"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man" Mao Zedong.
If visiting Beijing it is mandatory to see The Wall. But which part do you want to go to? Busy & popular Badaling, scenic Mutianyu, hike along Simatai or see wild HuanghuaCheng or Jiankou? Come and expolore your favorite one!
All sections of the wall can be visited without an organised tour. If you do opt to go with a tour company make sure you ask what is included in the tour. Some tours are combined with a vist to the Ming Toms or may include shopping stops. So if you don't want to get dragged of the bus and made to visit a Chinese Medical Centre make sure you choose a tour suitable for you.
JUYONGGUAN. 50km northwest from Beijing. Open 6am - 4pm. Admission RMB40. This is the closest section so if you are in a rush and just want a quick peak at the wall this is it. Do a bit of a walk in under 2 hours. Heavily renovated and not as scenic as other sections but the best place for a quickie option. If going by bus then it is the same bus that goes to Badaling so tell the bus driver this is where you want to get off.
HUANGHUA CHENG: 60km north of Beijing. Admission RMB 2-4 depending on what section you enter at. You will need to check opening times as sometimes this section is closed to the public. This is a ruined part of the wall that is in periodic reconstruction mode to restore the crumbly sections - which is why it is not always open. While spectacular the wall clings to some steep hillsides. The scenery is breathtaking but keep in mind there are no guard rails and good shoes are needed to navigate some sections. It is split in two with a reservoir at the centre. Take the right hand side as it is a bit safer.
A taxi from Beijing is best & get them to wait until you are finished. Otherwise get a bus from the Dongzhimen Long-distance bus station to Huanghua, get off at Huanghuacheng. Some buses are slow so make sure you get one that goes via the Jingcheng express. Some buses also stop & you may need to transfer to a mini bus. Then taxi to the wall.
Read reviews by other travelers who have visited Huanghua Cheng: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction...BADALING: 70km northwest from Beijing. Open 6am - 10pm Summer & 7am - 6pm winter. Admission: RMB45. Chair lift available. This Ming fortification section of the wall is heavily renovated. If you read travel books or travel brochures then this is mentioned as the most popular section of the wall. Also note popular means swarming with tourists. Popular also means tour companies love it. If you do want to visit this section then get there very early in the morning, especially on the weekend or come in Winter and enjoy. The scenery is impressive with the wall snakeing off over the hills in the distance. The two sections of the wall go in either direction, left or right, from the main entrance. Walk as far as you can in either direction and you will be rewarded by seeing the breathtaking veiw of seeing the wall winding over the hills. It is easy to get to from Beijing with a direct line on the subway. Or by bus takes 90 minutes. Everyman & his dog has tours going there. If you want to DIY then hire a taxi for the day RMB400 approx.
JIANKOU (Arrow Nock): Located on the mountain ridge of Xizhazi Village, it connects to Mutianyu in the east and joins Huanghua Cheng in the west. It is free to visit the Jiankou section of the wall. Warning: This one of the most dangerous parts of the wall to visit. It is in a state of disrepair, the bricks, walls & steps are loose and unsteady. It is best to go in a group and not on your own. Due to it's unique style, steep mountains and beautiful scenery it has become a photographic hot spot. To get there by Bus: A) No.916 at Dongzhimen, get off at Huairou Fangshan
(diagonally opposite Huairou First Hospital), there are buses to
Jiankou Great Wall (the bus runs between 10:00 and 15:00)
Or B). Take Bus 936 (支) at Dongzhimen, get off at Yanxi Huandao in Huairou District, there are buses to Jiankou Great Wall (the bus runs between 10:00 and 15:00) . Otherwise hire a taxi for a return trip from Beijing.
Read reviews by other travelers who have visited Jiankou: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction...
MUTIANYU: 90km north of Beijing. Open 6.30am - 6pm. (Winter 7.30am - 6pm.) Admission RMB45. Two chair lifts - one open ski lift style that fits 2 side by side. This the first cable car you will encounter. Walk on further & you can buy tickets for the other chair lift that is enclosed and goes to a higher section of the wall. Also a bobsled ride down as an option. Check opening times as sometimes the lifts don't open until 8.30am.
This 3km section of the wall is not as busy as Badaling. The wall is built on the older Qi dynasty section (AD550-77) and it not as heavily restored as the Badaling section. The scenery is wonderful with crumbling outposts seen on the hills in the back ground. There are also watch towers built into the wall itself. If you are there in October you get to see the autumn colours of the trees in the surrounding countryside. Best way to get there is to negotiate with a taxi for there and back. There are buses but very time consuming. Get bus 916 or 980 from the Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station to Huairou, then change to a mini bus to Mutianyu.
Read reviews by other travelers who have visited Mutianyu: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction...
Read tips about getting there and what others had to say on the forum: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-...
SIMATAI: 110km northeast of Beijing. Open 8am - 5pm. Admission RMB40. Chairlift available (but check if visiting between Dec- March). If you want to go for a treck along a partially restored section then this is it. This section is rugged, steep, exhilarating and has wonderful scenery. It stretches for 19km and has watchtowers, ruins and suberb views. More steep & hazardous than other sections so bring your walking shoes and strength. Most popular is the hike between Simatai and Jianshanling. It takes 4 hours and it is best to start at Jianshanling & walk back towards Simatai ( it makes it easier to return to Beijing).
Once again best to negotiate a taxi there & back. Or a bus from Dongzhimen Long distance bus station to Miyun and change to a mini bus or taxi to Simatai.
Read reviews by other travelers who have visited Simatai: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction...
JIANSHANLING: 110km northeast of Beijing. Admission RMB40.Chairlift available. This is the best starting point to start the 10KM treck to Simatai. Even tho it is only 10km it will take 4 to 5 hours to walk it. The trail through stunning mountain terrain is steep, rugged, stoney and wonderfully scenic and exhilarating which is why so may people do it. This section also has 24 watchtowers along the way. To do the walk from Simatai to Jianshanling will take uo the entire day when you take into account the time to and from Beijing. Once again negotiate for a taxi for the day aprox RMB 400 -500. Or mini-bus or bus from Dongzhimen long-distance Bus Station to Gubeikou and get off at Bakeshiying..
Read reviews by other travelers who have visited Jianshanling: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction...
SHANHAIGUAN. 300km East from Beijing. The Jiao Shan part of the wall is as far from Beijing as it goes. Best done as an overnight stay. This is where The Great Wall meets the sea. This old historic Ming dynasty garrison town with it's walls is a good excuse to visit. It is popular with Beijingers, especially as it is close to the sea. This section has been restored and can get busy during holiday season. There is now a new express D5 Train that leaves from Beijing at 9.20am and arrives at 11.27am. Otherwise ther are also express D trains to Qinhuangdao that take 2 hours. Then 20 minutes by taxi to Shanhaiguan.