Great Wall of China sees Mutianyu sections reopen on 4 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 09:26 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSRestoration opens a steep section
- Huairou district authorities announced the Mutianyu reopening on 4 November 2026.
- Watchtowers 104 to 108 and 750 metres of wall were restored for visitors.
- The Great Wall became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
The Great Wall of China (Changcheng) has a current visitor update in Beijing after the Mutianyu reopening announced on 4 November 2026. The Huairou district government reported that the Hero Slope and Hero Terrace sections had returned to visitor access after the third phase of a restoration programme.
The change concerns one of the best-known visitor sections of the wider fortification system. It gives travellers in China a newly reopened stretch to include when visiting the Mutianyu area, while the announcement also explains which towers and wall surfaces were repaired.
Mutianyu reopening restores towers 104 to 108
The official 4 November reopening announcement said that the third phase of the Mutianyu restoration had been completed. It covered five enemy towers, numbered 104 to 108, and 750 metres of side wall.
The announcement described the Hero Slope and Hero Terrace as steep and structurally complex. It said that earlier problems included settlement, wind erosion, bulging wall sections and leaning corners at Tower 108. Visitors can now pass through the reopened sections, subject to signs and instructions at the scenic area.
The work also repaired worn steps, damaged paving and drainage. The project used a minimum-intervention approach, retaining weathered surfaces without structural risks and reusing sound masonry wherever possible.
How the reopening fits the Great Wall's history
The Mutianyu update is a local access change within a much larger historical structure. The wall consists of many fortifications built over roughly two millennia across northern China, rather than one continuous building from a single period.
The best-preserved Ming dynasty wall dates from 1368 to 1644 and extends for about 8,850 kilometres (5,499 miles), according to Britannica's Great Wall overview. The fortification was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
That broad history gives the November reopening a precise visitor meaning: the restored route is not a new monument, but a repaired part of the Mutianyu section. The project links present-day access with conservation of masonry, steps and drainage on a mountain route near Beijing.
Visiting Great Wall of China: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The reopening applies to the Mutianyu Hero Slope and Hero Terrace sections, with the announcement issued on 4 November 2026.
- Visitor access has returned to the repaired area covering Towers 104 to 108 and 750 metres of side wall, while on-site directions remain decisive.
- Mutianyu is in Huairou district, Beijing, and the reopened route is part of a steep mountain section with repaired steps and sloping ground.
- China's official language is Mandarin Chinese and its national currency is the renminbi.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Great Wall of China
When was the Mutianyu reopening announced?
The Huairou district government announced the reopening on 4 November 2026 after the third restoration phase was completed.
Which parts reopened at Great Wall of China?
The Hero Slope and Hero Terrace sections reopened, including Towers 104 to 108 and 750 metres of side wall.
Where is Great Wall of China and how do you get there?
The Mutianyu section is in Huairou district, Beijing, in northern China. The reopened route is a steep mountain section within the scenic area.
