All the superlatives of this mystical monument that meanders through diverse mountainous landscapes of the 3rd largest country in the world have contributed to the nomination of the Great Wall as one of the New 7 Wonders by UNESCO – arguably the most impressive and gigantic of them.
With all these historical and architectural peculiarities, is it possible to remain impassive and not know a place like this? What if the visit can be made on a day trip from Beijing, with an English-speaking guide, focused on a less crowded section of this incomparable tourist attraction? This is all possible. We did it ourselves, and it is our experience that we will deal with in the following lines. Follow us!
We went to China in August 2019, as part of our mini world tour, with the greatest interest to visit the Great Wall. During the preparations for this odyssey, we discovered the ease of reaching the Badaling and Mutianyu sections from the capital. We were in doubt as to which of these should be our destiny.
Because the wall in Badaling is closer to Beijing, it is more popular with visitors, especially the countless Chinese. With this information in mind, we followed the advice of all our research sources. They indicated that the best way to enjoy the wall with more original and less crowded steps and watchtowers was to head to Mutianyu. Accurate indication.
We hired the day tour with the great company Mubus, making the reservation on their website 2 months in advance (payment can be made at the end of the tour, and if this is your option, it can only be done in cash). The tour’s meeting point, duration and itinerary are detailed on the Mubus website.
We stayed in the historic center of Beijing, less than a 10-minute walk from Tiananmen Square and Qianmen Subway Station, from where we went to Dongsishitiao Station. Right at the exit of the subway, we were led by the company’s staff to the bus, which left at the agreed time and place – early in the morning.
The drive to the entrance to the Great Wall at Mutianyu took less than 2 hours on an impeccable road. During the transfer, our guide (Claire – Chinese who spoke fluent English), told the history and peculiarities of the construction of the most visited tourist spot in China, described all the variables of the tour, mentioning the most common logistics of walking through the towers of the main lookouts, and collected our money. Upon arriving at her destination, she herself went to the ticket office, then handed us our tickets for different types of tickets.
That’s right, the tour is not standardized; it does not have to be the same for all visitors. You can include lunch in the package (made in a typical restaurant near the bus parking lot) or not – having your meal in nearby snack bars or taking your snack, which can be consumed in the wall steps. The ascent can be done in a covered cable car – paid separately and with direct access to tower 14 – or walking. The descent can also be done by cable car, walking or by toboggan (this is also paid separately and can only be done on days without rain).
From the actual arrival on the way to the wall until the agreed time for the return of the bus, we have free time (about 5 hours) to explore 5 km of the Great Wall at our leisure. It is important to note that, in Mutianyu, there are towers with more different styles and less spaced than in Badaling (none of them with a bathroom).
From the actual arrival on the way to the wall until the agreed time for the return of the bus, we have free time (about 5 hours) to explore 5 km of the Great Wall at our leisure. It is important to note that, in Mutianyu, there are towers with more different styles and less spaced than in Badaling (none of them with a bathroom).
The most praised segment goes from tower 12 to tower 20. It is this stop that comprises the climax of the path, at the end of a steep and demanding flight of steps of different sizes, with a panoramic view of a vast part of the gray serpent that separates the green or orange – depending on the season – of the trees that cover the surrounding mountains. Simply unforgettable! We use our minutes to the fullest, only returning to the bus parking a few minutes before the scheduled time. From there, the driver took the group to the same point as the start of the tour (block next to Dongsishitiao subway station), from where we returned to our hotel.
Easy, pleasant, organized and complete tour, with enough hours to discover what really interests the tourist, without unnecessary stops in stores or similar. Great way to discover what is most wonderful and ancient in eclectic China. Without a doubt, those were our favorite hours in that country.
With regard to the Great Wall specifically, the infrastructure is far beyond satisfactory. Everything is well signposted, well taken care of and well thought out to please visitors in different ways. Getting in touch with that perfect balance between human action and the surrounding nature is exciting, memorable, reflective and fun. Visiting the Wall is to see up close that it is much more than big. It is to witness what man’s effort is capable of; a work greater than its builders, and even more spectacular and monumental for interfering with nature as an adjunct.
