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Great Wall Tourism Board | Updated Great Wall of China Travel Information

“He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man!”, as what was said by China’s first Chairman Mao Zedong, the Great Wall should be on every traveler’s bucket list. This China’s greatest engineering triumph, made from brick, stone, tamped earth and wood, is a direct link with legendary dynasties of China’s past as there were continuous ancient dynasties invested unquantifiable labour and material resources to construct and reconstruct the Great Wall. Nowadays, you can still see there are more than 5,500 miles of the Great Wall snaking its way over the perched mountainsides from the gobi desert in northwestern China to the sea coast of far eastern China. Beijing, the capital city, possesses about 573km (356 miles) of the Great Wall including the world famous Badaling, Mutianyu, Jiankou, etc., stretching alone the steep peaks and hills at its remote northern districts. You can easily plan a satisfied day trip to the closer sections of the Great Wall from Beijing. But for those who want to explore, it’s available to hike, bike even camp on some sections. Contact China Discovery to tailor-make a Great Wall trip now!

Latest Notice on Great Wall Travel - Updated on May 25, 2023 :

The Beijing Great Wall Protection and Management Regulations clearly state that it is prohibited to organize tours or climb sections of the Great Wall that have not been approved for visitation. Violators may be subject to corresponding fines. The Jiankou Great Wall is an unopened section of the Great Wall, and climbing it can cause damage to the structure. This not only hinders the preservation of the Great Wall but also poses significant risks to the safety of visitors. Therefore, we urge everyone not to climb the Jiankou Great Wall. Tourists can visit and hike at well-developed sections of the Great Wall such as Mutianyu, Badaling, and Jinshanling instead.

• ① Where is the Great Wall of China Located?
• ② When was the Great Wall of China Built?
• ③ Who Built the Great Wall of China?
• ④ How Old is the Great Wall of China?
• ⑤ How Long is the Great Wall of China?
• ⑥ How Tall is the Great Wall of China?
• ⑦ How Big is the Great Wall of China?
• ⑧ How was the Great Wall of China Built?
• ⑨ Why was the Great Wall of China Built?
• ⑩ Can You See the Great Wall of China from Space?

Top 7 Most Popular Sections of Great Wall

Many people mistakenly assume that the Great Wall of China is a continuous entity. Actually, the Great Wall exists in chunks scattered with natural defenses, usually the precipitous mountains. According investigations, the Great Wall of China stretches through 16 provinces, cities and autonomous regions, such as Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Liaoning, Ningxia, Beijing, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Heilongjiang, Qinghai, Jilin and Hubei, etc. Taking into location, landscape, transportation, tourist amenities into consideration, below 7 sections of Great Wall are most popular among tourists.

Which Section of Great Wall to Go

Generally speaking, Mutianyu is the best option if you travel with kids, or want to enjoy a leisure and scenic hike. If you are a hiker, choose 1 or 2 sections among Jinshanling, Simatai and Gubekou to hike 1 or 2 days. If you are the second-timer, maybe Huanghuacheng section will be very attractive to you. Its lakeside walls are very stunning. Read more about What Are the Best Sections of the Great Wall to Visit from Beijing?

Important Great Wall Travel Information & Tips

Below are the most important and useful articles with information and tips to help you plan your Great Wall trip easier. Fee free to contact us if you have any question about the Great Wall.

Great Wall Trip Planning

We have complied this Great Wall of China Ultimate Guide which have synthesized the most useful insights and tips from our Great Wall researcher and Beijing local tour guide to help you plan the perfect Great Wall adventure.

Great Wall Hiking

Our travel experts’ handpicked top Great Wall Hiking tour packages which take you to explore the best sections of Great Wall, such as Mutianyu, Huanghuacheng, Jiankou, Jinshanling, Simatai, etc.

Best Time to Visit

The Great Wall is theoretically suitable to visit all year round. But considering most people would prefer a trip on beautiful days with fewer crowds, the best time is spring and autumn, especially in April, May, September, and November.

Great Wall Restaurants

There is no restaurant on the Great Wall, but some sections of Great Wall, such as Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Badaling, provide restaurants which are usually located at the feet of the Great Wall.

How to Get to & Around Great Wall of China

The location of each section of Great Wall varies greatly so is the available transportation. Some sections, which are closer to Beijing, can be reached easily, such as Badaling, Mutianyu, Juyongguan and Huanghuacheng. These sections of Great Wall provide flexible choices of transportation, including private car, train, tourist bus and public buses. Some sections of Great Wall are much further away from Chengdu, including Jinshanling, Simatai, Gubekou. Travellers can only get there by private car or public buses (usually takes much longer, and need to change bus for several times). To know more transportation information of Great Wall, please check how to get to & around Great Wall !

• How to Get to Mutianyu Great Wall

- Location : Bohai Town, Huairou District, Beijing, China北京市怀柔区渤海镇慕田峪村, 75 kilometers (46 miles) from Beijing

- By Private Car : taking a private car is the most recommended way to get to Mutianyu Great Wall. It takes only about 1.5 hours to get there. Your driver can pick up you from your hotel, airport, train station or other locations in Beijing.

- By Bus : You can go to Beijing Tourist Distribution Center (北京旅游集散中心) or Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station (东直门外站) to take tourist buses to Mutianyu Great Wall. These buses only depart during 8:30am-9am, and return from the Great Wall at around 16:00. Beijing Tourist Distribution Center (北京旅游集散中心) is located near Tian’anmen Square, and connected by metro Line 2. Dongzhimen is about 7km away from Tianmen Square and you can get there by metro Line 2, metro Line 13 and several public buses.

• How to Get to Jinshanling Great Wall

- Location : Hualougou, Bakeshiyin Town, Luanping County, Heibei 河北省承德滦平县巴克什营镇花楼沟村160 kilometers (100 miles) from Beijing

- By Private Car : using a private transfer service arranged by a travel agency can save you from the crowdedness of public buses. It takes only about 2.5 hours to get to the entrance of Jinshanling section of Great Wall.

- By Bus : There are usually 4 daily tourist buses running from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station (东直门外站) for Jinshanling Great Wall, but only operating during April ~ October. It takes about 3 hours to get to Jinshanling. You can get to Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station by metro Line 2 or 3.

• How to Get to Simatai Great Wall

- Location : Simatai, Gubei Ancient Town, Miyun District, Beijing北京市密云区古北水镇司马台村,150 kilometers (94 miles) from Beijing.

- By Private Car : pick up you from your hotel, airport, train station or other locations in Beijing, and need only about 2.5 hours to get to Simatai.

- By Bus : Simatai Great Wall belongs to the Gubei Water Town Scenic Area. You can take a tourist bus from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station (东直门外汽车站) to Gubei Ancient Town first, then walk for several minutes to Simatai section of Great Wall. The morning bus departs at around 8am, and the afternoon bus departs at around 15:30.

• How to Get to Badaling Great Wall
• How to Get to Huanghuacheng Great Wall
• How to Get to Jiankou Great Wall
• Get from Beijing to Great Wall
• Travel from Beijing Airport to Great Wall
• Beijing South Railway Station to Great Wall
• Beijing West Railway Station to Great Wall

How to Get Around Great Wall of China

Walking is the major way to get on and around the Great Wall. But usually one need to hike on some mountain paths to get on to the wall and towers from the entrance of the scenic zones. For those who are not in good physical condition or want to save energy and time, you can take cable cars up and down at Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling and Simatai sections of Great Wall. The wild sections of Great Wall at Gubeikou, Jiankou, Huanghuacheng, Jinshanling (unrestored part), Simatai (unrestored part) have no cable cars. Taking toboggan down the Great Wall is also very popular among tourists. Currently only Badaling and Mutianyu have toboggans.

• Mutianyu Great Wall Cable Car
• Mutianyu Great Wall Toboggan
• Badaling Great Wall Cable Car and Toboggan
• Get from Jinshanling to Simatai
• Get from Jiankou to Mutianyu
• Get from Gubeikou to Jinshanling

Useful Great Wall of China Maps

To help you know better about location, transportation and attractions of Great Wall of China, here we prepare some useful Great Wall maps. Please feel free to read and download. Contact us if you have any question about the Great Wall.

Mutianyu Great Wall Maps

Badaling Great Wall Maps

Jinshanling Great Wall Maps

Simatai Great Wall Maps

Jiankou Great Wall Maps

Huanghuacheng Great Wall Maps

Great Wall Google Map

More Great Wall Maps

Most Popular Great Wall Tours 2024/2025

No matter it is your first, or the second or the third trip to the Great Wall, China Discovery will always find a suitable tour package for you to see and experience the Great Wall in the best way. If you are one of the first-timers, you are suggested to visit Mutianyu section of Great Wall or Jinshanling Great Wall. If you are the second-timers, it's time to take a memorable hike to those wild section of Great Wall, such as Simatai, Jiankou, Gubeikou, Huanghuacheng, etc. If you still have no idea where to start, you can contact us to design a tailor-made Great Wall trip for you!

Jinshanling Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall

Great Wall Section(s): Mutianyu/Huanghuacheng

Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Mutianyu Great Wall, Hutong, Bird's Nest, Water Cube

Great Wall Section(s): Jinshanling

Great Wall Sections: Jinshanling + Simatai

Great Wall Section(s): Mutianyu

Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Jinshanling Great Wall hiking, Mount Huashan hiking

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Great Wall of China

A Complete Guide to Visiting the Great Wall of China

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• How to Visit

Huanghuacheng

Jinshanling, tour or solo, how long to spend, where to stay.

The Great Wall of China stretches 13,000 miles over mountains, forests, reservoirs, and desert. It took a millennium to build, involved multiple dynasties, and pissed off a lot of Huns. Inextricably tied to the history of the country, to visit China without seeing it would cause you to be remiss not only with your friends and family at your homecoming, but somehow within yourself as well. To stand on its ramparts gives one simultaneously a sense of experiencing something collectively epic and individually infinitesimal.

Before you visit, decide if you want to go to an unrestored section, wild section or both. (“Wild” is a popular way to refer to the unrestored sections of the wall.) Consider physical ability and whom you’re traveling with (old people, kids, your sister who hates walking) when choosing a section. 

This will be a workout. It’s not strolling on an elevated side walk. The Great Wall is stone waves steep and undulating. Grab your hiking boots and prepare for the walk of a lifetime.

How to Visit the Great Wall

Most visitors go to the Great Wall as part of a half or full day trip from Beijing. Visitors can choose from over 12 well-known sections and access them through a group tour, private driver, private tour, public transportation (sometimes combined with taxis), or by driving their own car. While the travel time from Beijing varies depending on section and traffic, it can take anywhere from one to three hours to get to there.

Worthwhile sections to visit in other provinces are the famous packed-earth Jiayuguan section in Jiayuguan, Gansu Province. It's a mere 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the city and easily accessible by public transport or a short taxi ride. Also, Ningxia Province’s Sanguankou section with its three passes is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the province's capital city of Yinchuan. It can be reached by hiring a private car.

If you want to hire a tour operator for a section near Beijing, Beijing Wonder Tour has affordable rates and English-speaking guides. Beijing Hiker’s offers hiking tours to the wild wall. If you want to hire a private car with an English-speaking driver but explore the wall on your own, you can choose from a number of options here . If you want to hire your own car, Hertz rents cars from the Beijing airport.

Best Parts of the Great Wall

The Great Wall spans nine provinces. The sections most commonly recommended are all close to Beijing. However, for less touristy and wilder parts of the wall, you can head to Gansu, Ningxia, or several other provinces less frequented by visitors. All of the ones listed below can be accessed from Beijing.

Popular among foreign tourists and easily accessible from Beijing, Mutianyu offers a well-restored wall with 23 watchtowers, replete with photo ops and views of the surrounding mountains and forests. You can hike, take a chair lift or cable car to the top, and toboggan down. It takes about two hours to walk the 1.4 miles of this section. If you go beyond tower 23, the wall is not restored, has no guardrails, and tourists are responsible for their own safety.

To get there hire a private driver or take the subway to Dongzhimen station. Walk upstairs to the North Bound Platform. Take the Express Bus 916 towards Huairou. After about an hour, get off at the Beidajie stop. Take bus H23 to Mutainyu or share a car with other tourists going there. Travel time is two to two and a half hours.

Simatai's main draw is night tours. Though Badaling is also open at night, Simatai has more ambient lighting and fewer crowds. You can take the cable car up and walk this 3-mile section for about one and half to two hours. Be aware that its grade increases rapidly (from 968 to 3,235 feet) and is super steep. The Simatai wall cuts through the Simatai Reservoir, and those who want to can zipline over it. For the day hikers, Heavenly Ladder and Sky Bridge are two extremely narrow and high parts of the wall with incredible views of mountain ridges.

To get there hire a private driver, or hop on the Airport Express subway line to Dongzhimen station. Take Bus 980 from Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station to Miyun Town and then take a taxi.

This section's surrounding countryside boasts a sea of yellow flowers in spring and summer. Other distinguishing features of Huanghuacheng include: boat rides on Haoming Lake, and fewer crowds than Mutianyu and Badaling. It can also be combined with Mutianyu for a day trip, as the two sections are only a 40-minute drive apart.

To get there hire a private car, or take the 916 bus or 916 express bus to Dongzhimen to Huairou Bus Station. Hop on the H21 bus to the Small West Lake (Lakeside Great Wall) Station, and walk north to the scenic area. By public transport, it will take at least two hours from central Beijing.

For those who can’t decide if they want to see a restored or wild section of wall, Jinshanling offers a beautiful mixture of both. Ideal for hikers, this section stretches 6.5 miles, runs along the Jinshanling Mountains, contains 67 watchtowers, five mountain passes, and very few tourists. If you hike in this section by itself, plan for two to five hours. You can also hike from this section to other sections, such as Simatai or Gubeikou.

To get there, hire a private driver or take the subway to Wangjing West Station. Hop on the bus to Luanping, and get off at Jinshanling Service Area. This bus will take about two hours to get to Jinshanling Service Area. Once you alight, you can take a free shuttle to the wall.

If you want to see the section of the wall closest to Beijing and can handle huge crowds, this will be your option. Though super touristy, Badaling has amazingly restored wide walkways and guardrails for its steeper parts. Like the Mutianyu section, it offers a cable car and toboggan rides for those who want to save their energy and feet. Plan for one and a half hours to visit this section of the Wall and walk the 2.3 miles of its restored path. Check out the 19 watchtowers along the way and be prepared for tons of hawkers.

To get there hire a private driver or take the subway to Jishuitan station. Go out exit B2 and hop on the 877 bus, a direct bus with a travel time of about one and a half hours to get there.

Tips for Visiting the Great Wall

Use these tips to make the most of your visit.

You do not need to book a tour to the Great Wall, though it can eliminate the stress of trip planning and language barriers. If you are traveling solo or with one or two other adults, hiring a driver or using public transport will most likely be your best options.

If you are traveling in a large group or with children or with elderly family members, a tour or private driver will be your best options. Some tours will take you to a government sponsored tea house or jade museum during the trip. Know what you’re buying if you go the tour route, and look for tours that state they do not do commissioned stops.

Weather-wise, spring and fall are the best times to see the Great Wall. Spring will provide beautiful verdant greens (and yellow blossoms around Huanghuacheng). In the fall, the rolling forested hills on either side of the wall will be dappled with red, orange, and yellow leaves. However, the best time to go to avoid crowds is winter.

Wear layers. It gets windy and most of the sections are exposed. Even the watchtowers have giant open window frames. If you go in the summer, take a hat and sunscreen.

Spend at least three to four hours on the wall, this is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site after all. Take some time to enjoy it. Sections can be steep (even if restored) and ascents slow. Stroll through the blockhouses and watch towers, sip water as you admire the surrounding hills, and zip down to the base in a toboggan (if you go to Badaling or Mutianyu).

If you want to experience the Great Wall early without leaving Beijing in the wee morning hours, consider staying at a hotel by the section you want to see. For Muitanyu, The Brickyard offers comfortable rooms, a restaurant, and a spa. Alternatively, if you want to go to the wall during the day, but also see it lit up at night, go to Simatai. Stay at Gubeishui Town Hotel and splurge on a luxury room with great views.

For intrepid explorers, it is possible to camp on the wall. However, you will need to do your own research and take all of your gear and provisions with you. There are no vendors in the wild sections. If you want to camp in a group tour, Great Wall Hiking offers what is sure to be a memorable experience of a night on the Great Wall.

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Great Wall of China

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As China's most famous attraction, the Great Wall of China is an essential stop on all China tours . Commonly considered a wonder of the world, the Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet.

Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China

Want to visit the great wall of china spontaneously with a professional live guide learn more about our guided virtual tour here, best sections to visit.

Beijing is usually considered the main gateway to the Great Wall, since there are several world-famous sections of the Wall in the suburbs of Beijing, including Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Juyongguan, Gubeikou, and Jiankou. These sections were built during the Ming dynasty between the 14th and 17th centuries and have been well preserved.

Of all the sections of the Great Wall near Beijing, Badaling is the most famous one. As a result, Badaling is the destination of choice for many large tour groups and is often very crowded. The nearby Juyongguan Great Wall features one of the three great mountain passes of the Great Wall but is almost as crowded as Badaling.

Mutianyu Great Wall is just as close as Badaling and offers wonderful views of the Great Wall and the surrounding hills with far fewer tourists. This section of the Wall also features a thrilling toboggan run that you can ride from the top of the Wall down to the bottom of the hill.

Due to their proximity, Badaling, Juyongguan, and Mutianyu are all doable as a half-day trip from downtown Beijing. We usually recommend Mutianyu over Badaling or Juyongguan , since the massive crowds at the latter two sections can ruin one's experience of this impressive structure.

Further away from Beijing, Jinshanling Great Wall is about 150 km northeast of downtown and it usually takes about two and a half hours to drive there. Despite the longer drive, Jinshanling is among the most stunning sections of the Great Wall. If your itinerary allows for one full day seeing the Great Wall, then we highly recommend a tour to Jinshanling.

Gubeikou and Jiankou can also be visited within a day tour from Beijing . Both sections have not been restored since they were first built in the Ming Dynasty, making them ideal choices for those who want to hike and experience the wild Great Wall. Do be aware that the Jiankou section features very steep and dangerous climbs and is only suitable for experienced hikers.

There are also some other famous sections of the Great Wall within or outside Beijing, such as Huanghuacheng, Simatai, and Shanhaiguan, but we only recommend these if you are visiting the Great Wall for a second time or planning a multi-day, in-depth Great Wall tour.

Great Wall Hiking and Camping

Due to its original purpose as a military defense, almost all sections of Great Wall were built on mountain ranges and thus involve some challenging climbs and uneven stairs, including the well-restored sections. If you are visiting a restored section but hike to the end of the renovated part, you will be able to see the unrestored part of the Great Wall.

For most visitors, Mutianyu and Jinshanling offer good, medium difficulty hikes, while still being very safe. For those looking for a serious hike along wild, unrestored portions of the Wall, we suggest the Jinshanling to Jinshanling East , or Gubeikou to Jinshanling routes. All these routes boast both unrestored and picturesque renovated sections of the Wall. However, please be aware that hikes along wild, unrestored parts of the Great Wall involve many steep climbs and loose bricks, and can be very dangerous in some places. (People can no longer hike through from Jinshanling to Simatai since the route was closed years ago.)

