The Great Wall of China With Kids: Our Mutianyu Guide & Where to Stay

Planning to visit the Great Wall of China with kids? We found that staying overnight in Mutianyu was one of the best ways to avoid the crowds and make the experience easier for the whole family. From choosing a family-friendly homestay to navigating the Great Wall, riding the famous toboggan, and figuring out what to expect with children, here's everything we learned from our visit.

A family of four smiling in front of a section of the Great Wall of China.

Jump to:

Why We Chose Mutianyu for Our Great Wall Visit
Where to Stay near the Great Wall of China with Kids: Our Experience at a Mutianyu Homestay
Why Staying Overnight Made Such a Difference
What to Expect When Visiting the Great Wall With Kids
Our Overnight Mutianyu Itinerary
Is Mutianyu the Best Section of the Great Wall for Families?

Why We Chose Mutianyu for Our Great Wall Visit

Visiting the Great Wall of China was one of the things we were most excited about during our trip through China. But with two kids in tow, we wanted to make sure we chose a section that was relatively easy to navigate without spending half the day battling crowds.

Mutianyu is about a two-hour drive from central Beijing and is generally less crowded than the popular Badaling section. It's also well maintained, with restored walkways, watchtowers, and facilities that make it easier to navigate with kids.

And perhaps most importantly, there's a chairlift to take you up and the insanely cool toboggan / mountain coaster to bring you back down. Both huge hits with kids (and adults)!

After researching our options, we decided to stay overnight at a homestay in Mutianyu rather than visiting on a day trip from Beijing. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made during our time in China.

Where to Stay near the Great Wall of China with Kids: Our Experience at a Mutianyu Homestay

We stayed at Mutianyu Wangshanyuan Homestay, a family-run property about a 10-minute walk from the main visitor area.

[CHECK OUT AND BOOK OUR MUTIANYU HOMESTAY HERE]

We arrived in Beijing after taking an overnight train from Chengdu, and our host arranged to pick us up at the station and drive us to the property. The family was incredibly welcoming and easy to communicate with, and they helped organize everything for our Great Wall visit.

Our room rate included dinner and breakfast, both homemade by the grandmother, who was absolutely lovely and hilarious with the kids. And I'm not exaggerating when I say it was some of the best food we had in China. Everything was delicious, and even picky eaters would have plenty to enjoy.

A wooden table set with plates of dumplings, rice, tofu, and assorted vegetable stir-fry dishes in Mutianyu. — Dinner at the homestay was one of our favorite meals of the trip.

After arriving, we walked down to explore the visitor area, which has shops, restaurants, and an interesting museum exhibit about the Great Wall. We spent some time wandering around before heading back for dinner.

The only thing I'd mention about the homestay is that the beds were very firm. We've learned that this is pretty common throughout Asia, but these were particularly hard. That said, it was only one night, I slept fine, and I'd absolutely stay there again.

Why Staying Overnight Made Such a Difference

The biggest advantage of staying in Mutianyu is being able to visit the Great Wall first thing in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive from Beijing.

Our host arranged our entrance tickets, chairlift ride up, and toboggan ride down. After breakfast, he drove us straight to the entrance and showed us exactly where to go.

We didn't wait in a single line. We walked straight onto the chairlift and were up on the wall shortly after it opened.

It was still cool outside, and there were stretches of the wall where we barely saw anyone. We could take photos, explore the watchtowers, and enjoy the views without feeling crowded or rushed.

For us, that alone made staying overnight worth it.

Two children pose in a hotel room with exposed brick walls, featuring a large bed and a wooden bunk bed at a homestay at the Mutianyu section of the great wall of China. — The family room was spacious with an ensuite bathroom.

What to Expect When Visiting the Great Wall With Kids

The Mutianyu section is well maintained, and we felt comfortable exploring it with our kids, who were 8 and almost 10 at the time.

But there are a few things worth knowing before you go.

Two children smiling on a stone section of the Great Wall of China. — The kids were champion stair climbers.

1. Be Prepared for a LOT of Stairs

One thing that surprised me about the Great Wall is just how steep it is.

