GREAT WALL OF CHINA A Visitor's Quick Guide Tourist map of Great Wall 5 6 7 3 4 1 2 1 Badaling 2 Juyong Pass 3 Jiankou 4 Mutianyu 5 Gubeikou 6 Jinshaling 7 Simatai Table of Contents Welcome ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 The main sections of Wall in Beijing …………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Best Time to Go/Climate ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 What to bring …………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….. 6 Accommodation ………………………………………………………………………………….………………….. 7 Tours and trips ………………………………….…………………………………………………………………… 7 Money Saving Tips ……………………………………………………………………………………..……….….. 9 Welcome to the Great Wall of China Getting an opportunity to visit the Great Wall of China is truly Average temperature an once-in-a-lifetime MAX MIN experience. Getting to view places so different from our January 36℉/2℃ 16℉/-9℃ normal surroundings is in itself a fantastic experience. If you wish February 41℉/5℃ 21℉/-6℃ to savor the beauty of China you March 54℉/12℃ 32℉/0℃ must visit the Great Wall and what better way to experience it April 68℉/20℃ 46℉/8℃ than hike through the Wall. ℉ ℃ ℉ ℃ Hiking through the Great Wall is May 79 /26 57 /14 a very enriching way of knowing June 86℉/30℃ 66℉/19℃ the history and geography of the place. But hiking alone without July 88℉/31℃ 72℉/22℃ any guide of sorts can be a bit August 86℉/30℃ 70℉/21℃ unnerving and daunting. We have therefore compiled a guide September 79℉/26℃ 59℉/15℃ to the Great Wall which we are sure will help you immensely in October 66℉/19℃ 46℉/8℃ your journey through China and November 50℉/10℃ 32℉/0℃ more so as you hike through the Great Wall. December 39℉/4℃ 21℉/-6℃ The main sections of Wall in Beijing Getting an opportunThe The Great Wall being huge, it Easiest winter walks below mentioned sections are would take a lot of time to Mutianyu, Badaling, the most probable one’s you traverse the entire wall but if Juyongguan. would visit outside Beijing. you are interested in hiking a They are: short stretch then Mutianyu Most interesting is the ideal place for you to 1 Badaling Jiankou, Jinshanling, Simatai. indulge in some bit of hiking. 2 Juyong Pass More suitable for Half day options 3 Jiankou photographer Mutianyu, Juyongguan, Simatai, Jinshanling and 4 Mutianyu Shuiguan and Badaling. Jiankou are great places for 5 Gubeikou Full Day options taking pictures of sunset & 6 Jinshaling sunrise. Mutianyu and Jinshanling, Jiankou, Huanghu Huanghuacheng are equally 7 Simatai acheng and Gubeikou beautiful. - 1 - 1 Badaling 2 Juyong Pass 3 Jiankou This is by far the most First constructed in the 5th Jiankou is remote and popular section of the Great century, rebuilt by the Ming secluded as compared to Wall. Being easily accessible, and more recently restored, Jinshanling or Mutianyu and it has become overtly Juyongguan is the closest as expected this portion of commercialized with tour section of wall to Beijing. the Great Wall is for the groups having included it as Juyongguan has two sides: adventurous in body and part of their tourist circuit. north and south. The south spirit. The path to the top is The fact that it is well- side is comprised of two not properly paved with some equipped with facilities like lower sections which join part of the steps missing and guardrails, restaurants, cable way up and is very steep. The portions of the walls cars, viewing telescopes make "easy" side, the north is less overgrown with trees. Here it it popular with tourists steep on average and appears is risky to travel without a earning it the name of to have less steps. guide as the paths can be Disneyland of Great Wall. slippery and dangerous. Some tour groups probably However, if you are prepared During peak season this place switch to Juyongguan from to brave this journey then you is extremely crowed with all Badaling because it is a little won’t be disappointed at all. tour groups making it a point closer and also might be less Travelling through this lonely to stop here. The north-east crowded. As higher you are stretch of the Great Wall will portion of Badaling is usually climbing the less people you add that extra dimension to more crowded, so if you are will see. If it’s too much of a your experience. If you are of in search of some peace then challenge for you to climb the the adventurous kind and are it is better that you head southern section, north physically fit you must not towards the south-west part eastern section of the Wall miss this hike. If perchance as it is relatively less that goes across the river is