Camping on the Great Wall is usually banned, especially on the renovated sections. If you want to spend a night sleeping on the Great Wall , we can take you to a watchtower on the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall to experience the life of an ancient soldier and catch amazing sunrise/sunset views over the Wall.

Best Time to Visit

For all sections of the Great Wall near Beijing, the spring months (April to June) offer temperate weather and are great for climbing. In late April to early May, many trees begin to blossom, making this a particularly beautiful period to visit the Wall. Fall is also a nice time to visit, as temperatures are usually comfortable. October to early November are particularly picturesque, as the tree leaves on the mountains begin to change color. The winter months, from December to February, are cold and can be windy, but there are usually far fewer tourists on the Wall during these months. July and August are hot and humid, and thus not the best for long hikes. In addition, it's best to avoid hiking on the Wall after rain or snowfall because some parts can get very slippery.

You should also avoid visiting the popular sections, such as Badaling, Juyongguan, and Mutianyu, around National Day (the first week in October) and Spring Festival. August is also a busy time for the Badaling and Juyongguan sections, since students are on summer vacation and many families travel to these famous sections with their kids before the new school year starts. Learn more about how to avoid the crowds when traveling in China .

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17 Facts About the Great Wall of China You Should Know

The Great Wall of China inspires wonder among its millions of visitors each year. Read on to learn about its unique history and how to visit.

Melanie Lieberman is the senior travel editor at The Points Guy and was an editor at Travel + Leisure.

Like a writhing dragon’s tail, the Great Wall of China snakes its way across China’s northern border. As its name suggests, the Great Wall is an imposing architectural marvel, and it’s often hailed as one of the greatest manmade wonders of the world. The Great Wall of China’s history stretches back more than 2,000 years. Despite its cultural and historic importance, it wasn’t until 1987 that the Great Wall of China was listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

But the Great Wall isn’t even a single wall.

“The first thing to note,” travel expert Stan Godwyn told Travel + Leisure , “is that it’s actually a series of walls and fortifications.”

Godwyn typically arranges for clients to visit one of four main sections — Badaling (the most accessible for travelers of varying mobility), Mutianyu (extremely popular and well-restored), Simatai (a crumbling, rugged stretch of wall), and Jinshanling (for serious hikers).

Want to discover more Great Wall of China facts and bits of history? Read on for our definitive guide to this world wonder and ancient marvel.

Where Is the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China is easily accessible from Beijing, though the massive structure stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east all the way to the city of Jiayuguan, in the country’s northwest. Generally speaking, the Great Wall of China defends the country’s northernmost border. A 2012 archeological survey estimated that the wall (taking into account all the dynasties that had worked on the structure) crosses 15 provinces and extends from Xinjiang, in the northwest, to the border of Korea in the east.

How Long Is the Great Wall of China?

If you were to measure all the sections ever built, some reports suggest the Great Wall of China could be a staggering 13,170 miles long. The most popular (and arguably the most beautiful) section was erected during the Ming dynasty, and runs for 5,500 miles between Hushan to the Jiayuguan Pass. Even if you only take into consideration the main-line length (about 2,150 miles) of the wall — not including branches and spurs — it’s still the record-holding longest wall in the world .

For those wondering how tall the Great Wall of China is, the general answer is that the structure’s height varies considerably, from 15 feet all the way to 39 feet. At its widest point, the wall is 32 feet thick.

When Was the Great Wall of China Built?

It’s hard to say precisely when the Great Wall of China was built, as so many dynasties and rulers contributed to its construction. Some 20 states and dynasties contributed to the construction of the Great Wall of China over the course of millennia. It’s thought that the first lengths of the wall were built as early as 771 B.C.E., though official work didn’t begin until 220 B.C.E., during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Most of what remains today — that 5,500-mile stretch — was built during the Ming dynasty (between 1368 and 1644).

Why Was the Great Wall of China Built?

Originally built as a wartime defense, the Great Wall of China features many towers and passes. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang first proposed the so-called Long Wall, it was meant to defend the Chinese states against nomadic tribes from the north.

During the Han dynasty, (between 202 B.C.E. and 220 C.E.) the Great Wall was extended to protect the Silk Road trade. The Ming dynasty is known for not only extending the Great Wall, but also repairing and reinforcing existing structures.

How Was the Great Wall of China Built?

Despite its name, the Great Wall is actually a collection of fortifications, some of which run parallel to one another, while others are circular or side walls. There are even portions of the Great Wall that are natural barriers, like rivers or high mountains.

Hundreds of years before any official construction on the Great Wall began, individual Chinese states built fortifications against one another, using mostly earth, wood, and stones. Construction during the Ming dynasty made use of bricks rather than cut stone, which appears largely in the foundation and gateways.

More than a million soldiers, commoners, prisoners, and animals were recruited to help build the wall. Hundreds of thousands of men died while working on the wall, which required them to carry heavy materials on their backs up to the top of the ridgelines. There are rumors that many of the dead were buried in the wall, though to date there's no hard evidence of this.

Much of the work on the oldest sections of the Great Wall were built by hand, though primitive technology — wheel barrows, ropes, basket-and-pulley systems, and horse- or oxen-drawn carts — was also used.

When Is the Best Time to Visit the Great Wall of China?

The most popular times to visit the Great Wall of China are early May or October — but travelers should expect massive crowds during these periods.

“These are major holidays and everyone travels,” explained Godwyn.

Autumn is arguably one of the most popular and beautiful times to visit the Great Wall of China. Weather is comfortable and dry, and the mountains’ foliage is a kaleidoscopic array of hues.

During the winter, the Great Wall of China is blanketed in snow — and the number of tourists will drop dramatically. Winter is Beijing's shoulder season, so you will enjoy serious deals and discounts on hotel rooms and tours. If you do make a winter trip, be prepared for a slippery, windy walk, and pack accordingly.

Can You See the Great Wall of China From Space?

Contrary to popular rumor, you can’t see the Great Wall of China from space with the naked eye. As NASA reported , however, photographs taken from the International Space Station under ideal conditions have depicted sections of the wall.

How Many People Visit the Great Wall of China?

Every year, more than 10 million people flock to the Great Wall of China, making it one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. The Badaling section sees the most visitors each year. It once received 100,000 visitors in one day.  

How to Plan Your Visit

The Great Wall of China is a perfect day trip for travelers based in Beijing.

“Most clients do one day at the Great Wall as part of a visit to Beijing,” explained Godwyn. “Typically, we have a day of sightseeing in Beijing — then the second day is an excursion to the wall.”

Pick the part of the wall that best suits your needs and interests. Active, confident hikers should venture to Jinshanling, while families may want to stick with the more accessible Mutianyu section (there’s an unforgettable, five-minute toboggan ride from the top of the eastern end to the bottom).

Check specific fees in advance, but expect to pay around 25 to 65 yuan (under $10) for general admission to the Great Wall.

And don’t rush it. Whether you’re visiting the Great Wall of China on a layover or during a longer trip, we recommend spending at least two or three hours exploring the ancient structure.

Getting to the Great Wall From Beijing

The beautiful Ming dynasty portion of the Great Wall is around 50 miles from Beijing. But getting there can be a bit tricky for travelers making the trek solo.

Visitors sticking with public transportation will first need to get to Dongzhimen Station, where you can take an hour-long express bus ride to Huairou Station. Here, you’ll need to transfer to a bus stopping at the Mutianyu Roundabout.

The Airport Express connects directly from the Beijing Capital International Airport to Dongzhimen Station. Subway lines also transfer to Dongzhimen Station from the Beijing West Railway Station and Beijing South Railway Station.

However, one of the most convenient (and exciting) ways to get there is by taking the train to Badaling Great Wall Railway Station, also known as the world's deepest and largest underground high-speed railway station, which was completed in 2019. There are more than 10 pairs of high speed trains that travel between Beijing and Badaling Great Wall Railway Station, running from Beijing North Railway Station or Qinghe Railway Station.

Many travel experts recommend skipping the train and opting for a hired car and a guide. They’ll be able to take you to less popular sections of the wall and can help navigate unexpected hiccups, such as road closures. A car is also the best way to maximize your time.

Great Wall of China Tour Groups

For a private, luxury tour of the Great Wall, book an itinerary with  Imperial Tours . A Beijing day trip with stops at the Forbidden City and less-touristy sections of the Great Wall also includes fine dining experiences. 

If you’d like to hike, but would prefer not to go it alone, consider the four-day Great Wall Hiking Tour with China Odyssey Tours . After a day exploring the highlights of Beijing (Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, etc.) you’ll begin a moderate hike from the Jiankou section to Mutianyu.

Try TravelStore for a personalized trip to the Great Wall of China, which might include a customized Silk Road itinerary with stops in Jiayuguan, a northern Chinese city with restored wall sections and the last fortress of the Great Wall.

Even if you’re only in China for a layover, there’s still plenty of time to see the Great Wall. Every single day, Beijing Layover Tour offers private and small-group tours of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, ranging from four to five hours in length. You’ll be picked up at arrivals by a tour guide, and transferred back to the airport after the trip. These tours start at $50 for a private visit to the wall.

Hiking the Great Wall

One of the most popular hikes along the Great Wall snakes from the Jiankou section to the Ox Horn at Mutianyu. Here, unrestored sections of wall switch back and forth along steep mountain passes. Hikers should expect to spend up to four hours each way.

Another good hike covers the section from Jinshanling to Simatai West — a challenging route that covers four miles each way, and passes a series of watchtowers.

Or, start at the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall in Gubeikou Town — approximately 90 miles northeast of Beijing. From these quiet, never-repaired stretches of wall, visitors will find unobstructed views of the Yan Mountains before they descend to the Jinshanling section.

The Great Wall of China Dos and Don’ts

Don’t visit the Great Wall during a holiday. The attraction is popular with tourists, but locals love the site as well. Tomb-Sweeping Day in April, for example, sends claustrophobia-inducing crowds to the country’s most famous sites.

Do consider waiting until the late afternoon to visit the Great Wall, when insiders say many of the early morning and afternoon crowds begin to clear out.

Do pack comfortable walking shoes , and plenty of water.

The Great Wall Has Faced Erosion Concerns Over the Years

After centuries defending dynasties, China’s Great Wall has begun to crumble. Entire sections of the wall have been swallowed by weather and time — and that’s to say nothing of the many wars and manmade afflictions. Chinese state-run media has reported that nearly one-third of the walls have already disappeared. It’s not just slow-moving erosion wreaking havoc on the wall — the site has also succumbed to earthquakes and torrential storms.

The Best Restaurant Near the Great Wall of China

One of the most popular places to eat near the Great Wall is  Commune by the Great Wall  — a five-star hotel with a restaurant, Commune Kitchen, that serves Peking duck and other regional Chinese cuisine with a dining room that overlooks the Great Wall. 

Generally speaking, however, food near the Great Wall is quite expensive and not particularly notable. Travelers should consider venturing into the nearby towns for affordable, authentic meals — or waiting until they’ve returned to Beijing for a seat at a top table.

Laws Protecting the Great Wall

It’s not just the immutable forces of weather and time that have destroyed the Great Wall of China. Alarmingly, 30% of the original structure has disappeared, largely because of mankind’s endless meddling.

In 2006, China passed the Great Wall Protection Ordinance, though the country has struggled to enforce any rules or regulations.

Travelers should note that there are fines for taking bricks or other sections of the wall, and that it’s inadvisable to pay locals for access to less-traveled sections, as this puts even more, unregulated parts of the wall at risk of destruction.

Notable Visitors to the Great Wall

In November of 2009, President Barack Obama visited the Great Wall. He famously said the imposing structure puts life in perspective: “Our time here on Earth is not that long, and we better make the best of it.”

President Obama isn’t the only notable world leader or celebrity to visit the Great Wall. Queen Elizabeth II spent time there in the '80s, while famous athletes like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal have also made visits. Celebrities like Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Jennifer Lawrence have been seen sightseeing at the Great Wall.

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10 Best Places to Visit the Great Wall of China

Stretching for over 6,000 kilometers, the Great Wall of China is undoubtedly one of humankind’s most impressive architectural and engineering achievements. Over the centuries and millennia, various Chinese states and empires built sections of the wall to protect themselves from roving nomadic groups that threatened their territory from the north. As such, some parts date all the way back to the seventh century BC, while some of its most famous segments were only added in the 1500 and 1600s.

Snaking its way along mountain ridges through valleys and hills, the Great Wall stretches all the way from the Gobi Desert in the west to the Bohai Sea in the east and passes through 15 Chinese provinces along the way.

While many of its best-preserved and most impressive looking segments are to be found just outside Beijing, other more wild and remote, yet equally scenic parts are to be found further afield. As it is one of the most famous and iconic monuments in the world, no visit to China can ever be complete without taking a stroll along the Great Wall.

10. Shanhaiguan [SEE MAP]

Known as the ‘Dragon’s Head,’ it is at Shanhaiguan that the Great Wall finally comes to an end and protrudes so dramatically into the Bohai Sea. Although the original part has long since crumbled into the waves, the wall has been fantastically rebuilt and restored, so you can snap photo after photo from atop of it of the sea smashing against it.

The old fortifications that surround the town of Qinhuangdao, where Shanhaiguan is located, are also considered to be part of the Great Wall and are well worth exploring if you have the time. Large segments are unrestored, and these offer up a possibly more authentic experience than the somewhat touristy Dragon’s Head. In addition to this, the town also boasts a brilliant museum that will teach you everything there is to know about the Great Wall and the people that once manned it.

9. Huangyaguan [SEE MAP]

Set amid some absolutely stunning scenery with beautiful mountains and valleys all around it, the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall stretches some 40 kilometers and boasts lots of impressive towers and water gates. The latter are particularly interesting to visit, as the arches – which date to the 1400s – could be opened and closed depending on whether an enemy was approaching or not.

Although it is quite steep in a lot of places, the wall makes for some fabulous hiking. Every May, thousands of keen runners descend upon Huangyaguan to attempt its famous marathon. Considered by many to be almost like a miniature version of the Great Wall of China, Huangyaguan has lots of fascinating sights for you to see and explore, just in a condensed and more manageable area. Visiting Huangya Pass, for instance, is simply a must, and the view from atop of the Huangya Sky Ladder section is awe-inspiring.

8. Juyongguan [SEE MAP]

As it lies just an hour and a half to the northeast of Beijing, Juyongguan has long played an important role in the defense of the nation’s capital. In Juyong Pass Fort, it boasts one of the Great Wall’s most impressive forts. Exhibiting wonderful architecture with some features dating back to the Ming Dynasty, the fort occupies a prominent position in the Guangou Valley – one of the most critical access points to Beijing.

Despite its air of impenetrability, the Juyongguan section of the wall was actually breached by Genghis Khan in both 1211 and 1213. As it is the closest section of the wall to Beijing, Juyongguan is a very popular draw among tourists, who come to hike along the top of it, visit its fabulous fort, and take snaps of the marvelous scenery.

Lying just a short distance away are the Dingling Tombs – the only Ming Dynasty imperial mausoleum to be opened – and its museum and underground palace are well worth visiting if you’re in the area.

7. Gubeikou [SEE MAP]

Located around two hour’s drive from Beijing, Gubeikou is one of the wildest and most rewarding parts of the Great Wall to explore. Most of it is quite unrestored, with decaying battlements and crumbling ruins wherever you look. Strategically located along the back of the Yan Mountains, Gubeikou guarded an important pass to Beijing and remarkably saw over 130 battles take place along its wall.

It has a number of interesting monuments for you to check out, such as General Tower and 24-Eye Tower. Impressively enough, no renovations or constructions have taken place here since 1567. While it is not as popular as other parts of the Great Wall, Gubeikou is ideal if you’re looking for a quiet getaway; it has lots of scenic hikes and interesting historical attractions on offer.

6. Simatai [SEE MAP]

Weaving its way along the rolling ridgeline of the Yan Mountains, the Simatai section of the Great Wall is renowned for the steep drops that plunge away to either side of it. It’s one of the only parts that you can see lit up at night. Hiking along the top of it makes for an exhilarating experience as it feels like you’re walking in the air. One part, the Sky Bridge, is only 40 centimeters wide.

Strung out along the wall are a series of watchtowers, with some of them lying just 50 meters apart. From these, you can enjoy some simply stupendous views. Besides hiking along the wall, visitors can also go zip-lining and take a boat trip on the nearby reservoir up to the East Tower. One of the most memorable things to do at Simatai is to take a nighttime stroll and amble peacefully along the Great Wall of China, which is stunningly lit up against the night sky.

5. Huanghuacheng [SEE MAP]

Officially known as the ‘Lakeside Great Wall,’ Huanghuacheng is the only section to be built alongside a body of water, and some of it is actually immersed in the lake that lies at its foot. The beautiful blue Haoming Lake stands out delightfully against the forest-coated mountains that lie all around it, and the Great Wall meandering across the landscape only completes the perfect scene.

Due to the challenging terrain, this section of the wall took 180 years to complete, and much of it has not been restored since 1592. Named after the lovely little yellow wildflowers that dot the mountains around it in summer, Huanghuacheng is a tranquil part of the wall, with few visitors. As such, hiking here amid the beautiful scenery with barely another soul in sight is an amazing experience, and taking a boat ride on the lake to see the wall from below is simply a must.

4. Jiankou [SEE MAP]

Located some 70 kilometers to the north of Beijing, Jiankou is the wildest, most dangerous, and therefore most exhilarating part of the Great Wall to explore. Completed all the way back in 1368, the wall hasn’t been restored since. Much of it lies in disrepair, with plants, flowers, and trees found growing up from its crumbling bricks.

Jiankou is home to some of the steepest parts of the wall, with ‘Upward Flying Eagle’ and ‘Heavenly Ladder’ being particularly hair-raising to navigate. The mountain scenery on show is really is out of this world. While hiking along this wild yet breathtakingly beautiful part of the wall, many people choose to camp on its battlements. Another star attraction is the ‘Beijing Knot,’ which is the point where three different sections of the Great Wall of China come together.

3. Badaling [SEE MAP]

Built in 1504, Badaling is one of the most well-restored parts of the Great Wall, and its proximity to Beijing makes it the most popular section to visit amongst tourists. As such, it gets very crowded and is undoubtedly the most touristy part of the wall by far, with lots of shops, restaurants, and even cable cars on offer.

Badaling still has its charms, however, and over the years, it has been visited by everyone from President Nixon to Queen Elizabeth II. Very pleasant to stroll along, its towering walls look out over some gorgeous scenery, with steep mountain slopes tumbling away to either side of it. For its ease of access and wealth of facilities and photo opportunities, Badaling is well worth visiting if you don’t have time to venture further afield.

2. Jinshanling [SEE MAP]

As it is renowned for being one of the most beautiful sections of the wall, Jinshanling has long been a popular draw among hikers, who come to enjoy its pristine nature and stunning views. Located some 130 kilometers away from Beijing in Hebei province, the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall is wild in places and restored in others; this variety is, in part, what makes it so brilliant to hike.

