Great Wall of China Travel Tips

The Great Wall of China, a marvelous ancient defensive architecture, is a must-see scenery for those who want to learn the quintessence of China in limited time in Beijing. Hereafter, some guides and tips of visiting the Great Wall are provided for your reference.

When to visit

The Great Wall is inviting at any time for the scenery varies in four seasons. In spring, flowers are blooming in the mountain; in summer, the stream is flowing with a rich susurrus; in fall, the whole mountain is covered by red smoke leaves; in winter, the snow-capped mountains give visitors the real pure. However, spring and autumn are two best seasons to visit the Great Wall, especially April, May, September and October when it is usually sunny, with moderate temperatures, let people feel more refreshed and comfortable.

Sections to visit

Among the sections of the Great Wall open to public, including Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai, Huangyaguan, Hushan, Jinshanling, Juyong Pass and so on, the most popular sections can been seen in Beijing as follows.

The Great Wall at Badaling - Situated in Yanqing County which is 60 kilometers northwest of Beijing, it is the most representative and most visited part of the wall as the first section open to tourists, showing the wisdom and power of China. One climbs on the Great Wall at Badaling will see the stone monument with “You are not a hero unless you climb on the Great Wall.” Apart from the walls with a length of 3,741 meters, Badaling also offers other sceneries such as the China Great Wall Museum, Circle Cinema, Residual Wall and Water Pass Great Wall.
Ticket: CNY 45 (peak season); CNY35 (low season); round cable car is CNY 80.
Bus Route: Bus No. 919 departing at Deshengmen to Badaling during 6:00-19:00 (CNY12)
Hours: 6:30-19:00

The Great Wall at Mutianyu - Located 45 miles north of Beijing in Huairou County, it is famous for its strategic location and breathtaking scenery, once attracted many foreign leaders during their visit in China like the former prime minister John Major and former president Clinton. Connecting Juyong Pass in the west and Gubeikou in the east, it has dense watchtowers. The 2,250 meters open to visitors features regular crenels on both sides of walls.
Ticket: CNY 45
Hours: 8:00-16:00
Bus Route: Bus No. 867 Tourist Bus at Dongzhimen Gate (7:00am and 8:30am)

Recommended One Day Tour in Great Wall
1 Day Great Wall at Badaling & Ming Tombs Tour
1 Day Great Wall & Summer Palace
1 Day Great Wall at Mutianyu & Underground Palace Tour
One Day Great Wall at Mutianyu, Ming Tombs and Sacred Way Tour

Pre-planning

Do some research online or read the guide book about the introduction and history of the Great Wall, in order to better exploration during hiking on the Great Wall.

Packing

The climbing routes of the Great Wall are mainly composed of stone stairs and mountain roads, and some sections are rather steep, especially in snowy winter. Thus, visitors should wear a pair of comfortable and non-slip outdoor shoes. The big temperature difference between day and night requires visitors to bring Mauntaineering Jackts or Fleece Jackets for freeze-proofing. Enough food and water is essential for the duration of hiking on the Great Wall. Female tourists are suggested to take sunblock or hat. In addition, an alpenstock is very useful to reduce the pressure of legs, a nice tool for climbing mountains.

Tips

1. Travelers are of their own free will to buy the insurance of the Great Wall (CNY 5).
2. It is hot in summer, with a lot of rainfalls, so tourists should do some sunstroke prevention measures, such as take an umbrella and bring medicines.
3. Graffiti is not allowed on the wall.
4. Cable cars are only available in Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Jinshanling sections.
5. Stay close with your group.

Take a Tour to See Great Wall Now:
1 Day Mutianyu Great Wall, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City & Olympic Tour
4 Days Beijing Classic Panoramic View Tour
1 Day Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall Tour
More China Package Tours and China City Tours