The Great Wall

The Great Wall is one of China’s oldest and most famous attractions. Stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the middle of China’s landmass, the Great Wall is a symbol of imperial China’s strength. In total the wall stretches nearly 7000 km and crosses seven different provinces. The Great Wall runs through various scenery and climates, making it possible to incorporate it into a trip almost anywhere in the northern half of China.

A visit to the Great Wall is essential to anyone with an interest in Chinese history. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking in the hills around Beijing and those with an adventurous streak will want to head to the un-restored, away from tourists and vendors. The Great Wall itself is an impressive sight, so even those not interested in a strenuous hike should consider a short trip to see it for themselves.


History

The beginning of what is now called the Great Wall began over 2000 years ago during the Qin Dynasty. The new dynasty was the first to bring together the various warring Chinese kingdoms, and the wall was built to protect the newly unified China against Central Asian nomads. This wall was made of packed dirt or stones (depending on locally availably materials) and designed to withstand the spears and swords of marauding horsemen.

Later dynasties repaired, expanded and improved the Great Wall, all with the aim of protecting themselves against nomadic invasions. In the 13th century, Mongol armies overthrew the ruling Chinese dynasty and the wall was neglected and fell into disrepair.

By the 15th century, the Mongols were overthrown and the Chinese Ming Dynasty began to expand the wall once again, this time adding impressive technological innovations. This new wall was make from strong bricks instead of dirt and rock and cannons were mounted on some parts to defend against attackers.

The Manchu people overthrew the ethnically Chinese Ming Dynasty in 1644 and the Great Wall once again fell into disrepair and was neglected until recent years. Many parts of the Great Wall are now UNESCO World Heritage sites and there are active efforts underway to renovate and maintain them.

When to go: It's possible to visit the Great Wall any time of year but Beijing winters are often bitterly cold and summers too hot. Early spring and fall are the best times to go because of the mild weather and cool breeze.

Sections of the Great Wall

Sections of the Great Wall can be divided into two types: restored and un-restored sections. Restored sections are mainly located in the hills around Beijing and are easily accessible from the city. These areas have plenty of restaurants, snack stands and souvenir shops.

Most parts of the Great Wall is un-restored. These parts are more difficult to access and might have little or no tourist infrastructure but some feel that the chance to get away from the crowds is worth the extra effort. For safety, it's best to hike in a group in un-restored sections, as the path can be uneven and railings are often broken. There have been incidents of hikers getting injured from slipping or falling so caution is advised.
   

Badaling 八达岭长城

This restored section of the Great Wall is located just outside of Beijing and is easy and painless to access. It’s relatively easy to hike and offers spectacular views of the hills into the distance. This is the most popular part of the Great Wall so crowds are often intense, especially during national holidays.

Who should go: Go here if you’re looking for an easy and hassle-free way to see a restored section of the wall. A cable car is available to get a view of the wall without climbing it.

How to get there: Any travel agency or hotel in Beijing can arrange tours with an English-speaking guide for relatively cheap. Prices will depend on what the tour package includes. Many tours to Badaling and other sections of the Great Wall around Beijing include a tour to the Ming Tombs, another historical site near the city. Make sure you know what your tour includes and what you’re paying for.

It’s also possible to take public transportation to Badaling. The most convenient way is to first take subway Line 2 to Jishuitan (积水潭) and look for signs leading you to the Deshengmen (德胜门) transportation hub. From there you can catch bus 919 that goes straight to Badaling; it should cost around 15 RMB for the fast bus. The trip takes about two hours. On the way back be sure that you get on the real bus 919, as there are reports of scammers running fake busses and charging extra money.

It’s also possible to hire a taxi to go to Badaling. If you can’t speak Chinese, have a friend, classmate or hotel staff negotiate for you. A reasonable price is around 300 RMB for a cab with four seats and it will be faster than a bus. For this price the cab will wait for you as long as necessary while you climb the wall. Although you won’t be using the meter, try to get an official cab to take you; they’ll be less likely to try to rip you off.  


Simatai 司马台长城

The Simatai section of the Great Wall is known as being a challenging hike. Steep and hilly, Simatai is best undertaken by hikers in decent shape. This section is also farther away from Beijing than areas like Badaling so it takes longer to get there. The Simatai section is mostly un-restored and has been relatively untouched since it was built in the Ming Dynasty hundreds of years ago. Simatai offers astounding views of the hills and a nearby lake and numerous watchtowers and signal beacons dot the wall here.

Those interested in a longer hike can take the 12 kilometer walk from Simatai to Jinshanling (金山岭长城), another section that connects to Simatai.

Who should go: Simatai is one of the best sections of the Great Wall for nature lovers and serious hikers. Those interested in seeing a more authentic wall than Badaling should come here to see the un-restored Great Wall and get away from the crowds.

How to get there: Public transportation to Simatai isn’t very convenient so it might be easier to arrange a tour. Hotels and travel agencies in Beijing can arrange tours with English-speaking guides for you. Make sure you know exactly what you will pay and what is included in the tour.

To take a bus, first take subway Line 2 to Dongzhimen (东直门) and follow the signs to the long-distance bus station (长途汽车站). From there take bus 980 or 970 to Miyun Bus Station (密云汽车站), where you can transfer to a smaller bus going to Simatai. You can ask a bus attendant to point you in the direction by showing the characters for Simatai (司马台长城).

You can also arrange for a taxi to take you. If you can’t speak Chinese, have a friend, classmate or hotel staff negotiate a price for you. Expect to pay around 400 RMB for a cab with four seats. The cab will wait for you while you hike but keep in mind that you’ll have to find alternate transportation back if you start in Simatai and hike to Jinshanling.


Shanhaiguan 山海关

Shanhaiguan is where the Great Wall meets the sea. Located in Hebei province about 300 km east of Beiijng, Shanhaiguan is less well-known than parts of the wall around Beijing but offers ocean views in addition to Great Wall tourism: the very tip of the wall can be seen poking into the water at a part of Shanhaiguan known as the Old Dragon's Head (老龙头). Much of this section has been restored.

Further inland is the restored site of an important Chinese military fortress. It was here that the Ming Dynasty general Wu Sangui allowed Manchu armies to enter China, thus allowing them to take control of the entire country and changing the course of Chinese history.

Who should go: Those looking for a less traditional but still easily accessible trip to the Great Wall should take a weekend trip to Shanhaiguan. This section of the wall combines historical significance with seaside views.

How to get there: Trains from Beijing take up to four hours to reach the Shanhaiguan. Buses can be arranged from the long-distance bus station in Qinhuangdao, Hubei province.