan - an annual Great Wall marathon race site
Huangyaguan Section of the Great Wall- Location: Ji Country, Tianjin, 3 hours' drive from Beijing.
- Features: The Great Wall Marathon is held on Huangyaguan's Great Wall each May.
- Typical tour time: 2–3 hours
- Facilities: sightseeing buses to the mountain top
Continue to read: What makes Huangyaguan a Great Wall marathon site >>>
9. Shanhaiguan - where the Great Wall meets the sea
Shanhai Pass of the Great Wall- Location: Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, 3½ hours' drive from Beijing.
- Features: Shanhaiguan was a very strategic pass in the Great Wall of China. It served as a frontier defense against the Manchus. It is the east end of the main Ming Dynasty Great Wall, where the Great Wall meets the sea.
- Tour time: one day
Continue to find out about the military power of ancient China at Shanhaiguan >>>
10. Badaling - the most popular section among Chinese tourists
Badaling Section of the Great Wall- Location: 72 kilometers (45 miles) from Beijing, 2 hours' drive
- Features: The most popular section among Chinese tourist groups, it is always very crowded.
- Facilities: cable cars, Great Wall Museum, circular-screen cinema, and some wheelchair access.
- Tour time: half a day
Continue to read: The big crowds and fabulous scenery of the Badaling Great Wall >>>
All Great Wall Sections
Great Wall Location MapThe Great Wall of China crosses 15 provinces and municipalities: Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, and Liaoning, etc.; over 2,000 km (1,300 mi) in distance, but the length of the Wall is many times longer, reaching to 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi).
Here's a list of the main sections of the Great Wall from West to East China:
In Gansu:
In Ningxia:
In Inner Mongolia:
In Shaanxi:
In Shanxi:
In Beijing Municipality:
In Hebei Province:
In Tianjin Municipality:
In Liaoning Province:
The Best Way to Explore China's Great Wall
The best way to explore the Great Wall is to travel with a professional guide. Your guide will present the Wall's history, shows you the best photo spots, and generally makes your trip enjoyable.
China Highlights can provide you with a hassle-free private or small-group tour of the Great Wall of China. See below for our most popular Great Wall tours:
- 4 Days Great Wall Night Tour to see the Great Wall lit up at night.
- 1-Day Beijing Highlights Tour (Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square)