Toboggan Down The Great Wall Of China

At 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometres) long, it would take you 18 months to walk this Wonder of the World – or you can slide down the Great Wall of China in around two minutes, depending on how much you brake.

At Mutianyu, a well-preserved stretch of the Great Wall 90km (56mi) north of Beijing, a toboggan run descends from the top of the wall, covering 1.6km (1mi) and taking in valley views and winding sections through the forest.

The starting point of the toboggan run is in Mutianyu

You’re in control of the brake, and if you choose, you can take it at a rattling pace, as trees whip by and the wind rushes past your face (helpful signs remind you to ‘slow down’ at corners). It may not have been what the Ming dynasty planned when they built this great fortification, but it’ll get your blood pumping.

Visiting Mutianyu

You can do the trip in a day via public buses from Beijing, or take an organized tour. Be aware that the Wall gets hot in mid-summer and very cold in winter, when temperatures can be well below freezing.

Other Ways to See the Wall

Mutianyu will suit many people coming from Beijing. But it’s not the closest part of the wall from China’s capital. If you’re on a tight time frame you might prefer Badaling, which has cable cars running up and down its length, but can get very crowded.

For a more off-the-beaten track experience, consider heading to Huanghua Cheng or Jiankou. These sections have not been restored and are not officially open to the public – so plan carefully, and consider taking a tour.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.