Interspersed along its 10.5 kilometers are 67 watchtowers for you to check out; these feature a wide variety of different architectural styles. It usually takes around seven hours to hike from Jinshanling to Gubeikou or vice versa. The views of the Great Wall snaking its way off into the distance across mountain ridges, passes, and valleys is simply mesmerizing.

1. Mutianyu [SEE MAP]

Despite its proximity to Beijing and its wealth of excellent views, Mutianyu is much less crowded than Badaling. As such, it is one of the most popular sections with foreign tourists. Surrounded on both sides by lush greenery, Mutianyu certainly makes for a fine sight as it cuts its way across the mountain ridges, with lots of watchtowers and fortresses dotted along the route.

To access the wall, visitors can either hike or take a cable car up to its battlements, and there is even a fun toboggan ride you can take to get down again. While it is still quite touristy in comparison with many other more remote sections of the wall, from time to time, you can still find yourself hiking along Mutianyu with barely another soul around. Boasting the longest, fully-restored section of the Great Wall of China, Mutianyu is a great place to start exploring all that this magnificent monument has to offer up.

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The Ultimate Great Wall Travel Guide + The Best Sections To Visit

The Great Wall of China is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks and a must-visit destination for any traveler. With its rich history, breathtaking views, and cultural significance, the Great Wall offers an unforgettable experience for visitors from all over the world.

In this travel guide, I cover everything from the best sections to explore, the best times to visit, and a complete tour of the hiking route. Whether you’re planning your first visit or looking for insider tips for your next trip, my guide has everything you need to know to make the most of your Great Wall adventure.

Table of Contents

🌟the great wall of china | history, length, & significance, jinshanling great wall — the great wall section for photography, simatai great wall — the most precipitous great wall section, gubeikou great wall — a great wall section with rich culture, mutianyu great wall —the longest and best fully-restored great wall section, jiankou great wall — the most dangerous and challenging great wall section, huanghuacheng great wall – the only lakeside great wall, juyong pass great wall — one of the greatest mountain passes of the great wall, badaling great wall — most visited section of the great wall.

• 🗺️Map of the Great Wall

Jinshanling Great Wall

Mutianyu great wall, badaling great wall, 🎒what to pack for great wall trip.

•  🎉Tips for Exploring the Great Wall

China Travel Planning Guide&FAQ

China boasts numerous world-renowned attractions, among which is the Great Wall – an awe-inspiring sight that draws in tourists from both domestic and international locations throughout the year. A popular Chinese proverb states that a person who has not visited the Great Wall cannot be considered a true hero as they have not faced and conquered a significant challenge.

This grand ancient defense system spans over a vast area of northern China, covering 15 provinces, and passing through 404 counties. Known as Wan-Li Changcheng, its total length is 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi) and is divided into several noteworthy scenic spots, stretching from Shanhaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west.

With a history of over 2,300 years , the Great Wall of China can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and underwent its latest reconstruction during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Throughout Chinese history, it went by various names such as “frontiers” (塞, Sài), “ramparts” (垣, Yuán), and “the Purple Frontier” (紫塞, Zǐsài), instead of the commonly known name “the Great Wall”.

Beyond being a mere wall, the Great Wall was a comprehensive and secure defensive system comprising an array of fortifications such as passes, watchtowers, fortresses, and blockhouses. Its strategic positioning in close proximity to cliffs enabled it to leverage the rugged landscape as a natural blockade against potential invaders.

It may be difficult to fathom, but during the era when it was constructed purely through manual labor, the Great Wall represented an astounding feat of engineering that required workers to contribute their intellectual acuity, physical exertion, and even their lives over several years to build. It is due to this immense effort that the Great Wall has become an iconic global attraction, acknowledged as “ one of the Seven Wonders of the World “, and a representation of China’s rich heritage and cultural identity.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can learn more about this in my disclosure policy.

🌿 The 8 Sections of the Great Wall You Must Know

In terms of visiting the Great Wall from east to west, the top 8 recommended sections are Simatai, Jinshanling, Gubeikou, Mutianyu, Jiankou, Huanghuacheng, Juyongguan, and Badaling . These fortified walls serve as a stronghold in protecting the capital of China, Beijing. Each section of the Great Wall possesses distinct and unique features.

Jinshanling Great Wall is one of the most impressive and well-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China. The section spans approximately 10.5 kilometers, and more than 40 watchtowers are opened along this section, evenly distributed along the wall. The wall is built on steep mountain ridges and has a unique and beautiful appearance. It is known for its beautiful and picturesque scenery, and it has been called “the most beautiful section of the Great Wall,” so it is praised by many photography enthusiasts and known as the “ paradise of photographers “.

The transportation to Jinshanling Great Wall seems inconvenient, with a round-trip drive of more than 300 kilometers and a one-way trip of 3 hours. It takes 4-5 hours to get there in traffic jams during holidays.

The Simatai Great Wall is a stunning section of the Great Wall located 120 km northeast of Beijing. It stretches for 5.4 km and boasts 35 watchtowers along the way. What sets it apart is the Wangjinglou, the highest tower in Beijing, situated atop a steep mountain. Visitors can take in breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

However, it’s important to note that only a few watchtowers are currently open for visitors. If you take the cable car up the wall, you can only visit 3 or 4 watchtowers, making for a relatively short trip of less than an hour.

The Gubeikou Great Wall, which spans over 20 kilometers and includes 143 watchtowers, is a well-known tourist and hiking destination that connects with the Jinshanling Great Wall and Simatai Great Wall. There were over 130 battles took place here in ancient times. The Wall is divided into two steep and rugged sections, Panlong Mountain Great Wall and Wohu Great Wall, making it a challenging climb. The most remarkable aspect of the Gubeikou Great Wall is Gubeikou Town , which boasts a rich cultural heritage with historical landmarks such as ancient temples, pagodas, and traditional courtyard homes that have remained intact to this day.

The Mutianyu Great Wall is a segment of the Great Wall of China situated in the Huairou District, located about 70 kilometers to the northeast of Beijing. This section of the Great Wall is one of the most well-preserved parts and is quite popular among foreign visitors . With public transportation available, it is easy to reach downtown Beijing. Unlike other segments of the Great Wall, Mutianyu has not undergone a complete restoration, providing visitors with a more authentic experience of what the wall would have been like in ancient times. It spans 2.5 kilometers and boasts 22 watchtowers that functioned as lookout posts and signal stations in times gone by.

In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of domestic tourists visiting this wall which was once highly favored by foreigners. Heavy passenger traffic and large crowds are common during the holidays and summer vacation. It is advisable to depart early or visit in the afternoon to avoid crowds.

The Jiankou Great Wall section is situated in the northern part of Huairou District and is approximately 70 km from Beijing. Admission to this section is free of cost. It is known as the most dangerous and wild segment of the Great Wall, being unrestored. The southern part of this section consists of steep ridges and cliffs, and some parts of the wall have collapsed. Though favored by adventurous hikers, Jiankou Great Wall is not officially open to the public and may be dangerous for novice climbers. Tourists are suggested to be cautious and wear appropriate safety gear while approaching this part of the Great Wall. This segment of the wall is also a popular spot for photography and is one of the most frequently photographed sections of the Great Wall in recent years.

The Huanghuacheng Great Wall boasts stunning lakes, mountains, and cultural landscape, and can be easily accessed by private car from Beijing in just around 1.5 hours. It is the most popular section among the locals and a perfect choice for families with kids . What sets it apart from other Great Wall sections is that visitors can hike along the wall and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, which include the reservoir and the distant mountains. Additionally, the reservoir offers boat rides that provide a different perspective of the Great Wall and its surroundings. It is only suitable for visiting from April to October .

Juyong Pass is a significant fort on the Great Wall, situated in the Changping District of Beijing. It is the closest section of the Great Wall to Beijing and spans more than 20 kilometers. The region surrounding the pass is adorned with stunning natural beauty.

Although Juyong Pass has undergone restoration to its former grandeur, it has also been subject to commercialization, which may detract from the experience for those looking for a more authentic sense of the history of the Great Wall. Vendors and souvenir shops can be seen lining the main pathways. This commercialization may be viewed by some visitors as taking away from the true cultural significance of the site.

Badaling Great Wall was the first part of the Great Wall to officially open to tourists. The section stretches an approximate length of 3.7 kilometers and has a total of 43 watchtowers built along its length. It is one of the most well-preserved and most visited sections of the Great Wall, offering stunning views of the lush mountains and reflecting the Wall’s magnificence and glory. It is easily accessible through public transportation.

Except for the cold winter months, the Badaling Great Wall is a highly popular tourist destination, attracting a large influx of visitors, especially during holidays. With such large crowds come long queues, and the sheer volume of people can detract from the otherwise enjoyable experience of hiking the Great Wall. Additionally, the wall’s commercialization has resulted in the loss of much of its unique beauty, as many parts of the wall have been repaired.

🗺️ Map of the Great Wall

Below is a map that showcases the eight sections of the Great Wall discussed in this guide.

🌟 Recommended Sections of the Great Wall to Visit

I have previously visited Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Huanghuacheng, and Juyong Pass. Out of these, my personal preference lies with Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling . These three sections offer a longer routing length with numerous scenic spots. This allows travelers to immerse themselves fully in their journey. Additionally, these sections have excellent protection measures in place and offer a wealth of amenities and services to visitors.

🚗 How to Get to Jinshanling Great Wall from Downtown Beijing

• By Bus : From mid-March to mid-November, a direct tourist bus departs from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station in Beijing at 7:40 am. This bus is scheduled to return passengers from Jinshanling, leaving at 16:00 pm. The round-trip ticket price is approximately 120 RMB.
• Private/Group Tour : Another option is to book a private tour or a group tour from downtown Beijing, which includes transportation and a guide. For a first-time climber of the Great Wall, it’s recommended to have a guide. The guide can provide insight into the Great Wall’s history and culture and offer plenty of tips on where to eat, drink, stay, and travel in Beijing with great enthusiasm.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY 65 | Nov to Mar: CN Y55 🎫Cable Car Ticket: CNY 40 for a single trip, CNY 60 for a round trip (optional) 📍Starting location: The Front Gate 📍Reach location: Small Jinshan Tower

☀️ Best Time to Visit Jinshanlin Great Wall

The best time to visit Jinshanling Great Wall is in the spring ( April to May ) or autumn ( September to November ) when the weather is mild and the scenery is at its most beautiful. During these months, the temperatures are comfortable, and there is less rainfall, making it easier to hike the Great Wall without being too hot or too cold. You should avoid visiting Jinshanling Great Wall during the peak tourist season, which is in the summer months (June to August) and during national holidays.

🚶🏻‍♂️ Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Route

When visiting the Jinshanling Great Wall, tourists can take either the eastern or western route. However, the eastern route is more popular among tourists as it offers a more magnificent view than the western route. Additionally, there are several hiking routes to choose from in the eastern area. For those with good energy, it is recommended to take the more challenging 7km route , which includes passing through Zhuanduokou Pass, General Tower, Shalingkou Pass, Small Jinshan Tower, Big Jinshan Towers, Houchuankou Pass, Eastern Five-window Tower, and finally East Gate, which can be completed in about 4 hours.

I commenced my hike from the Zhuanduokou Pass , a two-story brick and wood structure with a wooden staircase connecting the floors. After walking for some time, we arrived at Shalingkou Pass , one of the first four passes built on the Jinshanling Great Wall. The architectural design includes doors both inside and outside. These doors correspond to each other and are of the same size, serving as the only entrance to the pass. Heigu Tower is a brick arch structure, consisting of two floors, with three wood and brick rooms on the second floor. Upon descending from Heigu Tower and proceeding east, one comes across Open Tower No.1 and Open Tower No.2. After surmounting a steep barrier wall, I arrived at the Small Jinshan Tower . It is a two-story brick arch structure connected by stone stairs, providing hikers with a breathtaking view of the sunrise, sunset, and sea of clouds in Jinshan, making it an ideal spot for photography. The Big Jinshan Tower is similar in construction to the Small Jinshan Tower, located side by side. These towers are the most exquisite and complete enemy towers on the Jinshanling Great Wall.

Continuing on, I passed through an unrestored wall and a barrier wall and arrived at Houchuankou, one of the four earliest-built passes and the most important choke point of the Jinshanling Great Wall. Upon ascending a steep slope, I arrived at the Flower Tower, a brick arch structure with various Chinese auspicious patterns like flowers and beasts carved on the door and windows. Unfortunately, it had fallen into disrepair and only remnants are left. At the Flower Tower, I could see the Eastern Five-window Tower in the distance, which is the highest tower on the Jinshanling Great Wall at an elevation of 618 meters. It’s a perfect spot to take panoramic photos of the Jinshanling Great Wall and fall colors.

Next, I reached the Kylin Tower , Jinshan No.2 Tower, which is not particularly eye-catching in appearance but is one of the best towers on the Great Wall of China. It’s unique in that there is a carved Qilin shadow wall on the southern side of its roof and a unique Kylin Screen Wall positioned on its peak. The Kylin Screen Wall is made from 15 square bricks that come together to form a 3D image of a running Kylin surrounded by auspicious clouds, with its mouth slightly open and tongue sticking out and its tail raised high, giving it a lifelike appearance. But I could not get to see the Kylin Screen Wall because there are no stone stairs leading up to the top of the tower.

Finally, I walked down the Kylin Tower and ascend to the Bricks with Characters , a 520-meter-long wall with thousands of bricks with characters. As the sun began to set, I started walking back down the wall towards the Eastern Five-window Tower before exiting through the east gate, marking the end of my visit to the Jinshanling Great Wall.

🥘 What to Eat in Jinshanlin Great Wall

In the scenic area, there are numerous local specialties and farm foods that are both excellent and affordable. These farm foods are created using original ecological native vegetables, and the dishes primarily consist of pollution-free vegetables, fungi, bamboo shoots, and other green foods that you should give a try.

🏡 Where to Stay in Jinshanlin Great Wall

Jinshanling Great Wall Hotel is located at the entrance of the Jinshanling Great Wall and offers 200 comfortable rooms with modern amenities having elegant, modern decor that is inspired by the mountains and classical culture. The hotel’s Chinese courtyard is one of my favorite parts, and that night out with my friends was a blast. The breakfast buffet and authentic home-cooked northern farm dishes are served at the hotel’s second-floor restaurant.

Changhai Farmhouse is located at the foot of the Jinshanling Great Wall, only 50 meters away from the ticket entrance of the scenic spot, this hidden gem is surrounded by ve­rdant mountain forests with refreshing air. The­ rooms are spick-and-span, each decke­d out with amenitie­s including air conditioning, TV, WIFI, and 24-hour hot wate­r supply. Plus, enjoy mouth-watering me­als made from locally sourced ingredie­nts like free-range eggs, fresh green se­asonal vegetables, and farm-featured grilled whole she­ep!

It’s important to note that the accommodations near Jinshanling Great Wall are relatively basic compared to other areas in China. However, they offer an of staying in a rural area and being close to the Great Wall.

🚗 How to Get to Mutianyu Great Wall from Downtown Beijing

• By Bus: You can take Bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen Bus Station to Huairou North Street, and then transfer to Bus H23 to Mutianyu Roundabout. The entire journey takes about 2-2.5 hours, depending on traffic. The cost is around CNY 20-30.
• By Tourist Bus Line Dongzhimen: Take the bus from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station and alight at the Parking Lot P1 of Mutianyu to reach your destination. The bus runs from 8:30 am, and the travel time for a single journey is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. The cost is around CNY 30.
• By Tour Bus: Many tour companies offer organized tours to Mutianyu, including transportation and a guide. I strongly suggest considering Mubus Tour , a renowned tour organization in Beijing that has gained the trust of both locals and foreign visitors. Opting for such a tour is also convenient if you prefer not to navigate public transportation independently.

🔥Tips: I don’t recommend taking a taxi because the price from downtown Beijing to the Great Wall is very expensive, ranging from CNY 200 to CNY 600. And the return trip is inconvenient because you may have to take an irregular car back downtown.

🎫Round-trip ferry ticket: CNY 15 🎫Admission ticket: CNY 40 🎫Cable Car Ticket: CNY100 for a single trip, CNY 140 for a round trip (optional) 📍Starting location: North Entrance 📍Reach location: Mutianyu Great Wall Watchtower No.14 🎫Toboggan Ride Ticket: CNY100 for a single trip, CNY 140 for a round trip(optional) 📍Starting location: South Entrance 📍Reach location: Mutianyu Great Wall Watchtower No.6

🔥Tips: Upon reaching the Mutianyu Great Wall location, visitors will need to board a ferry bus that travels up and down the wall. These buses depart every five minutes. To gain entry into the scenic area, tourists must first buy a ferry ticket and then queue up to board the bus. After getting off the ferry bus, the tourists can walk to the north ticket gate.

🔥Take note: The cable car is designed with a full enclosure and high safety features. Opting for a cable car ride can offer an enhanced view of the Mutianyu Great Wall from a higher altitude, providing a clear view of the entire wall. The majority of tourists favor taking the cable car option.

🔥Take note: The toboggan is constructed against the Wall and provides an excellent opportunity for taking in the breathtaking scenery. While thrilling, it should be noted that the toboggan is open and thus there is a moderate risk when maneuvering it up and down. As such, it may not be appropriate for elderly individuals or children.

☀️ Best Time to Visit the Mutianyu Great Wall

• Nov.1 – Nov.30 : Late autumn presents the finest opportunity to explore the Mutianyu Great Wall as you can witness the gorgeous autumn foliage in full swing with a splendid array of fiery reds and vibrant oranges covering the mountain ranges with a soothing temperature and fewer visitors to contend with.
• Sep.1 – Oct.30 : The scorching summer has come to an end, and Beijing is showing off its picturesque beauty. The lush greenery can be spotted all around the scenic areas. As it’s the start of the season, the number of tourists is still quite low.
• April.1 – May.31 : The area’s scenery is abundant with lush and verdant foliage, emitting an air of vitality. With the start of the spring outing season, tourism typically surges, leading to some waiting times on weekends; however, queues are typically short. It is recommended to plan the visit during the week and avoid weekends.

🚶🏻‍♂️ Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour

The recommended route for visiting the Great Wall at Mutianyu is the western route, which provides several essential features for tourists. Specifically, the western section of the wall concentrates on most of the stunning scenery in the Mutianyu region and has an elevation difference greater than 600 meters. Furthermore, the western route concludes at “Hero Slope”(好汉坡）, which is the highest point of Mutianyu and gives visitors a must-see view.

There are two options for hiking the western route of the Mutianyu Great Wall. The first option is to start at the entrance and hike to Watchtower No.20. However, this route is quite challenging and takes at least three to four hours to complete. You’ll need to hike 600 steps just to reach Watchtower No.6. This option is not recommended if you’re not up for a strenuous hike.

I highly suggest the second option , as it has worked for me in the past. You could ride the cable car to Watchtower No.14 and continue your journey on foot from there. This would offer you an opportunity to relish the picturesque sight at your own pace, without exerting too much effort. From Watchtower No.14, simply head towards the west, in the direction of Watchtower No.23. This stretch of the wall presents mesmerizing views that should not be missed.

