Stay in the village. Be on the Wall before the crowds.
Pond Life is a former primary school in Jingyu Village, 10 minutes from the Mutianyu Great Wall. Each morning we drive guests up for free, so you are walking the Wall while the tour buses are still on the road.
- First on the Wall
- A free early drop-off at Mutianyu, so you walk the Wall before the tour groups arrive.
- A real village
- A converted primary school inside Jingyu Village, not a resort sealed off from it.
- Good for families
- Family rooms for four, room for children to run around, breakfast included.
- Easy for international guests
- Passports welcome, messages in English, and help booking cable car and toboggan tickets.
Your morning on the Wall
Most people come for the Great Wall, and staying the night is the easiest way to see it quietly. Here is how the morning goes.
- 7:00
We leave Pond Life
7 km, about 10 minutes by car. The drop-off is free, and we drive you up ourselves, so there is no visitor-centre shuttle bus to wait for.
- 7:30
The gates open
In peak season Mutianyu opens at 7:30. We can book cable car or toboggan tickets for you the evening before.
- 9:00
The tour buses arrive
Groups from Beijing usually reach the Wall after nine. By then you have had it nearly to yourself.
- Afternoon
Back in the village
Pick-up is arranged with the front desk. Spend the rest of the day in the courtyards, on the hill trail, or at the table.
Breakfast is included with every stay. We are finalising how it fits around the early start, so ask us when you book.
A village, not a resort
Jingyu is a working village in the hills of Huairou, surrounded by chestnut groves. Pond Life sits inside it: the lane to the gate is the village lane, and a trail into the hills starts a few minutes’ walk away.
The year here follows what grows on the hillside. These photos are from the house’s own feed, taken over the last two years.
JulyAfter the summer rains, hen-of-the-woods comes up in the chestnut grove.
SeptemberChestnuts are knocked from the trees, burrs and all.
OctoberThe chestnut leaves come down over the courtyard.
NovemberRed dates dried in the sun; chestnuts roasted in the kitchen.
An old school, rebuilt
In 2016 the village primary school, long out of use, was rebuilt by one of Pond Life’s founders. Today there are three guest buildings around a pond and a lawn, with 20 rooms, no two alike.
The buildings are named for the early, high and late Tang dynasty. It is a quiet place: after dark you hear the valley more than the road.
The buildings and shared spacesRooms for couples and families
All 20 rooms
B106 Wuwei
Family room for four on the ground floor. No stairs.
B105 Ruoshui · Like Water
Ground-floor room for two. An extra bed can be added.
B201 Mopinglan
Upper-floor room with a permanent extra bed. Sleeps three.
Room photos were taken in 2017. Furnishings may have changed; we confirm the current setup when you book.
Huairou home cooking
The restaurant cooks local dishes, some with vegetables from the house’s own plot and from neighbours. Dinner is served at shared long tables or on your own; tell us about allergies or vegetarian meals in advance.
Good to know
- Every adult guest needs an original passport (or Chinese ID) to check in. Chinese law requires it, and copies or photos are not accepted.
- Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00.
- Tap water comes from a mountain spring. Please boil it before drinking.
- The Late Tang loft rooms have steep spiral stairs. Families with small children are better in Block B.
Ask about a stay
Tell us your dates and who is coming. We reply with available rooms, the price and the time of your morning drop-off.
Travelling with a Chinese phone? You can also find us on WeChat: 渔唐生活.