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Debating which Great Wall section to visit from Beijing? This guide compares Badaling, Mutianyu, and Simatai, helping you choose the best for your 2026 adventure, including stunning night views!
The Great Wall of China in Beijing |
Hello, Nihao! This is Rililiri.
If you have a full day to spare in Beijing,
I'd recommend the Great Wall just as much as the Forbidden City.
The Badaling, Mutianyu, and Simatai sections of the Great Wall each offer a unique vibe,
different levels of difficulty for getting around, and distinct attractions.
I'll compare how these three sections differ, outlining their pros and cons,
and share my experience visiting Badaling and Gubei Water Town & Simatai Great Wall.
Information you'll find in this post ✔ Why I recommend the Great Wall of China in Beijing ✔ Comparing Badaling, Mutianyu, and Simatai Great Wall sections ✔ My real review of the Gubei Water Town day tour ✔ Recommended dishes to try in Gubei Water Town ✔ The charm of Simatai Great Wall's night view |
If your Beijing itinerary is short,
you might be wondering if visiting the Great Wall
is really a must-do.
My personal opinion is that if you have the time,
devoting a full day to the Great Wall is absolutely worth it.
It's not just about seeing a historical site;
you also get to immerse yourself in the mountains and natural scenery
surrounding Beijing.
When you stand atop the wall,
you'll see the Great Wall stretching endlessly
along the mountain ridges.
The sheer scale is so different from what you see in photos,
making it one of the most memorable parts of my Beijing trip.
Although all three are sections of the Great Wall,
they offer quite different travel experiences.
Comparing Great Wall Sections in Beijing
Section | Pros | Cons | Recommended For |
Badaling | Easy accessibility, iconic | Very crowded with tourists | First-time visitors, short trips |
Mutianyu | Beautiful natural scenery, balanced transport options | Slightly less accessible than Badaling | Families, independent travelers |
Simatai | Combine with Gubei Water Town + night view | Further from the city center | Full-day trips, night view enthusiasts |
First, Badaling is the most famous and
easiest to access from Beijing city center.
You can even get there by subway.
I visited the Badaling Great Wall 18 years ago,
and even back then, it was already packed with tourists.
Now, with an increase in domestic Chinese travelers too,
if you're dreaming of a tranquil Great Wall experience,
it might feel a bit bustling.
Second, Mutianyu offers stunning natural scenery and
a variety of transport options like cable cars and toboggans for descent,
making it a relatively comfortable choice for exploring
with parents or children.
Finally, Simatai has a slightly different vibe.
Its biggest draw is that it can be combined with Gubei Water Town for a full day trip,
allowing you to experience the spectacular night view of the Great Wall after sunset.
So, if you're planning a trip to the Great Wall,
I'd recommend comparing tours for either Mutianyu or Simatai.
Comparison | Price | Link |
Mutianyu Great Wall | ~$66 | |
Simatai Great Wall | ~$65 |
When I visited Simatai Great Wall,
I went on a day tour that also included Gubei Water Town.
Since it's quite a distance from Beijing's city center,
I found it much more convenient to take a tour with direct vehicle transportation
rather than trying to piece together individual transport options.
When you arrive at Gubei Water Town,
instead of immediately heading up to the Great Wall,
you can slowly stroll through the waterways and alleys,
and explore the village itself.
With traditional Chinese buildings connected by waterways,
it's delightful to take a walk during the day.
Even though it was built artificially,
you can still feel the serene charm of a water town nestled in the mountains,
and everyone I went with was completely satisfied.
After exploring Gubei Water Town from the afternoon,
and heading up to the Simao Great Wall,
if you wait until sunset,
you can witness both the daytime scenery and the night view.
That's why this itinerary works better as a full day spent at leisure,
rather than a quick snapshot tour.
This time, I traveled with a friend who was visiting Beijing for the first time,
so I chose the Simao Great Wall, where you can experience both the water town and the Great Wall.
I booked through KKday because it was the cheapest,
and now you can even apply coupons,
so it seems to be even more affordable.
