A Little Advice… The Best Spots to Visit The Great Wall of China

Last updated on October 24, 2023 by Shannon

The chair lift at the Great Wall of China

Sharp, cold air hit my face as the first views of the Great Wall of China appeared over the treetops. The chairlift crested the forested hillside and shot straight ahead toward the looming rock wall.

It’s spring in China and warm air is still months away. The mountains are barren, just a hint of dull green tinting the mountainscape.

Heights like this have my nerves fraying like a cut rope, and I watch my feet dangle from the thin metal box charting a rickety path upwards, hundreds of feet above the ground.

Planning a Visit to Mutianyu

Days earlier, I met my friends in Beijing so we could travel China together. Taking recommendations from others, we booked a tour to the Mutianyu section, which is less than two hours outside of the city.

Although there are countless tour companies, we booked through our accommodation, Beijing Downtown Backpackers. There are many restored spots on the Great Wall— Badaling is the closest place to visit the Great Wall from Beijing—but the sheer untainted beauty of Mutianyu is a compelling reason to travel a bit outside of the tourist craze in that section of the wall.

how to hike Mutianyu great wall of china
In the early spring, all of the views from the Great Wall of China are bit more drab than the summer months. Expect a brown landscape and shrubless trees as the country leaves frosty winter behind. But the sunshine made it gorgeous!

With winter only just ending, the brown-tipped winter mountains roll along right up to the dull gray stones forming the most famous wall in the world. In each direction the wall sprawled into the distance, not ending, but instead curving along a mountainside and fading from view.

I had made it to the Ten Thousand Li Long Wall.

Direct translations the Chinese name for the Great Wall provides a lyrical look at the Chinese language. To them, the Wall is more than just Great, it takes on a mythic greatness and largeness in the country’s history and culture. Even more, according to the local Chinese, “If you haven’t climbed the Great Wall, you are not a real man.”

And so, when we made it to the wall, my friends and I split left, which has a gentler slope. The three of us each wanted to make distance hiking, and we passed through many rebuilt watchtowers, continuing onward and exploring the rugged and less rebuilt sections of the wall.

History of the Great Wall of China

Views toward Watchtower 21 and beyond on the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu.
Views toward Watchtower 21 and beyond on the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu.

The Great Wall dates back to the Qin Dynasty and the now non-existent ancient parts of the Wall were built as far back as 221 BC. Those ancient sections, however, crumbled long ago.

As the dynasties progressed throughout China’s history, each ruler refortified the Wall. Each ruler added new sections to the wall as more defenses were needed against Mongolia and other invading nearby nations (tribes at the time).

The Great Wall as history knows is credited to the fortification and reconstruction efforts of the Ming Dynasty between 1368 to 1644. It’s during this time that the Great Wall underwent massive expansions, mostly as a way to protect China from marauding Mongols. The Ming Dynasty’s efforts ensured that the Wall’s legacy lives on today.

Reconstruction of the Great Wall

Great Wall of China
Hiking the steeper inclines on the Great Wall was taxing!

China has embraced tourism in the past decade and the Great Wall is on the receiving end of ardent attention from the government.

What do I mean by “ardent?” The Great Wall is stunning. The stones are stacked high and sturdy. Safely reconstructed viewpoints allow tourists to view the splendor. This government effort transformed the once rugged and dilapidated parts of the wall and brought them to their former glory.

And while these reconstructed sections produced a more sanitized version of the wall, rugged sections remain outside of Beijing.

While I had hoped to do a formal hike between Jiinshanling and Simatai, the reconstruction efforts spoiled that plan. It turned out, however, that spending the day at Mutianyu was lovely and I can’t imagine experiencing it any other way.

What’s It Like on the Great Wall?

Views of the region from the char lift!

The landscape around the Great Wall shifts with the seasons and impacts the views from the wall. In spring, just-budding flowers bloomed on the windswept trees. The shrubs on the hillside were awash in the olive greens.

The land was opening one eye to say a sleepy hello to the travelers braving the cold winds for a chance to sit on the Great Wall and simply look.

Which Section Should You Visit?

Jumping for joy at the Great Wall of China!
Jumping for joy at the Great Wall of China!

Mutianyu was a good in between option for my trip. I had just two full days to experience Beijing and visiting the Great Wall is a signature activity. With many spots under construction, Mutianyu had the right combination of ease of access from Beijing and an ambiance of solitude out there in the mountains.

Some travelers’ photos of the wall show thick crowds all snapping photos and jockeying for space. Mutianyu is both well-touristed, but spacious. It’s not quite quiet enough for meditation and solitude, but the patient photographer (me!) can wait out the odd group or two long enough to shoot a tourist-free section of the Wall.

What to Expect From Your Great Wall Walk

Old cannon on the Great Wall of China

The views of the countryside changed with each step. My huffing breaths pumped out into the crisp, cool air with each of my clipped steps. I would stop at a watchtower and think, “Wow, at one point in history there was a member of the Chinese army standing right here, right in this spot, scanning the horizon and shouting out orders to his comrades.”

