Mutianyu Great Wall Night Tour (July to August)

Please note first this Mutianyu Great Wall night tour is only available from July to August and on holidays of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of Chinese lunar calendar, and National Day, celebrated from October 1 to 7. To have a tranquil visit, we suggest you select a weekday for today, as weekends and holidays normally see the attraction less impressive with more crowds, which also might possibly affect the ticket-booking.

There was a claim that the Great Wall is the only architecture that can be seen from space. Although it’s a debunked exaggeration, it well implies the grandiosity of the man-made miracle. Built throughout 2,000 years of history to block northern nomadic invasions, it stretches across as much as half China, via mountain regions, plains, loess plateau and desert. The portions constructed in the Ming era (1368 - 1644) are the crowning glories - tougher, more wisely laid out, and the grandest. The Mutianyu piece we are going to visit today is exactly one of those. We will visit at a later time to see the sunset igniting a symphony of reds and oranges and the Wall becoming a shimmering giant dragon after being lit at night. You will see fewer crowds here than Badaling, and surprisingly fewer if you come with us at this time!

Here is a suggested itinerary with details:
15:30: We will pick you up from the hotel you booked for yourself and transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall. Along the way, engage in a light conversation with your professional guide, who will conduct self-introduction and prepare you with some histories related to the Great Wall.

17:00: Jump in a cable car up to the No.14 Watchtower of the Great Wall and, if weather permits, catch a sunset. Let your guide’s immersive stories and the interplay of light and shadow transport you to the remote past. Imagine how the same sun had witnessed the wars and conflicts once staged here and how it is relieved now. The ticket package we booked for you includes unlimited chances to experience the cable car, so if you like, at dinner time you may glide to the base for some fast food and then glide back. Towards evening, usually on the platform of No.14 Watchtower, there are also art performances, sometimes live music played by band or with guzheng, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, sometimes Chinese dance by artists in ancient clothing, sometimes Peking Opera. With the sound of their music reverberating in the background, you’ve started your hiking in company with your guide.

19:00: Hike the section between No.10 and No.15 Watchtower, which will glow with lighting from now until 21:30. The walk path will be dimly lit with lamps put invisibly in arrow holes on either wall to make you see the pathway. All will be made more enigmatic by less visitors and the night sky. Your experienced guide will also give you advice on where to capture great photos. If you happen to bring a drone, a panorama will reveal a giant dragon winding in vivid radiance. Besides, there are interactive light shows to have fun with.

20:30: Get on a 1.5-hour transfer back to your downtown hotel. Arrive at around 22:00 and we will say goodbye.

Tips on Your Great Wall Night Tour:
1. As your safety is our chief concern, please mind your step on the pathway that is only faintly-illuminated and has stairways from time to time.
2. Take mosquito repellant - remember we are in the wilds! Prefer light weight comfortable shoes and quick-try clothes in case you sweat. 
3. Upon landing, please take note to use the restroom at the No.14 Watchtower, as you may not encounter any toilet for the following period.
4. As we are at the Great Wall which is far from downtown Beijing, the chance is slight if you want to taste authentic Beijing flavors nearby. We suggest you take advantage of your noon time in the city center. Consider visit any branch of the halal eatery Zi Guang Yuan that is near your hotel. You can order their Peking Roast Duck and home Yogurt with Milk Skin, which are among their best offerings. Half the duck, which you will wrap in rice paper to eat, will be enough for a person or two. The remarkable contrast between the specially-prepared brittle skin and tender meat will make your day! It is a time-horned brand dating back to 1912 and no wonder you will hear locals say it’s very nostalgic. Cost per person here is CNY 77 / USD 10.6 on average.