The wall follows the mountain ridges, so you're constantly climbing up and down stairs, some of which are incredibly steep. There are also sections where the steps have worn down into sloped stone surfaces.

It's absolutely manageable with kids who are comfortable walking, but it's not a leisurely stroll.

Wear shoes with good grip, bring sunscreen and sunglasses, and definitely pack a hat. Much of the wall is exposed, and you'll be spending a fair amount of time in direct sunlight.

2. Know Where the Bathrooms Are

This is probably my biggest practical tip for families.

There are bathrooms along the Mutianyu section, but make sure you know where they are before wandering too far.

We made the mistake of turning right after getting off the chairlift and walking down what felt like hundreds of stairs.

Naturally, that was when our daughter announced that she needed the bathroom.

Which meant climbing all the way back up those stairs and walking another 10–15 minutes along the wall to find one.

Fortunately, we made it. But I'd strongly recommend making everyone use the bathroom before heading onto the wall and checking where the facilities are located.

3. Food & Drinks on the Great Wall

You can bring your own snacks and water, but there are also small refreshment stops along the wall where you can buy drinks, popsicles, coffee, beer, and a few souvenirs.

We appreciated having somewhere to stop and take a break, especially with the kids.

I'd still recommend carrying water and a few snacks, since the refreshment stops aren't everywhere.

A man holding a beer and a boy holding a popsicle sitting at a table outdoors. — Enjoying a well deserved beer and popsicle at a small stand along the wall.

4. Taking the Mutianyu Toboggan Down

If you're visiting the Great Wall with kids, do not skip the toboggan.

This was easily one of our kids' favorite experiences in China.

Rather than taking the chairlift back down, you can ride a toboggan along a winding metal track through the mountains. The ride is surprisingly long, and you control your speed with a lever.

It was so much fun, and honestly, I'd recommend Mutianyu to families for this experience alone.

Can kids ride the toboggan on their own?

When we visited, children under 10 had to ride with an adult, and staff checked passports to verify their ages. Arlo actually turned 10 the NEXT DAY and he was so bummed that he couldn't ride by himself, but honestly, I wasn't.

The toboggans are an absolutely unmissable experience, but they can go pretty fast, and while everything felt safe and well organized, you're responsible for controlling your own speed.

Even if your child is old enough to ride independently, I'd consider whether they'd be comfortable managing it themselves.

Either way, it's a fantastic way to finish your Great Wall visit.

Our Overnight Mutianyu Itinerary

If you're planning a similar visit, here's how we organized our time.

Day 1: Arrive in Mutianyu

We arrived in Beijing on the overnight train from Chengdu, but they can pick you up anywhere.
Our homestay host picked us up at the station and drove us to Mutianyu.
Checked in and explored the nearby visitor area, shops, and museum exhibit.
Enjoyed a homemade dinner at the homestay.

Day 2: Visit the Great Wall

Had breakfast at the homestay.
Our host drove us directly to the entrance.
Took the chairlift up shortly after opening.
Explored the wall, climbed watchtowers, and took plenty of photos.
Rode the toboggan back down.
Returned to the homestay before our host drove us to the Universal Studios Grand Hotel at Universal Beijing Resort, or wherever your next destination is.

It was an incredibly easy way to organize the visit, particularly because we were able to continue straight to our next destination without returning to central Beijing.

A family of four stands on the Great Wall of China with mountains in the background. — Getting there early meant so many more opportunities for uncrowded pictures.

Is Mutianyu the Best Section of the Great Wall for Families?

We didn't visit the other sections of the Great Wall, so I can't compare them from personal experience. But after visiting Mutianyu with our kids, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

The restored pathways made it relatively easy to explore, the chairlift saved us a considerable amount of climbing, and the toboggan was a huge hit.

And staying overnight at Mutianyu Homestay made the entire experience even better.

Instead of dealing with a long drive from Beijing and arriving alongside the crowds, we had a wonderful homemade meal, spent the night nearby, and were among the first visitors on the wall the following morning.

It was one of our favorite experiences in China, and if we were doing it again, I'd organize it exactly the same way.

Check out more destinations and recommendations from The Four Flights!

Interested in learning more about our trip around the world? Check out and subscribe to our substack!