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Getting to the Great Wall of ChinaSince the Great Wall of China stretches thousands of miles, there are several good places to go to see it. The best sections of the Great Wall of China are the Badalong, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Simatai sections all near Beijing, China. There are primarily two ways to get to Beijing, by plane or by rail. Obviously flying direct to Beijing is the easiest way, but if you are already in China, taking a train to Beijing is more affordable. For those seeking less tourists when exploring the Great Wall of China, some notable locations that are considerably less crowded include Shanhaiguan, Liaoning, and Shanxi and all of these are accessible via a 3-4 hour train ride from Beijing. |
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Getting to the Great Wall of China from BejingBeijing is a modern city, and with a lot of modern cities, there are multiple modes of transportation. Like most large cities, Beijing has bus lines, subway lines, and taxis for your primary modes of transportation. The subway doesn't go to the Great Wall of China, so that leaves only buses and taxis to get you there. Recently, since the 2008 Olympics, you can now rent your own car in Beijing if you should choose. The mode of transportation you choose will likely depend on how much money you are willing to spend. Taking a bus is the cheapest mode of transportation. A bus ride from the city to the Great Wall of China takes around 1 to 1.5 hours. Be careful of being ripped off, there have been some reports of people paying over 150 Yuan for this 20 Yuan bus ride. Taxis are a good alternative, but a little more expensive, be sure to agree on a price before you depart. If you do decide to rent a car, be aware that driving is chaotic in Beijing and is generally not safe. Just because it is now possible to rent a car, may not be a good reason to do so. If you are looking for places to stay in Beijing, visit Beijing Hotels for a list of affordable hotels. |
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Badaling and Other Sections of the Great Wall of China |
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Badalong is the most famous, and most crowded section of the Great Wall of China. It is located about 1.5 hours from Beijing. You will notice that the wall is restored to the point that it is almost too well done. There is a 40 Yuan fee to get onto the wall from here. The Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall of China is a little less crowded than the Badalong Section. This section is unique with a cable car and toboggan ride to get up and down the wall (it seems a little out of place). This section is also about an hour and a half from Beijing. If you are looking for lower hordes of tourists, we recommend either the Simatai or the Jinshanling sections. The down side of these is that they are a little further from Beijing, but the upside are the low crowds and miles of walking on the wall among beautiful peaks and valleys. The walls of these sections are generally not restored, but the Simatai and Jinshanling sections are attached to eachother so you can walk from one section to the other. |
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