"The Great Wall" for a Beijing visitor usually means one of three sections: Badaling, Mutianyu or Jinshanling. They differ a lot in crowds, effort and how hard they are to book. All three use real-name tickets tied to your passport. Here's how to choose, and how far ahead to book each one.
Rules checked October 2026. Booking windows, release times and quotas change, sometimes with little notice. Confirm on the attraction's official channel before you plan around a date. CNTripGuide is not the official ticket seller for any of these sites.
The three sections at a glance
| Attraction | Must book? | How far ahead | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badaling | Yes | ~7 days | Easiest to reach by train from Beijing; the most crowded. Official platforms are mostly Chinese and often need a Chinese phone number |
| Mutianyu | Recommended | A few days ahead | Reserve entry and the shuttle bus, especially on weekends and holidays. Cable car and toboggan available |
| Jinshanling | Not usually | Book ahead on busy days | Further away. Ticket sales stop at 17:00 and entry stops at 17:30 |
Which section suits you
- Badaling is the most famous and the easiest to reach by public transport from central Beijing. It's fully restored and gets the biggest crowds, especially on weekends and Chinese holidays. Choose it if you're short on time and want a simple trip.
- Mutianyu is the best fit for most first-time visitors and families. It's restored, has beautiful forested views and fewer crowds than Badaling. A cable car or chairlift takes you up, and you can ride a toboggan back down. Our own 7-day Beijing and Xi'an itinerary uses it.
- Jinshanling is for hikers and photographers. It's partly restored, with long walks between watchtowers and great sunsets. It's further from Beijing (in Hebei province), so plan a full day.
Booking Badaling with a foreign passport
Badaling is the hardest to book. Tickets open about 7 days ahead and popular dates sell out. The official booking platforms are mainly in Chinese and often require a Chinese mobile number, which is the most common thing that stops foreign visitors. Cable car and funicular tickets are sold separately. Bring the original passport you booked with, because it's checked at entry.
Booking Mutianyu: don't forget the shuttle
At Mutianyu, book a few days ahead, and earlier for weekends and holidays. Your booking has more than one part: the entry ticket, the shuttle bus from the visitor centre to the base of the wall, and (optional) the cable car, chairlift or toboggan. Reserve the entry ticket and shuttle together. Have Alipay or WeChat Pay ready for anything you add on site.
Jinshanling: watch the closing time
At Jinshanling, ticket sales stop at 17:00 and entry stops at 17:30. If you're coming for the sunset, arrive well before then. Bring your original passport for entry verification.
Weekends and holidays
On Saturdays, Sundays and Chinese public holidays (especially Golden Week, 1–7 October) every section is busier and tickets go faster. Go on a weekday if you can, and arrive at opening time. For other Beijing sights that need booking, see our advance-booking list by city and the Forbidden City guide.
Let someone else book it
Official booking channels are often Chinese-only and some ask for a Chinese phone number. If you'd rather not deal with them, book via CNTripGuide: official tickets under your passport. No Chinese app needed, and we tell you the result within 12 hours. Start in the travel assistant: tell it your dates and sights, and pay only when the details are confirmed.