I first took the cable car to Watchtower No.14 entrance and then made my way up to the Mutianyu Great Wall viewing platform. I also noticed a special area where tourists are allowed to leave their graffiti scrawls. Moving to the west toward Watchtower No.15, I encountered a gently sloping area surrounded by striking scenery. From Watchtower No.16 to No.18, the section remains relatively easy, providing a comfortable journey. However, the hike from Watchtower No.19 to No.20 was the most challenging part of the journey, with an increasingly steep slope and hundreds of steps to climb.

When climbing to the peak of Watchtower No.20 , which is the highest point of the Mutianyu Section, I was treated to breathtaking views of the Jiankou section. Here have the option to turn back or continue exploring. Although most tourists opt to backtrack from this point, there is still plenty to explore beyond the Wall.

I chose to continue, walk through Watchtower No.20 and enter the unrestored ancient Great Wall. It’s a challenging hike, but worth it for the incredible views. It took about 15 minutes to reach Watchtower No.21, which was still a difficult section due to the steep slope.

From Watchtower No.22 to No.24, the path becomes much smoother and the wild wall and old bricks just took my back in time. Finally, when I arrived at Watchtower No.26, I was rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Jinshanlin Great Wall in the distance. It was a thrilling experience and I had a great sense of accomplishment for making it to the summit.

🥘 What to Eat in the Mutianyu Great Wall

When exploring the Mutianyu Great Wall, certain travelers opt to bring their own food, consisting of essentials like water and bread. However, if one desires to indulge in a tasty meal following the hike at the Mutianyu Great Wall, a plethora of options are still available. Choices include well-known fast food establishments such as Burger King and Subway, the dumpling house , the Thai restaurant , and the lovely tea house . As the Mutianyu Great Wall is a highly sought-after tourist attraction, dining here may tend to be on the expensive side.

🏡 Where to Stay in the Mutianyu Great Wall

Wangshanyuan Farm Stay is perfectly situated within the Mutianyu scenic area, offering an exceptional location. During my stay, I was accommodated in a clear and cozy tatami room equipped with floor heating. Additionally, the rooftop features a delightful terrace adorned with trampolines, swing chairs, and more. The proprietor of the hotel is exceptionally kind and attentive in their service. For instance, they graciously upgraded my room at no extra cost when there were fewer guests. Furthermore, he can drive the guests to the entrance of the Great Wall, assisting with ticket purchases at a lower cost than buying individually. The meals served were homestyle and mouthwatering, particularly the delicious pancakes and chicken stew.

Mutianyu Great Wall Hotel is adjacent to the scenic cable car station and toboggan ride. The retro architectural style of the building blends in nicely with the surroundings, while the interior is beautifully decorated with nice furnishings and strong floor heating. However, the double room size is small, and the door is very close to the bed, which can be a bit cramped, and the sound insulation is not ideal. Despite this, the hotel’s restaurant is noteworthy, serving up delicious food, including freshly baked bean buns. If you book the Parent-child Family Room, you can enjoy the added bonus of three entrance tickets and two cable car round-trip tickets.

The Great Wall’s Badaling section is segregated into two parts; the North and South sections , both with unique features. The Southern section of the wall is comparatively shorter than the northern section, about 1,300 meters long. A cable car can take you directly to the South Fourth Tower, which is the highest spot in the entire Southern section of Badaling. The southern section poses less difficulty and has a lower influx of tourists, unlike the comparatively steeper northern side. The northern section is longer with more complete facilities and scenic spots like the ‘Good Man Slope.’

The essence of the Great Wall of Badaling lies in its northern section which spans a distance of about three kilometers from Guancheng up to the North Twelfth Tower. The North Eighth Tower is not only the tallest tower of Badaling but is also the most frequently visited spot where visitors can appreciate the grandeur of the Great Wall from its viewing platform. The North Twelfth Tower marks the end of the scenic area, and it is relatively unvisited by tourists.

In reality, a large portion of sightseers typically gravitates towards the northern section due to its greater renown.

🚗 How to Get to Badaling Great Wall from Downtown Beijing

• By Bus : Take Bus 877 from Deshengmen Bus Station, which is near Jishuitan Subway Station on Line 2. The bus runs from early morning until late evening, and the journey takes around 2 hours. The cost is approximately 12 yuan.
• Tourist Bus Line 1 : Take the Tourist Bus Line 1 located the Southwest of Qianmen Arrow Tower, and alight at the Badaling Guntiangou Parking Lot. A payment fee of CNY 20 in cash is required per person. A single journey is estimated to be approximately 100 minutes.
• Group Tour : This comprehensive day trip from Beijing offers a guided exploration of both the Great Wall of China and the Ming Tombs. The knowledgeable and friendly guide will accompany you throughout the tour. Additionally, the itinerary includes visits to a Jade store and tea shop, providing an enjoyable experience for those interested in such activities.

🎫Admission ticket: Apr to Oct: CNY40 | Nov to Mar: CNY35 🎫Cable Car Ticket: CNY100 for a single trip, CNY 140 for a round trip (optional) 📍Starting location: Guntiangou Parking Lot 📍Reach location: North Eighth Tower 🎫Toboggan Ride Ticket: CNY80 for a single trip, CNY 100 for a round trip(optional) 📍Starting location: Bear Garden at the front mountain 📍Reach location: North Fourth Tower

☀️ Best Time to Visit the Badaling Great Wall

It is recommended to plan a visit in either the spring season ( April to May ) or autumn ( September to November ). Due to the difference in altitude, the arrival of spring in Badaling is frequently delayed until April or May. During this season, the sun illuminates the ridge, while the valley is decorated with green peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, camellias, and numerous unknown species of wildflowers. Autumn is the most picturesque scenery of the four seasons in Badaling, with the maple leaves gradually changing into a stunning red color during late September. The beautiful red hues are quite striking and breathtaking.

🚶🏻‍♂️Badaling Great Wall Hiking Tour

It took me around 3 hours to walk the entire north section of Badaling on a cool autumn date last yeast. From North First Tower to the North Fourth Tower should be regarded as a relatively gentle journey in the whole Badaling Great Wall, and visitors are relatively few, you can stop and take a snapshot.

North Eighth Tower is the highest tower in Badaling, providing a beautiful view of the Great Wall. But it is also the most crowded area. I arrived here around 9:30 am, but I was not able to hike up. A lot of tourists returned by the same route.

From North Eighth Tower to North Twelfth Tower is quite steep and less crowded that it is not recommended for visitors with children or the elderly. When you arrive at North Twelfth Tower (the end) and you should return to North Tenth Tower to get down.

If you want to avoid the large groups of travelers, you can take a toboggan ride from the entrance to North Fourth Tower, and hike from North Fourth Tower to North Twelfth Tower. And also you can take a cable car from North Eighth Tower to get down to end your journey.

🥘 What to Eat in the Badaling Great Wall

There are many restaurants near the Badaling Great Wall that offer Chinese cuisine , including local specialties such as Peking Duck, Kung Pao chicken, and steamed dumplings. Some popular restaurants include the Beijing Baifengtang Restaurant and the Commune by the Great Wall. If you are looking for a quick bite, there are also several snack vendors near the Great Wall selling items like grilled meat skewers, roasted corn, and steamed buns. There are also some Western-style restaurants near the Great Wall that serve burgers, pizzas, and sandwiches. Additionally, some visitors choose to bring their own food and have a picnic on the Great Wall itself. However, please be mindful of the rules and regulations regarding food and waste disposal.

🏡Where to Stay in the Badaling Great Wall

The Great Wall Old Courtyard Ancient Inn is a charming hotel that reflects the traditional courtyard style of Beijing. The accommodations are exceptionally clean, comfortable, and well-appointed. The owner is hospitable and attentive, offering luggage assistance and valuable travel advice. In addition, the inn offers free coffee and drinks, and the breakfast selection includes congee, steamed buns, and eggs, all of which have a light and satisfying taste. However, one drawback is that the rooms are quite small, and the sound insulation is not optimal. As there are multiple rooms within the courtyard, there may be occasional disturbances from other guests staying in the same area.

Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots with good traction . The Great Wall can be steep and uneven, so you’ll want to have footwear that can handle the terrain.

Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. The sun can be intense, especially during the summer months, so it’s important to protect yourself from the sun.

Water and snacks. The Great Wall is long and there may not be many opportunities to buy food or drinks along the way. Be sure to bring plenty of water and some snacks to keep you energized.

Sportswear. If you plan to visit the Great Wall at Badaling or Mutianyu, you can wear short sportswear, but if you plan to visit the undeveloped section of the Great Wall that is covered with wild jujube and weeds, it is advisable to wear long-sleeved sportswear to avoid scratches.

Camera or smartphone with a good camera. The Great Wall is a stunning site and you’ll want to capture some great photos to remember your trip.

A small backpack or bag to carry your belongings. You’ll want to keep your hands free while walking on the Great Wall, so it’s helpful to have a small bag to hold your essentials.

Trekking Pole. A trekking pole could be a helpful tool to help you navigate the sometimes steep and uneven terrain. Ensure it’s lightweight and collapsible so you can easily carry it when not in use.

Tissue.  It is advisable to bring along tissues or toilet paper when visiting the Great Wall, as it is not uncommon for the restrooms at the site to lack sufficient toilet paper or for the lines to be lengthy. Therefore, it can be helpful to have your supply on hand just in case.

Pouch to collect the garbage. If you happen to visit some remote and less developed sections and have a scarcity of dustbins, it would be helpful to bring along a small bag or pouch to collect your garbage until you come across a suitable place for its disposal.

Cash. Many vendors and attractions on the Great Wall only accept cash, so be sure to bring enough money with you.

🎉Tips for Exploring the Great Wall

Choose the right section: There are many sections of the Great Wall to explore, each with its own unique characteristics. Some sections are more touristy and easier to access, while others are more rugged and require hiking. Do your research and choose the section that best fits your interests and abilities.

Consider hiring a guide: If you want to learn more about the history and significance of the Great Wall, consider hiring a guide who can provide you with a more in-depth experience.

Watch your step: Some sections of the Great Wall are in disrepair and can be dangerous to walk on. Be sure to watch your step and stay within safe areas.

Be respectful: The Great Wall is a symbol of China’s rich history and culture. Be respectful of the environment and avoid damaging or defacing any parts of the wall.

Plan your trip ahead of time: The Great Wall is a popular tourist destination, so it’s important to plan your trip ahead of time to avoid crowds and ensure that you have the best experience possible.

Be conscious of certain vehicles that are not authorized: Avoid taking unlicensed or unauthorized vehicles to prevent being overcharged or taken on unnecessarily longer routes.

Be aware of scams: Unfortunately, there are some scams targeted at tourists visiting the Great Wall. Be cautious of anyone offering you tickets or tours that seem too good to be true, and always confirm prices and details before agreeing to anything.

🎫Do I need a visa for China?

Yes. Most visitors to China will need a visa to enter the country. The type of visa you need will depend on the purpose and duration of your trip, as well as your nationality. If you are a resident of the US, you must apply for a Chinese visa at the Consular Office in the country. On the other hand, inhabitants of countries like Japan, Canada, and the UK can request a visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center .

🤔 Why is it necessary to install a VPN in China?

In China, the government has strict regulations on internet access, leading to the blocking of popular websites and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube. To access these sites, a VPN is suggested as a means of bypassing the restrictions. It is important to choose a reputable VPN provider and use caution while doing so. ExpressVPN has been historically deemed the most reliable VPN for this purpose, despite being heavily targeted by China’s censors. Nevertheless, it is still a widely preferred option owing to its ease of installation and user-friendliness.

📲 Is it necessary to have a Chinese SIM card while in China?

Yes. It is crucial to acknowledge that accessing the internet in China may pose limitations due to certain websites being prohibited or filtered. To ensure uninterrupted connectivity while staying in China, purchasing a local SIM card is advisable. For optimum results, acquiring SIM cards from either China Unicom or China Mobile is recommended. While China Mobile has the most comprehensive coverage in China and is a market leader, China Unicom is more compatible with foreign phones, enabling 3G and 4G services. Or you can purchase a SIM card online .

🔮 Should I buy China travel insurance?

Yes. Although China is generally a safe country for travel, it is still possible to encounter accidents or other unexpected occurrences. Therefore, obtaining travel insurance can provide a sense of security and financial protection. In my research, I have found that World Nomads is a reputable travel insurance provider that covers a wide range of activities and is recommended for the average traveler. Nevertheless, I advise you to compare insurance quotes from various providers before making a decision.

🚙 Can you rent a car in China?

Unfeasible . Obtaining a Chinese driver’s license to rent a car and self-drive may seem like an option, but it is not a practical choice for most foreigners. Therefore, many prefer to opt for a driver or public transportation when navigating China, as it proves to be more convenient.

✈️ What’s the best site to purchase flight tickets for China?

I suggest using Trip for affordable flights to China. As a China-based company, they often offer lower prices compared to foreign companies. Additionally, they offer English-speaking phone support in case of any issues.

🏡 What is the best way to book hotels in China?

Not only does Trip offer a wider range of flight options, but it also provides a greater selection of hotels to choose from. Moreover, Agoda is a reliable resource for hotels throughout Asia.

🎒What do I pack for China?

Travel adapter and converter: China uses a different electrical system than many other countries, so it’s important to bring a travel adapter and converter if you plan to use electronic devices such as phones, cameras, and laptops.   Sunscreen: The UV index in China can be high, particularly during the summer months, and prolonged exposure to the sun without protection can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. Deodorant: It should be noted that finding deodorant in China may not be a simple task.

📚 Can a guidebook for traveling to China be useful?

Yes . If you’re planning to travel to China for the first time, a travel guidebook can be a valuable resource, and Lonely Planet is one of the most reputable guides available globally. Its comprehensive itineraries and recommendations take into account your personal preferences and can save you both time and money. The insider tips are also extremely helpful in navigating China’s unique cultural landscape like a local.

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China travel guide, travel tips, attractions, & funny stuff!

The Great Wall of China | The Complete Guide of Everything To Know

May 5, 2020 By China Mike

S ure you’ve seen photos…but the only way to really appreciate the Great Wall of China is to stand on its walls and stare in awe as it snakes across the Gobi Desert and China’s placid mountains like a majestic ridge-backed dragon.

Through this Great Wall of China Guide, you will get a detailed intro to the Great Wall of China: some interesting facts including who built it, and why, and how, locations, maps, length, height, & more.

Built by a succession of imperial dynasties over the last two millennia, the network of fortifications and towers has evolved over the centuries—defining and defending the outer reaches of Chinese civilization.

During his famous visit to the Great Wall in 1972, Richard Nixon (in a Bush Jr–esque moment of eloquence) stated: “ I think that you would have to conclude that this is a great wall .” And he was right—the Great Wall of China is undoubtedly one of the ancient world’s most amazing feats of engineering.

To the Chinese, the Great Wall is known as “Wan Li Chang Cheng” (万里长), or literally, “Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li” (“li” is a measure of distance about 500m or about a third of a mile). But of course, that’s not the actual length of the wall, but just an ancient way of saying “this is a long friggin’ wall.”

And although the Great Wall is undisputedly the longest man-made structure ever built, its exact total length continues to be debated since the Great Wall of China is not a single, continuous wall as described by early Western historical accounts. Instead, it’s more accurately described as a patchwork of walls that evolved over the centuries—an overlapping maze of walls and towers that were built (or fell into disuse) by successive dynasties throughout Chinese history.

But one thing is clear: t he Great Wall is one of – if not THE – iconic symbol of China, symbolizing the perseverance and diligence of the Chinese civilization. There simply aren’t many cultural landmarks on the earth that symbolize the sweep of a nation’s history more powerfully than the Wall.

On the other hand, a number of Chinese intellectuals have pointed to the Wall as a symbol of what’s wrong with China – that it’s too conservative, focused on past glory days, and tends to look inward rather than outward.

Similarly, others see it as symbolic of the long-time Chinese practice of trying to keep out foreign cultures and influence, rather than absorbing and learning from them.

In this complete guide to the Great Wall of China, I want to explore some of the most common questions about this iconic structure, walk through a brief history of how it was built (I’ve written a more extensive history of the Great Wall of China here if you’re interested) and explain the best way for you to visit the Great Wall for yourself.

Brief History of China’s Great Wall

Building large-scale defensive walls has a long history in China. Walls often surrounded an entire city to protect against marauding nomads and enemies.

One of the earliest walls dates way back to the Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1050 BC), which built a tall, earthen-wall that enclosed an area of three square kilometers around their capital.

To see some great examples of China’s more “modern” (but still ancient) surviving city walls, head to Nanjing or Xi’an .

Great Wall 1.0 | The Beginnings

The earliest pieces of the Great Wall were built as early as the 5 th century BC, during the so-called Warring States Period , when rival states constructed fortifications to defend their borders and irrigated lands against their neighbors (as well as non-Chinese nomads from the north).

During this early evolution, the “Wall” was just a growing patchwork of walls used to separate rival territories. The Great Wall as a concept didn’t come into existence until the 3 rd century BC, after the legendary Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BC—becoming the founder of the Empire and First Emperor of China.

In 215 BC, he started the gargantuan task of creating the Great Wall 1.0 to protect China from the horse-riding nomadic “barbarians” to the north.

Of course, he personally didn’t lift a finger. But he had between 300,000-500,000 workers— mostly soldiers, prisoners, and unwilling peasants-turned-slaves—doing the dirty work. Though his dynasty was one of China’s shortest, his mark of Chinese history is indelible.

The infamously ruthless and iron-fisted First Emperor also left China with its second most famous tourist attraction: the Terracotta Army —his massive subterranean tomb filled with over 7,000 soldiers (and horses and chariots) to protect him in the afterlife.

In fact, his Great Wall project–along with other major development projects requiring massive labor–caused so much widespread suffering throughout the country that there were several (unsuccessful) assassination attempts on his life.

Great Wall 2.0 | Ming Dynasty Updates

Fast forward to the 15 th and 16 th centuries. The most impressive “modern” sections of the Great Wall were all constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1388-1644 CE).

The insular Ming emperors didn’t just fortify parts of the wall…we’re talking about over a 100-year effort to completely rebuild and reinforce the wall using modern brick and mortar construction (and you thought your kitchen renovation project was a never-ending money pit!).

These Ming Walls are the impressive, sturdy brick structures that have made the Great Wall of China a popular tourist destination . They stand at almost 25 feet (7m) high and almost as wide –they were designed so that 10 soldiers or 5 horses could ride side-by-side.

Strategically spaced about 300-500m apart, watchtowers sent signals down the line using smoke, gunpowder, and flags to quickly update leaders in Beijing on enemy movements (you’d think a Twitter feed would be quicker).

Was the Great Wall of China a Failure?

Despite decades of construction and countless lives lost (it’s also referred to as the world’s largest tombstone), the Great Wall never really effectively served its function as a supposedly impregnable line of defense.

