How to Choose Your Best Part of the Great Wall
Now you know the Great Wall in China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World; and standing on it, you can enjoy a lifetime experience. You know it's worth it, but how to choose the best wall?
Accessible Mutianyu Primitive Jinshanling Precipitous Jiankou
That's why China Odyssey Tours received tons of questions asking which is the best part of the Great Wall shall we see? Is it safe for the kids to do the trekking? Shall I travel alone or tour with others? How shall we arrange a tour to include half or one-day hiking on the Great Wall …?
Well, unless you're a super fan of the Great Wall, it's not necessary to see them all (redundant time-consuming), therefore, it's wise that you compare, and decide which one is friendlier depending on time/hiking intensity for you or your family. The general information below about each section of the Great Wall near Beijing may help you quickly identify your ideal part. If more details of the Great Wall are what you are looking for, then go to my articles introducing what to do and tips about the Great Wall in the below sections.
Mutianyu Jiankou Huanghuacheng
Badaling Great Wall & Badaling Remnant Great Wall
Characteristic
Badaling: The "most" one - the most magnificent, most famous, most well-restored, and most crowded.
Mutianyu: Slightly untamed version of Badaling with equal magnificence, well-developed but quieter, a good alternative to Badaling.
Badaling Ruined part: Broken wall, scattered bricks; steep, short trip.
Simatai: Less restored yet well preserved with one intact section, wild and cragged.
Jiankou: Totally un-restored, original appearance since built in Ming Dynasty in 1368; most precipitous, wider than Jinshanling or Mutianyu.
Jinshanling: Pristine and majestic look, most densely gathered watchtowers, well-preserved military defense system.
Huanghuacheng: Built near a reservoir. Partially restored, a stark contrast between old and new walls.
Gubeikou: Far from the city, connects Jinshanling at its east side. Raw, simple but magnificent.
Crowdedness
Badaling: The most visited, most crowded (actually overcrowded at the south part of Badaling)all year round, however, you could still experience less crowded Badaling by walking towards the north side of it.
Mutianyu: Less crowded compared with Badaling, but more visitors than other parts of the wall.
Simatai: May encounter some vacationers, a good place to avoid mass tourist groups.
Jinshanling: Not cluttered with tourists, encounter a couple of hikers en route.
Ruined Badaling: Less-visited section.
Huanghuacheng: Not crowded in general, especially on weekdays.
Gubeikou: Few visitors; encounter few hikers along the way.
Jiankou: Considerably less explored, least-visited and sometimes you may encounter no one along the whole trip.
Physical Demand
Badaling: Broader passageway, few steep steps with the guardrail in most parts, the easiest one to climb/moderate climbing.
Mutianyu: A bit steeper than Badaling but easier to walk than the rest.
Gubeikou: Connected with Jinshanling, wall condition similar to Jinshanling.
Jinshanling: Less challenging, but still have to climb sometimes.
Simatai: Some steep steps, physically demanding, can be strenuous.
Badaling Ruined part: Many over 60-degree slopes with scattered bricks and crushed stones.
Huanghuacheng: Tough hike, no facilities, some parts include very steep ascent and descent.
Jiankou: Most strenuous part, professional hiking gear is required.
Suggested Duration
Badaling: 2-3 hours on the wall; it takes 2-2.5 hours to hike its north side, and 1-1.5 hours to hike to its south side.
Mutianyu: Multiple choices available. Starting from the 8th watch tower, you can either head to the 1st watchtower to the east (which requires 1-1.5 hours), or head to the 20th watch tower at the west, (which requires about 2.5-3 hours). An extensive Mutianyu to Jiankou hiking needs around 5 hours.
Jiankou: Need around 5 hours to hike to Mutianyu.
Simatai: As Simatai to Jinshanling connected section is closed, it only takes around 1.5-2 hours to walk within Simatai.
Jinshanling: As Simatai to Jinshanling connected section closed, you could only hike west to Gubeikou, which takes you about 5-6 hours.
Gubeikou: You need about 5-6 hours to hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling.
Huanghuacheng: Walk within Huanghuacheng needs 1.5-2 hours; extensive hiking to Xishuiyu needs about 4 hours.
Badaling Ruined part: 1.5-2 hours on the wall.
Supporting Facilities
Badaling: Cable car, handrails
Mutianyu: Cable car, toboggan, handrails
Simatai: Chairlift, toboggan, zip line
Badaling Ruined part: Handrails
Jinshanling: Cable car
Jiankou: None
Gubeikou: None
Huanghuacheng: None
When to Go
Well-restored parts with good wall condition and equipped with aids like Mutianyu and Badaling, which are suitable for travelers to go all year round. You can see different scenery in different seasons. It is suggested to visit some parts with less maintenance, such as Simatai, Jinshanling, Jiankou, or Badaling ruined parts in spring, summer, and autumn (from April to October).
Location & Distance from Beijing
Badaling: the nearest, around 75 km, about 1.5 hours' drive from Beijing.
Badaling Ruined part: around 75 km from Beijing, about 1.5 hrs' drive; 10 km southwest of Badaling.
Huanghuacheng: around 85 km, about 2 hours' drive from Beijing.
Mutianyu: around 95 km from Beijing, about 2 hours' drive, adjacent to Jiankou.
Jiankou: around 100 km, about 2 hours' drive, adjacent to Mutianyu.
Simatai: around 140 km, about 2.5 hours' drive from Beijing, with Jinshanling to the east.
Jinshanling: around 140 km, about 2.5 hours' drive from Beijing, adjacent to Simatai and Gubeikou.
Gubeikou: around 145 km, about 2.5 hours' drive from Beijing, near Simatai and Jinshanling.
In the end, which part of the Great Wall would I recommend the most?
Overall, I highly recommend the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall - it is family-friendly, well-developed, less crowded than Badaling, and more accessible than other parts of the wall, well, for lots of reasons. You can walk the wall, admire the views and take advantage of the amenities. Every year, many Odyssey clients choose to go to Mutianyu Great Wall and they all return with good feedback. But anyway, it depends on your own preference.
Intact or ruined, far or near, crowded or peaceful…The Great Wall always has something to offer. By comparing the information, you probably already get YOUR ideal part of the wall in mind. To know more details and tips about the Great Wall, you can reach us via trip@odynovotours.com
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