a it’s raining or snowing when crowded. About 2-4 hrs are little less steep and not you are there then do not required to cover the 3.7 km crowded. Both sections offer undertake this hike as it can stretch. terrific views. You may prefer be risky. the quieter north eastern ffi Hiking di culty section. You won’t see loads A very easy climb with of souvenir stalls as you get smooth surfaces. to see in Badaling. Getting There The hike up is definitely A train leaves from Beijing worth it as you get a really North Station every 90 unparalleled view of the minutes. surrounding areas. The steps are wide enought for the amount of people climbing - if you have a heart problem or high blood pressure you may need to think about it. Be sure to get your running or walking shoes on. - 2 - 4 From here you have the natural look. It therefore Mutianyu option of taking a minibus or remains beautiful. About 2-3 Mutiyanu is a great option to a rented car. A minibus ride hours are required to hike overcrowded Badaling. would cost you about 40-50 this 6km stretch which has Although it is fairly developed Yuan. some good portions and it is comparatively quieter and some difficult ones. You can get water at the top considerably greener as but as expected they are Hiking difficulty – Moderate compared to Badaling. There expensive, hence carry a are cable car facilities Since this place has not been bottle of water with you. available, a great help for restored the path is broken Toilets facilities are a bit those who are not much and there are steep hills to limited at the top so be interested in taking the stairs. cross in some portions. The prepared. 2 cable cars ferry passengers last leg of the trek involves back and forth. Single one- ! crossing the Wohushan way tickets are a bit Mountain which is difficult to ! 5 Gubeikou expensive compared to a say the least and can only be return ticket. Children are What makes Gubeikou truly attempted by experienced bound to have a fun day at special is the fact that it has hikers. Therefore amateur Mutianyu and so also adults not been restored and has hikers are advised to leave who can take ample pictures been pretty much left the way this trek alone. without being jostled around. it was originally. Badaling and Getting There Mutianyu have not been able ffi Hiking di culty to avoid restoration - Gubeikou is located about The trail is 2.2 km long and restorations that have 120 kms form Beijing and the hiking time generally takes decimated portions of the travel time is around 3 hours. about 2-4 hrs. The path is Great Wall to accommodate The ideal way to reach not steep at all so hiking this the large number of tourists. Gubeikou is to take a bus stretch is a pleasant Gubeikou, on the other hand, outside Sanyuanqiao subway experience in itself. has not been tampered with stop on line 10. This will take much and still maintains its you directly to Gubeikou Getting there town. Mutianyu is located at a distance of 95 km from Beijing and the travel time is around 2hrs and 30 minutes. Bus No 867 departs from Beijing at 7:30 am and 8:30 am respectively and makes the return trip at 2 pm and 4 pm. Another way to reach Mutianyu is to take 916 bus from Dongzhimen Station, but this bus doesn’t go all the way to the top. It goes only up to Huairou Bus Shelter. - 3 - You can also take the 980 bus 7 register they will send a code from Dongzhimen bus station Simatai to a nominated mobile phone. but it doesn’t go all the way This is a lovely portion of the The mobile phone needs to to Gubeikou. It goes up to wall and also one of my have a Chinese SIM card. Miyun, a small town located favorites. The only problem is Because the pre buying of on the route from where you that if you are visiting the tickets is not English friendly have to take another bus to Simatai Great Wall only you at the moment, this is why Gubeikou. will be taken up there as part you will need help. of a large group at a set time, ! Simatai has some unique either 10am or 2pm. If you 6 features known as “obstacle ! Jinshaling have both the Gubei Town walls”. Obstacle walls in effect ticket and the Simatai ticket Jinshanling famous for its 24 are walls within walls where ( Combo) you can visit Simatai watchtowers, located near the walls have been built into the at any time during its opening town of Gubeikou is fairly already existing walls to hours. The Simatai wall is underdeveloped. From here create an additional line of constructed on mountain trekkers can go on a 10 km defense against an invading ridges and extremely severe trek to Simatai West.