Beijing Layover Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall from Airport

Are you having a long-time, like 10 hours’, layover in Beijing’s airport and are considering a tour to see the legendary Great Wall of China? If so, this tour is perfect for you. After going through customs or immigration inspection, you will meet our guide outside the exit and then be escorted on a 1.5-hour drive from the airport to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Upon arrival, go through ticket-checking and take a cable car up to the No.14 tower of the ramparts with the company of your guide. Please note that the round-trip cable car is at your own expense. Your hiking on the Wall’s 2.2-km-long (1.4-mi-long) open-to-public walkway will take around 2-3 hours.

The Great Wall, the ancient mammoth fortifications built to bar the way of invasive nomads from the north, was built from 2,300 years ago through the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the period that saw the most extensive and transformative construction efforts being made. The Mutianyu section we are going to visit is the very Ming-era heritage and has survived to be the best-preserved and the longest of its kind. It is also the most beautiful part of the Wall, twisting and turning like a giant dragon in wilder nature, and you can climb some of the densely-spaced watchtowers for different vistas. The Wall’s beauty doesn’t fade but only changes with each season, so it doesn’t matter whatever time you come. Flowers and warmth embrace it in spring, cicadas sing around in lush summer, autumn foliage dyes it all and the winter withering sets off its magnificence only more. The history of the Wall is enlightening and riveting as well, as you will see what pains had been taken by the Ming Empire to start to isolate itself.

► Choose a Route that Interests You Most:
1. Take round-trip cable car rides to hike the west part: We make the cable car rides the default and recommended choice of this itinerary because it’s the most comfy ways up and down the Wall, and above all, by taking the hiking route set for it, you will see the essence of the whole Mutianyu section. You will start hiking from No.14 tower west to No.20 tower and go back the way you come to take another cable car down. Shorter in length and less steep, the route doesn’t require too much energy so you don’t have to pant while savoring the surrounds. By the way, No.20 tower perches at the highest point, so you get to climb it for a spectacular panorama around.
2. Take cable car up and toboggan down to hike the middle part: You will meander along the middle segment from No.14 tower to No.6 tower, where you will swish down through a toboggan with speed control. This route enables you experience diverse funs.
3. Take chairlift up and toboggan down to hike the east part: You will be lifted on a window-less seat to the No.6 tower and hike towards the east. No.6 tower itself, also called Zhengguan Terrace, is a unique attraction, as you will find it composed of three interconnected towers, which is different from all other towers here. With a toboggan to slide down back from No.6 tower, this route is for kick-seeking adventurers.

When it’s time, we will get downhill via the cable car again and finish your Beijing layover tour to Mutianyu Great Wall. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. In order to leave enough time for your boarding the flight, we will return to the airport about 3 hours ahead of your scheduled departure.

● Visa-free Transit:
If you have a Chinese visa, you can exit the airport through regular process. For passengers eligible for 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit, to apply for temporary entry please follow signs directing you to the exit-entry border inspection counter of the airport (Beijing Capital International Airport or Beijing Daxing International Airport). Please note that nationals from any countries can also apply for the 24-hour visa-free entry permit.

● Luggage Storage:
If you are travelling with heavy luggage, it is suggested you store it at the left-luggage office at the airport before taking this tour. You can find the deposit desks at the following places:

At Beijing Capital International Airport:
T1: On your east side of the lobby on 2F;
T2: Near Gate 10 of the arrival hall on 2F;
T3: On both your western and eastern sides of the arrival hall on 2F.

At Beijing Daxing International Airport:
Daxing airport has only one terminal so far and there are left-luggage offices on 2F and 4F. On the 2F you will find it on the east side and on the 4F, by the Starbucks.

● Currency Exchange:
There are bank branches, outlets of licensed currency exchange agencies, ATMs, and self-service exchange machines at either of Beijing’s international airports, all accepting overseas bank cards. And not only ATMs allow you to exchange for small bills, but the money exchange outlets can be found in both international departure and arrival halls. As money exchanging is most pertinent to your interests, if you encounter any problems or need any suggestions, don’t forget we are always there for help.

● Dining Tips:
As there is no restaurant available up on the Great Wall, so it’s recommended you have a fulfilling breakfast beforehand and take some snacks to refuel energy during the tour. After the visit, also please keep your expectations in check as to dining options near the Great Wall. Of these limited choices, we recommend Xian Lao Man for dumplings or Noodles with Soybean Paste (Zha Jiang Mian) among other Chinese or Beijing specialties. You can also visit farmhouses offering rural flavors - try homemade rainbow trout in Yu Master’s - or Subway to enjoy the most popular tuna sandwich.