History is palpable on the Great Wall, with cannons embedded in the rocks and views into Mongolia. The scope of the view is incredible. I squinted into the far distance, uninterrupted views for miles in every direction. Square rock watchtowers stand sentinel on every high mountaintop. The scope is what drew my eyes into the distance so often.

Looking out from the Wall is as monumental as standing on the tall temples of Tikal, like viewing the awe-inspiring mystery of Petra, or the carved faces of Angkor Wat. It’s these major feats of human manpower and intelligence that parallel the experience of viewing the Great Wall.

The sun was fully up by the time my friends and I made it to the 14th tower. Our goal had been to hike to tower 21—that was ambitious for the hours our tour afforded us. We abandoned that goal when we saw our slow progress, and instead sat on one of the cannon mounts snacking on dried fruits and nuts.

This period of rest gave us time to notice the trees bending in submission to the strong winds. We smiled at the sound of a group of schoolgirls giggling as they photographed us Westerners before continuing their hike.

A few vendors also dotted the Wall; the vendors are unobtrusive at Mutianyu and they left us in peace, only giving the briefest tilt of the head as we passed. They knew we’d either buy a drink, or not. Hassling us wouldn’t change that.

Funny vendor kicking our butts at the Great Wall of China.
Lookout spots from the watchtower on the Great Wall of China

One of the vendors won our business with his clear enthusiasm and personality. A joker at heart, he was just plain fun. We passed him several times as we walked and stopped for photos and he always shot us a friendly smile and no sales pitch—a winning combo in my book!

After a few hours, the cold wind penetrated my final protective layer and even the strong sunshine couldn’t keep me warm. It was time to leave the Wall and seek out lunch at the single restaurant at Mutianyu.

Considering the tourists are a captive audience, the restaurant is a great spot with surprisingly affordable eats.

Views of the Great Wall of China from Mutianyu
Views of the Great Wall of China from Mutianyu

One fun thing offered at Mutianyu is the toboggan ride you can take on the way down. The Great Wall sits high on the mountaintop, and so you can either spend your hours on the Wall exploring, or leave a bit earlier and then hike back down to the road.

Of course, my friends and I queued for our turn to rocket ourselves down the steep hillside. The man running the attraction gives you a strong shove to start you out, then a few sharp twists and turns and the suddenly the Great Wall is gone from sight.

The Great Wall portion of our day was over, but if the swelling contentment in my chest was any indication, yeah, I just might be a “real man” now.

Great Wall of China
The Great Wall spanning into the distance; look carefully and you can see the wall extending even across the far hilltops in the distance as it stretches across China.

Which Section of the Great Wall Should You Visit?

If you’re in Beijing, you have options about which sections to visit. If you’re packing in a lot, like a visit to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in one day, you’ll have to stay as close as possible to the city.

Badaling

Badaling is 1.5 hours from Beijing and it’s the most popular spot. It heaves with massive tour buses and should generally be avoided if you have the time to visit a different spot on the Great Wall.

That said, this section is wheelchair accessible, even offering a ramp to visit one of the towers, and has other selling points—it has been the most extensively restored of all the sections of the Great Wall.

Mutianyu

Mutianyu is also 1.5 hours from Beijing, and it’s also popular, but fewer crowds flock to this spot. In the shoulder seasons (spring and fall), it’s not overrun. My friends and I enjoyed this beautifully rebuilt section of the wall.

Visiting Mutianyu offers the best combination of a restored section of the Great Wall, incredible views, and proximity to Beijing. While it’s also wheelchair accessible, Badaling is the more accessible option since it also offers the chance to explore a tower.

Jinshanling

If you have more time and ambition, Jinshanling is 2.5 hours from the city and significantly less touristed. Jinshanling is the best non-tourist option for those visiting the Great Wall from Beijing.

But if you’re backpacking China, consider visiting Jiayuguan in the Gansu Province for a truly alternative experience. Or visit Huanghua Cheng, which is hard to get to but offers gorgeous landscape.

When to Visit the Great Wall of China

Spring and fall are the best times—the weather is cool but the hillsides are alive with color. Winter is bitterly cold, and summer boasts gorgeous weather, but the wall is incredibly busy.

In terms of which day to visit the Great Wall? Avoid weekends at all costs if you’re visiting the spots closest to Beijing. During the week is the best time to arrange a trip to the Great Wall. If you visit Jinshanling from Beijing, even the weekends are delightfully free from tourists.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Great Wall?

Most spots on the Great Wall cost between 45-65 CNY to enter. Entrance to the Great Wall at Mutianyu costs 45 Yuan, and another 65 CNY if you want the chair lift up and the toboggan (or chair lift) back down. We did this option because it was good fun.