Historians all over the world consider the Great Wall of China to have been “failure” as a defensive system, although not because of any inherent design flaws. Instead, it was the human factor— political infighting, corruption, cowardice —that proved to be the weak link throughout the history of the Wall.

During a six-decade campaign to invade China, the Mongols penetrated the Great Wall and besieged the capital of Yanjing (now Beijing ) in 1215. Mongols were able to regularly find ways of going around sections or through the walls—often by bribing officials and guards.

Genghis Khan was alleged to have said, ‘The strength of a wall depends on the courage of those who defend it.” In 1279, the Mongols completed their takeover, becoming the first (but not last) non-Chinese group to rule the whole of China.

Even the impressive Ming Walls weren’t enough to protect China from being conquered by invaders again in the 17 th century.

In 1644, the (non-Chinese) Manchurian army from the north marched to the Wall at the strategic pass called Shanhaiguan (the First Pass Under Heaven). Since the Ming dynasty was about to be overthrown by an internal rebellion, the Ming general in charge of the pass decided to ally with the Manchus and allowed them to pass through the Wall.

The Manchus did help defeat the rebels…but then took control, declared the Qing Dynasty , and ruled China for next two and a half centuries.

The Legacy of the Great Wall of China

For all the centuries of investment—and blood, sweat, and tears—the Great Wall at least provided some other benefits.

During the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), the wall extended farther than any other time in history—largely due to the development of the Silk Road which extended as far west as Rome and Persia.

With traders traveling alongside the Wall in huge camel caravans, the Great Wall enabled the development of the Silk Road, which in turn increased the exposure of different cultures and new ideas, such as Buddhism.

The larger Ming-era Walls served well as a sort of elevated highway, enabling them to more easily move goods, equipment, and people across the mountainous terrain.

And while the wall didn’t effectively serve its original purpose of defending from invaders from the north, it did leave the Middle Kingdom with one of its most iconic and impressive legacies.

Of course, Chinese emperors had no way of knowing that, centuries later, China’s new invaders—the hairy barbarian Western powers—wouldn’t be coming from the north. Instead, they came by sea from the West—bringing superior military technology, opium, and later, brands like McDonalds and CocaCola.

In an ironic twist of history, some historians have commented that the original purpose of the Great Wall was to keep foreigners out…but today it’s responsible for drawing in millions of foreign tourists to China each year.

Now that I think about it, maybe China’s emperors—legendary for forward-thinking strategy—planned it that way all along (“ Some day, those big-nosed laowai will pay big money to come to China to buy cheesy ‘I climbed the Great Wall’ t-shirts. Haha! ”).

Great Wall of China – Common Questions

There are a few common questions that always get asked about the Great Wall of China. I’d like to answer a couple of them here.

1. How Long is the Great Wall of China?

The answer…depends on whom you ask. Again, since the Great Wall isn’t a single wall–but a patchwork of smaller walls built over several centuries— there’s no easy, definitive answer.

Unfortunately, there are no surviving historical records of the exact length of the “original” Qin Dynasty walls, which were first constructed over 2,000 years ago.

Naturally, most of the ancient walls have eroded away over the centuries (bricks weren’t used until much later during the Ming dynasty). Very few sections of the ancient walls remain standing today. After centuries of erosion, the vast majority of the earth and stone-constructed walls have been lost throughout China’s remote mountains and vast deserts.

Adding to the difficulty in determining an authoritative answer to the exact length of the Great Wall of China, historians are still uncovering sections of the wall.

For instance, in October 2002, a new 50-mile (80km) section of the Great Wall was discovered in northwestern China. Just a few months earlier, in August 2002, Chinese archaeologists discovered some 2,000-year old sections of the wall, dating back to the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 220).

So the answer to “How long is the Great Wall of China” depends on how you decide to measure the wall (and what sections constitute the Great Wall).

If you just measure the distance between the Great Wall’s two farthest points, you’d come up with about nearly 6,700 km (or 4,160 miles) . But estimating the actual length of the walls, most estimates have its length between 3,900 to 4,500 miles.

Some estimates—which add together the total length of all of the various walls built during all of the Chinese dynasties—claim that the “total length” is up to 31,000 miles/50,000 kilometers (which personally seems like quite a stretch to me).

The Guinness Book of Records puts the main line length of the wall at 2,150 miles (not including 2,195 additional miles consisting of branches).

China’s Official Answer to Great Wall Length

Though the length of the Great Wall continues to be debated by people who apparently have nothing better to do, the China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping recently conducted the most comprehensive archeological survey of the Great Wall.

Using advanced infrared range finding and GPS technology, they even discovered new Ming-era sections of the wall in the process. In April 2009, the researchers announced the conclusion of their two-year study.

They put the Great Wall’s total length at 8,851.1 km (about 5,500 miles). So there you have it, a final answer (until someone discovers another section I suppose).

2. Can You See the Great Wall of China from Space?

You’ve probably read somewhere that the Great Wall is also the only man-made structure able to be seen by the naked eye from space (or from the moon).

Is it true? This answer is a bit more straight-forward: NO.

No one knows the origins of this myth, but since it was taught in Chinese textbooks for decades, my money is on an over-enthusiastic but talented official in the government propaganda department (he probably has a very successful career in PR today).

Actually, most sources trace the origins of this myth back to a 1932 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! cartoon that claimed that the Great Wall of China is “ the mightiest work of man, the only one that would be visible to the human eye from the moon .”

The myth continues today although it’s been debunked many times.

For instance, astronaut Jay Apt—who orbited the Earth 562 times on four Space Shuttle missions from 1991 to 1996—wrote in the November 1996 issue of National Geographic:

“ We look for the Great Wall of China. Although we can see things as small as airport runways, the Great Wall seems to be made largely of materials that have the same color as the surrounding soil. Despite persistent stories that it can be seen from the moon, the Great Wall is almost invisible from only 180 miles up .” Jay Apt

Former NASA astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman—who went on five space shuttle missions from 1985 to 1996—agreed.

“ I have spent a lot of time looking at the Earth from space, including numerous flights over China, and I never saw the wall…the problem is that the human eye is most sensitive to contrast, and the color of the wall is not that different from the ground on either side of it. ” Jeffrey Hoffman

In addition to the problem of lack of contrast, the Great Wall—though undoubtedly long—is only about 25 feet (7m) wide. China’s pollution certainly doesn’t help things either.

Even if the wall were visible from low orbit, the claim that it’s the ONLY man-made object visible is not true. In addition to being able to see cities at night, NASA astronauts have been able to see large structures, including airports, bridges, dams, and reservoirs during the day.

So clearly if the Great Wall isn’t visible by the naked eye from 180 miles away, it would not be visible from the moon, which is 238,855 miles (384,400 km) above Earth.

As if we needed additional evidence, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong has repeatedly stated that the wall is “ definitely not visible from the Moon “. Similarly, when asked if it was possible to see the Great Wall from the moon, Apollo 15 astronaut Jim Irwin answered that it “ is out of the question “.

NASA even debunks the myth on their own website: “It has become a space-based myth. The Great Wall of China, frequently billed as the only man-made object visible from space, generally isn’t, at least to the unaided eye in low Earth orbit. It certainly isn’t visible from the Moon.” (May 2005)

Not ready to give up hope on their national point of pride, the Chinese were hoping that their own astronaut, Yang Liwei (first Chinese person in space) would give their eager reporters some good news after a 2003 mission.

He admitted that he couldn’t see it, eventually resulting in the Ministry of Education to finally remove that erroneous tidbit from their textbooks (I’m sure there were a lot more inaccuracies that they could’ve remedied too!).

But some urban (space) myths die hard. The issue came up again in 2004 after Leroy Chiao—NASA science officer of the International Space Station— took some photos that showed some sections of the Great Wall about 200 miles north of Beijing (aided by contrast from recent snowfall).

Despite the facts that the photos were taken with a telephoto lens and Chiao said that he personally couldn’t see the wall (or was even sure if the photos showed it), the photos were enthusiastically greeted by the Chinese with rejoicing and prominently featured in newspapers (“ Hey Wong, get the textbook printer back on the phone! ”)

Further Great Wall of China Info

If you think this is everything there is to know about the Great Wall of China…you would be mistaken! I’ve written quite a bit about China’s Great Wall that you might find helpful as you continue your research.

• Great Wall of China | History & Facts : Get a deeper understanding of the history of China’s Great Wall and what makes it so unique. I barely scratched the surface above, so if you have an interest in history, you’ll want to read this.
• How Did They Build the Great Wall of China? Another great question that I wanted to dedicate an entire article to. When you think about well this Great Wall has endured the test of time, you’ll understand why it’s important to understand how it was built.
• Defending the Wall : I briefly mentioned above how most people consider the Great Wall of China to be a failure (except China, of course). In this writeup, I discuss exactly how it was defended and where those failures came from.
• Great Wall of China Tourist Guide : Are you planning to visit the Great Wall yourself? Read through this helpful tourist guide before you go.
• Maps of China’s Great Wall : A collection of maps about the Great Wall of China, including tourist maps, 3D maps and others.

Photos of The Great Wall of China

Below you’ll find some great examples of photos of the Great Wall of China, broken out by section. It’s possible to visit each section of the Great Wall, but some are easier for tourists than others.

Badaling Section of the Great Wall of China

The Badaling section of the Great Wall of China is probably the most popular that a tourist can visit.

Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall of China

Mutianyu is a section of the Great Wall of China located in Huairou District within the city limits of Beijing 70 kilometres northeast of the center of the city. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is connected with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi in the east.

Juyongguan Section of the Great Wall of China

Juyongguan (Juyong Pass) Great Wall is one of the three most famous passes along the Great Wall of China, together with Jiayuguan and Shanhaiguan.

Simatai Section of the Great Wall of China

Simatai is located in the north of Miyun County, 120 km northeast of Beijing, holds the access to Gubeikou, a strategic pass in the eastern part of the Great Wall. It was closed in June 2010 but has been reopened to tourists in 2014.

Jinshanling Section of the Great Wall of China

Jinshanling is a section of the Great Wall of China located in the mountainous area in Luanping County, Hebei Province, 125 km northeast of Beijing. This section of the wall is connected with the Simatai section to the east. Some distance to the west lies the Mutianyu section.

Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China

Jiankou Great Wall is one of the most dangerous and wild Great Wall sections. It is also the most photographed section due to its precipitous mountains, unique construction style, and attractive scenery.

Conclusion | The Great Wall of China

It may not be visible from space, but as Nixon said, you would have to conclude that this is a great wall!

To truly appreciate the beauty and majesty of such a huge engineering marvel, you really need to visit the Great Wall for yourself. It’s only when you’ve exhausted yourself climbing an unbelievably steep set of stairs or seen the wall stretch as far as the eye can see that you find yourself scratching your head.

The fact that The Great Wall even exists is amazing.

But I guess that’s why it’s such an iconic part of China’s history and modern culture. It truly is a “Great Wall”.

Related Posts

• Facts about China: INFRASTRUCTURE

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Great Wall of China

Arguably the most recognizable symbol of China, the Great Wall has served as a major tourist attraction since the 1800s. As the longest man made structure in the world, it is easy to see why! Today, sections of the Great Wall are still the most visited tourist attractions in the country. The Great Wall of China earned a spot as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in a global survey.

For generations, this great engineering feat has captured imaginations around the world. As the most fantastical place I’ve heard of as a kid, the Great Wall was definitely at the top of my list of things to see when I grew up.

Many Beijing itineraries often highlight the Great Wall of China as a MUST-visit destination. In this post, I list everything you need to know before planning your visit!

Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. The commission will go back to the maintenance of this website.

What is the Great Wall of China?

What foreigners know today as the Great Wall of China is a collection of fortification systems. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot see the Great Wall of China from space nor is it one continuous wall. It is generally built across the historical northern borders of China.

The official length of the Great Wall is 21,196 km (13,170 mi). It is estimated that about 9% of the Wall has been lost forever to erosion and natural disasters. Additionally, in the 1950s, the government encouraged farmers to take portions of the Wall, using the pillaged materials to construct new homes. Approximately only 8% of the Wall is considered to be in good condition.

In recent history, the Chinese government has put conservation efforts in place to preserve this World Wonder.

Who built the Great Wall of China?

The Wall as we know it today was first commissioned by the First Emperor of China in 221 BC. Subsequent dynasties commissioned additions to the Great Wall, most notably – the Hans between 202 BC and 220 AD, the Northern Qi between 550 and 574, the Jurchen Jin between 1115 and 1234 and the Ming from 1369 to 1644.

Construction techniques used during the Ming dynasty were by far the most sophisticated and the strongest. They used bricks and stones instead of the rammed earth employed by the dynasties before them. The most prevalent pictures of the Great Wall as we know it today are all Ming era additions.

Forced labor was instrumental in constructing the Great Wall of China. It is estimated that millions of soldiers, peasants, and convicts were conscripted in order to build the Wall. Throughout Chinese history, many dynasties sentenced convicts to work on the Great Wall as punishment. According to accounts, if a convict died while serving their sentence, a member of their family had to take their place. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people died while constructing the Great Wall. This earned it the nickname of “longest graveyard in the world”. It’s worth noting, however, that researchers have not found any human remains within the Great Wall of China itself.

Why was the Great Wall of China built?

The main purpose of building the Great Wall was to defend against hostile armies and to unite the new empire under the First Emperor. Subsequently, the Wall served purposes such as border control, imposition of taxes on goods transported along the Silk Road, regulation of trade, and immigration control.

The Great Wall was a fantastic defence mechanism. However, it couldn’t prevent discontentment within the Chinese empire. In 1644, the last Ming emperor died by suicide when their capital of Beijing fell to a peasant rebellion. The commanding Ming general formed an alliance with the Manchus from north of the Wall to help get rid of the rebels in Beijing. The general left the gates of the Great Wall open to let the Manchus in.

The Manchus did expel the rebels out of Beijing… but they also defeated what remained of the Ming resistance. They then established Qing dynasty. Under the Qing dynasty, the Chinese empire expanded north beyond the Wall, towards Mongolia. This made the Great Wall of China obsolete, leading to the discontinuation of construction.

I toured China with G Adventures and absolutely loved my visit. While the exact itinerary I chose is currently not available, t his comparable tour will take you to the country’s highlights .

Where is the Great Wall of China?

Generally speaking, the Great Wall lies on the northern borders of historic China. It is so long that it crosses 23 degrees of longitude and 15 provinces/principalities/autonomous regions. The Wall stretches from China’s border with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at its easternmost point to Lop Lake near present day Mongolia at its westernmost point.

More like this: check out 5 Tips for Visiting Chichén Itza

4 Tips for Visiting The Great Wall of China

If you are ready to start planning your visit to the Great Wall of China, here are my 4 essential tips to help:

1) Decide on which section is right for your visit.

To preserve this World Wonder, authorities manage the Great Wall through various sections. Some sections have been fully restored while others have retained most of its original construction. Deciding on which sections are worth visiting depends on personal preference as each section is unique.

In this section, I expand on the pros and cons of the 5 sections that are commonly accessed via Beijing.

This section for the Great Wall has been heavily restored and has been open to the public since 1958. It is the closest section to Beijing and is the easiest to access via public transportation. Badaling is the most popular with local visitors and is the most visited section of the Great Wall. Authorities had to impose a daily cap of 65,000 visitors.

They have outfitted the Badaling section with fast-food restaurants, souvenir shops, handrails, and heavily restored brickwork. It has been made more accessible for those with limited mobility. There is also a cable car and a “pulley car” that you can ride to and from the Wall.

Operating Hours and Fees

This section of the Great Wall is technically not open to tourists. It is not ticketed or maintained. Nature has reclaimed portions of this stretch. Nevertheless, adventurous trekkers and photographers have hiked this stretch of the Wall over to the Mutianyu section.

If you do choose to take on the epic hike, do so with a guide and with companions . Battlements are unstable and should anything happen to you, help is a long way away. This hike is also not for those with a fear of heights.

This section of the Wall was fully restored and opened in the 1980s. You can get a glimpse of the unrestored Ming walls beyond Tower 23 (enter at your own risk!). Mutianyu is the most popular section with foreign visitors and is the ideal section for first time visitors. This stretch of the Wall is about 3 kms (almost 2 miles) long and is less busy than Badaling.

Mutianyu is known for its amazing panoramic views (especially after the steep climbs to Towers 1 and 23) and for its high concentration of guard towers. The hike from the Jiankou section to Mutianyu is quite famous and is HIGH on my China bucket list.

For those traveling with their little ones, many consider this section to be the most kid-friendly. The area between Towers 4 to 19 is relatively flat and is suitable for those with limited mobility. On site, there are a couple fast food options. You can also opt to take a cable car, a chairlift or climb 800 steps to get to and from the Wall. In addition, there are toboggans you can ride down from Tower 6.

For those that are short on time, allocating a half day of your Beijing itinerary is sufficient for this stretch of the Wall.

Jinshanling

Sections of this 10.5 km (6.5 mi) stretch of the Wall have been restored, though there are portions that were left untouched. Relative to Badaling and Mutianyu, this section is further away from Beijing and therefore a little tougher to reach. Though this also means that it is far less busy than Badaling and Mutianyu.

Many locals claim that Jinshanling is the most scenic among all the sections mentioned on this list. A hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling is also quite famous and less strenuous than the Jiankou-Mutianyu hike. Note: the entrance fees at Gubeikou does not cover access to Jinshanling and vice versa.

To save time and energy, there is a cable car available to take people to and from the Wall. Regardless, you will need to allocate a full day to your Jinshanling visit to make the trek from Beijing worth it.

O perating Hours and Fees

This section of the Wall has retained much of its original appearance and is famous for its steep climbs and extraordinary views. Visitors can observe various patterns of construction here. It is also the only section of the Wall that offers a nighttime tour (although it is limited to Towers 5 and 6).

Due to its steep terrain, it is not advisable for those traveling with small children, the elderly, or individuals with limited mobility to visit this section. Additionally, it is not recommended during windy and rainy conditions as it becomes very slippery. For these reasons and because Simatai is a two hour drive from downtown Beijing, it is one of the less busy sections of the Wall.

If you are planning a visit to Simatai, make sure to buy your ticket 24 hours in advance as there is a daily limit to the number of visitors for this section.

2) How to get there…

This section varies greatly on which parts of the Great Wall you wish to see. Below, I explain how to reach each section from downtown Beijing.

By private car/organized tour group – this is the easiest option as you can arrange to get to the Wall as soon as it is opened to beat the crowds.

If the mention of “tour group” conjures visions of getting herded from place to place, it’s actually not that bad. Your guide will likely provide information about the place, be available for questions, but you usually have the freedom to explore on your own. Just make sure to meet at the designated meeting times so you do not miss your ride back to Beijing!

To help find organized tour groups to Badaling, check out this site .

By public transportation – you can take the 877 bus from Deshengmen bus station. This is a non-stop bus that would take 1-1.5 hours to get to Badaling.

There is also a tourist bus that you can catch southwest of Qianmen Arrow Tower, south of Tiananmen Square. This is slightly pricier than the 877 bus but each bus has tour guide on board.

