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No visit to China is complete without seeing the Great Wall. If you come this far, take the time necessary to plan and execute this excursion to one of the world’s most recognizable and amazing feats of construction. And if you have time to see more of China, I can definitely recommend the cities of Beijing (see blog post), Shanghai (see blog post), and Xi’an (see blog post).

There are several parts of the Great Wall that you can see. Each section is not created equally. Here is a breakdown:

• Mutianyu - The best restored portion of the wall, cable car, 1.5 hours from Beijing (by car).

• Jinshanling - Great for hiking, cable car, partially restored, partially conquered by nature, 2-3 hrs. from Beijing.

• Jiankou - Steep, very wild, no facilities, 3 hrs. from Beijing.

• Simatai - good for a night tour of Great Wall, cable car, 2-3 hrs. from Beijing.

• Huanghuacheng - partially under water, 1.5 hrs. from Beijing.

• Gubeikou - wild, unrestored, no facilities, 2 hrs. from Beijing.

• Juyongguan - Great Wall fort, closest to Beijing, wheelchair friendly, 1.5 hrs drive.

• Huangyaguan - site of the Great Wall Marathon, 3 hrs. from Beijing.

• Shanhai Pass - where the Great Wall meets the sea, 3.5 hrs. from Beijing.

• Badaling - most popular section, has museum, cinema, wheelchair friendly, VERY CROWDED, 2 hrs. from Beijing.

Depending on what you’re looking for, you can find a section that is most suited for your tastes. Personally, I felt that the Great Wall section at Jinshanling was the perfect one to visit. This portion delivers excellent views of the wall, is easily hike-able, has a cable car for your convenience, and is naturally gorgeous. The section is complete with barrier walls, battlement walls, watchtowers, gun emplacements, shooting holes, horse blocking walls, etc. It is considered to be the ‘paradise of the photographer’.

Also, keep in mind the dates of October 1-7th. This is Golden Week in China and many Chinese descend upon their capital city for festive celebrations, especially around Tiannenmen Square, the Forbidden City, and of course, the Great Wall. If you’re lucky, or unlucky, enough to time your trip with this holiday, you will find that the Mutianyu and Budaling sections are absurdly packed. But during this time, in mid-morning, we could count about 5 people on the entire Jinshanling section. Still unsure about which section you want to do? Here is a handy guide.

If you go here in November, I can only imagine how much color would surround the wall with the surrounding foliage and fall colors. Nonetheless, the section is still good enough to have a relatively easy hike. Each tower provides a unique viewpoint of the rest of the wall and the immediate area.

To get there:

• Subway Line 13 or 15 to Wangjing West Station

• Bus to Luanping and stop at Jinshanling Service Area (50 CNY, 2 hours)

• Free shuttle bus to Middle, Front, or East Gate or 2 km hike.

Hours and Fees:

• April to October 6am-6pm (65 CNY/Adult)

• November to March 7am-5pm (55 CNY/Adult)

Cableway Schedule and Fees:

• April 1 - Nov 10 (60 CNY/Return, 40 CNY/One way)

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