Where to Eat in Your Great Wall Tour
Listed in World Cultural Heritage sites, Great Wall of China is a must see. There are many sections of Great Wall worthy of your visit. Since all of the Great Wall scenic areas are located in the outskirts of city area, it’s not easy to find a good restaurant for dining usually. You may wonder what and where to eat after or before your different Great Wall tours. According to our experience, we have several suggestions for you.
Eat at Restaurants around Great Wall
In the peak seasons (March ~ November usually), there are available restaurants offering food for dining around most sections of Great Wall. Most of them provide Chinese cuisine, including stir-fried dishes, stockpot dishes, Beijing Roast Duck, etc. However, in low seasons, some restaurants are closed, especially the restaurants near the less touristy sections of Great Wall, like Jiankou Great Wall, Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall, etc.
There are various hiking routes to explore Great Wall and you are suggested to arrange your meal accordingly. If you plan to hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall, you can only dine in the restaurants around Mutianyu Great Wall after your whole hiking. If you hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling, there are some nearby farm house providing simple dishes.
Restaurants around Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall, featuring in charming landscape and more peaceful environment, is a top-chosen for foreign travelers. There are several restaurants around Mutianyu Great Wall for your choice.
The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu (慕田峪小园餐厅)
Address: Mutianyu Village, Huairou District, Beijing (北京市怀柔区慕田峪村12号)
Average price per person: about 180 RMB
Operating Month: early March ~ November (closed for winter vacation)
The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu once was an abandoned primary school and revitalized as a restaurant and hot glass workshop by an American couple – Jim Spear and his wife Tang Liang. You can still find the old facilities of the primary school, including blackboard, teacher’s desk, wall newspaper, etc. Former First Lady of USA Michelle has visited and dined in this restaurant. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu provides international cuisines as well as Asian dishes to customers with family or buffet style food. The menu is a wonderful mix of Asian and western. Curry Chicken is recommended by most westerners.
Tip: If you want to spend an amazing night near Mutianyu Great Wall, you can accommodate at Brick Retreat which is a boutique hotel revitalized from a factory.
Our Customers at Mutianyu Great Wall
Xiaolongpu Resort (晓龙瀑度假村)
Address: Huandao Road South, Bohai Town, Huairou District, Beijing (北京市怀柔区渤海镇环岛路南)
Average price per person: about 80 RMB
Located at the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall, Xiaolongpu Resort is a traditional Chinese Quadrangles made of blue bricks and grey titles. Eating in this restaurant, you can have a great sight the surrounding mountains from outdoor dinning yard. It offers traditional Chinese dishes, including Kung Pao Chicken, Roast Fish, Fried Eggplant, etc. which are made by fresh meat and vegetables.
Restaurants at Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall is the most popular section of Great Wall of China, so you can get a lot of choice for dining at the foot of Badaling Great Wall. However, the restaurants are always crowded.
Commune by the Great Wall （长城脚下的餐厅）
Address: near Badaling Expressway Shuiguan exit, about 4km east of Badaling Great Wall
Average price per person: about 500 RMB
Operating Month: early March ~ November (closed for winter vacation)
Commune by the Great Wall is a hotel near Badaling Great Wall. It enjoys a group of well-designed modern architecture. Its two restaurants – Poolside Café and Terrace Lounge also provide food service to travelers. From the French windows, you can admire the magnificent view of Great Wall. There are some western dishes as well as different Chinese food available, including Peking Duck, Sichuan Cuisine, Guangdong Cuisine…
Beijing Roast Duck (北京烤鸭)
Address: near Badaling Expressway No.58 exit, about 2km east of Badaling Great Wall
Average price per person: about 50 RMB
After your Badaling Great Wall tour, you may want to taste the world-famous Beijing Roast Duck, so choose Beijing Roast Duck which is wonderful restaurant to serve Beijing dishes, including Beijing Roast Duck and some other Beijing dishes. The food, service and atmosphere are always great.
Tip: Because of the good location near Badaling Great Wall, Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant is always crowded and you need to wait usually.
Bring Enough Food and Drinks as Supplement
If you want a longer hiking on the wall, you need to bring enough food and drinks. On some sections of Great Wall (like Mutianyu and Badaling), there are vendors selling snacks, water and some souvenirs but at a higher price. If you hike on the sections of Wild Great Wall, it may be difficult to purchase some food or drinks. In order to protect the environment of Great Wall, it’s not permitted to cook, neither. Therefore, you’d better buy food and water in advance and pack for your hiking trip.
How to Plan A Great Wall Tour
There are several sections of the Great Wall around Beijing, each requiring about one day to visit, explore, and return to the city. For most travelers visiting Beijing, a trip to the Great Wall is a must-do. The Mutianyu Great Wall is a popular choice for many, as it offers stunning views, is less crowded, and is relatively close to Beijing. It is also equipped with convenient cable cars for easy access.
For hiking enthusiasts or those seeking a more in-depth experience, we recommend exploring some of the other iconic sections of the Wall. The Jingshanling Great Wall is one of the most scenic sections, while the Simatai Great Wall offers a more rugged, less-developed experience with a breathtaking night view. For a unique lakeside experience, visit the Huanghuacheng. If you're looking for a more traditional experience, the Badaling Great Wall is the most famous and beautiful, though it tends to be quite crowded. Since they are close to each other, the Mutianyu and Huanghuacheng sections can be visited in one trip, while Jinshanling and Simatai are often combined. A daytime visit to Jinshanling followed by a nighttime exploration of Simatai offers a unique experience you won't forget.
Top-Recommended Great Wall Hiking Tours
☛ 2 Days Jinshanling and Simatai Great Wall Wild Hiking
☛ 2 Days Jinshanling & Simatai Night Great Wall Tour
☛ 2 Days Mutianyu & Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Walls Hiking Tour
If it's your first time in Beijing, don't miss the city's other iconic attractions, such as the Forbidden City, a masterpiece of imperial architecture, and the serene Summer Palace with its beautiful gardens and lakes. Be sure to visit the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or explore the Lama Temple for a taste of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing. With so much to see, Beijing offers a rich blend of history and culture that’s sure to leave you inspired!
Top-Recommended Beijing Tours including Great Wall Experiences
☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package with Mutianyu Great Wall
☛ 4 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Simatai Great Wall Night Sightseeing
☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking
Jinshanling Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall
Forbidden City
Recommended Tours
Top 3 tours chosen by most customers to explore in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.
Customize a Trip
Have a question? Get answers from our travel experts or guests
- Your Question:
- Your Name:
- Your Email:
- Submit