By organized tour – as previously mentioned, if you plan on visiting Jiankou, I HIGHLY recommend going via an organized tour. To help find small, organized group hikes from Jiankou to Mutianyu, check out this link .

By private car/organized tour – this is the option I chose for my visit to the Great Wall. It was absolutely hassle free that at the time of writing I struggled to remember how I organized my personal adventure!

To help find organized tours to Mutianyu, check out this site .

By public transportation – there are 2 options available for those wanting to take public transportation to Mutianyu:

• The Mutianyu Great Wall Shuttle from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station. This bus departs daily at 8:30 am and returns to Beijing at 4:00 pm. It goes directly to Mutianyu from Beijing. The downside to taking this route is that 7.5 hours is WAAAY too long at Mutianyu. In my opinion, you only need to allocate 4 hours MAXIMUM at Mutianyu to get the most out of your day.
• The 916/916 Express from Dongzhimen Transportation Hub to the Huairou North Avenue Bus Station. Departures starts at 8:30 am daily for this route. You will need to transfer to the H23 bus line when you reach Huairou Bei Da Jie stop (it is the 15th stop on the 916 Express). The H23 bus does not come as often as the 916, so some patience is needed. You will need to get off at the Mutianyu roundabout.

Important tips on taking public transport to Mutianyu:

Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station is harder to find than the Dongzhimen Transportation Hub though they are only 800 m apart. If you’re taking the 916/916 Express to Mutianyu, there will most likely be people who seemingly speak good English and will try to convince you to get off the bus before the proper stop at Huairou. Once off the bus, their taxi driver friends will offer to drive you to Mutianyu for slightly elevated prices. Not the end of the world if you get lured off the bus… You can wait for the next bus at the stop where you got off or take the taxi drivers up on their offer (though you would most likely be out 50 CNY on top of the 12 CNY bus ticket you paid for). When you get off at the Huairou Bei Da Jie stop, there will be PLENTY of taxis offering to drive you to Mutianyu if you don’t want to wait for the H23 bus. I have read a fellow traveller’s account of waiting 80 minutes (!!!) for the H23, BTW. If you choose to wait for the H23 bus, the bus stop is directly across the China Mobile Building. This will be the same stop you need to get back to Beijing. When you’re headed back to Beijing, make sure to take the 916 Express as it will go back to Dongzhimen Transportation Hub. The regular 916 will drop you off elsewhere.

By private car/organized tour – as the Jinshanling section is further away from downtown Beijing, an organized tour is probably the easiest option.

To help find small group tours to Jinshanling, check out this link .

By public transportation – there is a tourist bus that departs daily from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station at 7:40 am. It will take you directly to Jinshanling and the ride takes about 2.5 hours. The bus departs for Beijing at 4:00pm.

By private car/organized tour – of all the sections mentioned in this post, Simatai is the furthest away. I recommend going by private car as it is QUITE the drive.

To connect via a small group tour, check out this site .

By public transportation – there are 2 options for those wanting to take public transportation to Simatai:

• The tourist bus to Gubei Water Town. This bus departs from Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station 4 to 6 times daily depending on what season it is. As I understand it, there are no clear signs for where to wait for this bus, so you will need to ask for assistance. The bus ride takes about 3 hours.
• The 980 bus from Dongzhimen to Miyun, 51 bus from Miyun to Simatai. This route is only recommended if you missed all the tourist busses to Gubei Water Town for the day. The ride is approximately 4 hours long and requires a transfer.

Important tip: Be wary of OVERTLY helpful locals as they might try to lure you off the bus. Once off the bus, they might try to convince you that you are now stranded and be forced to pay for the overpriced taxi ride that you wanted to avoid in the first place…

3) Best times to visit…

The best times of the year to visit the Great Wall are April, May, September, and October as the weather is most favourable during these times of the year.

Apricot flowers are in full bloom in early April and cover the mountain slopes around Jinshanling. The leaves turn red around late October if you wanted to see the Great Wall snaking through autumn colours.

If you want to avoid crowds, avoid coming on weekends, August, and on public holidays. Also, if you want to avoid crowds at Badaling and Mutianyu, arrive early!

4) What to bring…

Bring the following to make for a comfortable day trip to the Great Wall:

• Cash – bring enough for entrance fees, tickets for shuttle busses/cable cars/chairlifts/toboggans, souvenirs, refreshments, and exact change for the bus.
• Passport – upon entry, they may ask for this. This is especially true if you bought your ticket online and need to print them on site.
• Comfortable shoes – the Great Wall was built on mountainous, uneven terrain. Having shoes with good traction could help you explore more. In addition, a visit to the Great Wall = guaranteed hours spent on foot. I highly recommend wearing a comfy pair of shoes.
• Comfortable clothing – depending on the time of year for your visit, it could get very hot and humid or brisk and chilly on the Wall. Dress accordingly. Also, there are MANY steep parts of the Wall that may require climbing. I would forgo that short dress if the goal is to do some exploring without flashing everyone.
• Snacks and water – you will most likely be spending at least two hours on site. Pack snacks and water accordingly. With the exemption of Simatai and Jiankou, there are vendors on site that sell water and snacks at higher market prices.
• Sun protection – bring your sunscreen , hat, sunglasses and lip balm .
• Insect repellent – during the warmer, humid months there are critters that bite. I went mid-September and my legs and forehead (!!!) were feasted on by tiny black bugs that fly.

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Are you currently planning your adventure to the GREAT WALL OF CHINA? I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Do you have any tips for fellow travellers headed to the Great Wall? Please share them in the comments below!

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• WORLD HERITAGE

See China’s Iconic Great Wall From Above

This is one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering.

China’s iconic Great Wall, actually a network of fortifications rather than a single structure, is the product of countless labors over a period of some two thousand years. Qin Shi Huang took the remnants of truly ancient fortifications, walls, and earthworks begun in the fifth century B.C. and linked them into a unified wall circa 220 B.C. as part of a massive project to protect China against marauding barbarians from the north.

By the time construction on most of the stone-and-brick Great Wall, with its turrets and watchtowers, was completed during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) the chang cheng had become the world’s largest human-made object.

A recent government mapping project revealed that the entire Great Wall structure spans some 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) from the Korean border west into the Gobi desert. Of that total 3,889 miles (6,259 kilometers) were actual wall, while 223 miles (359 kilometers) were trenches and (1,387 miles) 2,232 kilometers were natural defensive barriers, like rivers or steep hills, incorporated into the system.

Though new sections of the wall have recently been uncovered, several sections of the structure have vanished during the past half century or so. Mao Zedong himself encouraged destruction of parts of the wall and reuse of its materials in the 1950s, and rural farmers still make use of the wall’s earth and stone for practical purposes.

Some 50 percent of the original ancient structure has already disappeared, and perhaps another 30 percent lies crumbling into ruins—even as Chinese and international organizations struggle to preserve what remains of this unique treasure.

21 of China's Most Spectacular UNESCO Sites

How to Get There

tourists explore the wall from Beijing. The most popular section (Badaling) is 42 miles (70 kilometers) from the city. This section boasts impressive views, and with crowds come all the modern trappings of development. Those seeking less popular or unrestored sections of the wall have many suitable choices within easy driving distance of Beijing.

The wall has endured centuries of seasons and remains ready to host visitors year round. The Beijing region has icy winters, but the hardy will find far fewer crowds than during the peak summer seasons. Autumn is often delightful near Beijing with mild weather (43° to 64°F/6° to 18°C) and reduced tourist crowds. Wind and dust can be common in springtime. China is a nation of festivals, so consider timing a visit to coincide with a celebration in the shadows of the wall.

• Nat Geo Expeditions

How to Visit

As is appropriate for a monument so massive, there are many ways to visit the wall. Some visitors aspire to admire the views from popular tourist sections, pose for pictures, walk the wall, and take advantage of amenities from restaurants and shops to cable car rides. Others choose to explore rugged sections of the structure on extended hikes and climbs of unrestored “wild wall” sections, though these can be dangerous and are often located in rural areas well off the typical tourist path.

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How to visit the Great Wall of China

The great wall's best and less crowded sections.

Megan Eaves

• In this guide

When to go to China

China can seem like an intimidating place, due to its huge size and the language barrier that most travellers face. However, first-time visitors needn’t worry: this is a country of incredibly friendly and curious people eager to help. The pace at which China has developed its transport system means that getting around today is much easier than even a decade ago, with sparkling subways in most big cities and high-speed trains reaching all ends of the country.

When planning a trip to the country to visit the Great Wall of China, it’s important to remember China’s size and to plan realistically. Most of the country’s major tourist sites are popular with domestic visitors, meaning that in high season and during China’s national holidays, there can be long queues and enormous crowds, as well as ticketing controls at some of the biggest sights.

China continues to develop at a rapid pace, and the old cliche that this is a ‘land of contrasts’ certainly holds true. Things change quickly here and it’s a good idea to approach your trip with a sense of expecting the unexpected. Venues often close without warning and transport timetables sometimes don’t match what is listed and for international visitors, many things are lost in translation.

Visitors who approach China with a sense of adventure and flexibility will find their trip not only fulfils their dreams of experiencing some of this great culture’s immensely important historical sights and tremendous culinary output, but they may also come away with a greater sense of mindfulness.

History of China's Great Wall

One of the world’s man-made wonders and the most popular visitor attraction in China, the Great Wall is rightfully on the must-see list of every first-time visitor. Like the country’s other main historic sight, the Terracotta Warrior Army , the Great Wall was conceived by China’s first emperor, Qinshihuang , to protect his reign (221-207 BC). Construction continued on the wall through four distinct eras, including the Jin dynasty (1115-1235), when work was sped up due to the threat of attack from the north by Mongol leader Chinggis Khan.

The most visibly famous sections of the wall are the stone brickwork ramparts, beacon towers and flying eaves snaking up and down the mountains north of Beijing. These remains date to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) when the Hongwu Emperor had just ousted the previous Mongol-run Yuan dynasty and wanted to ensure the security of his empire from northern invasion.

What many don’t understand about the wall is its sheer size. At officially more than 21,000km in length, the wall stretches from Shanhai Pass, where it meets the Bohai Sea in Hebei province, to its westernmost point at the stunning mudbrick Jiayuguan Fort in the Gobi Desert in Gansu province. Not one continuous wall, it is actually comprised of thousands of smaller sections of wall across this vast distance.

There are several sections of restored Ming dynasty walls near Beijing, which are the most accessible. These tend to be busy with tourists as they are easier to visit, with even footing, handrails, cable cars and facilities like bathrooms and refreshments.

Where to see the Great Wall of China near Beijing

Of the Beijing sections of the Great Wall of China, Badaling is the closest to the city and the busiest, while Mutianyu is slightly further away and sees relatively fewer numbers, particularly in the winter.

Busy Badaling is the only section of the Beijing Great Wall accessible by train . Other sections require private vehicle hire or a combination of buses and taxis. The best option is to choose which section of the wall you want to visit and book a private car with an English-speaking driver. Some companies pre-book add-ons like the Ming Tombs, so it is worth knowing and stating your preferences upfront.

Badaling, Mutianyu and Huanghua Cheng are the closest sections to Beijing and are easily visited in a day or even a morning. Sections further away, including Zhuangdaokou, Jinshanling, Jiankou and Gubeikou can be visited on a day trip, but it’s worth staying overnight at these to experience village life and to have more time to explore unrestored areas or see the wall at dawn or dusk.

If you visit Mutianyu on a January morning, you are likely to have the ramparts nearly to yourself (though you’ll want to cover up, as temperatures regularly hover well below freezing). At nearly 150km from Beijing, the restored sections of the wall at Jinshanling see very few visitors, but this requires either a very long travel day or an overnight stop due to the distance.

The end of the Great Wall in Jiayuguan

Hopping on a plane or high-speed train to the desert city of Jiayuguan offers a completely different way of visiting the Great Wall of China. Here, the rammed earth and mud brick construction give the wall an almost forlorn appearance befitting its history. The name ‘Jiayuguan’ means ‘first pass under heaven’ and this fortress gate marked the end of the Chinese empire and the beginning of everywhere else. Criminals and those banished from the empire were turfed out via this gate and left to make their way alone through the desert.

Where and how to see the Wild Wall

There are numerous sections of the Great Wall that have been left unrestored close enough to Beijing to be convenient for a wild hike or trek. Be aware that the wall is steep and covers deep valleys and vertiginous mountains, so trekking can be exhausting and treacherous – as well as being frowned upon by the authorities. However, the rewards are spectacular views of this architectural wonder far away from the maddening crowds.

Hikers need to wear appropriate clothing, including very sturdy hiking boots, and bring plenty of water and food. When hiking unrestored sections of the wall, it is a good idea to hire a guide who knows the way, as some sections become completely impassable or dangerous, while others pass through military zones and require a detour.

Visiting the Great Wall of China at Zhuangdaokou

Just 80km from Beijing, this is one of the most accessible yet least visited sections of unrestored wall. It’s possible to hike from here to the restored section at Huanghua Cheng in 1-2 hours, passing a river, reservoir and stunning views.

Visiting the Great Wall of China at Jiankou

This completely unrestored section 100km from Beijing is very steep and is best for experienced hikers. You can hike from here to the restored section at Mutianyu in 2-3 hours, passing extremely wild scenery, particularly at the 180-degree curve known as Ox Horn, one of the steepest and most difficult places to hike the wild wall.

Visiting the Great Wall of China at Gubeikou

Starting from Gubeikou town, 130km from Beijing, two sections – Wohushan and Panlongshan – of totally unrestored wall incorporate crumbling ramparts and watchtowers. The Wohushan section to the west of town features two ‘sister mountains’, while to the east is the Panlongshan section, with the General Tower and 24-Window Tower.

About the author

Megan Eaves first visited China in 2004 with her Mandarin-language class and got hooked on Nanjing’s spicy weather and food. She’s lived in China twice and visited countless more times, travelling the length of the country from Guangdong to Qinghai and Guizhou to Beijing. She has written on China for Lonely Planet, CNN, The Independent and Atlas by Etihad , and is the author of This Is China: A Guidebook for Teachers , Backpackers and Other Lunatics . If lost, she is likely to be found scarfing down beef noodles in remotest Gansu province, or guzzling craft beer in a Beijing hutong.

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• Travel Tips
• How to Visit It
• Which Section to Visit
• 6 Best Places to See
• 9 Unusual Things to Do
• Best Time to Visit
• How much does it cost to visit it?
• How to Travel There from Beijing
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• 10 Guidelines in Winter
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• Why should I visit it? - Top 10 Reasons
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Why should I visit the Great Wall of China? - Top 10 Reasons

Reason 1: the great wall is china’s no. 1 tourist site..

The Great Wall of China is the hottest attraction in China. A tour to China without Great Wall is not complete.

Reason 2: The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made construction in the world.

It has a total length of 21,196 kilometers (13,170 miles). There was once a rumor that the Great Wall can be seen from space. Although it was proved to be wrong by the scientists, we cannot deny the massive scale of the Great Wall.   

Reason 3: Learn Chinese History

The Great Wall has a long history of more than 2,700 years. From the earliest construction in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC) to the final construction in 1878 during the late Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD), many dynaties successively constructed it throughout the 2,500 years. Actually, its construction ran through alomost the entire Chinese ancient history. You can especially learn the history of Qin (221 - 207 BC), Han (202 BC - 220 AD) and Ming (1368 - 1644 AD), when Great Wall was extensively built. This reason to visit Great Wall lies in that it can offer you some knowledge of Chinese history and different nationalities on two sides of the Wall.

Reason 4: Enjoy the Terrific Natural Scenery

Most sites were built along mountain ridges in suburba areas, which have fantastic natural scenery and fresh air.

Reason 5: Test your courage and physical strength.

Badaling and Mutianyu are the preferred choices for most tourists, taking at least 2 hours to hike. In addition, there are many wild sections, such as Jiankou . Climbing these sections is a great challenge for braveness and physical strength as it is quite adventurous and energy-consuming.  

Reason 6: Take Great Photos

Reason 7: the great wall is favored by world leaders and celebrities..

Many world leaders and celebrities have journeyed the Great Wall of China, such as former US president Obama, Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, Tom Hiddleston, and Tom Cruise.  

Reason 8: Learn Military of Ancient China

The Great Wall is not an ordinary wall; the wall, together with watch towers, beacon towers and passes, constitutes a complete defensive system against the invasion of the northern nomadic people.

Reason 9: Know more about Chinese people and Chinese culture.

Great Wall is the symbol of China. It was included in Chinese national anthem and printed on the first and fourth sets of RMB. In China, there are many sayings relating to Great Wall, and the most famous is “he who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man”. Only having been to the Great Wall can you better understand Chinese and the diligence and unity of the Chinese nation.  

Reason 10: One of the New Seven Wonders of the World

Among the new seven wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China ranks first.  

How to Visit the Great Wall of China

Which Section of Great Wall of China to Visit

Best Time to Visit Great Wall of China

How much does it cost to visit the Great Wall of China?  

10 Insider Tips for Great Wall Travel - Dos and Don’ts

10 Guidelines for Travel to Great Wall of China in Winter

How to Camp on the Great Wall of China

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• Description

In c. 220 B.C., under Qin Shi Huang, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united defence system against invasions from the north. Construction continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), when the Great Wall became the world's largest military structure. Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

La Grande Muraille

Vers 220 av. J.-C., Qin Shin Huang entreprit de réunir des tronçons de fortifications existants pour en faire un système défensif cohérent contre les invasions venues du nord. Poursuivis jusque sous les Ming (1368-1644), ces travaux ont produit le plus gigantesque ouvrage de génie militaire du monde. Son importance historique et stratégique n'a d'égale que sa valeur architecturale.

السور العظيم

قرابة العام 220 ق.م. بدأ كين شين هوانغ يجمع بقايا حصون قائمة ليُشكّل فسيفساء نظام دفاع متسقِ في وجه اجتياحات الشمال. وتتابعت هذه الأعمال أثناء حكم سلاسة مينغ (1368-1644) فأثمرت أعظم إبداع عسكري عملاق في العالم. ولا توزاي أهميّة السور التاريخيّة والإستراتيجيّة سوى قيمته الهندسيّة.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

公元前约220年，秦始皇下令将早期修建的一些分散的防御工事连接成一个完整的防御系统，用以抵抗来自北方的侵略。长城的修建一直持续到明代（1368至1644年），终于建成为世界上最大的军事设施。长城在建筑学上的价值，足以与其在历史和战略上的重要性相媲美。

La Gran Muralla

Hacia el año 220 a.C., el primer emperador Qin Shin Huang ordenó reunir los tramos de fortificaciones construidas anteriormente, a fin de crear un sistema de defensa coherente contra las invasiones de los pueblos del Norte. Los trabajos de edificación de la Gran Muralla prosiguieron hasta la dinastí­a de los Ming (1368-1644), dando por resultado la obra de ingenierí­a militar mí¡s gigantesca de todos los tiempos. Su gran valor arquitectónico es comparable a su importancia histórica y estratégica.

source: NFUAJ

Chinese Muur

Tijdens de eerste Qin dynastie onder keizer Qin Shi Huang (220 voor Christus) werden gedeelten van vroegere vestingwerken samengevoegd om een uniek verdedigingssysteem tegen invasies vanuit het noorden te vormen. Het bouwen duurde voort tot aan de Ming dynastie (1368-1644) waarmee de Chinese Muur het grootste militaire bouwwerk op aarde werd met een totale lengte van meer dan 20.000 kilometer. De muur begint in het oosten bij Shanhaiguan, in de provincie Hebei en eindigt in het westen bij Jiayuguan, in de provincie Gansu is van buitengewoon belang vanuit historisch, strategisch en architectonisch opzicht.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great military defence project of successive Chinese Empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers. The Great Wall begins in the east at Shanhaiguan in Hebei province and ends at Jiayuguan in Gansu province to the west. Its main body consists of walls, horse tracks, watch towers, and shelters on the wall, and includes fortresses and passes along the Wall.