If you’re taking a tour to the Great Wall from Beijing, it will cost you roughly 350-750 Yuan. Most tours include include breakfast, lunch, and entrance fees.

How to Get to the Great Wall

If you’re visiting the Great Wall independently, early morning buses run from the city center to Badaling and Mutianyu. A train also runs out to Badaling.

If you’re traveling with multiple people, a taxi split among four people is likely both more cost effective and easier!

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31 thoughts on “A Little Advice… The Best Spots to Visit The Great Wall of China”

  1. Next time I visit China I want to visit the Great Wall – last time I did not have a ‘local’ with me and I had been warned about all the scams which scared me from going…thanks for the great post!

    Reply
    • You can definitely go and have a safe and fun experience on the Great Wall –
      hope you get back there soon to enjoy it! Thanks for stopping in and
      commenting :)

      Reply
  2. Beautiful jumping shot! I did the toboggan down, too, but it scared me. Thought I was going to shoot right out of it, haha.

    Reply
  3. I LOVED the great wall we went to the section that is now closed (jinshaling to simatri), they are rebuilding it into some kind of resort now, which is kinda sad!
    Wished I did a jumping photo!!!!

    Reply
    • Jealous you go to do the hike – the photos from that section looked amazing,
      but it is a shame that they are going to overhaul it so much and basically
      change what was such a great spot. Jumping shots FTW! Take them everywhere
      and we will start a trend! :)

      Reply
  4. Those pictures look awesome! Especially that jumping for joy.
    Hope to visit Great Wall of China one day too.

    Keep on writing!

    Reply
  5. Wow..!! Informative post on the Great Wall of China…All the pics here shows that you have enjoyed a-lot during the trip….The pics are very well clicked and shows your expertise in photography too…

    Reply
  6. Fabulous trip you enjoyed there on The Great Wall of China…..The post is very big but includes everything about the Great Wall as well as about your trip too….I love your blog and also i have bookmarked your blog so that i can come back here in future too….Thanks for sharing these pics..

    Reply
  7. You really do have the jumping for joy nailed :)

    I went to that section as well. You could wait around a bit to give the illusion of no one else being there. I was surprised how steep some of the sections were. It really is great *tips hat to Mongolia*.

    Reply
    • Thanks James! And glad to know that it was relatively calm while you were there too – I wonder what it’s like in the middle of summer?! Indeed a *courtesy to Mongolia* :)

      Reply
  8. The wall is such an impressive accomplishment. I really love the idea of taking a toboggan – how fun! That’s great that you got to visit without a lot of crowding.

    Reply
  9. Great description of your time there! This is something I’ve always wanted to do/see – I never really thought about the climbing being taxing but it makes sense.

    Reply
    • Thanks Andrea and John! The wall rolls with the hills, so some parts of it are a lot harder than you would assume – and shows that the Chinese must have been quite fit back in the day!

      Reply
  10. What a fantastic pic of you!!! You should have that one framed. I teared up the 1st time I visited the Wall. There are NO words to describe it.

    Reply
    • Thanks Andi! The scale and thought of how many peopled died making it, fighting near it – it really does hit you once you’re out there just how remote it is, and an amazing feat for them to have accomplished.

      Reply
  11. And that the Great Wall – in contrast to any other “site” on earth, is visible from Space; making it truly Universal in scope and scale.

    I got to see “my” wall at Jiayuguan, along the Silk Road. It is the first part of wall seen by anyone coming from the West (Europe). Was there in February of ’85. Alone (on the second year that China allowed individual/solo travelers). A light snow had fallen overnight. Not footprints other than my own. Twenty five years later the memory remains indelible. Safe travels Shannon

    Reply
    • Your own stories continue to amaze me – to have been one of the first handful of Westerners to see the Wall is incredible, and the solitude of being out there, before the tourism boom, just you and the wilderness. Wonderful; thanks for sharing :)

      Reply
  12. Great post and photos. The anticipation and experience of seeing this for the first time must have been amazing. I can’t wait to venture into this part of the world and experience for myself. Love the photo with the joking vendor ;)

    Reply
    • Thank you Peter! Asia tops out on my favorite regions of the world, and China is up there – it’s a totally unique country, that’s for sure :) Can’t wait to read your stories once you get there!

      Reply
  13. Shannon,

    I’ve read a few posts about the li’l Wall, and many don’t push me either way.
    But yours sparks more interest in me to see it. (thanks! :) )
    I haven’t seen it yet, and I’d really like to. Your tips of where & when really pushes us that visit higher on our (too long a) list.

    your loyal fan,
    -jeff

    Reply
    • Thanks Jeff :) Appreciate that sentiment. Like you, it was a bit more “meh” – I knew I would go visit if I was in Beijing, but it wasn’t on my bucket list. But the country is beautiful and rugged out there and hiking at least to the edge of the rebuilt sections lives up to the hype! :)

      Reply

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