If you’ve decided to visit Mutianyu, you’ve made a wise choice! On my first visit to the Great Wall of China, I chose to visit Mutianyu over Badaling and Juyongguan; all of which are located within close proximity to Beijing. Mutianyu stood out to me because it’s less crowded (who wouldn’t want tourist-free backgrounds in their photos?) and I wanted to experience the thrill of riding the toboggan roller coaster on the way down.
Here are 6 Helpful Tips for the Great Wall of China:
1. Don’t Attempt to Navigate Your Own Way
If it’s your first time to the Great Wall of China, joining a day tour or hiring a private vehicle for the 1.5 hour drive from Beijing takes the guessing out of navigating your own way and ultimately saves you time. I joined a private 3-day tour in Beijing and the Great Wall of China was built into Day 2 of our itinerary. On our return trip from Mutianyu, we encountered Beijing’s notorious traffic, but our amazing driver, Mr. Zhao weaved his way expertly back to our hotel. We were wiped after a long day and grateful we had a driver.
2. Arriving at the Main Entrance
The admission fee alone is 45 RMB and transportation up and down the Great Wall is charged separately. From the main ticket counter, walk through the touristy village area filled with restaurants and souvenir shops to reach shuttle buses that will transport you 3 km to the foot of the Wall.
The tourist village has a selection of local and Western restaurants and cafes, including a Burger King. When I came down from the Wall, I was just famished and a Whopper totally hit the spot.
2. Ascending and Descending the Great Wall
Besides hiking on foot, there are 3 options:
- Cablecar: Take these 4-rider cablecars up and down. The cablecar platform is located near Watchtower 14 (known to be the most scenic section).
- Chairlift: Take these 2-rider chairlifts up and down. The chairlifts are located near Watchtower 6. If you take the chairlift up only, you could ride the toboggan down.
- Toboggan: Take these single-rider toboggans down only along a rollercoaster-like track. There is an easy-to-manoeuver lever where you control your own speed. Riding this was the highlight of my visit! The toboggans shut down in rain and re-open 30 minutes after a rainfall.
3. What to Bring
Bring as little as possible! Wear comfortable shoes with sturdy support to traverse uneven terrain. Think: running shoes, hiking shoes or comfortable sandals (I wore my Fitflops, which are my favourite travel sandal).
There is virtually no shade in the summer so pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Dressing in layers is essential in the fall and winter months to brave the cool air in the higher elevation. Bring bottled water and small snacks like protein bars, as there are few places that sell snacks on the Wall.
4. Washrooms
Washroom facilities are scarce on the Wall. There are plenty of decent washroom facilities with Western toilets at the base of the mountain. I was so paranoid that I would have bathroom emergencies that I went to the washroom 4 separate times on my way to the shuttle buses!
5. The Best Time to Visit
The best times to visit would be the spring or fall when there is neither unbearable heat nor ice-covered paths. Avoid major Chinese holidays when hordes of local tourists descend upon the Wall. Check the calendar for National Day, Spring Festival, and Chinese Labour Day.
There were no crowds whatsoever when we visited on a summer weekday afternoon. Our tour guide informed us that the Great Wall is usually busier with large tour groups in the morning.
Read my blog post on Beijing Day 2: Sacred Way, Ming Tombs, Great Wall of China
Have you visited the Great Wall of China? What are some tips you would share?
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Safe Travels!
xx Deb
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