The Great Wall reflects collision and exchanges between agricultural civilizations and nomadic civilizations in ancient China. It provides significant physical evidence of the far-sighted political strategic thinking and mighty military and national defence forces of central empires in ancient China, and is an outstanding example of the superb military architecture, technology and art of ancient China. It embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and its people.

Criterion (i) : The Great Wall of the Ming is, not only because of the ambitious character of the undertaking but also the perfection of its construction, an absolute masterpiece. The only work built by human hands on this planet that can be seen from the moon, the Wall constitutes, on the vast scale of a continent, a perfect example of architecture integrated into the landscape.

Criterion (ii):  During the Chunqiu period, the Chinese imposed their models of construction and organization of space in building the defence works along the northern frontier. The spread of Sinicism was accentuated by the population transfers necessitated by the Great Wall.

Criterion (iii):   That the Great Wall bear exceptional testimony to the civilizations of ancient China is illustrated as much by the rammed-earth sections of fortifications dating from the Western Han that are conserved in the Gansu province as by the admirable and universally acclaimed masonry of the Ming period.

Criterion (iv): This complex and diachronic cultural property is an outstanding and unique example of a military architectural ensemble which served a single strategic purpose for 2000 years, but whose construction history illustrates successive advances in defence techniques and adaptation to changing political contexts.

Criterion (vi): The Great Wall has an incomparable symbolic significance in the history of China. Its purpose was to protect China from outside aggression, but also to preserve its culture from the customs of foreign barbarians. Because its construction implied suffering, it is one of the essential references in Chinese literature, being found in works like the "Soldier's Ballad" of Tch'en Lin (c. 200 A.D.) or the poems of Tu Fu (712-770) and the popular novels of the Ming period.

The Great Wall integrally preserves all the material and spiritual elements and historical and cultural information that carry its outstanding universal value. The complete route of the Great Wall over 20,000  kilometers, as well as elements constructed in different historical periods which constitute the complicated defence system of the property, including walls, fortresses, passes and beacon towers,  have been preserved to the present day. The building methods of the Great Wall in different times and places have been integrally maintained, while the unparalleled national and cultural significance of the Great Wall to China is still recognised today. The visual integrity of the Wall at Badaling has been impacted negatively by construction of tourist facilities and a cable car.

Authenticity 

The existing elements of the Great Wall retain their original location, material, form, technology and structure. The original layout and composition of various constituents of the Great Wall defence system are maintained, while the perfect integration of the Great Wall with the topography, to form a meandering landscape feature, and the military concepts it embodies have all been authentically preserved. The authenticity of the setting of the Great Wall is vulnerable to construction of inappropriate tourism facilities.

Protection and management requirements

The various components of the Great Wall have all been listed as state or provincial priority protected sites under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics . The Regulations on the Protection of the Great Wall promulgated in 2006 is the specific legal document for the conservation and management of the Great Wall. The series of Great Wall Conservation Plans, which is being constantly extended and improved and covers various levels from master plan to provincial plans and specific plans, is an important guarantee of the comprehensive conservation and management of the Great Wall. China’s national administration on cultural heritage, and provincial cultural heritage administrations where sections of the Great Wall are located, are responsible for guiding the local governments on the implementation of conservation and management measures for the Great Wall.

The Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Wall and all its attributes must be protected as a whole, so as to fulfill authentic, integral and permanent preservation of the property. To this end, considering the characteristics of the Great Wall, including its massive scale, transprovincial distribution and complicated conditions for its protection and conservation, management procedures and regulations, conservation interventions for the original fabric and setting, and tourism management shall be more systematic, scientific, classified, and prioritized. An efficient comprehensive management system, as well as specific conservation measures for the original fabric and setting will be established, while a harmonious relationship featuring sustainable development between heritage protection and social economy and culture can be formed. Meanwhile, the study and dissemination of the rich connotation of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value shall be enhanced, so as to fully and sustainably realize the social and cultural benefits of the Great Wall.

• Great wall at Badaling
• Official website page (in Chinese only)
• Lanzhou University (chinese only)
• Meet the Great Wall (Meet the Great Wall Studio)
• Great Wall of China (TravelChinaGuide.com)

State of Conservation (SOC)

Why the Great Wall WAS, and STILL IS, So Important

Stretching thousands of miles, the Great Wall is the longest man-made structure in the world, but that isn't its only significance.

It was important in defending China from northern invasion for centuries, and has become a national symbol , and China's top tourist sight.

Great Defensive Infrastructure

During the Warring States Period (475–221 BC), overlords of China's northern states began to build walls and high mountain watchtowers on their borders, to defend against invasion .

Before the Great Wall was built, the northern nomad tribes often ravaged northern China. The nomads' fierce horsemen were stronger than the Han Chinese infantry. But, after the Wall was built, the nomadic tribes could no longer raid and intrude into northern China.

The Great Wall protected China's economic development and cultural progress , safeguarding trading routes such as the Silk Road, and securing the transmission of information and transportation in northern China.

• 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour
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Symbol of the Chinese Nation

The Great Wall represents the unification of China . It came into being when the First Emperor of Qin had the walls of Yan, Zhao, and Qin joined up after the Warring States Period.

The Great Wall is a testimony to the history and strength of China . It was built by millions of Chinese workers over a period of more than 2,000 years (4th century BC–17th century AD).

The Great Wall is also a great subject of Chinese literary art . A sentence in the Chinese national anthem is sung to praise and memorize the Wall. What's more, many phrases and sayings have been carried down from generation to generation to commemorate this magnificent man-made wonder.

Popular Tourist Attraction

The Great Wall is famous all over the world and attracts 4 million tourists every year. It attracts tourists for its historical and archeological value, as well as the majestic scenery seen from the Wall.

• 1-Day Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour
• 2-Day Jiankou Wild Great Wall Camping Tour

Recommended Great Wall Experiences

If you want to walk on the Great Wall and admire its majestic scenery, please see our recommended tours below for inspiration:

• Private 4-Day Emperor's Tour of Beijing

Not interested in the above tours? See more popular Great Wall Tours , or tell us about your interests and requirements. China Highlights will help you to create your own Great Wall Tour .

Learn More about the Great Wall

• How Long It Took to Build the Great Wall of China?
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• Why the Great Wall WAS, and STILL IS, So Important?
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How to visit the great wall of china.

Most people dream of walking the Great Wall of China at some point in their life. The wonderment of such a vast and incredible human construction tends to leave a lasting impression on a young mind. It’s a great bucket list item to pursue, and I highly recommend making a trip to the see and walk on the Great Wall of China.

It’s not too difficult to get there, and there are actually numerous different parts of the wall you can go to, making it so easy to see. I was worried it might not stand up to my expectations once I saw it in person, but that was not at all the case.

In fact, the Great Wall of China was so much more than I could foresee. It was magnificent. In fact, I truly loved my entire visit to China and highly recommend spending some time there. See the reasons I loved China so much. How much do you know about China?

Learn a few interesting facts about it before you visit! The Great Wall of China is one of the top tourist attractions in the world, drawing more than 10 million visitors from all corners of the globe every year. It’s  one of those really cool experiences that everyone should have in their lifetime.

They don’t call it one of the 7 Great Wonders of the World for nothing. Just standing on it, peering out over the vast countryside below, you can almost sense the pride and determination that it took to build it.

You can almost feel the years of toil and anguish the soldiers, convicts and laborers who constructed it must have felt, you can almost see the world in which building something so massive was necessary. It’s a living piece of history that I feel privileged to have walked on.

Table of Contents

How to Walk the Great Wall of China

If you’re wondering can you walk the Great Wall of China, the answer is yes. Of course you can! There are a few sections of the wall that are open to tourists. Where you go depends greatly on what you want to do there and how far you’re willing to go. 

Badaling Section

We entered the Great Wall at the Badaling Section, which is both the easiest entrance to get to and the most frequented by tourists. It’s only about 45 miles from Beijing and can be reached by train and bus, if you’re on your own, or with any number of tour companies.

The section of the wall at Badaling is the most well-preserved and stretches some 7.5 miles, though only about 4,000 yards of it are open to the public.

If you’re just wanting to see the wall in as close to original condition as possible, Badaling is the place to go. Other sections of the Great Wall of China are not as well preserved, or have even crumbled out of existence.

There is a group tour you can take from Beijing to the Badaling section of the wall. It’s an 8-hour trip that also includes a visit to the tomb of one of the most important Ming Dynasty emperors. This is a great way to see the wall without needing to do the planning and figuring out of transport on your own.

If you’d rather plan your own trip, but ensure you have a ticket to get in once you arrive, you can buy your Badaling entry ticket here .

What to Expect

The entrance at Badaling offers very little fanfare. There is a restaurant or two, a couple of souvenir shops, a museum and an exhibit on the Terracotta Warriors (in case you can’t make it all the way to Xian to see them in person).

At the gate, you grab your ticket and decide which side of the wall you wish to walk. We chose the south side, which had less people on it, and I’m really glad we did. We were able to take our time walking up the exceptionally steep inclines, peer over the edges for as long as we wanted and snap some really nice pictures along the way.

The North route may be more famous or more scenic, but I thought it was nice to take pictures looking to the north rather than walk (or should I say hike) it with the ever-present fear of passing out from lack of oxygen, although they do provide a cable car that will take you to the top, so you don’t have to worry.

The climb at times can be quite arduous and I can only imagine how difficult of a feat it was to build in an era without the help of modern building techniques. I wouldn’t recommend walking it on a rainy or particularly cold day, as you might find yourself landing on your butt more times than you care to.

It’s not only steep, it’s slippery in places where the brick has been warn by the ever-present traipsing of tourists.

On the south side of the wall, there are five towers, from which the rest of the path appears to be draped like streamers for miles in the distance. From afar, it’s quite an incredible view. I imagine that another time of the year would have afforded us the addition of green vegetation or autumn foliage.

But we were there to see the wall, after all, not the trees. There is a cable car at the south side that you can ride to the top, so you don’t need to climb those steep steps. The cost of the cable car is 40 CYN one way or 60 round trip. That is in addition to the 40-45 CYN you must pay to get in.

Mutianyu Section

Mutianyu is a section of the Great Wall of China located in the Huairou District, also about 45 miles to the northeast of the center of the city. 

Like Badaling, Mutianyu is also a well preserved section of the wall. It often has less tourists, as well, so you might not see the long lines and crowds you find at Badaling. To reach this section of the wall, you can take the Mubus from the city center that goes directly there or you can book a private tour that includes the wall and Summer Palace. I think this is definitely the way to go!

There’s also a guided tour option to the Jinshaling section that includes transportation and a guided hike from Beijing.

This part of the wall is 3.4 miles in length and it has been renovated, so it’s safe to climb. You can enter at two points – the north and the south. Both require quite a bit of hiking. The cable car is located near the North entrance and should be used by anyone who can’t or doesn’t want to hike.

The cost to get into Mutianyu is around 40 CYN ($5 USD). The cable car costs 100 CYN for adults, 50 CYN for kids. Then you can take a chair lift or a toboggan ride down for the same cost.

When to See the Great Wall of China

I went to the wall in March and the “traffic” wasn’t at all bad. I’ve seen other traveler’s pictures where some parts of the walkway were so packed that it more resembled a crowded nightclub than the great wonder that it should be.

Sharing the wall with all of those people can cheapen the experience and mar any pictures you might take. For that reason I would really suggest visiting the Great Wall of China at a more pleasing (less crowded) time.

Those times are typically in the spring and fall (March-May and Sept-Nov). You can go all year round, though, if your schedule doesn’t allow you to go during the shoulder season.

Final Thoughts on Walking the Great Wall of China

This is definitely one of those experiences you must try in your lifetime. To see the Great Wall of China is a splendid thing that you can only imagine until you see it in person.

There are other ways you can experience the Great Wall of China, like hiking the Great Wall of China and camping out overnight or even running a marathon. If you’re into something alternative, you should look into those options too.

Be Prepared For Travel Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:

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• Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
• Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner )
• Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
• Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)

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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

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Why Is The Great Wall Of China A Tourist Attraction

Published: November 7, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Cleopatra Fleischman

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Introduction

The Great Wall of China, one of the most iconic and impressive structures ever built, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of the ancient Chinese civilization. Stretching over 13,000 miles, this architectural marvel traverses diverse terrains, from rugged mountains to vast plains, and holds immense historical and cultural significance.

The Great Wall of China was originally constructed as a defensive fortification to protect China from nomadic tribes and potential invasions. Its construction began as early as the 7th century BC and continued for centuries under different dynasties. The wall consists of various sections, each built during different time periods and using different materials.

Today, the Great Wall of China has become a major tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors from around the world. Its sheer size, historical significance, and breathtaking views have made it an enduring symbol of Chinese civilization and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Aside from its historical and cultural significance, the Great Wall of China offers visitors a chance to experience the architectural wonders of ancient China. From the imposing watchtowers to the steep steps and winding paths, every section of the wall showcases the remarkable engineering skills of the people who built it.

This article will delve into the historical background, architectural features, and significance of the Great Wall of China. We will also explore the factors contributing to its popularity as a tourist attraction, the challenges it faces, and the preservation efforts being undertaken to safeguard this magnificent wonder.

Historical Background of the Great Wall of China

The origins of the Great Wall of China can be traced back to the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) when various Chinese states built walls to defend their territories. However, it was during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) that the first unified and continuous wall was constructed. This early version of the wall served as a defense against attacks from the northern nomadic tribes.

Over the centuries, different dynasties, including the Han, Sui, and Ming, contributed to the construction, expansion, and reinforcement of the wall. The Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) extended the wall further west to protect important trade routes, while the Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD) repaired and reinforced existing sections. However, it was the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) that extensively rebuilt and expanded the Great Wall to its current form.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall reached its peak as a defensive structure. It was constructed using bricks, stones, and rammed earth, with watchtowers strategically placed along its length. These watchtowers provided lookout points and fortified positions for soldiers.

While the primary purpose of the Great Wall was defense against invaders, it also served as a symbolic display of imperial power and national unity. The wall symbolized the strength and greatness of the Chinese empire, reinforcing the metaphorical notion that China was an impregnable fortress.

Despite the incredible scale and effort put into the construction of the Great Wall, it was not entirely effective in keeping out invaders. In fact, numerous breaches and invasions occurred over the centuries. However, the wall served as a deterrent and made it more challenging for invaders to breach China’s borders.

Today, the Great Wall of China stands as a testament to the rich history and perseverance of the Chinese people. It reflects their determination to protect their land and preserve their cultural identity amidst external threats. It also stands as a reminder of the incredible engineering achievements of ancient civilizations, captivating visitors with its historical significance and architectural grandeur.

Architectural Features of the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a remarkable testament to the architectural brilliance of ancient China. Its construction, spanning centuries and different dynasties, showcases a variety of architectural features and techniques. Here are some notable features of the Great Wall:

• Materials: The construction of the Great Wall utilized a variety of materials, depending on the availability in each region. The most common materials include stones, bricks, and rammed earth. In some sections, layers of tamped earth, reeds, and wooden frames were used to strengthen the structure.
• Watchtowers: Distributed along the length of the wall, watchtowers served as strategic strongholds and observation posts. These towers allowed soldiers to survey the surrounding areas, spot potential threats, and communicate using smoke signals or lanterns. The design of the watchtowers varied across different sections of the wall and often incorporated intricate features and decorative elements.
• Fortresses: In addition to the watchtowers, the Great Wall also housed numerous fortresses at key points. These fortresses provided additional defense and acted as military bases. They were equipped with barracks, stables, wells, and other necessary facilities to sustain soldiers stationed along the wall.
• Gateways and Passes: The Great Wall featured gateways and passes at strategic locations that allowed for controlled access and movement. These gateways were fortified with additional defensive structures, such as barbicans and drawbridges, to enhance security.
• Steep Grades and Steps: Due to the varying terrains it crossed, the Great Wall often traverses steep mountain slopes. To ensure stability and ease of movement, sections of the wall employ steps or inclines. The steps are of varying heights and widths, making the ascent challenging but manageable for both soldiers and visitors.

The architectural features of the Great Wall of China not only served defensive purposes but also exhibited the artistic and aesthetic sensibilities of the builders. The integration of functional elements with decorative elements, such as intricate carvings, ornamental patterns, and inscriptions, showcases the skill and craftsmanship of ancient Chinese architects.

Exploring the Great Wall allows visitors to appreciate the remarkable engineering and architectural marvel that has stood the test of time. From the imposing walls to the watchtowers and fortresses, each section offers a unique glimpse into ancient China’s ingenuity and dedication to protecting its borders.

Significance and Symbolism of the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China holds immense historical, cultural, and symbolic significance for the Chinese people. It is not merely a physical barrier but a powerful symbol of unity, national identity, and an enduring testament to human perseverance. Here are some of the key aspects of its significance and symbolism:

• Defense and Protection: The primary purpose of the Great Wall was to defend China against invasions by nomadic tribes from the north. As a result, it played a crucial role in safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The wall represented a physical and psychological barrier that deterred potential invaders, fostering a sense of security among the Chinese population.
• Chinese Civilizational Achievement: The construction of the Great Wall exemplifies the remarkable engineering and architectural prowess of ancient China. It stands as a testament to the country’s rich history and the ingenuity of its people. As an architectural marvel, the Great Wall showcases the technological advancements and the immense effort put into its construction, solidifying China’s position as a great civilization.
• Unity and National Identity: The Great Wall has served as a unifying symbol for the Chinese people throughout history. It has played a vital role in fostering a sense of national identity, pride, and resilience. The wall’s construction involved the collective effort and sacrifice of countless individuals, representing the strength that lies in unity and cooperation.
• Cultural Icon and Tourist Attraction: The Great Wall of China has transcended its original purpose and has become an iconic symbol of China. It is a source of inspiration for artists, writers, and poets who have praised its magnificence and grandeur. The wall’s historical and cultural significance attracts millions of tourists from around the world each year, eager to witness this extraordinary feat of human achievement.
• Metaphorical Representation: Beyond its physical presence, the Great Wall holds metaphorical significance. It represents the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Chinese people in the face of adversity. It symbolizes their determination to protect their homeland, preserve their cultural heritage, and withstand external challenges.

