What to know before going to the Great Wall of China
If you're headed to Beijing, chances are one of the top things on your itinerary is a visit to the Great Wall of China. Spanning a history of over 2,300 years, this feat of pure architectural ingenuity is bucket list material - and for good reason!
As the longest wall in the world and an icon of ancient China, the Great Wall is a sight to make even the most seasoned traveler's jaw drop - I mean, this thing is visible in space! To top it off, it's nestled amongst some of the most stunning mountain scenery, hugged by clouds and stretching to infinity.
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Great Wall and was absolutely blown away. It's hands down one of the most incredible things I've seen in my lifetime.
Planning a visit of your own? Here are 10 things to know before you go.
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1. Visit the Mutianyu section.
There are several sections of the Great Wall accessible from Beijing. The closest (and arguably most popular) is Badaling, which is about half an hour from the city. It's perhaps the best-preserved section, but insanely overrun with people due to its proximity to the capital.
Located a little further away from the city (about an hour and a half drive) is Mutianyu. It's also very well-preserved, but significantly less crowded than Badaling. Not only that, but it's considered one of the best parts of the Great Wall in general.
Mutianyu was built during the early Ming dynasty in the 1300s, and was designed along the mountains to resemble a flying dragon. Of the 13,700 total miles that the Great Wall comprises of, Mutianyu takes up about 3.4.
Personally, nothing frustrates me more than trying to experience a worldly wonder and having to battle a million crowds to do so. The decision to visit Mutianyu over Badaling was kind of a no-brainer - and it was an amazing choice. While there were still crowds at the entry points onto the wall, they were extremely manageable - and the further we hiked, the more secluded we became. At times it felt as if we had the wall all to ourselves!
2. If you can, hire a driver to take you up to it.
You have a couple options getting up to Mutianyu: among them, take a public bus, book a spot on a group coach tour, or find your own way of getting up there. We went with the last option and it was way worth it.
Through our hotel concierge in Beijing, we hired a private driver. He picked us up around 9am, drove us for an hour and a half until we reached the Mutianyu entrance, walked us up to the ticket kiosk, and stayed there until we were done exploring for the day - then drove us back to our hotel. We ended up hiking the wall for about 4 hours, so with transit time included it was about a 7-hour excursion. This all cost less than $100 a person, which is an insane deal!
Not only was it more efficient and comfortable than taking public transit or a crowded tour bus, it allowed us the freedom to take the excursion at our own pace. No one was rushing us to hurry up and get back to the coach at a certain time, and we had our own space to relax on the ride to/from the wall. 10/10 would recommend.
3. There are several ways to get up to the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
You can either hike up to it, take a chairlift (and toboggan back down!), or hop on a gondola. The gondola takes you up to Watchtower No. 14, one of the highest sections of Mutianyu, so I’d recommend that - especially if you aren’t planning to hike the entire section.
Depending on which method you choose, the prices are as follows:
Chairlift - One-way: 100RMB for adults
Chairlift - Roundtrip: 120RMB for adults
Gondola - One-way: 100RMB for adults
Gondola - Roundtrip: 120RMB for adults
Toboggan: 100RMB for adults
These prices are in addition to the 40RMB admission fee to Mutianyu. If you choose to take a shuttle bus from the ticket office to the entrance of the wall, there is another fee of 15RMB. (So in total, you're looking at approximately 175RMB for the visit, which amounts to about USD$25.)
From late March until early November, Mutianyu is open from 7:30AM-6PM on weekdays, and 7:30AM-6:30PM on weekends. The rest of the year it opens from 8AM-5PM.
4. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and clothes you can move around in.
Hiking the Great Wall is a very active experience - lots of climbing, walking up and down stairs, and navigating tricky terrain. You'll be clambering through narrow doorways, and climbing ancient stairways to reach the top of the watchtowers. It's quite literally an adventure, and so much fun!
The wall is very well-preserved at Mutianyu, but there are still spots with uneven footing and crumbling stones that you need to use caution around. Don't forget that the wall is built over mountainous terrain, which means proper footwear and clothing is essential. If you’re not dressed appropriately you will not be able to experience the section that you visit in its entirety.
5. Bring layers.
This is especially pertinent if you’re visiting between fall and springtime. I went during the beginning of November and it was chilly at the base of the Great Wall. However, once we actually got up on the wall, it was sunnier and warm - and it only got warmer the more we hiked and climbed (to the point where I was sweating through my jacket!) Be prepared and dress in layers!
6. Bring snacks.
They have restaurants and snack vendors down in the town at Mutianyu, but it’s in your favor to pack some snacks of your own for the wall itself. This is especially true if you plan to hike the entire section.
7. Bring water.
Drink lots of it during your visit and stay hydrated!
8. Allow at least 2 hours to hike the wall.
As I mentioned earlier, we ended up staying for around 4 hours at Mutianyu, exploring as much of the wall as we could. If you're crunched for time or don't plan to hike the entire thing, you can see it in less - but give yourself at least 2 hours.
Combined with the 3-hour roundtrip transit, you can expect the total visit to last at least 5 hours.
9. There are amenities available at the base of the Wall.
In the town of Mutianyu, you'll find restaurants, souvenir shops, bars, restrooms - even a hotel! While snacks and beverages will be more expensive here, it's super convenient if there's anything you forgot to bring.
10. Prepare to be wowed.
The Great Wall of China is a Wonder of the World for a reason. You'll understand immediately why when you visit!
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Eager to visit China for yourself? Get in touch and let’s start planning an unforgettable vacation!
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