❣️ Check out the Gubei Water Town & Simao Great Wall Day Tour
I'll share coupons you can use when you access the link above.
For easy copying, I'll also post the coupons in the first comment!
These coupons are valid until August,
and if September coupons become available, I'll add them to the comments too!❣️
KKSUMMER3K | ~$2 discount | ~$35 minimum spend |
KKSUMMER6K | ~$4 discount | ~$69 minimum spend |
3HOURS260812K | ~$3 discount | ~$55 minimum spend |
3HOURS26085K | ~$8 discount | ~$138 minimum spend |
Inside Gubei Water Town, there are plenty of restaurants and snack stalls,
so it's easy to find meals during your day tour.
When I'm at a tourist spot, instead of going out of my way to find a single famous restaurant,
I prefer to choose local dishes that are convenient along my route.
Instead of having a heavy meal,
I found it more comfortable to eat simple dishes like noodles or dumplings,
and enjoy snacks in between.
Our guide recommended these Dianping (China's version of Catchtable) restaurants in Gubei Water Town.
I'll leave the restaurant links in the second comment!👍🏻
The biggest reason I chose the Simao Great Wall
was, of course, the night view.
During the day, the mountain ridges and the sheer scale of the Great Wall catch your eye,
but once the sun sets and the lights come on,
the atmosphere completely transforms.
Night viewing at the Simatai Great Wall
varies by season and day of the week.
From May to October, it's open from 5:30 PM
until 9:30 PM on weekdays and 10:00 PM on weekends.
From November to April, it's open until 9:00 PM on weekdays,
and 9:30 PM on weekends.
Also, the sections open for night viewing change depending on the season,
and at night, the specific watchtowers (between #5 and #9) that are accessible
vary, so just follow your guide's instructions.
As you descend from the Great Wall, Gubei Water Town also
starts to sparkle with its stunning night views!
Seeing the lights of Gubei Water Town
and the Great Wall winding up the mountainside together,
it truly felt like the wait was worth it.
I also added the optional night gondola ride in Gubei Water Town,
and I really, really recommend this option!
The night scenery is so beautiful that even those who initially didn't choose the option
all ended up adding it on site, but they paid a bit more for it!
So, rather than just seeing the Great Wall alone
and heading back, I highly recommend combining Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall
into a full-day itinerary.
If you prioritize accessibility and iconic status, choose Badaling.
For a balance of natural beauty and convenient facilities, Mutianyu.
And if you want to experience Gubei Water Town and breathtaking night views, Simatai Great Wall is your pick.
You can choose based on your travel style.
Comparison | Price | Link |
Mutianyu Great Wall | ~$66 | |
Simatai Great Wall | ~$65 |
I'll share coupons you can use when you access the links above.
I'll also post the coupons in the first comment for easy copying!
These coupons are valid until August,
and I'll update the comments with September coupons when they become available!❣️
KKSUMMER3K | ~$2 discount | Minimum spend ~$35 |
KKSUMMER6K | ~$4 discount | Minimum spend ~$69 |
3HOURS260812K | ~$3 discount | Minimum spend ~$55 |
3HOURS26085K | ~$8 discount | Minimum spend ~$138 |
If you enjoyed this post,
please show some love with a 'like' and a comment! ♥
New followers are always welcome! 😍
The article recommends Badaling Great Wall. Badaling is easily accessible from Beijing city center and offers the most iconic views of the Great Wall.
The most significant feature of Simatai Great Wall is that it can be combined with Gubei Water Town for a full-day itinerary, allowing visitors to enjoy the night view. When the lights come on after sunset, you can experience a different atmosphere than during the day.
From May to October, Simatai Great Wall night viewing begins at 5:30 PM. It operates until 9:30 PM on weekdays and until 10:00 PM on weekends.
According to the article, the current price for the Mutianyu Great Wall tour is ~$66. This was presented in comparison to the Simatai Great Wall tour price of ~$65.
The KKSUMMER6K coupon offers a ~$4 discount on payments of ~$69 or more. The article states that this coupon is valid until August.
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