The Great Wall of China has left an indelible mark on Chinese history, culture, and national psyche. It continues to inspire awe and admiration, serving as a reminder of the remarkable achievements of the past and the enduring legacy of the Chinese civilization. Whether admired for its historical significance, architectural brilliance, or symbolic representation, the Great Wall remains an iconic symbol of pride, unity, and national heritage for the Chinese people.

Tourism and the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting millions of visitors from all corners of the globe. Its historical significance, architectural splendor, and breathtaking views make it an irresistible attraction for travelers. Here are some key factors that contribute to the appeal of the Great Wall as a tourist destination:

• Historical and Cultural Significance: The Great Wall of China is steeped in history and culture. Visiting the wall allows tourists to immerse themselves in the rich heritage and ancient civilization of China. It provides a unique opportunity to learn about the country’s dynasties, conflicts, and the enduring spirit of its people.
• Architectural Marvel: The Great Wall’s monumental architecture and engineering brilliance captivate the imagination of visitors. Exploring its winding paths, climbing its steep steps, and marveling at the watchtowers reveal the skill and craftsmanship of ancient Chinese builders. The sheer scale and complexity of the wall leave tourists in awe of the human achievement it represents.
• Picturesque Landscapes: Stretching through diverse terrains, the Great Wall offers breathtaking and varied landscapes. From panoramic mountain views to sweeping vistas of lush valleys, each section of the wall provides a unique and picturesque experience. The beauty of the natural surroundings enhances the allure of the Great Wall as a tourist destination.
• Trekking and Hiking Opportunities: The Great Wall presents abundant trekking and hiking opportunities for adventure enthusiasts. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll along restored sections or a challenging hike across wild and rugged terrain, the wall offers unforgettable experiences for those seeking outdoor activities and a connection with nature.
• Cultural Exchange: The Great Wall serves as a bridge for cultural exchange. Visitors from different countries and backgrounds come together to explore its wonders, share stories, and learn from each other. The wall has become a meeting point for people from around the world, fostering an environment of cultural understanding and appreciation.
• Photographic Opportunities: The Great Wall offers countless opportunities for stunning photographs. From panoramic shots of the winding wall disappearing into the horizon to close-ups of ancient bricks and intricate watchtowers, the visual appeal of the Great Wall provides photographers with a wealth of subject matter to capture.

With its historical significance, architectural marvels, breathtaking landscapes, and cultural exchange opportunities, the Great Wall of China has firmly established itself as a must-visit destination for travelers. It offers a captivating experience that combines exploration, adventure, and a deep appreciation for the grandeur of Chinese history and culture.

Factors Contributing to the Great Wall’s Popularity as a Tourist Attraction

The Great Wall of China’s popularity as a tourist attraction can be attributed to a combination of factors that make it a unique and captivating destination. From its historical significance to its architectural grandeur, here are some key factors that contribute to the Great Wall’s popularity:

• Historical Significance: The Great Wall holds immense historical value, spanning over centuries and representing the rich legacy of Chinese civilization. It is renowned for its role in defending the nation and its cultural symbolism, making it a remarkable destination for history enthusiasts.
• Architectural Marvel: The Great Wall’s grand and intricate architecture is awe-inspiring to visitors. Its imposing watchtowers, steep steps, and fortified walls showcase the incredible engineering achievements of the ancient Chinese. Tourists are drawn to witness and marvel at the scale and craftsmanship of this monumental structure.
• UNESCO World Heritage Status: The Great Wall of China has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. This designation adds to its appeal, as it highlights the wall’s universal value and the need for its preservation. Tourists are often inclined to visit heritage sites of global importance.
• Scenic Beauty: The Great Wall traverses diverse landscapes, offering breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, and picturesque countryside. This natural beauty enhances the overall experience for visitors and makes it an ideal destination for photography and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Cultural Immersion: Visiting the Great Wall allows tourists to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and history. They can learn about the customs, traditions, and beliefs associated with the wall. Interacting with local communities and participating in cultural activities further enriches the experience.
• Accessibility and Infrastructure: The Great Wall’s popularity is also inherently linked to the accessibility and infrastructure available to tourists. Many sections of the wall, such as Badaling and Mutianyu, have been restored and developed with visitor facilities like cable cars, shops, and restaurants, making it easier and more comfortable for tourists to explore.
• Media Exposure: The Great Wall has received significant media exposure over the years, featuring prominently in films, documentaries, and travel shows. This exposure has helped to create awareness and generate interest among potential visitors, driving its popularity as a tourist attraction.

The combination of historical significance, architectural splendor, scenic beauty, cultural immersion, accessibility, and media exposure contribute to the Great Wall of China’s enduring popularity as a must-visit tourist attraction. Its universal appeal as an iconic symbol of Chinese history and culture continues to draw millions of visitors from around the world each year.

Challenges and Preservation Efforts for the Great Wall of China

Ensuring the long-term preservation of the Great Wall of China presents several challenges due to its immense size, age, and exposure to natural and human-related factors. Here are some of the significant challenges and the ongoing preservation efforts:

• Deterioration and Weathering: The Great Wall is over 2,000 years old and has faced extensive weathering and natural deterioration. Harsh weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, rainfall, and wind erosion, contribute to the degradation of the wall’s structural integrity.
• Tourism Impact: The high volume of tourists visiting the Great Wall can also pose challenges to its preservation. Foot traffic, littering, and unauthorized modifications can cause damage to the walls and surrounding areas. Preservation efforts must strike a balance between promoting tourism and protecting the wall.
• Illegal Construction and Quarrying: Illegal construction and quarrying activities near the Great Wall pose a threat to its preservation. Encroachments on its lands, unauthorized mining, and the extraction of materials from the wall can compromise its integrity and historical value.
• Lack of Funding: Preserving the Great Wall requires significant financial resources. However, limited funding presents a challenge to its maintenance, restoration, and research. Securing sustainable funding for preservation and conservation projects remains a continuous challenge.
• Fragmentation and Lost Sections: Over time, sections of the Great Wall have been lost due to neglect, natural disasters, and human activities. Fragmentation poses a challenge to preserving the wall’s integrity and historical continuity. Efforts are being made to locate and restore these lost sections.
• Conservation and Restoration: Preservation efforts involve conservation and restoration work to maintain and repair damaged sections of the wall. This includes stabilizing foundations, replacing missing or decayed bricks, and preventing further deterioration caused by weathering and human activities.
• Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about the importance of preserving the Great Wall is crucial. Educating visitors, local communities, and future generations about the historical and cultural significance of the wall helps foster a sense of responsibility for its preservation.
• Collaboration and Monitoring: Collaborative efforts between government authorities, conservation organizations, researchers, and local communities are vital for the preservation of the Great Wall. Regular monitoring and assessments ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect and preserve this cultural heritage site.

Preserving the Great Wall of China is an ongoing endeavor that requires a combination of research, funding, conservation practices, and public involvement. With concerted efforts, diligent monitoring, and strategic preservation initiatives, it is possible to safeguard this iconic symbol of human ingenuity and Chinese cultural heritage for future generations to admire and appreciate.

The Great Wall of China stands as a magnificent testament to the rich history, culture, and architectural brilliance of ancient China. Its towering walls, grand watchtowers, and expansive landscapes have captivated the imaginations of people around the world for centuries. The Great Wall holds immense historical and cultural significance, representing the resilience, unity, and ingenuity of the Chinese civilization.

As a major tourist attraction, the Great Wall offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Chinese history and culture. Its historical significance, architectural marvels, and scenic beauty continue to attract millions of visitors each year. The wall’s popularity is a testament to its universal value as a symbol of human achievement and cultural heritage.

Despite its popularity, the Great Wall faces various challenges that threaten its preservation and integrity. Deterioration, tourism impact, illegal activities, lack of funding, and lost sections pose ongoing challenges that must be addressed through collaborative efforts and strategic preservation initiatives.

Preservation efforts for the Great Wall encompass conservation, restoration, education, and awareness. By raising awareness about its significance, implementing conservation practices, and securing sustainable funding, it is possible to protect the Great Wall for future generations to behold and appreciate.

The Great Wall of China stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of human achievement and the cultural richness of ancient China. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our historical and architectural heritage. With continued efforts and attention, we can ensure that this awe-inspiring wonder remains a symbol of Chinese history and a source of inspiration for generations to come.

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Great Wall of China recreated in spectacular sculpture of 100,000 balloons

A gigantic balloon sculpture of the Great Wall of China brought ancient and modern landmarks together when it was unveiled at the Canton Tower.

The Great Wall emerged around the Tower on 22 February, successfully setting the Guinness World Records title for the largest balloon sculpture of a landmark .

This unique balloon Great Wall has a total length, width, and height exceeding 39 metres (127.95 ft), consisting of three watchtowers and two corridors.

It utilized traditional balloon binding techniques with a cross structure, and was made up of a whopping 100,000 golden balloons.

Read this article in Chinese and check out more content in Chinese here !

The assembly, completed by 20 balloon artists over three days, presented a spectacular fusion of historical and modern landmarks.

The appearance of the "Balloon Great Wall" not only brought together two iconic structures from different eras but also added a captivating scenic attraction to Guangzhou, drawing numerous visitors.

According to the venue manager of the Canton Tower, this challenge marked the first event after the Lunar New Year in 2024, carrying significant meaning.

Initiated by the China Senior Health Association and organized by the 21st Century Business Herald, the challenge aimed to leverage the positive image of the Great Wall as a symbol of "protection and defense."

Coinciding with the third Shingles Awareness Week, the event called on middle-aged and elderly individuals to actively build their own immune "Great Wall" to protect their health.

Shingles, also known as Herpes Zoster, is an infectious skin disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. With over 90% of adults carrying the virus, about one-third of people may experience it during their lifetime.

The organizers hope that through this challenge, more attention will be drawn to elderly health, encouraging proactive prevention to help seniors enjoy their golden years and contribute to the early realization of healthy aging goals.

Does your brand have what it takes to become Officially Amazing™? Visit our Business Solutions page to find out how we can help or contact us .

Want more? Follow us on Google News  and across our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook , Twitter/X , Instagram , Threads ,  TikTok , LinkedIn , and Snapchat Discover . Don't forget to check out our videos on YouTube  and become part of our group chat by following the Guinness World Records  WhatsApp channel . Still not had enough? Click here  to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.

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7 Strange Discoveries About the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders of the world with a history that dates back more than 2,000 years . While its popularity is as old as time, this eye-popping marvel has continued to grip the attention of tourists globally. The common knowledge about the wall is that it is a military defense project featuring watch towers, garrison stations, and connective walls. However, several strange discoveries that inspire a burning curiosity to visit this monument are always revealing themselves. Here, we look at seven strange discoveries about the Great Wall of China, otherwise known as the world's longest man-made structure.

Plants on either Side of the Wall Are Genetically Different

According to biological science, living things will start displaying diverse traits when separated by natural barriers such as mountains, hills, or glaciers. The Great Wall of China is artificial, but plants on either side of the walls have different genetic components. Scientists from from Peking University, Beijing, confirmed the genetic variability of plants alongside the Great Wall. They experimented with the plants at the Juyongguan section of the wall and compared them with plants separated by natural barriers such as mountains. studying three plant groups. To their amazement, they found that the wall, like a mountain, acted to separate plants genetically.

It Could Take You a Year to Walk the Great Wall of China

Thru-hiking has become popular among many travelers, and the Great Wall of China is one of the top destinations. With a combined length of 13,171 miles, it is almost impossible for anyone to walk its entire length. Most people choose to walk the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, but this section alone stretches continuously for around 5,500 miles. If you were to walk 20 miles every day, it would take approximately 9 months to complete. It could take even longer, depending on weather conditions and how long your cash will last! Despite the nature of the task, a few people have successfully walked the Great Wall, including Dong Yaohui, who did it in 508 days (17 months).

The Walls Cannot Be Seen From Space

Many believe that this colossal structure is visible from space. Unfortunately, this myth fell apart when humans began landing on the moon. Initially, the Chinese rejected the claim that the walls could not be seen from space because it came from Western authors. The Ministry of Education even spread the claim in school books. However, In 2003, the general Chinese public came around after Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut to go to space, confirmed that the wall could not be seen from up there.

The Wall Was Built With Rice

The Great Wall of China was built with stones, sand, bricks, rammed earth, and several other materials , including rice. As impossible and strange as this may sound, it is true. The sticky rice was used to make the mortar that bound the bricks of the Great Wall of China together during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD). The mortar was created by mixing sticky rice flour with slaked lime. The ancient people of the Ming Dynasty knew of the adhesive property of rice long before Modern science. Many years later, modern chemists discovered that rice contained a unique type of polysaccharide known as amylopectin, which gives sticky rice its strong adhesive properties. The sticky rice mortar is still the main binding material within the brick sections of the walls to date. It was so effective that weeds could not grow between the walls, a common occurrence with regular mortar.

The Wall May Be the World’s Longest Cemetary

Human bones were not used to build the walls like rice. However, some estimates of the human toll it took for its construction make the wall the world's longest cemetery. Possibly hundreds of thousands of workers died during its construction and were buried at its foundation. Many of these workers are known to have been convicts who were used to build the wall as punishment since its construction was exceptionally life-threatening.

The Wall Stretches to Mongolia

As the world's longest man-made structure, the Great Wall of China extends beyond China , and into Mongolia . However, the Mongolian part of the wall was largely unknown for many years until a group of explorers spearheaded by William Lindesay rediscovered it in the Gobi Desert. Interestingly, some Mongolians had no idea the wall got to their country or thought it had been destroyed. The Mongolian section of the wall, known as the arc, even predates the main part of the walls built by the Ming Dynasty (1348 - 1644) by about 500 years. Sadly, the Mongolian arc is one of the most dilapidated sections of the wall and receives the least attention, considering that it is just 62 miles long.

The Walls May Disappear in a Few Years

The Great Wall of China stands as a source of national pride for the Chinese people, and it is also evidence of the strength and intelligence of humans. Unfortunately, the walls are not properly maintained. Over the years, about one-third of the Great Wall has disappeared as a result of vandalism and natural causes. Some early walls are currently on the verge of collapse, and without immediate conservation efforts, entire sections may disappear in as little as 30 years.

The Great Wall of China is one of the most popular attractions in the world, receiving approximately 10 million visitors yearly. This is because the wall is a construction wonder with many fascinating features. While the monumental structure is reportedly disappearing due to high tourist traffic, it will continue to stun travelers, archaeologists, civil engineers, and just about anyone with an eye for great things.

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Discover the Wonders: Top Things to Do in China Beyond the Great Wall

C hina, a land of ancient wonders and modern marvels. But what if you've seen the Great Wall and tasted Peking duck? What's next? Dive into the lesser-known treasures of this vast nation and discover why over 55.7 million tourists flocked here in 2018.

TL;DR: China's Hidden Gems

• China is the third most visited country globally, with a rich tapestry of attractions beyond the famous Great Wall.
• From ancient relics in Xi'an to the bustling streets of Shanghai, there's something for every traveler .
• Discover secret spots and insider tips from experienced travelers like Deborah Green.

Why China Should Be on Every Traveler's Bucket List

According to the World Tourism Organization, China ranks third in global tourist visits. But why? Let's delve deeper.

The Great Wall: More Than Just Bricks and Mortar

Yes, the Great Wall is iconic. Stretching over 13,000 miles and with a history spanning 2,300 years, it's a testament to China's enduring spirit. But as travel writer Chris Taylor puts it, "China has a lot more to offer than just the Great Wall or the Forbidden City. The country is vast and diverse , from the ancient relics of Xi'an to the modern metropolis of Shanghai, from the desert landscapes of Xinjiang to the stunning karst mountains of Guilin."

Unearth the Secrets of Xi'an

Speaking of Xi'an, did you know it's home to the Terracotta Army? Thousands of life-sized statues, each with a unique face, guarding the tomb of China's first emperor. A sight that leaves even the most seasoned travelers in awe.

Shanghai: Where Tradition Meets Modernity

From the historic Bund to the futuristic skyline of Pudong, Shanghai is a city of contrasts. Explore hidden alleyways, savor local delicacies , or dance the night away in a rooftop bar. The choice is yours!

Experience the Magic of Guilin

Imagine cruising down a river, surrounded by towering limestone peaks, their reflections shimmering in the water. That's Guilin for you . A place where nature and culture intertwine, offering experiences that linger long after the trip ends.

Insider Tips from Deborah Green

When in China, don't just stick to the tourist trail. Seek out local experiences. Join a tea ceremony, try your hand at calligraphy, or hike off the beaten path in Zhangjiajie. And always , always have some local street food. The flavors will blow your mind!

Dive Deeper: China's Cultural and Natural Wonders

China's vastness isn't just geographical; it's cultural, historical, and natural. Beyond the bustling cities and iconic landmarks, there lies a treasure trove of experiences that often escape the typical tourist's radar. Here's a deeper dive into some of these wonders.

Yunnan's Enchanting Beauty

Located in the southwestern part of China, Yunnan is a province that boasts a diverse range of ethnic groups, each with its unique traditions and festivals. The ancient town of Dali, with its traditional Bai architecture and serene Erhai Lake, offers a peaceful retreat from the urban hustle. Not to mention the breathtaking Yuanyang Rice Terraces, where layers upon layers of cascading fields paint a picture of nature's artistry.

Hangzhou's West Lake

Described by Marco Polo as "the City of Heaven," Hangzhou's West Lake is a testament to that claim. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, this freshwater lake is dotted with pagodas, bridges, and islands. A boat ride here , especially during sunset, is nothing short of poetic. The reflections of the ancient structures on the shimmering waters tell tales of bygone eras.

The Silk Road Adventure

The ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected the East and West, has left behind a legacy that travelers can still experience today. Cities like Dunhuang offer glimpses into this past with its Mogao Caves, a complex of 492 grottoes adorned with Buddhist art. And then there's the echoing sand mountain, where the dunes sing as the winds pass.

Deborah Green's Pro Tip

If you're looking to truly immerse yourself in China's diverse tapestry, consider attending a local festival. Whether it's the Water-Splashing Festival in Yunnan or the Lantern Festival celebrated nationwide, these events offer a firsthand experience of China's rich cultural heritage. And remember, while landmarks are fascinating, sometimes the real magic lies in the unexpected detours and the stories of the people you meet along the way.

China is more than just its popular landmarks. It's a land of stories, of people, and of experiences waiting to be discovered. So, pack your bags, bring your sense of adventure, and embark on a journey like no other. See you in China!

What are some lesser-known attractions in China?

Places like the Rainbow Mountains in Zhangye, the ancient town of Lijiang, and the serene Jiuzhaigou Valley are just a few hidden gems.

Is street food safe to eat in China?

Generally, yes. Just ensure the food is freshly cooked and the stall is clean. Trust your instincts and enjoy the culinary journey!

How do I get around in China?

China boasts an extensive high-speed rail network, making it easy to travel between major cities. For shorter distances, taxis and subways are convenient options.

What's the best time to visit China?

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal, with pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists.

Do I need to know Mandarin to travel in China?

While it's helpful, many signs are in English, and translation apps can assist in communication. A smile and gestures go a long way!

World Tourism Organization

China Travel Guide

Interview with Chris Taylor, Travel Writer