You’ve seen it depicted countless times on television, movies, and magazines – but what’s is the Great Wall of China actually like in real life? Fricken awesome (and an absolute must-see if you visit China).
Below you will find a comprehensive TDLR of all the research I did into visiting the Great Wall of China and importantly, how I got this Wonder of the World to myself!
- Check out my ultimate foodie guide to Beijing while you’re here
What section of the Great Wall of China should you visit
There are several sections you can visit from Beijing as a day trip, below I have put a brief description of the pros and cons of each.
Jinshanling Great Wall – This is the section of the wall I chose to visit. It’s a two-hour drive from Beijing (manageable!) and much less frequented by tourists. Crazily, on the entire 8km hike I only saw two other people?! This is the section you should visit if you are a photographer. It is not popular with tourists, has the idyllic winding wall, the stunning mountain range in the background and a great balance between old/restored sections.
Badaling Great Wall – This is the closest section to Beijing (a half-hour drive) so is the most convenient to get to. As a result, it is bombarded with large tour groups. I would, therefore, avoid this section if possible!
Mutianyu Great Wall – Mutianyu is much quieter than Badaling. It is the longest fully restored section of Great Wall and has a convenient cable car, chairlift, and a very cool toboggan! The entire Mutianyu section is 2.2 kilometers so is a lot shorter than the Jinshanling hike. Mutianyu was my second choice to Jinshanling.
Simatai Great Wall – as of now (March 2019) Simatai is closed for renovation. This is the only part of the wall you can stay overnight. If I get back to Beijing I would love to visit this section and watch the sunrise from the Wall 🙂
Huanghuacheng Great Wall – This is the most remote and wild section of the wall. Not much of it is restored. It is the only section of the wall built by a lake. This would be a great section to visit if you were up for a multiple day hike or wanted to see the ancient remains of the wall.
How to get to the Great Wall of China (and avoid crowds)
I would highly recommend joining a group tour or booking a private tour to the Great Wall if you’d like to visit without crowds. The bus to the Great Wall is notoriously unreliable and difficult to navigate without speaking Chinese. As the first bus doesn’t leave until 7AM you will arrive at 10AM when most people have already started hiking.
I visited the Great Wall of China with Leo’s Private Tours. They made the day a completely seamless experience. My lovely driver Mr. Ma arrived at 5:50 AM ready for departure at 6 AM. We then drove 2 hours in the comfort of his airconditioned car to Jinshanling. The Great Wall opens at 8AM so we arrived perfectly on schedule.
On arrival to Jinshanling, Mr. Ma organised my tickets and gave me clear instructions on where he’ll be meeting me at the East Gate. He also organised for me to go up on the shuttle with the staff (at this point no other tourists had even arrived!). Mr Ma then hiked up to the first turret with me and took some photos. While I had my tripod and remote, if you are travelling solo without camera gear this would be super handy. He got some great shots on his phone that he sent me afterward!
- Like photography? Maybe you should add the most Instagrammable place in China to your itinerary!
What to bring to the Great Wall of China
What to expect at the Great Wall of China
I was in total awe the entire time. Every time I’d stop to take a break I’d see a new view and get a new wave of excitement. I also loved that Jinshanling had a combination of restored and ancient sections. It really brought to life the mind-blowing fact that the Wall is 2000 years old! Even though it was winter I was lucky and got a 20-degree day and bright blue skies. I’d absolutely love to come back in Autumn though. I’ve seen pictures where the hills are covered in red and orange foliage!
Please note, there are some very steep sections, sometimes 150+ stairs at a time so this section is not appropriate for all travellers.
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How to book with Leo’s Private Tours
Head over to Leo’s Private Tours website to see all tour options on offer.
Leo is very responsive via email so if you have any queries you can reach him via email or WhatsApp.
Email: leoprivatetour@vip.163.com
Phone / Wechat / WhatsApp: +8615810575179
Visiting a Wonder of the World will never disappoint, especially when you get it all to yourself!! For me, this destination was particularly special because I felt it had something for everyone. Entrenched in fascinating history, surrounded by stunning landscape, an architectural human feat and a hikers dream – the Great Wall of China is an absolute must when visiting Beijing.
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